Transformers: The Last Knight Review (Contains spoilers)
Although, the film is currently sitting at an unsurprisingly low – 17% on Rotten Tomatoes – you should know that that Transformers franchise has always been the exception, not the rule (i.e. none of the movies have reached a certified fresh). The reason is that the franchise’s films (five currently) are certified box office champions, in fact, they easily exceed over $600 million dollars worldwide. Audiences aren’t expecting Oscar level performances and drama – hence why it has always been a real blockbuster, a popcorn flick. And once again it mostly hits the mark.
Before conducting this review, I was alarmed to hear that the Transformers franchise may be on the decline. However, based on the audience attendance (young and old) for a late, Tuesday night showing the seats were filled - this is not a franchise that’s losing its luster any time soon. So, let’s get into it, shall we?
Con # 1: Slightly less memorable action, set pieces than the previous films - Despite the common criticisms given to Michael Bay movies (i.e. acting, bloated running time), the one thing his films get praise for is his keen direction of action. Yes, Transformers: The Last Knight has plenty of action we’d expect from Bay’s films.
However, I must say I was left wanting a tiny bit more – it felt as though this movie didn’t raise the ante in the action department as much as I expected. I will note later that this may be from the focus on an engaging storyline. No worries though – there are enough action sequences (though brief) that are good enough.
Con # 2: Less Memorable Characters & Villains (Humans & Robots alike) – Easily the biggest villain standout was Lockdown (from T4: Age of Extinction) – yet the villains in this film are incredibly underwhelming and could have done much more in this storyline given the stakes. Also, there are only a couple new charismatic additions in this movie; I suspect the standout will be “Cogman” – the faithful Transformer/Butler of Anthony Hopkin’s Character, “Sir Edmund Burton”.
None of the Autobots/Decepticons bring anything new to the table either – besides “Bumblebee” and “Optimus Prime”. However, I will give an honorable mention to the young actress, Isabela Moner’s character, “Izabella” – she was the most moving and certainly has a future in this franchise. Of course, Mark Wahlberg continues to do his best and now that reports state this will be his last film, “Cade Yeager” will be missed.
Pro # 1: The Plot is MORE engaging than the previous films - One of the refreshing aspects of this movie is that the plot feels much simpler and more pleasant. Although it goes for the commonly uninteresting “McGuffin” plot device (i.e. a certain object or item that the heroes and villains are vying for), the film gets quickly moving and stays focused on the stakes and objective of the Plot better than past movies.
Pro # 2: It respects the previous films, while heading things in a more exciting direction – BE WARNED (Mild Spoilers). There is a return of some characters and robots from the previous films, past references and prior knowledge about the movie’s mythology recieves an expansion (i.e. Sam Witwicky, Earth’s actual history and ties to why the Transformers are continually drawn to us.)
Pro # 3: The pay-offs are worth it with a satisfying conclusion from the previous two films’ storylines – There are many long-term payoffs that the franchise as a whole has been building (i.e. Bumblebee’s voice), in addition to a couple of character moments. Most importantly, the most troublesome storyline presented since the end of T3 and T4 is the relationship between the Autobots and the Humans. By the end of this film, that storyline thankfully concludes so that if this is truly the last movie – then the Humans and the Autobots have seemingly found a way to repair a trusting, close relationship that has always been a staple of the entire series.
The Most Important Factor: The Entertainment Value
Will you enjoy this movie? Yes, as summer blockbuster movies go – Transformers: The Last Knight certainly hits the favorability mark. There is plenty of “Michael Bay styled humor” (i.e. lots of cussing) - and there were plenty of laughs from the audience. One of the most appealing aspects of the Transformers films is that its pure spectacle – the epitome of escapism at the cinema.
For longtime Transformers fans – I would rank this movie as third best, after my personal favorites T1 and T3: Dark of the Moon. Finally, for the average moviegoer looking for a good summer movie – I would rank it the second best Summer Blockbuster film thus far (behind Wonder Woman). Stay for the Post-Credits scene – teasing the new villain.
David’s Score: 4/5 (3 Pros, Plus the Film’s Strongly Favorable Entertainment Value) = 80% B * Special props to Michael Bay for consistently showing audiences the awesomeness of the military and their unmatched heroism within his films.