Film Review: "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts" (2023).

"Unite or fall" in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. This science fiction action film directed by Steven Caple Jr., written by Joby Harold, Darnell Metayer, Josh Peters, Erich Hoeber, and Jon Hoeber, and based on Hasbro's Transformers toy line. It is the seventh installment in the Transformers film series and serves as both a standalone sequel to Bumblebee (2018) and a prequel to Transformers (2007). The film takes audiences on a '90s globetrotting adventure with the Autobots and introduce a whole new faction of Transformers - the Maximals - to join them as allies in the existing battle for earth.

In December 2018, when asked about the future of the Transformers franchise, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura stated that another big Transformers film "would be produced" and that it would be "different than the ones that we've done before." After the success of Bumblebee (2018) that year, he said that the series would make some changes in tone and style, inspired by the film. In January 2020, Paramount Pictures was reportedly working on two different Transformers films, one penned by James Vanderbilt and another penned by Harold. In November, Caple Jr. was hired to direct Harold's script. In February 2021, it was revealed that the film was going under the working title Transformers: Beast Alliance, hinting the introduction of characters from the Beast Wars franchise. During a virtual event held by Paramount in June, di Bonaventura and Caple revealed the official title as Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, and confirming that it would feature the Maximals, the Predacons, and a new take on the Terrorcons faction. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) would serve as a major influence for the film's tone and action. In an April 2023 interview, Di Bonaventura stated that the film's story will have a character arc for Optimus Prime prior to the 2007 film, akin to Bumblebee in his self-titled film. In May, Caple said that the events of the 2007 film will be preserved, but also that the story would be standalone. By early June 2021, Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Luna Lauren Vélez, Michael Kelly, Peter Cullen, Ron Perlman, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Yeoh, Pete Davidson, Liza Koshy, John DiMaggio, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and Colman Domingo were cast. At the same time, with a budget of $200 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late October. Filming took place in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and Montreal, as well as throughout Iceland, Peru, and New Mexico. The visual effects were provided by Moving Picture Company and Wētā FX instead of Industrial Light and Magic. The film was initially scheduled for a June 24, 2022 release date, before it was delayed to June 9, 2023.

The movie is full of humor and heart, most effectively provided by Ramos, who manages to be genuine, despite acting predominantly in front of fully CG personas.

The film may very well represent a vast improvement in quality for the Transformers series. But that means the previous Michael Bay films must be even worse than you think, as the film is pretty dang awful.

Simon says Transformers: Rise of the Beasts receives:

Also, see my reviews for Creed II and Bumblebee.