In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, we are introduced to Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), a young man struggling to make ends meet while caring for his mother and his ailing younger brother, Kris Diaz (Dean Scott Vazquez). Facing financial hardship, Noah makes the difficult decision to steal a luxury sports car. Unbeknownst to him, this is no ordinary Porsche, but the Autobot Mirage (Pete Davidson). Noah soon finds himself embroiled in a conflict far beyond his understanding. Teaming up with his newfound robot allies and Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback), they embark on a mission to secure an artifact capable of transporting the Autobots back to their home planet, Cybertron. Their efforts are complicated by the villainous Scourge (Peter Dinklage), who seeks the same artifact and will stop at nothing to obtain it. Fortunately, the Autobots receive unexpected assistance from the Maximals, led by Optimus Primal (Ron Perlman).
Back in 2002, I received a gift certificate for a tattoo, and it took nearly a year to decide on a design. I ultimately chose the Autobot logo, which I had tattooed on my right shoulder. From my first encounter with the animated Transformers series, I’ve been a devoted fan of the franchise. I recently revisited the initial live-action film from 2007, and it wasn’t as disappointing as I remembered. However, the subsequent installments in the original trilogy arguably declined in quality. Following those were two less memorable sequels starring Mark Wahlberg, which, unusually for me, I’ve only watched once each.
A significant improvement arrived in 2018 with the premiere of Bumblebee, where the filmmakers seemed to finally align on a successful formula. The narrative was compelling and well-structured, and, crucially, Optimus Prime’s design reflected his classic appearance from the 1980s animated series.
Instead of a direct sequel to Bumblebee, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts was announced. This film shifts the setting to the 1990s and introduces the Maximals, robotic counterparts of various animals. These characters originated in the Beast Wars animated series from 1996, which I encountered long after I had ceased watching animated Transformers content, thus I lack any nostalgic connection to them.
In Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, the Maximals are initially presented on their home world, where the fauna curiously mirrors that of Earth. They resemble gorillas, eagles, and other terrestrial animals, a detail I find somewhat perplexing. Given that Transformers typically adapt their appearance to blend in with their surroundings on a given planet, this felt somewhat incongruous.
We are then introduced to the new human protagonist, Noah Diaz. While slightly older than previous human counterparts, his storyline follows a familiar pattern, albeit with the quick-witted and confident Autobot Mirage taking the place of the taciturn Bumblebee.
The film maintains a brisk pace, and the action sequences are executed effectively and are enjoyable to watch. While there are some unexpected plot developments, the prequel nature of the film tempers any significant surprise regarding the ultimate outcome. The human leads are given ample screen time, and their interactions with the robots feel believable and contribute to the overall narrative. However, the concluding battle sequence presents some challenges.
Regrettably, the final battle extends for too long and lacks visual depth. Unlike previous films that staged climactic battles amidst cityscapes, skyscrapers, vehicles, and infrastructure, this confrontation takes place on a desolate and visually unappealing terrain. Despite the presence of numerous characters, the setting’s emptiness diminishes the overall impact and engagement.
To some extent, the choice to stage the battle away from populated areas is understandable, given the film’s prequel status and the fact that the Transformers were unknown to the general public in the first Transformers film. This premise becomes increasingly difficult to accept after two prequel films.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts offers entertainment value and introduces some novel sequences to the Transformers cinematic universe. However, the film ultimately feels somewhat unfulfilling, as moments with the potential for emotional resonance are resolved too quickly and without sufficient development.
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is a film that benefits from Dolby Atmos and 4K presentation. The visual and auditory enhancements elevate the viewing experience, showcasing the technology to its fullest potential. The image is presented in 2160p with Dolby Vision, delivering exceptional sharpness and seamless integration of the animated characters within the environment. Color reproduction is outstanding, with the museum chase scene standing out as a visual highlight. Black levels are deep, ensuring that the robots remain discernible in darker environments. The Dolby Atmos soundtrack is equally impressive, particularly during the battle sequence in Peru, where the sound system dynamically conveys the action along the mountainside. The audio mixing is well-balanced, eliminating the need for volume adjustments throughout the film.
The Transformers: Rise of the Beasts UHD edition includes a variety of bonus features, such as documentaries and deleted scenes, adding further value to the release.
In conclusion, I recommend Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, primarily because it provides a highly entertaining viewing experience (despite the aforementioned drawbacks) and ranks as one of the stronger entries in the Transformers film series. The high quality of the UHD edition further enhances its appeal. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the franchise, especially given the closing nod to another property, a collaboration that holds both promise and potential pitfalls depending on its execution.
SF Studios provided a review copy for this evaluation. The provision of materials does not influence our editorial independence; our reviews are conducted objectively and with the interests of our readers and consumers as our primary focus.
