Transformers - The Movie [1986]

---

---

Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
It's the year 2005, and the universe is going right down the toilet. Not only have the heroic Autobots lost their homeworld of Cybertron to the evil Decepticons, a giant metallic planet named Unicron is on the prowl, treating solar systems like a gigantic buffet and gunning for the Autobots' matrix of leadership. Fortunately, struggling against the odds is what heroes do best, and it is indeed hard to keep a good robot down. As the battle rages from space to earth and back into space again, characters die, others are reborn and, ultimately, good must face evil in a climactic battle for the fate of the universe.

When this animated film arrived in American cinemas in the mid-1980s, the Transformers--both the robot toys and the television show--were at the height of their popularity. Transformers The Movie took these battling 'bots and, er, transformed them into film stars, albeit of the cult variety. The animation is a bit touch-and-go: at its best, it's up there with classic Japanese manga; at it's worst, it reeks of horrible 80s assembly-line productions. And the plot is little more than an advert for the (then) new toys, many of which show up as main characters in the film (Hot Rod, Kup, Ultra Magnus, Galvatron, etc). However, some of the action sequences are indeed spectacular--especially the battle for Autobot City--and the violence is a bit intense for what is, basically, a kid's film (they may just be robots, but they still die, apparently). What really makes this film more than meets the eye, though, is the names who show up as voices in the credits: Leonard Nimoy, Judd Nelson, Robert Stack, Eric Idle and even Orson Welles, in one of his last roles, as Unicron. --Robert Burrow

---

Customer reviews

review by: brother_of_sadako date: 2006-10-18 rating:
I'm 5 Years Old Again
Ok, so watching Transformers the Movie may not be the most mature viewing of alltime and no, no woman is ever going to be impressed if you can quote any lines from the film, but boy is it fun!

When my family first bought a VHS player in 1988 when I was just five years old, this was the first VHS my parents picked up. I loved it at the time, but unlike so many things I loved as a kid, this stands up very well. The music is 80s hair metal and never less than hard-rocking fun (btw the soundtrack is also worth checking out) and goes perfectly with the on-screen boys action. The siege on Autobot City, the death of Optimus Prime, the reincarnation of Megatron as Galvatron and the final assault on the giant, robot planet Unicron are stunning. The film is always enjoyable and should not be dismissed as a kids movie, or just a run of the mill action flick.

The film is classic 1980s animation and should bring back warm memories as well as being a barrel full of fun no matter your age.

---

review by: Stutley date: 2004-03-20 rating:
Optimus
I think many can says they owe their lives to transformers, gave such a great message Optimus Prime the greatest hero we'll ever know how does he die? like a man fighting his ultimate enemy the best way to die!

This film is as good as when i saw it back in the eighties, Orson Welles last gig, and I do love Orson Welles he did a couple of very metal songs with ManOwaR. This really is the pinnacle of cartoons

---

review by: squeaksimus date: 2004-02-13 rating:
This DVD is brill
Contrary to popular believe this DVD is beyound brilliant, considering i was only little when it first came out, when it was reissued i remembered who all the characters were instantly, and i could fully appreciate the people who voiced the characters like, orson welles, leonard nemoy and all those other random people who were stars in their day, and who are still stars now forever immortilized in this movie.

There is also some speculation about ole Roddo Prime, in theory he was a very valuble character, i mean the Decepticons have the advantage of living under a new leader why not let the Autobots have the same, see how different it really is, also this character has had a chance to develope more, they had a chance to develope a street kid into a leader.

But at the end we see how the power of wisdom can beat all, a truely powerful meaning and a brilliant movie.

---

review by: date: 2004-01-18 rating:
The uncut version!
Okay, so it's not 'Godfather' standards, and as I can see now was basically intended as a toy advert, but in its own way, Transformers: The Movie is worth five out of five. It's well made, is pacy, has a great cast of cult actors (Eric Idle! Leonard Nimoy! ORSON WELLES!!!), a rockin' soundtrack and is supremely entertaining.

Maybe to a non-fan it wouldn't impress, but this review isn't aimed at unbelievers. The storyline is full of epic drama, and is sufficiently big to fill the demands of a one and a half hour movie. The characters are well established, the animation excellent, there is tragedy and humour.

And not only that, but the Maverick edition is the full, uncut, PG rated version I'd never known existed until I heard Spike Witwicky swear and saw rather more violence than I remembered. Unfortunately, this now seems to have been withdrawn and replaced by the more child friendly cut version.

After seeing this I'd recommend everybody reads the UK comic stories printed in 'Target 2006', 'Fallen Angel', 'Legacy of Unicron', 'Space Pirates' and 'Time Wars'. They form a great series of sequels which take the movie out of the cartoon continuity and place it slap-bang in the middle of the superior comic continuity.


review by: bluezeoranger date: 2003-11-13 rating:
One shall Stand, One shall Fall!
This movie is Fantastic! I am a lifelong Transformer Fan and I remember seeing the trailer for the film - The FINAL battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron was worth waiting for.

This is the epic struggle between good and evil which has "raged for millions of years".

Orson Wells puts in a terrific performance as the coldly evil Unicron and Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek is an excellent addition to the cast.

My only complaint is that Rodinus Prime means nothing. Optimus meant first & greatest - surely Hasbro could have done better.

Still his transform is good.

Many people believe that the death of Optimus ruined the third series but I believe it forced the Autobots to stand on their own two feet. For all thouse die-hard purists out there do not worry. The Greatest Autobot of them all, Optimus Prime WILL return.

A MUST BUY ITEM (Note:- U version suitable for everyone, PG version has one swear word in it - admittedly they are being swallowed by a giant planet at the time).

---

Similar products

Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers Animated Movie Adaptation (Transformers) (Transformers (Idw))
Transformers - The Complete Generation One Collection
Transformers The Movie - The Ultimate Edition (2 discs) [1986] Limited Edition Slip Case
Star Wars - The Clone Wars [2008]

---

Similar categories

Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Action & Adventure . All Action & Adventure
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Children's . Characters & Series . Transformers
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Children's . Family Favourites . All Family Favourites
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Children's . All Children's
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Comedy . Animated
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . Animated
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . All Science Fiction & Fantasy
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Science Fiction & Fantasy . Science Fiction
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . U
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1980 - 1989
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Language (theme_browse-bin) . English
Video . Video . Categories . Children's Videos . Animation . General
Video . Video . Categories . Children's Videos . Characters & Series . Transformers
Video . Video . Categories . Children's Videos . Family Favourites . General
Video . Video . Categories . Children's Videos . General
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)

---