Transformers: Rise Of The Beasts breakdown and review

What can you expect from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts? Spoilers are ahead.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr, is the 7th film in the live-action franchise of the popular Hasbro property Transformers. This time set in the ’90s, in a sequel to 2018’s Bumblebee.

What can you expect from it, and what goes down in Rise of Beasts?

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

Meet the Maximals

In the film’s opening, we are introduced to the following Maximals:

• Apelinq – a maximal who can turn into a gorilla. Sacrifices his life to delay terrorcon Scourge for the other maximals to escape their home planet, voiced by David Sobolov
• Optimus Primal – the new leader of the Maximals after Apelinq’s death, voiced by Ron Perlman.
• Airrazor – a maximal that can transform into a peregrine falcon and is given an outstanding performance and emotional arc in the film thanks to the voice talent of Michelle Yeoh
• Cheetor – a maximal that can change into, you guessed it, a cheetah voiced by Tongayi Chirisa
• Rhinox – David Sobolov also voices this tank of a maximal with the ability to become a rhinoceros.

The maximals lived a peaceful life on their home planet until the terrorcons, led by planet devourer Unicron, targeted their planet in search of the transwarp key. Amid the attack, Apelinq gives his life for the rest of the maximals to escape their dying world with the key and go into hiding.

Although the film title showcases “Rise of the Beasts,” we don’t see the maximals on screen as much as the film again focuses more on the relationship between Autobots and the humans as previous entries have done in the franchise. That said, when we see the maximals on screen, we see them shine in all their primal glory.

Humans and Autobots Working Together

The story focuses on Noah Diaz’s and his family’s hardships in New York. Struggling to find a decent job and help pay for his little brother’s medical bills, Noah (played by Anthony Ramos) has lost all faith until, during an attempted theft of a Porsche, he gets a chance encounter with hilarious Autobot Mirage, voiced by Pete Davidson, which changes Noah’s life forever. The story quickly takes off as the Autobots reveal themselves to Noah and an artifact researcher named Elena (Dominique Fishback), asking them for help in the fight against the terrorcons. We meet Airrazor, who ties in the maximals’ role in the story.

This formula works well, as it’s been done before in previous films, with Autobots relying on humans to get specific tasks done for the sake of storytelling for the film. It would have been nice to see the story focus on Noah and his little brother and give the movie a bigger emotional hook. Still, instead, we get Noah and Elena, who by all means, do well in their roles respectively, and make most of their pairing, but being as they just met and got thrown into this crazy alien war, they have little to no time to form a genuine bond, and their chemistry seems a little forced at times.

Terrorcons are TERRIFYING

Peter Dinklage brings the chilling bounty hunter of Unicron, Scourge, to life. Other terrorcons we meet on screen are katana-wielding Nightbird, voiced by Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, and the muscle of the terrorcons Battletrap, the third character voiced by David Sobolov in the film.

The terrorcons show no mercy when it comes to getting what they want. Serving their master Unicron, the terrorcons are a terrible force when battling the Autobots and Maximals. Every fight sequence with them was thrilling. You will be on the edge of your seat for most of their altercations.

G.I. JOE and Transformers crossover rumor turns fact

By the film’s end, we see Anthony Ramos’s Noah attending another job interview with hopes of a positive outcome. During the interview, the hiring associate reveals that he is part of a secret organization that knows everything that happened with the transformers and Noah’s involvement down to every detail.

Noah gets alarmed at first but is later calmed when presented with the idea that this organization can provide 24hr medical assistance for Noah’s ill brother and is handed a business card and asked to consider the opportunity of joining the organization. Noah stares at the card, and it is revealed to the viewers that it is a G.I. Joe business card.

Rumors suggested that a potential crossover event of the G.I. Joe and Transformers franchises. After Rise of the Beasts cliffhanger of an ending and big reveal, it is safe to say that this crossover is definitely happening or at least in the works if audiences receive this well.

Is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts worth seeing?

With other giant franchises gracing our screens showing us marvelous superheroes, badass, almost immortal assassins, and a family of street racers turned global vigilantes, it makes you wonder if fans will ever get exhausted of CGI-filled action-packed features. One thing is for sure; the Transformers franchise has a charm that will always make you feel like a kid again.

Rise of the Beasts is a popcorn flick the whole family can enjoy, reminding us why going to the movies is an experience like no other. It’s action-packed, funny, and heartwarming. It’s best to catch it on the most giant screen possible and, if available, in 4DX or IMAX formats for the optimal viewing experience.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is now playing in theaters.