Transformers One
Scorecard, fav robot movies, Joon-Ho is back
We were recently called out (sorry, called in) by a reader for only covering horror/thriller movies. This is our PSA that we do not set the Hollywood box office release schedule, we just follow it. BUT, we hear you. That’s why for the next two weeks, we will be talking about cute little animated robot movies (just don’t look at the release schedule for the rest of the year). 😬
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Transformers One
Temp These Takes: Best movies with robots?
Watchlist Worthy: We finally get R Patt and Bong’s new trailer
Pod Drop: ICYMI - Kelly, Josh and Eric talk about movies and grief
This week’s movie - “Transformers One”
Letterboxd Description:
Witness the origin.
The untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, better known as sworn enemies, but once were friends bonded like brothers who changed the fate of Cybertron forever.
Best Watched With
The whole family, friends who are willing to be taken by a human story about robots.
End credit thoughts
Transformers One is exactly what you want out of an origin story, and it works for multigenerational movie goers. A cautionary tale about the transfer of power—the rise and fall of leadership, good or bad. We got to see the world that birthed Autobots and Decepticons, being stunned by the beauty and the ugly, both physically and metaphorically.
The animation wasn't revolutionary, but it was flawlessly executed and the art style was unique and wonderful to look at.
Sometimes, the voice of a familiar favorite can take you out of the movie. This was not one of those times. Transformers One had some heat in the booth usually only reserved for Pixar, but the voice acting was so phenomenal that rather than taking us out, they drew us in.
Transformers One fully leans into the origin story conventions to a point that it's satisfying and familiar, but not so far that it is predictable. There are still twists and turns that keep the story fresh and entertaining. The action was innovative and thrilling, and had us in awe as we saw on the big screen only what was possible in our imaginations while playing with Transformer toys in the 90s. The interweaving of heroism, humor, and hubris into the action that made this movie more dynamic than just an action packed Transformers movie.
Our theater was rowdy, hooting and hollering, and we saw grandparents, moms, dads, and kids all having a great time. If you're a fan of Transformers, you'll love this movie. If this is your intro to Transformers, consider yourself lucky that you're diving in with the best movie to date. This movie is fun, action-packed, and has enough heart to make robots feel human.
Go see it on the big screen.
Watch the trailer here
🤖 Best movie with robots 🤖
Eric
I am at what the kids would call an impasse. I want so badly to say The Iron Giant, but part of me also belongs with Big Hero 6. Watching The Iron Giant as a kid was crazy. "You are who you choose to be" followed by "Supermannnnn" whilst sacrificing himself!? OH BOY. That solidified Giant as one of the GOATS when it comes to robots. ON THE OTHER HAND, Big Hero 6 is a standalone Disney film. It so cleverly weaves grief, action, and comedy into a story that will warm your heart and excite you at the same time. Heavy emotions and fun action - this is a full watch, indeed. Baymax is on the Mt. Rushmore of robots in my book. YOU DECIDE.
Sarah
Star Wars Rogue One. K-2SO is my favorite droid in the Star Wars universe, which is saying something to go up against BB8 and R2D2. The humor and bravery of K-2 is one of the best parts of this whole one-off and a huge reason this is my favorite of all Star Wars productions. Are droids exactly robots? I actually have no idea, but this is my take.
Josh
This might be the most outrageous thing that has been typed by these fingers, but when I read this weeks prompt I immediately thought Short Circuit (1986). I don’t think I have ever heard a single person outside of my siblings and my aunt, who grew up watching this movie, say they have seen this movie let alone know it exists. I couldn’t even tell you what the plot is. But, somehow, it is still in the running for the best movie with robots. But honestly it’s Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Kelly
I remember watching Wall-E when I was 15 and it became one of my favorites. I had a Wall-e cup that got taken away at airport security because it had a little snow globe at the bottom of it filled with liquid, and I cried. Robot romance and the importance of preserving human connection…what more could you need 🤖✨
New Mexico Drew
I have three wolves that live inside of me. One, the correct one, that says Terminator 2: Judgment Day is the best movie with robots (cybernetic organisms). The second wolf, who is artsy and cool, says Ex Machina is the coolest movie about robots. Then the third wolf (who randomly starts singing obscure songs whenever someone is trying to have a conversation with them) says the only movie with a robot that matters is the 1998 classic, Lost in Space. Given the choice, that silly third wolf would probably win, and I would watch Lost in Space over the other two.
What’s your take? Hit Reply or leave a comment below and let us know!
Mickey 17 2024 Directed by Bong Joon-ho
I love Christmas. I love that we go back home and stay at my parents house. I love that my nephew and niece wake me up first thing in the morning. I love the that we still open gifts one at a time like we did as kids growing up. I love that my parents put lottery scratchers in our stockings, something they have done as a long as I can remember.
If one year someone decided that Christmas would not be a thing and we would have to skip it, I would hate my life. That is exactly what happened with Mickey 17. And it has been a dreadful year.
Originally set to be released March 29th, 2024, Mickey 17’s trailer is finally here and it is everything and more than I expected from Bong Joon-Ho. Playful but yet incredibly dark, layered with humor, and phenomenal performances from whoever because Bong can direct a potato to a captivating display of entertainment. But we aren’t getting Russets or Idahos. We are getting Robert Pattinson and Steve Yeun. Watch everything they’re in. Yes, everything. I’ll die a Pattinson apologist.
It is set to release on January 31st, 2025, just a month and six days after December 25th, 2024. It’s like two Christmases in back to back months, making up for this last years torment.
-JP :)
Three-time Academy Award winner Bong Joon-Ho has left us thirsting for more since Parasite (2019). Okay, so it hasn’t been that long… BUT it does feel like forever.
When word first dropped that Pattinson and Joon-Ho were working on Mickey 17, the whole world immediately added this the list of highly anticipated juggernaut team-ups. Long-gone are Pattinson’s Twilight days. He has been in banger after banger in recent years, blessing us with his extremely weird accents time and time again.
I was sold with Bong Joon-Ho, then even more sold with Pattinson, then I watched the trailer and heard another classic Pattinson accent - consider me SEATED.
ALSO - the rest of the cast? Toni Colette? Steven Yeun? Mark Ruffalo? Get out of TOWN. This movie rocks. The people are ready!
-Eric
Letterboxd Description:
Mickey 17 is an ‘expendable’, a disposable employee, on a human expedition sent to colonize the ice world Niflheim. After one iteration dies, a new body is regenerated with most of its memories intact.
Movies Directed by Bong Joon Ho:
Parasite (2019)
Snowpiercer (2013)
The Host (2006)
ICYMI: Galas & Grief: Yap Sesh #035
🎧 Listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
🎥 Watch the video of the latest podcast on Spotify
In this episode, Kelly, Eric, and Josh dive into an unplanned yet emotional episode! A candid, unscripted conversation among the hosts about various topics, including upcoming streaming content, personal updates, and emotional themes explored through movies.
They also chat about an upcoming futuristic gala, discuss the complexities of grief, and debate their differing views on movies like Beetlejuice and Manchester by the Sea. Get ready for laughs, tears, and everything in between, including a few side stories and the much-anticipated Speak No Evil.
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Matrix… iRobot… Robots. There’s just some great robot cinema out there.