Year: 2018
Director: Travis Knight
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, and Pamela Adlon
Tagline: Every adventure has a beginning
Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, and Pamela Adlon
Tagline: Every adventure has a beginning
Synopsis: His memories and voice gone, B-127 finds himself alone on earth until he makes friends with Charlie Watson. Renamed "Bumblebee," he must deal with old enemies if he wants to keep his new home and friends safe.
Review
As a kid, I had a bunch of Transformers toys. I had Jazz, Bumblebee, and, of course, Optimus Prime. Naturally, when the Transformers movie came out in 2007 I went to see it. And I hated it. Completely. I refused to see any of the subsequent films. And then I saw a trailer for Bumblebee. It immediately seemed like a different take on the robots in disguise. When the positive reviews started pouring in, I got more and more intrigued. So when I found out it was directed by the same fellow who directed Kubo and the Two Strings, I was sold on seeing it.
Forget all those other messes, Bumblebee is terrific!
Is it a perfect movie? No. In fact, if you were to break it down to its skeletal story, you've seen this movie before. You know these characters. Within 15 minutes, you could probably figure out every plot point and character arc for the rest of the film. Did I care about any of that when I was watching it? Not in the slightest. I was absolutely content to go for this joyful ride through 1987 with a battered yellow Volkswagen beetle.
The film rests on one thing: the relationship between Charlie Watson (perfectly portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld) and Bumblebee. The movie works because that relationship works. And that's saying something. Because Hailee was acting to nothing. And Bumblebee is mute for the majority of the movie. So, like WALL-E, Bumblebee's character and emotions have to be expressed through design and action. And the filmmakers do a fantastic job making this strange array of metal parts into a character we care about. He may be metal and wires, but Bumblebee has a very real heart. And when he bonds with Charlie, the rest of the film falls into place.
Also good was John Cena. He plays the typical military man who feels like he has to hunt down this dangerous alien invader. But he also has some of the most humorous lines in the movie and manages to make his character stand out from the cliche.
There's plenty of action throughout the film. It is mostly robots fighting other robots. But there were also plenty of quiet moments throughout the film that allowed for character growth and bonding.
The music for Bumblebee was also quite good. I loved the score. The soundtrack was also enjoyable. It served to ground the film in its 1987 setting. I didn't know all the songs, but I knew enough, which made it fun.
The film is rated PG-13 for action and some swearing (I honestly don't remember much). Most of the violence is between robots. A couple of humans also get killed in a way that is quick and gore-free (but gross if you think about it). It might be rather intense for younger viewers.
There are lots of movies to see this holiday season. So far, Bumblebee is my favorite. It's well-made, has just the right balance of action and heart, and it made me want to give a robot a hug (which hasn't happened since WALL-E). Be sure to stick around for the mid-credits scenes.
*** Spoiler Section ***
During the end scene, when Bumblebee's Camaro pulls up alongside a semi, I couldn't help but smile. And, sure enough, Optimus Prime is back for the mid-credits scene.
The first scene potentially sets up a sequel. But the best part is when Bumblebee uses his radio to tell Optimus his new name. Bumblebee has found his voice.
The second scene brings closure to Charlie's story. She has finally finished fixing and restoring her father's car. The scene says so much without a single word.
Forget all those other messes, Bumblebee is terrific!
Is it a perfect movie? No. In fact, if you were to break it down to its skeletal story, you've seen this movie before. You know these characters. Within 15 minutes, you could probably figure out every plot point and character arc for the rest of the film. Did I care about any of that when I was watching it? Not in the slightest. I was absolutely content to go for this joyful ride through 1987 with a battered yellow Volkswagen beetle.
The film rests on one thing: the relationship between Charlie Watson (perfectly portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld) and Bumblebee. The movie works because that relationship works. And that's saying something. Because Hailee was acting to nothing. And Bumblebee is mute for the majority of the movie. So, like WALL-E, Bumblebee's character and emotions have to be expressed through design and action. And the filmmakers do a fantastic job making this strange array of metal parts into a character we care about. He may be metal and wires, but Bumblebee has a very real heart. And when he bonds with Charlie, the rest of the film falls into place.
Also good was John Cena. He plays the typical military man who feels like he has to hunt down this dangerous alien invader. But he also has some of the most humorous lines in the movie and manages to make his character stand out from the cliche.
There's plenty of action throughout the film. It is mostly robots fighting other robots. But there were also plenty of quiet moments throughout the film that allowed for character growth and bonding.
The music for Bumblebee was also quite good. I loved the score. The soundtrack was also enjoyable. It served to ground the film in its 1987 setting. I didn't know all the songs, but I knew enough, which made it fun.
The film is rated PG-13 for action and some swearing (I honestly don't remember much). Most of the violence is between robots. A couple of humans also get killed in a way that is quick and gore-free (but gross if you think about it). It might be rather intense for younger viewers.
There are lots of movies to see this holiday season. So far, Bumblebee is my favorite. It's well-made, has just the right balance of action and heart, and it made me want to give a robot a hug (which hasn't happened since WALL-E). Be sure to stick around for the mid-credits scenes.
*** Spoiler Section ***
During the end scene, when Bumblebee's Camaro pulls up alongside a semi, I couldn't help but smile. And, sure enough, Optimus Prime is back for the mid-credits scene.
The first scene potentially sets up a sequel. But the best part is when Bumblebee uses his radio to tell Optimus his new name. Bumblebee has found his voice.
The second scene brings closure to Charlie's story. She has finally finished fixing and restoring her father's car. The scene says so much without a single word.
Quotable Quotes
- "Don't run! Do not run! ... She ran." -- Agent Burns
- "They literally call themselves 'Decepticons.' That doesn't set off any red flags?" -- Agent Burns
- "Wait. You mean you could have been a Camaro this whole time?" -- Charlie
ISFS
