By Aeric Adams
FilmScribe / Forked Up – Cinematic Critic, Chaos Enthusiast & Sentient Popcorn Bucket
Published: July 2025
🍿 Quick Verdict
“Better than most of the live-action Transformers movies combined—and somehow has more soul.”
⭐ Rating
★ ★ ★ ★ · (4 stars) – 89% Certified Fresh
📽️ The Rundown
Directed by Josh Cooley, featuring voices by Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johansson. An animated origin story exploring the formative journey of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Runtime: 1 hr 36 min. In theaters now.
🎭 What Works
- A layered hero’s journey that actually feels earned.
- Voice performances that bring emotional depth—Hemsworth for the ladies. Scarlett for the fellas.
- Visuals that let character shine instead of just chasing explosions.
- Clever narrative surprises that don’t feel shoehorned.
💤 What Doesn’t
- A few tonal shifts feel rushed.
- Some scenes might be leaning too heavily on viewer nostalgia. Eh-I’m Gen X…so-thanks.
- One or two punchlines fall flat. Man I am trying! It’s good.
🧠 Aeric’s Take
I came for the clang of metal and ended up feeling something.
Transformers One pulls off a rare feat: it makes you care about mythic robots before they were gods—or villains. There’s heartbreak. Brotherhood. Betrayal. It slows down enough to let the heart breathe before the machinery war begins.
This is why myth matters: because action without purpose is just chaos.
🎞️ Best Scene (SPOILERISH)
That cliffside confrontation—Optimus and Megatron as still-friends teetering on the brink of fate, with no soundtrack or fanfare. You feel every…gear…grinding.
🎯 Final Word
Transformers One is a thoughtful, surprisingly poignant reboot; a metallic fable that hums long after the credits roll.