Transformers – Der Kampf um Cybertron (1986)

Transformers – Der Kampf um Cybertron: Directed by Nelson Shin. With Norman Alden, Jack Angel, Michael Bell, Gregg Berger. The Autobots must stop a colossal planet consuming robot who goes after the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. At the same time, they must defend themselves against an all-out attack from the Decepticons.

“Iu0026#39;m biased. Thereu0026#39;s no two ways about it. They could have gotten two six years olds to draw the cels, a troop of monkeys to write the dialogue and then printed the film upside down and full of static and Iu0026#39;d still have loved it (if anybody out there says u0026#39;Didnu0026#39;t they do that anyway?u0026#39;, Iu0026#39;ll thump them.) I am one of a dying but suprisingly populous breed: the Tranformers fan, and to me this film is like the Holy grail.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf you think Iu0026#39;m going to get all gooey and teary-eyed then go into nostalgia overload then forget it because Iu0026#39;m not. I say this with a straight face and a criticu0026#39;s eyes: this is a good film. It may be a two hour toy commercial. It may have made zip at the box offce. It may get bad press from idiotic fossils that just arenu0026#39;t prepared to make the effort to tap into the universe the film is set in. But the fact remains that to anybody thatu0026#39;s grown up with Transformers, this film is marvelous. Why? Because it does it right! The characters act right. The style is right. Itu0026#39;s all done so perfectly that no right minded Transfan could possibly complain. How many Batman fans (and I mean real Batman fans) can honestly say the same thing about their film franchise.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eItu0026#39;s easy to get preachy about the violence in a film aimed at kids. It gives the moral majority something to do other than examine each Disney film for subliminal messages. I found it refreshing to actually see this kind of film refuse to pull its punches. Itu0026#39;s an action film without tapping into the over-sentimental gushy stuff that usually turns kids off anyway. This is a war. Death and violence are part of it. Will it effect the children that watch it. Maybe, but I donu0026#39;t know which way. I saw first saw the film when I was 7. I saw all of my favourites get blown apart. I saw my absolute, total, complete and utter hero, the person that personified all that was good and noble to me (you know who I mean) get killed saving his friends in an ultimate display of bravery and courage. I cried. My mum cried. I still do. I think that one moment made me more afraid and ashamed of death and destruction than a dozen Private Ryans.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe animation is top notch, thereu0026#39;s an amazing soundtrack and the voice talent is good too. Not perfect, but Nimoyu0026#39;s portrayal of Galvatron is incredible. Espicially when you consider that it was probably done as a u0026#39;For the money not the artu0026#39; job. The script isnu0026#39;t bad either. It has a host of sharp, quotable one-liners that would put Bruce Willis to shame (u0026quot;Iu0026#39;ve got better things to do tonight than die.u0026quot;) The story is a rip off of Star Wars but what isnu0026#39;t and who cares? Itu0026#39;s cool. The animation is superb. I said that earlier but I really do believe that itu0026#39;s better than Disney at some points. Certainly better than the average output at the time. It doesnu0026#39;t compare with todayu0026#39;s graphics but it hasnu0026#39;t aged badly at all. The sountrack can sound a little too cheesy at times but the energy and verve of the film is there and it backs up the visuals with ease.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn the end it wonu0026#39;t matter. This film wonu0026#39;t mean a thing to anybody that doesnu0026#39;t know who Jazz, Bumblebee and Soundwave were to begin with. They wonu0026#39;t watch it. They wonu0026#39;t like it. And you know what? We donu0026#39;t care. Those of us that can name all five mebers of the Stunticons know better. They gave us what we wanted. And we remain eternally grateful.”