Transformers isn’t just a film or a franchise, it's an emotion for a generation who grew up reading comics and watching prodigious cartoons. Despite its humongous fan following, watching Transformers movies became an exercise after the third instalment. The well-received “Bumblebee” finally made the impact the makers sought, however, compared to the previous directors, Steven Caple Jr hardly appeared to care about breaking the benchmark set by Michael Bay in 2007.
Well, considering the long wait of five years, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts definitely isn’t the film to be expected and the makers could have done a lot better than serving the audience a bowl full of sloppy characters and tasteless drama.
The much-anticipated film of 2023 definitely introduces a new shade in the storyline bringing back the beloved characters from the mid-90s animated series Beast Wars into live-action for the first time. The seventh edition in the franchise also adds the Maximal faction into the already volatile mix of humans, Autobots, and Terrorcons.
Set in the backdrop of 1994’s Brooklyn, New York, the new Transformers film features Noah, an ex-military electronics expert, and Elena, an intern at a museum and an artefact researcher, trying to defend Earth against Unicron’s evil forces. The two team up with Autobots and Maximals to stop Unicron’s henchman Scourge who is trying to get his hands on the Transwrap Key, a space-time conduit that’s been split in two.
The franchise has long benefited from low expectations and the latest entry does the same without giving any substance. Sadly, the film doesn't even come close to a passing grade. The film even fails to provide either material or escapism, and it seemingly begs you to turn your brain off while you try to contemplate the incomplete fights and bombard you with stimuli that keep you painfully awake and aware for an unusually long two hours and 16 minutes.
Despite its shortcomings, the film does introduce an interesting line-up of robots. However, no matter how you look at it, the entire film can be seen as a contest between no less than four titans.
Packed with subtle comic punches, the action, adventure does manage to get a smirk out of you, but is that energy enough for the fans? The theatre might even burst into hoots at some point but, the film only leaves you disappointed towards the end.
Mirage and Noah aka Sonic’s Camaraderie adds a new filter as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts looks past Bumblee and his human connections. The fresh pairing does add an interesting twist.
However, that alone wouldn't help the film turn impressive.
The question remains, is the film connected to any of the previous timelines? Somewhat!
The makers have claimed it to be a stand-alone film, and you would hardly find any connections with the previous films.
In conclusion, watch the film at your own risk.
RATINGS: 2/5 (**)