Transformers: Rise of the Beasts – Movie Review
Director: Steven Caple Jr
Writer: Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber (Screenplay)
Cast
- Anthony Ramos (In the Heights)
- Dominique Fishback (Project Power)
- Luna Lauren Velez (Dexter)
- Dean Scott Vazquez (In the Heights)
- Sarah Stiles (Unsane)
Plot: During the ’90s, a new faction of Transformers – the Maximals – join the Autobots as allies in the battle for Earth.
Runtime: 2 Hours 7 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: Transformers: Rise of the Beasts starts when we learn how the Maximals led by Optimus Primal must leave their world to save the universe. They take the device Unicron can use to travel between the universes to devour planets away for hiding. Move to the 90s to meet Noah Diaz (Ramos) a veteran trying to find work to care for his little brother Kris (Vazquez). Elsewhere, ultra-smart intern Elena Wallace (Fishback) has been working in the Ellis Island museum when they get a new artefact.
When the Autobots learn of the threat, they come together, bringing Noah and Elena together in a fight against Scourge. Scourge is more powerful and has been searching for the device to achieve travel across the universe. Now, the Autobots, Maximals and humans must work together to save all their worlds.
Verdict on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is the latest in the action-packed franchise. This time we get to see Maximals (animal robots) joining forces with the Autobots in a battle against Scourge and Unicon. It follows them in search of items while the chase and battles continue around them.
As we follow up from the brilliant Bumblebee, we seem to have continued to learn the lessons. We only get to focus on a couple f human characters, that are interesting, with Noah and his brother’s connection becoming motivation. Add in the brains from Elena, that is all we need from the human side of things.
Where the story truly shines is the conflicting determination to save their own kind, needing to be put aside to become stronger. This is something we know from the later movies in the franchise. The action and special effects are great and instead of resorting to the quick cuts, we get a large-scale look at the battle, despite having a limited set of characters. We know what we are getting ourselves into with this movie. It delivers big action and interesting human characters. While even taking things down a darker tone with moments that could come off as horror.
Final Thoughts – Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a lot of fun from start to finish.
