Bumblebee (2018) [Blu-ray]
Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline: Every Hero Has a Beginning

Cybertron has fallen. When Optimus Prime sends Bumblebee to defend Earth, his journey to become a hero begins. Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a teenager trying to find her place in the world, discovers and repairs the battle-scarred robot, who’s disguised as a Volkswagen Beetle. As the Decepticons hunt down the surviving Autobots with the help of a secret agency led by Agent Burns (John Cena), Bumblebee and Charlie team up to protect the world in an action-packed adventure that’s fun for the whole family.

Storyline: On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug. Written by Paramount Pictures

Reviewer's Note: Reviewed by Martin Liebman, March 23, 2019 If there has ever been a movie franchise in dire, desperate need of restraint and a restart, it was Transformers. What began as a larger-than-life novelty on the cutting edge of digital manipulation became one of the most bloated, boring, and increasingly nonsensical franchises in film history. Michael Bay's signature style evolved from complimentary hallmark to franchise focal point, with the later films sacrificing coherent story in the name bigger special effects, film breaking humor overload, and "Bayhem" cranked up to max. It didn't help that the Transformers themselves looked nothing like they are supposed to look. Sure the CGI artistry was striking, but...what on Cybertron were this things?. Enter 2018's Bumblebee, a much more reserved and very welcome reboot that is itself not without flaws but that is a substantial step in the right direction that addresses many of the fatal flaws that ultimately brought Bay's vision for the universe to its knees. A basic origins story wrapped up in sincere human drama that plays up characters and tones down humor, Transformers that look like Transformers, and action that isn't overwhelmed by style all elevate the film to challenge Bay's original as the best and return the franchise to holding great promise for its future.

The civil war on the planet Cybertron is coming to an end. The world has fallen to the evil Deceptions and the heroic Autobot are forced to flee the planet and regroup. Autobot leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) orders one of his most loyal soldiers, B-127 (voiced by Dylan O'Brien), to travel to a well-hidden planet called Earth, guard it from Deception attack, and await the regrouping Autobots. But, upon arrival, B is attacked by humans and Deceptions alike. His voice synthesizer is damaged, and the Autobot has no choice but to go into hiding. Soon thereafter, 18-year-old Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), traumatized by her father's death and looking to find her place in the world, arranges to take possession of a dilapidated Volkswagen Beetle that she quickly learns is more than meets the eye. Charlie and "Bumblebee," as she calls him, quickly bond, but when the Decpticons, aided by Sector 7's Jack Burns (John Cena), are alerted to B's whereabouts, Charlie finds herself in the middle of an alien war being fought on Earth.

Bay's first Transformers film was unquestionably one of the great spectacles of its time, but it wasn't exactly the Transformers movie longtime fans really wanted. The franchise' quick descent and ultimate critical crash-and-burn certainly put the onus on Paramount and Hasbro to try something else. Bumblebee reboots the franchise with a more sincere, grounded origins story that rights so many wrongs that became apparent throughout Bay's run at the top. It's a live action recreation of the original cartoon, with some liberties taken but the robots by-and-large look like the cartoon counterparts, even if there's still that necessary level of complexity beyond the surface that Bay introduced in his films. It's a nice balance between maintaining the style of the "G1" ("Generation 1") Transformers and those seen in the Bay films. Bumblebee's production design team has found a proper balance between functionality and familiarity. The film's opening battle on Cybertron will leave fans of the classic Transformers line grinning from ear to ear. Right away the film establishes its new look, grounded in the original and most familiar visual aesthetics, signaling its intention to, essentially, have its cake and eat it, too, to play the movie big and spectacular but hearken back to the classics fans know and love.

As the action shifts to Earth, the film takes on a more deliberate tone, crafting a more intimate character study rather than exploring every opportunity to accelerate momentum and fill the screen with frenzy. The film limits the number of Transformers on the screen on Earth. There are but three total that are critical to the story, Bumblebee and two Deceptions, which keeps there focus firmly on the characters but does slow the movie a little during its middle stretch. But the film wasn't made to thrive on action. It wasn't made to obliterate the senses. Bumblebee works best when it's building the relationship between the title character and this film's Sam Witwicky, 18-year-old Charlie Watson, a young girl whose life is shaped by loss, rejection, and uncertainty. Her story develops and evolves over time. Her relationship with Bumblebee allows her the opportunity to find her voice, her confidence, a sense of place and purpose. The character's slowly evolving arc works because the film allows it time to do so. It's not interrupted by extremes or overwhelmed by excess. The character is not filling a space but rather shaping the narrative. Steinfeld is good because the movie allows her to expand and explore, and her story in turn becomes an integral part of the plot. It's not about folding every scene of hers into a hyper-stylized world. There's a sincerity to Steinfeld's performance because the script affords her the opportunity to develop the character and find her center, not just pose for the camera and stand in the middle of mayhem.

Bumblebee is a movie about balance. It allows its characters to develop naturally and necessarily. The film takes its time to tell its story but isn't bloated and bogged down by needless excesses. Action is terrific but not grossly over-stylized. The digital effects are complex but the artists respect classic Transformer designs. Bumblebee proves that it's not difficult to mix fan service, spectacle, story, and heart. It's also proof that there's always a way to properly reinvent a franchise, even a tentpole moneymaker like Transformers. The film could stand to tighten its editing just a bit through the middle, but this a fine film that sets the stage for a much more satisfying Transformers series if the filmmakers can practice the same restraint and character and narrative focuses that work so well here, even if they expand the story and character roster. Paramount's Blu-ray is excellent, featuring near reference quality video and audio. Several extras are included. Highly recommended.

[CSW] -2.8- This new film is a combination of Herbie and E.T. , told from an adolescent girl's perspective. It is however, filled with eye-popping effects, and humor, which will keep you entertained. After an enticing opening act, the film descends into a boring mix of cheesy writing, emotional sequences that last way too long and Bumblebee becomes an overly-sensitive and vulnerable teddy bear. (He is a warrior from another planet... Right?) You may find that you get a little bored with the pacing of this film. This is Transformers for 12-year-old female fans instead of being geared toward adolescent males like the first few were. Popcorn and a drink should make it pleasant enough for us non- adolescents.
[V4.5-A4.5] MPEG-4 AVC - D-Box really enhanced this movie.


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