Bumblebee takes the Transformer franchise in a new and exciting direction, breathing new life into these films.
“Cybertron has fallen. When Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to defend Earth, his journey to become a hero begins. Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager trying to find her place in the world, discovers and repairs the battle-scarred robot, who’s disguised as a Volkswagen Beetle. As the Decepticons hunt down the surviving Autobots with the help of a secret agency led by Agent Burns (John Cena), Bumblebee and Charlie team up to protect the world in an action-packed adventure that’s fun for the whole family.”
Transformers stunned audiences with its wonderful special effects and action-packed sequences when it came out in 2007 that spawned four additional sequels that all seemed to dwindle in quality. Despite that, it brought to life a line of toys that captivating the imagination of children for decades. Bumblebee goes in an entirely different direction, instead of focusing on heavy action sequences and over the top explosions that Michael Bay is known for, the film largely follows a teenage girl and her coming to terms with the loss of her father. With Charlie’s connection to her father through the car she continues to work on after his death, she finds a special connection with Bumblebee, as he’s literally a car she can talk to. This relationship between them is definitely the heart of the entire story and I think gives it much more substance than some of the previous films. Though I can certainly understand some critical comments who wanted more action from a Transformers film, as you probably didn’t play with the toys as a kid and have the Autobots help a grieving teenager fit in better. Despite the lull in action in some parts, I felt as though this was the perfect way to redefine the franchise, giving it greater depth than what we’ve seen in previous films. You could call this the antithesis of Michael Bay’s version, notably during the sequence of the car chase when it looks as though there is going to be a massive pile-up with twisted metal, but all the characters able to screech to a halt inches away from destruction. When there’s a chance for explosions, this film goes the opposite way, and in that aspect I respect the hell out of it, taking a chance on doing something so against the grain on what we’re used to.
The actors from the original get a lot of flack for their acting abilities or lack thereof. I don’t think anyone can say the same of Hailee Steinfeld who, at such a young age, has acted alongside some true greats. I remember her most from True Grit in which she showed great range for someone so inexperienced. I don’t really care that much for John Cena in films. He may have great physical talent elsewhere, but in acting he doesn’t quite make the cut. Fortunately, he’s not in it all that much to detract from the rest of the film.
For those who aren’t aware, Bumblebee is a prequel, still staying in lines with the timeline for the rest of the films. This may have been apparent to most, but it wasn’t to me. The way it was marketed combined with the direction the subsequent films have taken in relation to this one made me think it was something new. We haven’t really had a franchise like this be rebooted before, so if that does happen, which is rumored to be in talks with the success of this film, then just how would that go? Would all the Transformers be the same? The same look, voices, etc? I guess we’ll see how that progresses, but the point being that it was a bit confusing just where this fit in with everything else. My biggest issue with the film isn’t a structural issue or anything with the story, it’s the nostalgia factor they beat you over the head with throughout the film. If you miss the graphic showing the year at the beginning of the film, you’ll quickly realize what decade you’re in thanks to the go-to 80’s songs that play relentlessly one after another, in one sequence in particular with hardly any break in between them. I can certainly understand, thanks to the generation in that time now a bit older and the target demographic when it comes to who played with the toys as a child, nostalgia is a giant money-maker in entertainment today, and Bumblebee does everything it can to capitalize on it, and it’s obvious. This 80’s overload subsides considerably as the film progresses, thankfully.
Video
Bumblebee is presented in 2160p 4k Ultra High Definition Widescreen 1.85:1 featuring HDR and Dolby Vision. The Dolby Vision looks fantastic, allowing the dynamic metadata to make every scene look as best as possible, creating some vibrant colors and deep darks. There are some beautiful sequences, such as the Cybertron sequence at the beginning of the film that looks absolutely stunning with the bright colors contrasting against a harsh and cold background. The film looks crystal clear throughout, with no issues noted. As great as the special effects were in 2007, they’re even more detailed and smooth than ever before.
Audio
The audio is presented in Dolby Atmos and sounds fantastic. The action sequences are going to utilize every aspect of the surround system, with the transformers turning into helicopters and jets, streaking overhead as the Atmos effect makes it sound like they’re on top of you. As much as I disliked the nostalgia aspect, the song choices were great and sounded just as good on this mix.
Special Features
There are plenty of extras to keep you busy with this set, including a short comic: Sector 7 Adventures: The Battle at Half Dome.
- Sector 7 Archive
- Deleted and Extended Scenes
- Outtakes
- Bee Vision: The Transformers Robots of Cybertron
- Bringing Bumblebee to the Big Screen
The Transformers franchise has had its ups and downs over the past twelve years, but Bumblebee is a step back in the right direction to make people excited again. With a lot of heart and plenty of Transformers action, this film will definitely renew that spark of enjoyment you had after the first film.
