BUMBLEBEE (2018)

Directed By: Travis Knight 
Story & Written By: Christina Hodson 
Cinematography: Enrique Chediak 
Editor: Paul Rubell

Cast: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Pamela Adlon, Jason Drucker, Stephen Schneider,John Ortiz, Glynn Turman, Len Cariou, Fred Dryer, Megyn Price 


On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie, 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.

With a budget of $102-128 million, this is the least expensive Transformers movie to date. It’s also the first live action TRANSFORMERS movie not Directed by Michael Bay. Who stays on as producer.

This is the best out of the love action transformers films. As even though this is a big production. It doesn’t feel as overblown as the previous films. As it mainly deals with a transformer and two deceptions. Rather then a group of each battling each other on earth. Where humans are just collateral damage and meant to help ground everything. Where they help but are kind of helpless except to witness the war between the two. Like this is a modern era GODZILLA movie.

Watching this film it’s hard to tell if this is more a modern film modeled on nostalgia of a 1980’a type live action transformer film or if this was all intended to look like a transformers film from the 1980’s.

As any time a song plays it is a hit from the time period and becomes the voice of the title character. So that you can ground the fans and if a certain age group into feeling a certain way and bring back memories of the good times. Maybe even when transformers meant something to them as more than just a toy or product.

Then again it does make the film feel like billy Joel’s hit song WE DIDN’T START THE FIRE off of his album Storm Front. Where like the song when it comes to pop culture it leaves no stone unturned when it comes to references of the time period.

The film also tries to broaden it’s Audience by going us a female lead. Which is nice and works out as the film ends up being more playful and having an innocence amongst all the action, but also lends the film a quality of even though this is all familiar it feels a bit different and like there is a possibility of things being different. As we kind of get the same story but from a different P.O.V.

There is plenty of action and stunts plus an ending that truly Bring home the message of having a family bond and the importance of friendship.

It’s nice that the film is willing to show humor more than the other films. Even if at times it comes off a bit awkward not as bad as the other films do with it. As well as some characters showing some dimensions to them. Though will admit most are one note.

Though to keep the innocence a bit her only other friend/love interest is more the nerdy type. Where as she is more the tomboy yet shy daredevil. Though the ending feels like a cop out a bit when there is a big romantic moment that stops short. Maybe to keep it as a family film? Maybe a bit out of minor racism in it’s quest to reach most audience members the film does show the freedom one can feel when owning their first car but also use it as a metaphor for exploring new terrain and having their own little adventures on their own.

It can be a little problematic as even for at the time understandable. There is some racial language revolving around a character of color that is disturbing. That makes the character less liekable. As he is the only one who keeps bringing it up.

It also exposes a common cliche in coming of age stories for girls where we are introduced to a young heroine who is emotionally confused and has to learn how to get her confidence back and a sense of self due to the absence of a parent. In this case the father so that she does have daddy issues and bumblebee kind of fills that role to a degree and the fact that he is silent he more had to do it through actions. Even though he comes off more as a goofy older brother than anything else. Despite the fact she has a younger brother who believes himself tough. Bumble bee is more innocent who just happens to be strong enough to take most out. Though he uses violence only as a last resort.

So far this is the second time Hailee steinfeld has played a role like this. The first time was more dramatically in the film EDGE OF SEVENTEEN --The most shocking part is the violence as when we see humans attacked and destroyed they explode and end up as gloop more than anything else as there is a serious lack of blood. Which then reminds us all who the intended audience for the film is for more. Even as it tries to play to all audiences in one way or another.

One can tell with it’s soundtrack is it supposed to be nostalgic? Remind us of the time periods it’s Supposed to take place in considering it’s the only thing that is really period appropriate and shown. Is it supposed to remind us of when the transformers came out or reveal itself to be a 1980’s live action movie. Transformers I disguise all around. This is actually a prequel to the previous movies.

The film actually offers us more of a main character to care about. Not one we haven't seen but certainly more grounded than this series has offered up ever before.

Though a film filled with special effects it actually offers a story that is not just there to show off more action sequences and battle scenes. Doesn’t have as much bayhem that has bathed the series with inane tone.

Though as you watch there might be some questions that come to mid. Like do the robots have souls even as they all have colorful personalities those can’t just be programmed right?

Just as you wonder once they use their weapons how do they reload their weapons? Where do they get their weapons restocked? Not to mention are transformers born or built. Do they have sex? Do they have souls. As they have personalities due to what machines they double as?


Grade: B