Logan Sork Film Reviews
Bumblebee
The Transformers franchise is one of the most tiring franchises I have seen in some time. Beginning in 2007, things got off to an okay start with Michael Bay’s Transformers which had great action and visual effects but offered little else. While things may have started out good, it was all downhill from there, with each sequel getting worse and worse. With so much time passing and little to no improvement over the course of five overlong bloated action films, the franchise was in need of an overhaul. That is exactly what is delivered with the spin-off film, Bumblebee, which takes a simpler approach to the concept, focusing on the emotional core and in breathes new life into the franchise, though it is still burdened with some similar problems that plagued the previous films.
Bumblebee is directed by Travis Knight and serves as a prequel/ soft reboot of the Michael Bay Transformers films. The story is centered around the titular Bumblebee, an Autobot scout who is sent to earth by his leader, Optimus Prime, to establish a base of operations after their home world of Cybertron fell to the Decepticons. When he arrives to earth, complications cause him to lose his ability to speak and drive his systems into critical failure, causing his memory to be wiped in the process. He is then discovered by Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), a young girl looking for a car as a way to take a break from her overbearing family. The two start a friendship, as they are both trying to figure out their place in the world. As their friendship blossoms, they must work together to accomplish Bumblebee’s mission, all while avoiding government agents who have aligned themselves with Deceptions sent to capture Bumblebee.
What separates Bumblebee from the rest of the Transformers films is its heart. The first film had hints of emotional depth to it, but that element was abandoned in a series of sequels that mostly focused on action and overcomplicated plots. With Bumblebee, Travis Knights and screenwriter Christina Hodson take a simple approach to the plot, allowing the film to focus on fleshing out our main leads without having to worry about the complications of the plot. This puts the film at both an advantage and disadvantage. On the one hand, the characters (for the most part) feel real, as does the emotional bond between Bumblebee and Charlie, making for some good character beats along the way. On the other, the film never really feels original, but rather like a rehash of other stories in which someone encounters an unknown creature or person and befriends it. The film feels very similar to the likes of E.T. and the Iron Giant in terms of conflicts and storylines. For people seeking a simple but heartfelt story, this film will suffice, however those looking for something new and original need not apply.
Another element that separates this film from others is the action and overall look of the film. Michael Bay’s other Transformers films were highly stylized. This worked for the first film, but as the films went along the action and style got tiring. After all, there are only so much over the top, highly saturated action sequences one can watch before it becomes boring. Much like the story, the film’s action sequences and overall look take a more simplistic route. One element that this approach improves in a major way are the transformers themselves. In the other films, their designs while impressive were overly complicated, resulting in action scenes that looked like giant blobs of metal smashing into one another. Here, the complicated designs are ditched in favor of more traditional designs, making for action that is easier to follow than the previous entries. The simpler designs also allow for more attachment to the titular characters than the previous films. This can mainly be seen with Bumblebee, whose simplified look and animations allow for a surprisingly expressive range of actions and facial movements, allowing the audience to relate to a character who speaks very little throughout the film.
One of the biggest problems that the franchise has faced is the lack of realistic characters, and sadly tis film is no different. Apart from our two main leads, the entire cast of characters is comprised of stereotypes and cutout characters. You have the romantic love interest, the mean girls, the evil government agent and the run of the mill parents. While this problem could’ve been solved by performances that elevate the characters, there aren’t any to be found here.
In the end, Bumblebee is an enjoyable, if perfectly average, movie. You can watch it, enjoy it while it’s on and forget about it and no one would blame you for it. Anyone who is a Transformers fan or simply looking for straightforward film with a good heart, an enjoyable story and some entertaining action set-pieces will find enjoyment. On the flip-side, those looking for a new spin on the alien encounter story or interesting dynamic characters will probably be left disappointed.
6/10
Bumblebee is directed by Travis Knight and serves as a prequel/ soft reboot of the Michael Bay Transformers films. The story is centered around the titular Bumblebee, an Autobot scout who is sent to earth by his leader, Optimus Prime, to establish a base of operations after their home world of Cybertron fell to the Decepticons. When he arrives to earth, complications cause him to lose his ability to speak and drive his systems into critical failure, causing his memory to be wiped in the process. He is then discovered by Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), a young girl looking for a car as a way to take a break from her overbearing family. The two start a friendship, as they are both trying to figure out their place in the world. As their friendship blossoms, they must work together to accomplish Bumblebee’s mission, all while avoiding government agents who have aligned themselves with Deceptions sent to capture Bumblebee.
What separates Bumblebee from the rest of the Transformers films is its heart. The first film had hints of emotional depth to it, but that element was abandoned in a series of sequels that mostly focused on action and overcomplicated plots. With Bumblebee, Travis Knights and screenwriter Christina Hodson take a simple approach to the plot, allowing the film to focus on fleshing out our main leads without having to worry about the complications of the plot. This puts the film at both an advantage and disadvantage. On the one hand, the characters (for the most part) feel real, as does the emotional bond between Bumblebee and Charlie, making for some good character beats along the way. On the other, the film never really feels original, but rather like a rehash of other stories in which someone encounters an unknown creature or person and befriends it. The film feels very similar to the likes of E.T. and the Iron Giant in terms of conflicts and storylines. For people seeking a simple but heartfelt story, this film will suffice, however those looking for something new and original need not apply.
Another element that separates this film from others is the action and overall look of the film. Michael Bay’s other Transformers films were highly stylized. This worked for the first film, but as the films went along the action and style got tiring. After all, there are only so much over the top, highly saturated action sequences one can watch before it becomes boring. Much like the story, the film’s action sequences and overall look take a more simplistic route. One element that this approach improves in a major way are the transformers themselves. In the other films, their designs while impressive were overly complicated, resulting in action scenes that looked like giant blobs of metal smashing into one another. Here, the complicated designs are ditched in favor of more traditional designs, making for action that is easier to follow than the previous entries. The simpler designs also allow for more attachment to the titular characters than the previous films. This can mainly be seen with Bumblebee, whose simplified look and animations allow for a surprisingly expressive range of actions and facial movements, allowing the audience to relate to a character who speaks very little throughout the film.
One of the biggest problems that the franchise has faced is the lack of realistic characters, and sadly tis film is no different. Apart from our two main leads, the entire cast of characters is comprised of stereotypes and cutout characters. You have the romantic love interest, the mean girls, the evil government agent and the run of the mill parents. While this problem could’ve been solved by performances that elevate the characters, there aren’t any to be found here.
In the end, Bumblebee is an enjoyable, if perfectly average, movie. You can watch it, enjoy it while it’s on and forget about it and no one would blame you for it. Anyone who is a Transformers fan or simply looking for straightforward film with a good heart, an enjoyable story and some entertaining action set-pieces will find enjoyment. On the flip-side, those looking for a new spin on the alien encounter story or interesting dynamic characters will probably be left disappointed.
6/10