The seventh installment in the live-action Transformers franchise, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023), produced by Hasbro and Paramount Pictures, continues the narrative laid out in previous films, interweaving the fates of humans, Autobots, and Maximals. This latest adventure transports audiences back to the 1990s.
"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) serves as a sequel to "Bumblebee" (2018). Interestingly, director Steven Caple Jr. was born in 1988, after the prime years of Generation 1, but right in time for the "Beast Wars: Transformers" era (1996-1999). The film directly follows the timeline of "Bumblebee" (2018), set in 1987, with the events of this new installment unfolding in 1994.
Much like "Bumblebee" (2018), "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) executes a deft course correction within the live-action series. It aims to captivate both older Millennials who cherish fond memories of 80s and 90s cartoons and a younger generation of fans. The film dedicates ample screen time to paying homage to the 1984 Generation 1 cartoon, the "Beast Wars: Transformers" (1996-1999) series, and classic plotlines from the live-action movies.
A significant draw for longtime fans is the voice cast. Peter Cullen reprises his iconic role as the voice of Optimus Prime, a position he has held since Generation 1. Ron Perlman, who voiced Optimus Primal in the animated short "Transformers: Power of the Primes" (2018), lends his voice to the same character here. Michelle Yeoh voices Airazor, adding star power to the lineup.
"Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) opens with a scene of Unicron devouring a planet, mirroring the first scene of the 1986 animated film. Unicron's method of controlling mercenaries also echoes tactics seen in Generation 1, a moment sure to thrill dedicated fans.
The storyline, reminiscent of "Transformers" (2007) and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009), revolves around the pursuit of a crucial Cybertronian artifact: the Transwarp Key. This key can open portals across space and time and, if obtained by the villains, could allow Unicron to reach Earth. The Transwarp Key's energy pulses also have the power to revive Transformers. Notably, a key was featured in Generation 1 as well, where it was used to activate the mystical Vector Sigma.
In "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023), Mirage steps into a role similar to that of Bumblebee in previous films, acting as the bridge between Transformers and humans. Mirage's disguise as a Porsche marks this vehicle's first appearance in the Autobot lineup. Unlike "Transformers" (2007), where Porsche was not involved, and the protagonist's father even mocked the brand, here Mirage's duplicate ability is inspired not by the original Generation 1 concept but by Sixshot from the Japanese "Transformers: The Headmasters" (1987) series.
In addition to the Autobots, the new heroic faction introduced in the film, the Maximals, hails from the Beast Wars era. Due to Cybertron's energy shortages, the Maximals are designed to conserve energy by being similar in size to Earth's animals. However, the movie modifies this scale, with the gorilla character towering over Optimus Prime. The Autobots refer to the Maximals as warriors from both the past and future—a concept that only fans of Beast Wars will understand. Initially, the Maximals, descendants of the Autobots, traveled back to prehistoric Earth, becoming warriors of the past. The Maximals saving humanity is a core element of the Beast Wars storyline.
The movie introduces a new villain faction, the Terrorcons, who have been mercenaries since the Generation 1 era. The Terrorcons' dramatic entrance as three fireballs descending from the sky pays homage to the scene in "Transformers" (2007), where Optimus Prime and the Autobots arrive on Earth. The leader of the Terrorcons, Nemesis Prime, first appeared in the 2001 series "Transformers: Robots in Disguise," disguising himself as a truck. This time, his appearance combines elements from multiple live-action films: his humanoid form resembles The Fallen from "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" (2009); his vehicle mode is akin to the tanker truck Megatron from "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011); and his role as a mercenary leader hunting Autobots and Maximals for trophies mirrors Lockdown from "Transformers: Age of Extinction" (2014).
From "Transformers" (2007) to "Transformers: The Last Knight" (2017), the narrative centered on white protagonists saving the world. This time, the focus shifts to Latinx and African-American heroes. The protagonist in "Transformers: The Last Knight" (2017), Cade, was the Last Knight, while the new Latinx protagonist, born in Brooklyn, is also a chosen one. During the climactic battle, the main character dons an Iron Man-like suit. As Marvel originally developed the Transformers franchise, Hasbro can avoid paying royalties to Marvel Studios.
As a film set in the 1990s, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) features a fitting soundtrack, recreating that era's hip-hop and Brooklyn culture. Songs like "On My Soul," produced by Paramount Pictures, are infused with classic 90s hip-hop elements, and the soundtrack includes several familiar tracks from the past.
The film's finale includes a significant Easter egg. After stopping Unicron and his minions in Peru, Noah Diaz returns to New York and continues his job search. During an interview, the interviewer reveals his awareness of Noah and his friend's world-saving feats. He hands Noah a business card, inviting him to join his team dedicated to handling Earth's crises. The card features a logo with a falcon head, a star on a shield emblem, and the name G.I. Joe—Hasbro's other iconic brand.
In the 1980s, Hasbro often crossed over G.I. Joe characters with Transformers in cartoons and comics. In October 2015, Hasbro ambitiously planned to interweave the Transformers cinematic universe with the stories of G.I. Joe (1985) and M.A.S.K. (1985), creating more crossover films. However, these plans were shelved following the failure of "Transformers: The Last Knight" (2017). The appearance of the Transformers and G.I. Joe crossover in "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) suggests a potential revival of this shared universe.
Since "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" (2011), except for "Bumblebee" (2018), the Transformers movies have grown increasingly bombastic, often devolving into Hollywood-style popcorn flicks. However, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023) manages to recapture the essence of the original series, offering something for Generation 1 fans, Beast Wars enthusiasts, and movie buffs alike. The numerous Generation 1 references are particularly satisfying for longtime fans, providing a nostalgic journey back to the roots of the Transformers universe.
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