Home Entertainment First reactions to Bumblebee call it the best Transformers movie ever

First reactions to Bumblebee call it the best Transformers movie ever

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Being called the “best” in some regard, is usually a sign of excellence, but I’m sure that some of you reading that headline above are snorting because being the best in the Transformers movie franchise is not exactly a high bar to cross. Yes, Michael Bay’s Transformers franchise has its fans, but few can deny that the giant robot franchise has gotten worse with each entry after the admittedly enjoyable first film. Now though, we have our first film free of Bay as Laika animation maestro Travis Knight gets given the directing reins for Bumblebee, the first prequel spinoff for the franchise.

With his work on movies like Kubo and the Two Strings, Paranorman, Coraline and more, Knight is known for tender heartfelt storytelling full of great characters, and many (read: me) were hoping he would finally do the same for a franchise that had become increasingly loud and chaotic with laughable storylines and annoying characters. And by all accounts, this is exactly what Knight has done as the first press screenings for Bumblebee were held over the weekend and early reactions have hit the net.

With a staggering 100% Fresh rating on Rottentomatoes after 17 reviews, praise has been heaped on how Knight has managed to give the 1980s-based movie a distinct Spielberg-ian tone, full of charm and wit. Lead actress Hailee Steinfeld has also been singled out for her performance, though the entire cast and writer Christina Hodson’s script all get high marks, which is a marked departure from the usual Transformers approach of sticking as many grating human characters into the movie as is possible. Besides for the humans though, the real stars are the robots that have been brought to life far more coherently than ever before, with many claiming that fans of the original animated movie will find a lot to love here.

Here are some snippets:

Bumblebee stars Hailee Steinfeld, Pamela Adlon, John Cena, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. It is scheduled for release on 21 December 2018.

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

Last Updated: December 10, 2018

14 Comments

  1. You could say it’s a… transformative… experience.

    Reply

  2. Original Heretic

    December 10, 2018 at 15:23

    Hope this is very kiddie friendly. My boy loves the Transformers cartoons.
    And over the weekend, took him to his first theatre show (pantomime, kiddie fodder!), so I know he can sit through a full movie/show.

    Reply

  3. Captain JJ

    December 10, 2018 at 15:31

    Best Transformers movie…not exactly the highest of praises there.

    Reply

    • miaau

      December 10, 2018 at 16:02

      To steal from 1980’s Mad Magazine, Best Bullfighter in Alaska

      Reply

  4. For the Emperor!

    December 10, 2018 at 15:31

    Not a very high bar, is it? 😛

    Reply

  5. Guz

    December 11, 2018 at 08:30

    This makes me happy xD

    Reply

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