Customer Reviews

Transformers - The Movie (Collectors Edition) [DVD]

5 star:		(161)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

First of amazing film, watched it like once a week as a kid and its still good. Great 80's music and all teh best Transformers in a film thats actually well done.

By the way all the people who rated this film 1 star are merely rating their own intelligence because they were unable to read a description "A classic of 1980's animation" or look at a picture (the big cover) with "1986" next to it. Sounds harsh but if your going to mark a film down for your in-ability to read then you deserve everything you get.

This is quite simply the best animated movie ever made. It manages to appeal to both the adults of the Transformer generation and the kids of today (How they loved Grimlock, hehe). Transformers combines heavy action with some uncharacteristic themes for a children's film (Characters actually DIE. Watch Prime's death, it's pretty deep for a kids film). The film is all the better for it, though. Just watch the cartoons kids have to put up with today - pokemon, etc. Crap. Buy TF:TM and show them what a REAL cartoon with a REAL story is like. If they're not hooked on 80's synth/rock/heavy metal by the end of it, buy the soundtrack and they will be =)

I can't praise this film enough. And now it can live forever on DVD! Now all we need is the episodes released in chronological order so we can force kids to watch them and make the world a better place.

Look, just buy it, ok? And when you're done buy the toys. Now they were REAL toys back then. Why I remember.......

Very very good bluray transfer, the spot colours in the animation look great. Only problem with it is the scratches on the source material which are very difficult to remove anyway but as most of the film is in space you cant really see it anyway.
Story is the same as it always was, great transfer. POOR extras = none.

Definitely worth buying though :D

To quote from the Amazon Blurb:
A classic of 1980's animation, based on the popular TV series, TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE features a star-studded array of vocal talent, including Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, and Casey Kasem.

This is clearly stated on the item description page...how could people miss that? No mention of Michael Bay or Megan Fox there...

No one has been ripped off.This version is simply a RE-RELEASE.

I have been a huge fan of Japanese Animation for 10 years now and I have got to admit that Transformers The Movie has got to be one of the best Japanese/American cartoon movies I have seen.
Everything about it is different from the tv series e.g. The drawings and animation is very detailed, the soundtrack is completely outstanding and very pleasantly surprising. An increase in violent content which was different and very interesting. The voice cast was brilliant, a host of new characters and the movie itself was exciting and entertaining from beginning to end.
A very well handled English Version which must have been a fantastic Cinema Experience back when it was first released.

Before you begin reading, you should note that the rating given is not a reflection on the film itself, but of the quality of the conversion to DVD.

As a massive fan of the Transformers series, I had always hoped that it would be re-released with the emergence of DVD. So when I first found out that Transformers:The Movie was available I obviously had to buy it straight away!

However, when I started watching it, I noticed that it looked a bit dark at times. Naturally my first thought was to adjust the contrast on my TV, but to my surprise this didn't make any difference. It seems that somewhere along the line during the making of the DVD the picture got somehow "lost". For adjusting the contrast doesn't reveal the images "hidden in the shade", it simply makes the darkness lighter.

You'll obviously have to see the movie to fully understand what I mean, but you have to wonder how something like this could happen. Surely someone must watch a DVD before it gets released to check for bugs/flaws?

There is also a minor gripe about the sound. For while it is of a high quality and sounds distinct, it is significantly quieter than the 30 second clip which preceeds the main menu. Another question which needs to be answered.

Anyway, on to the film itself. There is only one word which can be used to describe it. Epic. This really does take the step up from the TV series. The characters have a stunning manga/cel-shaded look about them (though the backgrounds do slip occasionally), and the storyline is superb. It also has an incredible, stirring soundtrack which complements the action perfectly.

Be warned! If you've never seen The Movie before, you're in for a shock. For while getting shot a few times in the TV series might sting a little, getting shot once in the film can be fatal. The first 30 minutes especially is exceptional and I wanted it to go on for much longer. It would have been nice if more characters from the original series had been used, but the new characters introduced are strong and it felt as though they'd been around for ages.

The extras are a mixed bunch. You get a 4 minute intro taken from BBC2's "I Love The 80s" series, a picture gallery (which you might not quite believe when you hear it), the original trailer and an episode from the Takara series-a truly awful sub-standard episode from Japan, with dodgy US daytime soap actors and a muddled storyline.

The Transformers are so much better than anything around today, and put current kids TV to shame. While it does have it's problems, unless an improved version is released, this DVD is something that any fan cannot do without! Just don't throw out the original VHS if you have it!

Because I was so expectant, the film gets 5 stars, but the DVD only gets 3.

Here we have a timeless classic. Transformers: The Movie was unquestionably a milestone and turning point in the history of the Robots in Disguise. It's failure at the box office doesn't mean a thing these days, as it has since gone on to become one of the most memorable cult classics of all time.

The critics who panned it as being `one, giant toy commercial' didn't know what they were on about. It changed everything about Transformers, introducing such radical, yet awe-inspiring concepts that inspired and fuelled the success of Transformers comics and future shows. The movie also showcased deeper and darker storytelling than that usually seen in the first two seasons of the TV show, boasted a phenomenal soundtrack and all-star voice cast, and had animation beyond anything else from Generation 1.

For those who don't know the plot of the film, it goes like this. It's set in the year 2005 (God, does that feel weird now or what?). Twenty years have passed since the end of Season 2, and things have gone very bad for the Autobots. The Decepticons now rule Cybertron, and whilst the Autobots are planning their uprising, the Decepticons attack Autobot City: Earth to wipe out their arch-enemies once and for all. But whilst all this is going on, a new threat arrives which makes the civil war pale in comparison. Unicron, a monster planet that is intent on destroying the Transformer race.

Now, there're have been so many DVD releases of this film. Starting in 2001 when Maverick released a long-awaited Region 2 copy of this film. Then we've had versions of the film that can be purchased for a fiver and come without any extras. And when Metrodome took up the rights to produce Transformers DVDs, as well as releasing box sets of the G1 show, they naturally released their `Reconstructed' version of the movie. And now, to coincide with the release of the new live-action Transformers film, we have the Ultimate Edition of the cult classic, this time spread onto 2 discs.

Regardless of how it's released on DVD, I will always give the FILM five stars. The issue here is whether or not the extras make this edition the DVD release of Transformers: The Movie the one we've REALLY been waiting for after all this time.

Surprisingly, there are TWO versions of the film released here, but there's a reason for this. On disc one, you have an extensively remastered version of the original cinematic release from the US, presented here in 16:9 widescreen format and complete with a 5.1 surround sound option. This version of the film is absolutely gorgeous. It is so crisp and colourful and the audio is truly of cinematic levels, which will please any widescreen/surround sound fan. However, because this is the original US version, you will notice changes in this that may take you by surprise, such as the inclusion of Spike's infamous expletive and changes that I had never even heard of, like Superman-style opening credits and the absence of narrations here and there by Victor Caroli.

On disc two, you have the original 4.3 full screen version of the film. And it's still a real treat to see. The visual here is more darker and thus suits the tone of the film more, regardless of the superior mastering on the widescreen version. It's also more pleasing to see the familiar UK moments, such as the Star Wars-style intro at the beginning and the narrations that are missing from the widescreen release. Both versions have their pros and cons over the other, but either way, it's all good to see. The choice of full screen or widescreen is refreshing and one of the greatest strengths of this Ultimate Edition.

Moving on to the extras, there are absolutely loads here, again spread onto the two discs. These include the alternate US and UK scenes (highlighting the differences between the cinematic releases), trailers, TV spots, character bios, animation tests, storyboards, DVD-ROM original script and the Paramount trailer for the latest live-action film.

All these are brilliant and earn their keep on the two-disc set, but there're extras that truly stand out above the rest. Such as the audio commentary on disc one provided by Transformers expert, Chris McFeely. Five minutes into listening to the commentary made me realise that McFeely knows what he's talking about. He provides such a fascinating insight into not just the film, but Transformers as a whole, talking about the origin of the concept, certain characters, voice actors, later incarnations of Transformers etc. I was absolutely amazed to discover things even I didn't know about Transformers. It really is so enjoyable and enlightening to listen to McFeely's narrative. It stays away from being boring and will interest all fans.

There's also an exclusive booklet written by McFeely, uncovering more interesting facts about the movie and the whole Generation 1 saga (as released on Metrodome's box sets). A great interview with Flint Dille, who acted as a story consultant for the movie and wrote numerous episodes of the TV series. An exclusive Q & A with the legendary Peter Cullen (the voice of Optimus Prime in the original cartoon series), which is a real treat to watch. And finally, the long awaited release of Scramble City, the Japanese-exclusive episode that took place instead of the movie (which Japan didn't get till 1990). This is subtitled and also features commentary from Chris McFeely. It's a great piece of animation, filled with everything that makes Transformers so great.

So...is this the ULTIMATE edition of Transformers: The Movie? I would definitely say YES. It has all the extras it needs to flatter a great, great film. And the collector's tin that comes with it is so beautiful. Metrodome have really delivered here. This is the best release ever of TF:TM. Get rid of your old versions and replace it with this one. You WON'T regret it.

Okay, so it's not 'Godfather' standards, and as I can see now was basically intended as a toy advert, but in its own way, Transformers: The Movie is worth five out of five. It's well made, is pacy, has a great cast of cult actors (Eric Idle! Leonard Nimoy! ORSON WELLES!!!), a rockin' soundtrack and is supremely entertaining.

Maybe to a non-fan it wouldn't impress, but this review isn't aimed at unbelievers. The storyline is full of epic drama, and is sufficiently big to fill the demands of a one and a half hour movie. The characters are well established, the animation excellent, there is tragedy and humour.

And not only that, but the Maverick edition is the full, uncut, PG rated version I'd never known existed until I heard Spike Witwicky swear and saw rather more violence than I remembered. Unfortunately, this now seems to have been withdrawn and replaced by the more child friendly cut version.

After seeing this I'd recommend everybody reads the UK comic stories printed in 'Target 2006', 'Fallen Angel', 'Legacy of Unicron', 'Space Pirates' and 'Time Wars'. They form a great series of sequels which take the movie out of the cartoon continuity and place it slap-bang in the middle of the superior comic continuity.

This is apparantly a collector's edition. I wouldn't say there is anything special about it though. Don't get me wrong the film is great. Always has been, always will be. It's just that the only extra is a very poorly dubbed episode of Headmaster:Transformers that wouldn't encourage you to watch the film in any way. It's also at the start of the video. So it seems like a good idea to watch it. However by the 50th time of being told the transformers live on 'Cyberton' thats 'ton' people you get a bit bored with it. Someone put this together without a lot of imagination. However the film still rocks even after all this time and is a must see for any fan.

Ok, so watching Transformers the Movie may not be the most mature viewing of alltime and no, no woman is ever going to be impressed if you can quote any lines from the film, but boy is it fun!

When my family first bought a VHS player in 1988 when I was just five years old, this was the first VHS my parents picked up. I loved it at the time, but unlike so many things I loved as a kid, this stands up very well. The music is 80s hair metal and never less than hard-rocking fun (btw the soundtrack is also worth checking out) and goes perfectly with the on-screen boys action. The siege on Autobot City, the death of Optimus Prime, the reincarnation of Megatron as Galvatron and the final assault on the giant, robot planet Unicron are stunning. The film is always enjoyable and should not be dismissed as a kids movie, or just a run of the mill action flick.

The film is classic 1980s animation and should bring back warm memories as well as being a barrel full of fun no matter your age.