Transformers: The Movie (1986) (NR)

An awful toy commercial in disguise.

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Common Sense rates it
1
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Rhino
  • Directed By: Nelson Shin
  • Cast: Eric Idle, Orson Welles, Scatman Crothers, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy
  • Running Time: 86 minutes
  • Release Date: 08/08/1986
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 11/07/2006
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • MPAA Rating: NR

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that, essentially, this is a commercial tie-in with a line of Hasbro action-figure toys. While this has a certain cult following (what bad movie doesn't?), it's a confusing, jumbled, and chaotic viewing experience for anyone who couldn't tell the Dinobots from the Insecticons. It also forms more or less the last episode of the original Transformers TV series, so if you feel like you've walked in late and missed something, that's why.

Families can talk about the idea of making movies or cartoons as platforms for peddling playthings. Worthy films like Star Wars and Toy Story have shamelessly marketed toys based on themselves, and there were toys inspired by likes of Charlie Chaplin and Mickey Mouse long ago. What do you think about movies, TV shows, and video games based solely on toys? Can you think of any other plaything-oriented movies that were better/worse than this one? How much more expensive is the movie after you buy the ticket and the merchandise? If you like the toys, do you think you'd like them as much if another movie wasn't coming out?

Message

Social Behavior:

Simplistic ideas of good and evil, and promotes that fighting and warring are the inevitable route to peace. Though they all look alike physically, the Tranformers have different, uh, ethnicities, so to speak, via voiceover actors of different races and backgrounds. Only one (maybe) female robot.

Consumerism:

This movie is basically a toy commercial.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Much sci-fi mass destruction of machine and machine-life forms. Even sympathetic and heroic characters die.

Sex

Language

One use of the S-word.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Charles Cassady, Jr.

Essentially a wrap-up to the TV show, TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE is set in the "future" year 2005. The good Autobots and their friends the Dinobots are in an ongoing war against evil Decepticons. When their planet fell to the Decepticons, the Autobots befriended humans and set up a base on Earth. Here the Decepticon warlord Megatron launches a sneak attack on Earth's Autobot city and longstanding Autobot hero Optimus Prime is killed. Before dying, he passes on to his successor a glittery doo-dad called the Matrix that's supposed to be really important. Meanwhile, a new menace comes along, a robot called Unicron, a planet-sized machine that destroys and eats other planets. The only thing posing a threat to Unicron is the Matrix, so the monstrous robot gives the damaged Megatron an upgrade to capture it.

Is it any good?

1
If Transformers: The Movie teaches us anything, it's that in all the cleverly conceived, gimmicky buy-them-all robots Hasbro foisted on toy shelves, one was sorely forgotten: Script-itron. A confusing, jumbled, and chaotic narrative moves through chases and fights with barely any breathing space and introduces so many weird characters and things that only a kid who owns all the toy tie-ins could tell them apart.

The soundtrack is obnoxious, nonstop '80s rock music and the animation is TV-grade. Except for the Dinobots, it's pretty difficult to tell one unfolded Transformer from another. The vocal cast is a curious mix of prolific cartoon-voiceover specialists and veteran character actors, who attempt to imbue their characters with stereotypical personalities that the impersonal drawings don't convey. Most notoriously, Orson Welles logged his final screen credit as the unenthused, whispered voice of Unicron, and Leonard Nimoy is the voice of Megatron.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/22/08 by ZimMan2 Kid contributor, age 16

Great nostalgic fun

While the original Transformers animated movie is not a great film, it is a lot of fun for those who grew up with the show, young kids just getting into Transformers, and older kids like me who appreciate old things for what they are. The story is really the bridge between the second and third seasons of the show, so it's hard to explain in one sitting. I'll post a link to my YouTube account below, and I'll try to post a video soon explaining the plot. Due to the fact that this is meant as a bridge between two seasons of an established series, not many people who are unframiliar with the show will get it. Best to do some digging online for the first three episodes, or like I said, wait for my little video. Anyway, due to the fact that during the time period, the original 1984&1985 toy lines were being discontinued, and the 86-87 toy lines were being released, the studio needed an excuse for not having those characters on the shelves, thus, the filmmakers were ordered to kill off many of the principal characters in favor of new ones. These new characters are easily the weakest part of the movie. Transformers has always been known for great characters. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, Ironhide, Prowl, and of course, everyone's favorite back-stabbing traitoris coward, Starscream. These characters defined the series, and the new characters just don't hold up as well. When you ask any person on the street, who was the leader of the Autobots, almost everyone will say Optimus Prime. only a few would mention that Rodimus took over when he died. That being said, the first half is very entertaining, but after Starscream's death, it really becomes boring. True, the Deceptocns are still fun to watch, as are scenes with the Dinobots and Junkions, but overall, the first half is the highlight. Especially the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. The animation is very good, and so is the voice acting. In fact the voice acting is easily the strongest part of this movie, not only with the original series voice cast reprising thier roles, but new guest stars such as Eric Idle, Lionel Strander, Judd Nelson, Robert Stack, and most famously, Orson Welles, in his final film preformance as,... a planet-sized, world-destroying robot named Unicron. Sounds like an honor when said like it is. Overall, the film is enjoyable, but not great. The violence is heavy, but not really too graphic, the swearing will suprise those unprepared, but it seems natural after the first couple viewings. As for the "obvious" commercialism, the toy line this is promoting is discontinued, and over 20 years old, so I wouldn't worry too much. For my final Rating, I give "The Transformers: The Movie": Three and a half Godzillas.
4


Posted on 07/24/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

Old transfromers Rule

I saw this film a good while back and I have to say: good story telling(even though the story revolved around a matrix), good characters, good children's action and good things blowing up! Personally I think the could have included the humans a little bit more in the story but still, good story. Favorites: Character: Hot Rod (Rodimus prime) Scene: Galvatron getting thrown into space Death: Starscream Music: Touch: Stan Bush Great movie!!!!!!!!
3


Posted on 07/11/07 by novablast101 Kid contributor, age 13

A cool movie for older kids

this movie is cool for older kids, i'd say about 12 and up. there are some curse words used in the movie like the "D-word" and the "S-word", but other than that, language is not an really an issue. there are some fighting scenes, but they are cartoons. overall, i would let kids about my age watch this.
5


Posted on 06/28/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

Don't listen to 'em

Transformers: The Movie isn't a bad movie. It's actually better than Transformers Armada, etc. This movie has its share of violence but it's not over the top. Spike says "Aw sh*t, what are we gonna do now?" and Ultra Magnus says "Open, d*mmit, open!" but that's all. I say it's a good movie. By the way, Optimus Prime DIES.

Adult Reviews

There are 0 reviews.

There are no adult reviews.

Kids Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

3


Posted on 07/22/08 by ZimMan2 Kid contributor, age 16

Great nostalgic fun

While the original Transformers animated movie is not a great film, it is a lot of fun for those who grew up with the show, young kids just getting into Transformers, and older kids like me who appreciate old things for what they are. The story is really the bridge between the second and third seasons of the show, so it's hard to explain in one sitting. I'll post a link to my YouTube account below, and I'll try to post a video soon explaining the plot. Due to the fact that this is meant as a bridge between two seasons of an established series, not many people who are unframiliar with the show will get it. Best to do some digging online for the first three episodes, or like I said, wait for my little video. Anyway, due to the fact that during the time period, the original 1984&1985 toy lines were being discontinued, and the 86-87 toy lines were being released, the studio needed an excuse for not having those characters on the shelves, thus, the filmmakers were ordered to kill off many of the principal characters in favor of new ones. These new characters are easily the weakest part of the movie. Transformers has always been known for great characters. Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave, Ironhide, Prowl, and of course, everyone's favorite back-stabbing traitoris coward, Starscream. These characters defined the series, and the new characters just don't hold up as well. When you ask any person on the street, who was the leader of the Autobots, almost everyone will say Optimus Prime. only a few would mention that Rodimus took over when he died. That being said, the first half is very entertaining, but after Starscream's death, it really becomes boring. True, the Deceptocns are still fun to watch, as are scenes with the Dinobots and Junkions, but overall, the first half is the highlight. Especially the battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron. The animation is very good, and so is the voice acting. In fact the voice acting is easily the strongest part of this movie, not only with the original series voice cast reprising thier roles, but new guest stars such as Eric Idle, Lionel Strander, Judd Nelson, Robert Stack, and most famously, Orson Welles, in his final film preformance as,... a planet-sized, world-destroying robot named Unicron. Sounds like an honor when said like it is. Overall, the film is enjoyable, but not great. The violence is heavy, but not really too graphic, the swearing will suprise those unprepared, but it seems natural after the first couple viewings. As for the "obvious" commercialism, the toy line this is promoting is discontinued, and over 20 years old, so I wouldn't worry too much. For my final Rating, I give "The Transformers: The Movie": Three and a half Godzillas.
4


Posted on 07/24/07 by The-Edge Kid contributor, age 14

Old transfromers Rule

I saw this film a good while back and I have to say: good story telling(even though the story revolved around a matrix), good characters, good children's action and good things blowing up! Personally I think the could have included the humans a little bit more in the story but still, good story. Favorites: Character: Hot Rod (Rodimus prime) Scene: Galvatron getting thrown into space Death: Starscream Music: Touch: Stan Bush Great movie!!!!!!!!
3


Posted on 07/11/07 by novablast101 Kid contributor, age 13

A cool movie for older kids

this movie is cool for older kids, i'd say about 12 and up. there are some curse words used in the movie like the "D-word" and the "S-word", but other than that, language is not an really an issue. there are some fighting scenes, but they are cartoons. overall, i would let kids about my age watch this.
5


Posted on 06/28/07 by awfuldude32 (Formerly gamecubefreak32/evildude32) Kid contributor, age 13

Don't listen to 'em

Transformers: The Movie isn't a bad movie. It's actually better than Transformers Armada, etc. This movie has its share of violence but it's not over the top. Spike says "Aw sh*t, what are we gonna do now?" and Ultra Magnus says "Open, d*mmit, open!" but that's all. I say it's a good movie. By the way, Optimus Prime DIES.
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