During the 1980s, one cartoon series ruled the airwaves... TheTransformers. This paragon of consumerism was created with a dual purpose--to entertain and to galvanize children to buy the toys. Somewhere along the line, the show became a cult favorite, so in 1986 they fashioned an epic tale of good versus evil specifically for the big screen. The result looked vaguely like an animated remake of Star Wars. Who are the Transformers? The good guys are the Autobots: Optimus Prime, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, and many more. Their mortal enemies are the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron and StarScream. The Autobots must save their home planet from an evil entity known as Unicron (voiced by Orson Welles). At the same time, they must defend themselves from an all-out attack from the Decepticons. Along the way, lives are lost, battles are fought, and a new Autobot leader is born. The story and action never stop in a thrilling ride that often makes you forget that you're watching an '80s cartoon with inferior graphics. The violence will also come as a mild shock to those who haven't seen this film for a while--definitely a movie for the 8 and over audience. For those who grew up on this series, this is a movie that must be watched. Unlike cartoon serials before and after, The Transformers relied on solid stories and interesting characters, a manifesto the film itself upholds with gusto and grace while also being morally responsible. Don't underestimate this movie; there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. --Jeremy Storey

Average Customer Review: ( 620 customer reviews )
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One for the old die-hard fans, those who watched it when they were young, and for those who are only just understanding the brilliance of 'robots in disguise' via Beast Wars it equals an entertaining history lesson. Don't watch it, however, if you're over 10 and have never experienced the thrill of the TransFormers, you may disappointed and if you do actually enjoy it that'll mean more harm than good.

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

This Movie Deserves To Be On DVD!May 29, 2000
By James Bullock
Ah, yes! Anyone who was a kid in the 1980s should be quite familiar with Transformers. The series was great, although it suffered from choppy animation. In 1986, the Transformers was treated to the big screen with almost universal pans from critics....but critics don't buy tickets, the rest of us do! The movie is almost non-stop action, with death and destruction on both sides of the coin, speaking of Autobots and Decepticons of course. The most memorable scene (and controversial) would have to be the death of Optimus Prime. That one still gets to me after all these years. That being said, the rest of the movie is a lot of fun to watch and there's a little bit of humor in it to ease the intensity...which is good for the younger viewers. As for the quality of the movie, the animation is more polished and the colors are bit more metallic, giving it more realism. When this is released on DVD, I hope they improve the soundtrack on all counts because the VHS release was weak on the sound effects especially. The explosions were like pop guns and the rest of the sounds just didn't do the movie justice. The music and dialog was better, though not by much. If the the soundtrack is improved upon the DVD release, you better keep your hand on the volume control because it WILL shake your home apart! For the rest of you, enjoy!

10 of 10 found the following review helpful:

DVD ReviewNov 13, 2000
By JG "jg0001"
Just watched the DVD edition of Transformers: The Movie and was very impressed with the audio/video and overall presentation of the movie. Although the audio is 5.1, it seems as if the front and rear channels are almost identical. I guess we shouldn't expect much from such an old movie. I would have preferred a widescreen presentation (none available) but the video is otherwise very crisp and clear. Any fan of the original 1980's show will want to pick this DVD up. When the theme song (in rock form) comes on during the menu, you'll feel like you're 10 all over again, waiting anxiously for your favorite transformers to lighten up your day after a hard day at school.

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