The Transformers - The Movie (20th Anniversary Special Edition) Reviews

• Transformers: The Movie - 20th Anniversary Special Edition

  
  By A27KTJQLB5Q2FB on 2006-08-17
  This is the release of the Transformers animated motion picture in celebration of it's 20th anniversary as well as a prelude to the release of the Transformers Live action motion picture that will be released in 2007. Let us take a look at the details of this dvd release which will help buyers in making the choice as to whether or not to make this film part of their dvd library.
  
  Firstly, this dvd is released by Sony BMG Music Entertainment, as therefore those who might be expecting a dvd release of the animated film together with the live action film later in 2007 will be sorely disappointed as the property doesn't belong to the same distributor.
  
  Secondly, this dvd release is a 2 disc release featuring three versions of the feature film, commentary tracks and interviews, a sneak peak at the live-action movie.
  
  A breakdown of the dvd details are as follows :
  
  *Brilliantly remastered and color-corrected
  
  *16x9 widescreen presentation, which has not been seen anywhere since the movie was in theatres twenty years ago
  
  *Full screen edition as well
  
  *Commentary tracks
  
  *Interviews with director Nelson Shin, story consultant Flint Dille and voice actress Susan Blu
  
  *Autobot Matrix of Knowledge Presentation: Truly showcasing the pop culture phenomenon that is The Transformers, Sony BMG has created a special version of the film for the DVD release.
  
  *The `Autobot Matrix of Knowledge' will feature trivia and fun facts about the movie itself, the Transformers brand, and the pop culture references in which Transformers has been spoofed/tributed. Approximately one hundred fun facts will show up on screen throughout the movie. Many of the factoids were provided by fans through a special DVD site created by Sony BMG to solicit input--marking the first time that the huge
  Transformers fan base has ever been asked to participate in the creation of a Transformers home entertainment release.
  
  *Original commercials for the toy line and movie
  
  *Behind-the-scenes sneak peak at next summer's highly anticipated Transformers live action movie event. The special feature segment on the DVD will include comments from Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg who share their vision and passion for Transformers
  
  *Collectible `transforming' cover
  
  My personal view is that for this price, and the amount of special features thrown in, this dvd is a real bang for your buck. If you are a Transformers fan, this is a must buy. If you wanna have a Transformers history lesson and get hyped up before the movie release, this is also a worthy consideration.
  If you belong to none of the people in the category above, you might wanna stay away. But this is darn good entertainment whichever way you look at it. This deserves 5 stars, no doubt!
  
  

• the original MATRIX

  
  By ADROB7GOARYLW on 2000-04-05
  TransFormers: the Movie. Mmm. Real good treat. I cannot explain howmuch I love this film, but it's simply the best. Infinitly superior to any other children's flick ever; there's action, guns, explosions, adventure, lots of death (although not all good), a good sci-fi script that makes sense (ish), sexiness (Arcee, oooh), the best hand drawn animation that makes Disney look like a Sunday supplement failed comic book artist, A Monty Python geeza (Eric Idle, probably needed the money), arguably the best actor of the 20th C amongst the cast, Spock, a very good soundtrack considering it was the 80s, the original Matrix (of Autobot leadership), good jokes, and the single most tear-jerking scene in cinema history that even on its current 65th watch reduces me to big-man blubber. The nostalgia element's important too, of course. Count how many times you come out in goose-pimples. So really, it is probably THE best film ever. The most important episode in the TransFormers saga/legend/thing. All this praise and the damned thing's still not out on DVD. Que? Make no sense to me. Let them roll-out now and light our darkest hour!

  One for the old die-hard fans, those who watched it when they were young, and for those who are only just understanding the brilliance of 'robots in disguise' via Beast Wars it equals an entertaining history lesson. Don't watch it, however, if you're over 10 and have never experienced the thrill of the TransFormers, you may disappointed and if you do actually enjoy it that'll mean more harm than good.
  
  

• Stop Complaining

  
  By A2YXBQZITRYX7Q on 2000-11-25
  I REALLY hate these reviewers saying this is a bad dvd. For 20 bucks, you get enhanced visuals and sound, a commentary from the composer [Music is halfthe movie, after all!], AND the uncut edition you'd previously have to buy through Canada or bootleg! Rhino could've sold this at 30 bucks-like most dvd's-but they're LOSING money by selling it to the fans at vhs retail. If you think Lucas will give you a better deal, then don't buy this and wait another decade for the Star Wars trilogy! And yes, I consider this the best deal I've ever had on a dvd! It's perfect, exactly like I remembered it, but with the curse words I missed the first time around. It almost makes me feel like I'm watching Macross Plus; that's how good it looks and sounds. Transformers fans-like myself-MUST own it. DVD's like this are reasons I'm glad to own a dvd player. Now let's hope the He-man movie on dvd happens too. (And I mean the animated movie, not the horrible live action-flick with Dolph Lundgren.)
  
  

• Probably the most sober review here- a worthwhile film

  
  By A3HERSQ3PAWJHT on 2000-10-27
  `The Transformers' were, as the reader will no doubt already be aware, a brand of toy, comic and television show. A big success with children, as such things normally are, a film was produced. That is a little bit of background to what you are looking at.

  To try and be helpful, the Movie is anime style- the Japanese animation style (the animation was all completed in Japan) which many people rate as the best for action cartoons- it provides fluid motion and relatively high quality animation without going into over-detail in specific scenes.

  It has many famous voices, who have been cast as new characters not before seen in the television show, but does not lose any of the old voices; keeping Frank Welker as the lead bad-guy and Peter Cullen as the heroic leader of the good-guys. The film also combines what I would define as a heavy metal soundtrack, although most people refer to it as being rock. That is very much a question of opinion- but the soundtrack would appeal to people who like maybe Pink Floyd, or other mainly synthesised music tracks. In my opinion the music is very good, and very well matches the fluid motion of the animation.

  The plot is often referred to as being a direct take-off of `Return of the Jedi'. To this I can only say that I have seen both films more than a couple of times, and I honestly could not say I noticed more than a very very generic similarity- to put it bluntly if the Transformers Movie is similar to Return of the Jedi, then one should also say that `The Thin Red Line' is a direct rip-off of `Apocalypse Now'. If it were otherwise, I would tell you.

  Like many films, the plot has elements which are similar to other films, but it mainly comprises features all of its own.

  The plot is centred around the waging warrior factions of Autobots and Decepticons, led respectively by Optimus Prime and Megatron. After millions of years fighting on their home world, these gigantic robotic behemoths crash land on Earth. The movie picks up in the year 2005, when the evil Decepticons have control of the Transformer homeworld, Cybertron, but the brave Autobots continue to protect both Earth and Cybertron's moon system. From there on in the film makes sense, but it is only fair to give the reader this little grounding or the film will not make much sense to begin with.

  Yes it is fair to say that the film's dialogue is somewhat loose- but one can make that criticism of films which are much more acclaimed than `The Transformers Movie'- including Snow White and Star Wars to name but two. However, there are some great lines delivered well by numerous characters.

  The film succeeds in making the viewer attach his or herself to at least one of the characters. As the major purpose of the entire Transformers spectrum was to encourage toy sales there are many characters, however only about ten are given any noticeable airtime in this film. In that respect it works like most other films- giving the viewer a `crew' of good-guys and bad guys. The characters are given all well developed personalities, a difference between the toy crazes of then and now, and the viewer will soon identify with at least a few of the characters.

  It is very much a `boys' stereotype film, with lots of shooting and explosions- but that should not deter the reader from giving the film a try. Before you buy it,maybe borrow it from someone. Do try to bear in mind when you watch it that you are watching a kid's film (a somewhat violent kids film, but still a kids film) so do not expect what kid's films do not deliver. Try to watch it with an open mind and remember that it is a film and that it is just a bit of entertainment- if you sit there tearing the film into little pieces saying to yourself `how can a robot X size change into something which is Z size?' you have very much lost the plot. Just enjoy it- the film is a fast moving roller-coaster of anime, the best style for the forte of the film with appropriate music and a world-beating plot. If you grew up with the Transformers, you do not really need to read this, if you did not then give the film a go- what's the worst that could happen? In either case do remember that it is a kiddies film and don't take it too seriously, but bear that in mind and there is no reason why this film should not entertain you as it has done millions of others over the world.

  Characters of note: Orson Welles (`Citizen Kane'): Unicron, Eric Idle (`Monty Python'): Wreck-Garr, Lionel Stander (`Heart to Heart'): Kup, Judd Nelson: Hot Rod, Leonard Nimoy (`Star Trek'): Galvatron, Robert Stack (`The Untouchables'): Ultra Magnus, Peter Cullen: Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Frank Welker (`The X-Files', cartoons and much more): Megatron, Soundwave.

  NB- Apparently the DVD version does not contain widescreen (according to the produces, Rhino) but as a piece of advice, possibly wait until a review is written AFTER the release of the DVD, you never know; perhaps Rhino are secretly making it widescreen after all. The DVD does contain, however Dolby 5.1 cjnema surround audio, uncut scenes and storyboards, an interview with the incidental music writer, Vince DiCola and possibly other features.
  
  

• Hey! No one calls this movie "uncrasimatic"!

  
  By A3OI841P5R6FCH on 2000-12-05
  Even after my interest in the Transformers TV series fell by the wayside in my teens, I still hold the movie in fairly high esteem. The theme and story is a bit more mature than what the TV show offered, although it does have its many wacky and silly cartoon moments. For it's time it had some of the best Hired-for-American-release Japanese animation I've ever seen. Sadly, the level of detail & quality of the animation drops as the movie plays on. There's some big shakeups afoot as well- lotsa robot deaths, mostly Autobots! But at least Starscream, that conniving, raspy high-pitched annoyance, finally gets his. And Spike's uttering of a choice four-letter word has sent me searching for a more positive role model... scandalous!
  
  I was fairly amazed that the movie producers were able to load up on a few well-known actors for the voice-overs. You got Robert Stack, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle, Leonard Nimoy... and Orson Welles doing his very last gig. I read somewhere that Welles actually passed before completing the voice work for Unicron, and Nimoy finished it. Thanks to this revelation, I've been jinxed with one of animation geekdom's most hideous purgatories: listening to Unicron's verbal taunts to see if he sounds more like Citizen Kane... or Spock.
  
  One aspect of the TF:TM DVD I've found highly entertaining is the widescreen versus the full screen pan-&-scan debate over its release. I've read other reviews, message boards, and all sorts of other literature regarding this subject. One side says that the movie was originally filmed in TV screen format, and was actually cropped on top & bottom to give it a cinematic feel for the theatres. And I've heard the other side say that the flick WAS filmed in a wider-than TV-screen aspect ratio, and was panned & scanned for the video release. So far neither side has presented a completely compelling case, and I've neither read nor heard any info about it from Rhino on the subject. Since I never had the privilege of actually seeing the movie in theatres (my first viewing was on video a year after the theatrical release), and I'm not a widescreen absolutist, I don't feel I'm missing out too much one way or the other. Sorry all you cultists of the theatrical aspect ratio out there...
  
  Then there's the soundtrack, chock-full of big-hair metal tunes & Summer Olympic-style inspirational pop. Yes, it kinda dates the film and increases the cheeseball factor. But think about it: what better way to push one 80's pop-culture icon- some of the coolest toys ever cast from metal and plastic- than with the kind of music that epitomized "cutting-edge" in the 80's? Then of course there's Vince DiCola's synthesizer tunes that makes up the rest of the music, which adds a proper touch, especially the death of Optimus scene. That mournful dirge that plays as the big guy slips away always gets me a bit misty every time I watch, although not as much nowadays as when I was a kid.
  
  I was rather disappointed by the anemic special features, however; no trailers or teasers were included. All that was added was an interview with score composer Vince DiCola and a few storyboards. Ye gods...this was the only guy they could get to talk about his contribution to the flick? I mean, I like the soundtrack and all, but in my opinion it doesn't exactly make for a compelling discussion. I did find the storyboards interesting, however- they depicted a few scenes that they conceptualized for the movie that were either eventually altered or never produced.
  
  As a final note, I'll now disclose my favorite moment in the flick. Megatron's just been given the heave-ho, and the Decepticons are fighting amongst themselves over who'll be the next leader. Soundwave (the Walkman robot) is making his bid, when a 'comrade' calls him "uncharismatic". One of Soundwave's cassette robot buddies tries to defend his honor by saying,
  
  "Hey! No one calls Soundwave 'uncrasimatic'!"
  
  Ehh heh heh heh heh heh heh heh...
  
  Okay, so it's a lot funnier in a stupid way when seen and heard in the movie, rather than me describing it. What do you want from me, huh?
  
  
  'Late!
  
  
  UPDATE 7/12/2006: I made the recent discovery that the movie wasn't transferred to the DVD from the original film, but from video tape. I found this out when I noticed a very brief tracking line in one scene. Chalk it up to Rhino's habit of cutting costs at the expense of putting out a quality product...
  
  
  `Later
  
  
• Parents, keep your children away!
  By on 1999-11-23
  My child attempted to transform into a semi truck like the much lauded "Optimus Prime." He has not been able to stand up straight since 1986. It was weeks before we were able to detach the trailer. The Transformers are more than meets the eye, they are a disaster in disguise.
  
  
• Emotional, Funny, and Beautifully animated
  By A1326CR8ADECFR on 2001-06-22
  You MUST get this! I've loved Transformers since I was a kid! New Transfan? GET IT! Older Transfan? GET IT! I didn't see the movie in theaters when I was younger, although, this DVD will feel close enough to the theater. Oh yeah, be a nice girl/guy and click "YES" on "Did this review help you" Please! :)
  
  
• "I would have waited an eternity for this"... movie!
  By A2928LJN5IISB4 on 2002-08-15
  I was constantly ridiculed as a child because my favorite character on "The Transformers" TV show, wasn't a Transformer at all - it was Spike. So you can imagine how excited I was to see Spike all grown up in, "The Transformers - The Movie".
  "Look, it's Unicron!"
  
  The movie opens with our introduction to the devastating, planet-eating robot, Unicron. Voiced by the legendary Orson Welles (in his final performance), Unicron proves to be no match for any Autobot or Decepticon.
  
  "Roger me! Wilco me! Anything! Hello! Hello! Earth?!"

  Fortunately, it doesn't take long for Spike and his son Daniel to make their appearance. I'll admit, seeing Spike as an adult, took some getting used to. Especially, during the scene when Spike's spaceship is being attacked by Unicron, and Spike yells, "Oh, s**t, what are we going to do?!" If my mother knew that there was profanity in this movie, I don't think she would have been so anxious to drive me to the movie theater.
  
  "One shall stand, one shall fall!"
  
  This movie contains many epic battles, including the fight between Prime and Megatron. I still think this is one of the best action sequences in motion picture history. Watching Optimus Prime fall to Megatron was uncomfortable for me, mostly because Spike and Prime always seemed to be the closest of friends. If it was painful for me to watch, I knew it would be painful for Spike.

  I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I will say that the Autobot Matrix of Leadership is the only thing that can destroy Unicron. Once Megatron is reborn as Galvatron (that's right, I said "reborn"!... you'll just have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about), he will stop at nothing to get the Matrix of Leadership. Can you blame him? When a robot the size of a planet tells you to do something - you do it!
  
  You might want to take a nap before you watch "The Transformers - The Movie", because the climatic battle at the end of the movie will leave you exhausted. Total chaos, and I loved every minute of it!
  I have but one thing to say to people who don't like this movie - "Spare me this mockery of justice!"
  
  This movie is beyond good, beyond evil... it's beyond your wildest imagination!
  
  

• Transformers the Movie? One word - BRILLIANT
  By on 1999-10-09
  Transformers the Movie, well what can you say about this film? Brilliant!

  Great story line. Amazing characters, both new and old faces. I remember seeing this film as a kid and as a big fan of Transformers I loved it, even today I still do. With the vocal talants of movie supremos Leonard Nimoy and Orsan Wells adding big names to the title and the final battle between Megatron and Optimus Prime. Add to this Megatron's rebirth as Galvatron. The brash young Hot Rod's transformation to Rodimus Prime and his victory over Galvatron in the heart of the planet killer Unicron. Unicrons attempt to destroy Cybertron. This movie is a rollercoaster ride not to be missed.

  Great soundtrack. Great dialouge. Great story. Great Animation.

  A must have for any one who grew up in the 80's. Buy it if only for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, to recapture your lost childhood.

  One final note- OPTIMUS PRIME R.I.P. He died before his time!
  
  

• Bitter sweet describes this trip back to childhood
  By A1MON5SG7GBRHV on 2001-01-07
  No doubt hidden in the 271 reviews that precedes my own you will find many of my ideas and thoughts about this movie. No matter, I still feel obligated to share what this movie meant and continues to mean to me. To begin, credit must be given to the composer and artist of this film. While, although sometimes a bit cheesy (ie. that same choo-choo-train sewer music playing whenever unicron appeares, which is borrowed from from ROCKY IV), the music does energize the film at times and makes for a great soundrack. Next, despite what some others have said, the animation for this film was great for its time. I mean, who could ever forget that scene when Optimus decides, "Megatron must be stopped--no matter what the cost," and leaps into action blasting away. That's the stuff great memories are made of. Conversely, however, the plot of this movie made perfect sense when I was ten years old, but now seems a bit weak. But what can you expect? After all, it IS--or WAS--a childrens cartoon. More than anything I think this film represents the end of an era. While kids still have vivid imaginations and continue to love cartoons, I wonder if they will obsess over them (running home from school to make sure you didn't miss a minute) like we did. In these days of powerfull computers, DVDs, and Wallmart(hehe), I don't know if things will ever be the same. Bottom line, I love this movie not only for what it is( a childrens cartoon), but for what we made it( a legend that defines a generation). Autobots, transform and roll out.
  
  
• Transformers The Movie never looked or sounded better!
  By AIRHRV3D8X4J1 on 2006-11-07
  Just got TRANSFORMERS - The movie (20th Anniversary Special Edition) and wow am I impressed by the huge differance from the original DVD release from exactly 6 years from the date of this new release. As a kid who grew up in the 80's loving these things it was great to get the DVD when it first came out a few years back. When I heard it was going to be re-released as a 2 disc set with remastered picture and a better 5.1 surround sound mix I knew I was in for a treat. What I did not expect was the set to be loaded with so many extras, many which have especially been created just for this new 20th Anniversary Special Edition. You even get a sneak peek at the Trailer for Transformers live action film which comes out 7/4/2007.
  
  Below is a comparison of the original 2000 DVD release and the new 2006 20th Anniversary Special Edition DVD.
  
  
  
  The original Transformers: The Movie DVD was released November 7, 2000 and features the following content:
  
  
  Full screen (1.33:1) presentation
  
  Audio option: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
  
  Interview with composer Vince DeCola
  
  Storyboards
  
  
  
  
  The Transformers: The Movie (20th Anniversary Special Edition) DVD released November 7, 2006, and features the following content:
  
  
  Remastered anamorphic widescreen (1.85:1) and full screen (1.33:1) presentation
  
  Audio options: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, English 2.0 stereo
  
  Trivia Track: "Autobot Matrix of Knowledge"
  
  Commentary by director Nelson Shin, story consultant Flint Dille and Sue Blu, the voice of Arcee
  
  Fan commentary
  
  Original theatrical trailer and TV spots
  
  Cinex and credit tests
  
  Photo gallery
  
  "Scramble City" episode with fan commentary
  
  Remastering side-by-side comparison
  
  Trailer: Transformers live action film
  
  Sneak peek: Transformers live action film
  
  DVD-ROM: "Activate Autobot City" trivia game
  
  Featurette: "Death of Optimus Prime"
  
  Featurette: "Cast and Characters"
  
  Featurette: "Transformers Q & A"
  
  Promotional trailer with commentary
  
  Test, deleted/alternate footage with commentary
  
  Animated storyboards
  
  US and Japanese toy commercials
  
  "Scramble City" commercials
  
  DVD-ROM link to exclusive content
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The 80s Glory That Was TRANSFORMERS
  By A1K3WK2QHB8397 on 2000-08-31
  This is one of the cartoons that set the standard in the 80s. The Joes are definitely right up there as well. The excitement behind the Transformers seems to have been lost, with the Beast Wars cartoon offering a pale comparison to the 80s splendor involved with the original crew of Optimus, Megatron, Soundwave and the rest. Transformers: The Movie sent the Autobots and Decepticons in a new direction, with prominent characters dying off from both sides, and a new enemy being revealed. Vince DiCola offers a soundtrack that is total cheese, but fits quite well with the 80s glory that was the Transformers. The list of guest voices is quite impressive as well: Frasier's Dad, Monty Pythoner Eric Idle, and that fast-talking guy from the old Micro-Machines commercials are just a few. So be sure to pick up this DVD to relive the simplistic after-school enjoyment of the Transformers from when you were a kid, or get it for your own kids to show them what cartoons could be if some effort was still placed in creating them.
  
  
• Finally, Transformers as it was meant to be seen.
  By A18DIUQX7VXJKW on 2000-11-01
  After 15 years of bootleg and censored VHS formats, we finally will get a chance to see Transformers: The Movie as it was orignally released.

  This film stands out for many reasons. The highest note would probably be that Orson Welles led an all-star cast as the voice of Unicron, unfortunately he died before the film was finished, so Leonard Nimoy had to finish the voice-overs for Unicron. Few will remember Transformers as a film in Welles' career, but it stands as the last film he made. Secondly is the all-star cast which includes Judd Nelson, Leonard Nimoy, John Moschitta, and Lionel Stander.

  The film is a non-stop action epic, which only stops for the death of Optimus Prime, and speeds right past the death of other major characters like Iron Hide and Jazz. If you liked Transformers when you were a kid, this film will only bring back great memories.
  
  

• This Movie Deserves To Be On DVD!
  By AN20JESL4RQKT on 2000-05-29
  Ah, yes! Anyone who was a kid in the 1980s should be quite familiar with Transformers. The series was great, although it suffered from choppy animation. In 1986, the Transformers was treated to the big screen with almost universal pans from critics....but critics don't buy tickets, the rest of us do! The movie is almost non-stop action, with death and destruction on both sides of the coin, speaking of Autobots and Decepticons of course. The most memorable scene (and controversial) would have to be the death of Optimus Prime. That one still gets to me after all these years. That being said, the rest of the movie is a lot of fun to watch and there's a little bit of humor in it to ease the intensity...which is good for the younger viewers. As for the quality of the movie, the animation is more polished and the colors are bit more metallic, giving it more realism. When this is released on DVD, I hope they improve the soundtrack on all counts because the VHS release was weak on the sound effects especially. The explosions were like pop guns and the rest of the sounds just didn't do the movie justice. The music and dialog was better, though not by much. If the the soundtrack is improved upon the DVD release, you better keep your hand on the volume control because it WILL shake your home apart! For the rest of you, enjoy!
  
  
• The Last Great Hand-Animated Movie
  By A21W4TQ5BX8ZJ8 on 2001-03-28
  The Transformers: The Movie features the best modern hand-drawn animation, no doubt about it. This movie was made without the aid of computers, which is mind-boggling considering the sheer amount of detail that has been put into all 130,000 frames of animation.

  The story is fairly straightforward and drags a bit at times, but there is plenty of action and interesting visuals to keep most viewers entertained. There is even a touch of humor sprinkled throughout the movie and several highly emotional scenes.

  The incredible cast from the TV series (Peter Cullen, Susan Blu, Frank Welker, Chris Latta, Scatman Crothers, etc.) has been joined by some of the biggest names in Hollywood to handle the voice acting (Robert Stack, Judd Nelson, Leonard Nemoy, Orson Welles, John Moschitta [the Micro Machines and Federal Express commercial fast-talking guy], etc.), and it is some of the best. No one will ever forget the trademark voices of Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, Optimus Prime, Grimlock, etc.

  The soundtrack is almost non-stop, with songs like "Dare to Be Stupid" by "Weird Al" Yankovic, "The Touch" and "Dare" by Stan Bush, "Hunger" by Spectre General, and "Instruments of Destruction" by NRG, and fantastic instrumentals by Vince DiCola.

  It's a shame that Hasbro and Sunbow Productions had discarded almost everything related to this movie over the years, hence the lack of extras on the DVD (the storyboards are interesting and the interview with composer Vince DiCola is better than nothing). Also, the people who put this DVD together wanted to do a fresh transfer of the original film in widescreen format, but the print was badly damaged and beyond repair. Some say the DVD was instead remastered from a pristine laser disc copy of the movie, hence the lack of widescreen.

  The audio on this disc has been tastefully remixed in crystal clear surround sound and stays true to the original stereo version (no "new and improved" sound effects have been added, thankfully). The picture is extremely high-quality with minimal compression artifacts. The colors are bold and everything stays sharp throughout most of the scenes.

  Whether you are a fan of The Transformers or just a fan of high-quality animation, you will not be disappointed with The Transformers: The Movie DVD.
  
  

• Not a true Widescreen Format!!!
  By A2Y5PUELGARV2H on 2006-11-08
  Transformers The Movie is my favorite animated movie of all time. I was excited to learn this 20th anniversary edition was coming out. When I played it, I was very disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the movie is great, and is worthy of all 5 stars. My low rating is because of the "widescreen format." The 16:9 format is NOT the theatrical version. It is merely the full screen version with the top and bottom trimmed off. If you don't believe me, look at the full screen version side by side with the "wide screen" version. It does have some great extra features, and the color is cleaned up, but this is not what is advertised on the box. If you are purchasing this for the full screen version or the special features, you'll be fine, but if you want the true widescreen version, you will be disappointed like me. Buyers beware.
  
  
• False Advertising
  By A9VX7XVP8YHUP on 2006-11-21
  The main reason I was excited about this new DVD release, and the reason I purchased it immediately, is that it was advertised as being "brilliantly remastered and color corrected" and presented in the original theatrical aspect ratio. Tragically, this is not the case. Instead the "Theatrical Widescreen Version" is simply a cropped version of the ALREADY CROPPED full screen version of the film. Now, some claim that this full screen version is the only version that exists, and that a widescreen version was never created in the first place. Although this is certainly possible, I find it highly unlikely, since many sources cite the original film as having a 1.85 widescreen aspect ratio, and even the film's original advertising, which is included in this DVD, say that the film is widescreen. Again, it is possible that it was merely theatrically exhibited as a matted presentation of a 4:3 film, but I find that also unlikely. Instead, I think it is far more likely that Sony/BMG was not willing to spend the time and money acquiring a copy of the original negative and doing a new transfer and restoration, as it is extremely expensive. I think they merely used a Super-VHS copy or some other high-quality tape format as their source, which I imagine was also the case in the original DVD release. And as for the restoration, what would have been more accurate is if they advertised it as having been "Run through a brightness and contrast filter on somebody's desktop!" Because calling what they did "Color Correction" is a great disservice to real restoration experts. [See the well-known mini-doc on the Se7en SE DVD for a great example of REAL color correction techniques.] NO, this film is not "color corrected" in the true sense of the term. Some may prefer the changes, but those who know a thing or two about image quality know that the transfer on the old Rhino DVD release is superior to this botched version. Sometimes the image is overly bright, then overly dark, the colors more washed out or the image is less sharp. The added contrast simply results a loss of luminosity range, causing blown out bright areas and loss of detail in dark areas. I personally prefer the Rhino transfer, but the old DVD release does have one fatal flaw (other than being full screen), a little over an hour into the film, the image quality takes a drastic turn for the worse, and stays that way for about 6 minutes (basically the entire Junkion warriors action sequence). Luckily, this edition does not suffer from that problem. I don't yet have a surround system, so I can't speak on the 5.1 mix, but I'm not holding my breath.
  
  So although the real reason I bought the DVD was for naught, that's not to say that this 2-disc edition is completely worthless - quite the contrary, it has many redeeming aspects. For those of you who bought the old DVD release, don't throw it out just yet! This new edition has completely different features. The two discs are chock-full with all kinds of stuff. Sony/BMG deserves a lot of credit for getting fans to participate in the creation of this DVD, and it really helps. There's plenty to keep you busy for hours and hours. However, there's nothing mind-blowing, it's mostly a lot of table scraps and filler to try and please the die-hard fans. It may be quantity over quality, but its enough that you won't feel ripped off. The most interesting features are the "Autobot Matrix of Knowledge", a very well done trivia track and a series of mini-docs featuring interviews with the cast and crew. Which are not very well done, but do offer a good insider's view on the making of the film. Although there are two commentary tracks, a great feature would have been an isolated score track, the music being especially popular with fans. It's a great feature that almost no DVDs utilize, and I don't understand why. One of the better aspects is the gorgeous packaging, featuring stunning artwork by Don Figueroa. The packaging reminds me of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon DVDs, in that it is of extremely high quality, yet the content on the Discs don't live up to the pretty wrapping. As a collector, I'm gonna buy it anyway, so luckily it looks really great on the shelf. The main menus are animated and feature music from the film and series, which is good, but they could have been better. And they also put a trivia game as DVD-ROM content. But why did they bother? You see this kind of thing on nearly every DVD these days, and I still don't know why DVD companies spend the time and money on this worthless stuff, when they could be working to make the real content better. Like every other lame DVD-ROM feature you've probably never bothered to try, this one is also not worth your time. They also put "Easter Eggs on both discs!" on the back of the DVD cover. Again, why? It's no longer an easter egg when its included on the features list!
  
  I was expecting this to be the End-All-Be-All Edition of Transformers: The Movie, but I was disappointed. A lot of good stuff here, but not up to standards set by high-quality DVD releases. Here's what I'd want to see in the inevitable HD version: New Transfer from the Original Negative, Digitally Remastered and restored at an actual Film Restoration Lab, and Presented in its original 1.85 Aspect Ratio! And a quality Surround Mix and Isolated Score Track would be nice, too. That might sound like asking for a lot, but I don't see how else you'd be able to do an HD release without going back to the original negative.
  
  
• A quiz to see if you'll like this
  By A1K94LXX833JTT on 2006-12-10
  Not familiar with the Transformers and want to know if you'll like this? Try these five questions.
  
  Do you like Saturday morning cartoons? Do you like old video games? Do you like Journey, Styx, AC/DC, other miscellaneous 80s rock and 80's video game music and think that mixing them nonstop for an hour and a half would be really cool? Did you think the dialogue in Star Wars was too complicated? Do you like bright colors more than plot and logic?
  
  If you answered yes to all five, you'll love this movie.
  
  
• Buy for special features, watch Rhino version for movie.
  By ARFUQHI244I07 on 2007-05-13
  To clarify:
  
  The movie is NOT widescreen. The original prints of the film were lost years ago (after all, no one could have predicted the popularity of this movie twenty years later, especially considering its dismal box office take), so this is just the 4:3 Pan n Scan version CROPPED into a widescreen format. In other words, Sony took the already cropped Pan n Scan and then CROPPED IT MORE. This is even apparent during the section where they speak of the digital clean up. The "before" and "after" versions are different, as the "after" versions are cropped considerably. So purists who've been looking for lost footage aren't going to find it here - you're actually losing footage by watching this version.
  
  Speaking of digital clean up, the picture is awful. The contrast has been brightened up way too much, and everything looks washed out. Additionally, Hot Rod is pink... not magenta or burgundy or even red... but bright, nail polish pink. I cannot explain to you how awful the picture is.
  
  The special features are interesting, which is the only reason that I recommend this version. However, if you simply want to watch the movie or show it to a friend for the first time, stick with the Rhino version. The colors in this are simply too bleached... nearly painful to look at.
  
  
• awesome
  By A1M8WPW03Y7DUL on 2000-05-02
  After a nights reminiscing in the pub about Transformers I hunted down the movie again and with a group of friends we huddled down to watch one of the greatest movies of all time. Non-stop all out from the moment you hit the play button, a dark rollercoaster ride of guns, violence, shocks and tears. A kids movie?

  The highlight is the stunning battle sequence which opens the movie. Childhood memories literally engraved on my mind were relived as heroes fall in battle, quite shocking now nevermind when I was 6. The movie is fantastically paced, its very fast and the soundtrack (a jolly rock based affair mainly from Stan Bush) will have your adrenalin in overdrive. It is brutal battle sequences which make this movie more than just a childs film, the same being true of cartoon films like Watership Down. Then the chaos pauses as Optimus Prime announces "Megatron must be stopped... no matter the cost." As he slowly transforms the inevitable dawns on you and tears may fall.

  The actual storyline is highlighted by the awsome menace that is Unicron, and he's actually quite haunting and mysterious - certainly not a baddy to laugh at. My main concern re-watching was the `kiddy' element which often emerged in the series but not a single moment made me cringe. Quite simply one of the greatest films I have ever seen.
  
  

• sorry fellas, but it was a turkey then and is now
  By AX11CD4P4VXPX on 2004-08-13
  In 1986 I was awash in anticipation over Transformers: The Movie. Like every other kid, I had a ton of worn out Decepticons and Autobots, and I watched the television show religiously. For kids like me, the movie promised a watershed moment in the continuity of the story.
  
  I watched this film on DVD for the first time since I saw it in the theater this past week. I remember being extremely let down by the film as an 11 year old, and I was curious if time, and the knowledge that Optimus doesn't really die, would make it cooler for me. Alas, no such luck was to be had.
  
  The biggest problem is that by slaughtering most of the existing characters in the first twenty minutes, you are left watching a bunch of robots you never saw before or give much of a rat's behind about, Dinobots excepted. Hot Rod? Ultra who? Compounding the problem was the suspicion I had even at 11 that the creators were killing off the old simply to make room for the new on the show and hence force me to buy them. Need proof this was a bad move? A near fan revolt convinced the creators to resurrect Optimus at the end of the next season. And speaking of dead Autobots, I could have sworn I saw a number of them take much more abuse on the show and survive! In the movie, several are felled by wimpy blasts from the individual Constructicons! And just to address your argument, simply because you can get away with more in the theater doesn't mean you should sacrifice continuity.
  
  Another complaint- by that point in the continuity, there were a lot more transformers that didn't have any part in the flick. Devastator was the only one of several really big robots to make an appearance. They could have brought out all of them to take on Unicron. Where is Omega Supreme when you need him?
  
  The rest of the story was not much better. Why were the Quintessons there at the time? It was also repetitive... how many times did Glavatron think he had destroyed the Matrix only to be tortured by Unicron? Did anyone else find the Junkions incredibly annoying? Or Daniel? U Got the Touch is a God awful song. The theme for Unicron is lifted directly from the Drago theme in Rocky IV.
  
  Most reviewers love this movie, so rock on guys, but my advice to someone who is thinking about purchasing this to relive their childhood is- get season 1 instead!
  
  
  
• The Touch
  By A103CCACY6F6LE on 2006-11-09
  STAN BUSH IS A GOD AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT WELL THEN YOU PROBABLY AREN'T TOO FOND OF AMERICA EITHER BECAUSE STAN BUSH IS THE BEST THING ABOUT AMERICA AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THAT WELL THEN YOU CAN'T REALLY LIKE AMERICA AND STAN BUSH'S MERE PRESENCE, AS WELL AS THE GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME IN THE TOUCH MAKE THIS THE BEST MOVIE EVER MADE ADN IF YOU DON'T THINK SO YOU SHOULD MOVE TO CANADA BECAUSE YOU HATE AMERICA.
  
  
• Transformers: An Old Classic Re-visited
  By A1JYDTPTWI58H8 on 2000-02-06
  If you were a child in the 1980s, chances are you heard of Transformers, if not a fan of them. Who wasn't? One of the largest toylines, best animated cartoon series, not to mention one of the best cartoon-made-to-movie series out there.

  In 1986, the movie was seen as a "long toy-commercial." In 1999 and 2000, because of incidents dealing with school shootings and so forth, it is still seen as a "violent 18 and older" movie.

  If review critics got off their high horses to actually look at what makes a movie a movie(storyline, character development, etc), you'll see that Transformers: The Movie has it all. From Hot Rod 'growing up' to the death of Optimus Prime, it touches everyone in some way. The weak points? Too many new characters introduced without development on some. And I guess the death of 15 or so characters can be thrown into that pile too.

  Overall, a great animated movie to relive your childhood. If rumor holds true, we may see an updated CGI movie of the Transformers(yes, the 1980 Transformers), soon!
  
  

• DVD Review
  By A3U4OXDML91RW3 on 2000-11-14
  Just watched the DVD edition of Transformers: The Movie and was very impressed with the audio/video and overall presentation of the movie. Although the audio is 5.1, it seems as if the front and rear channels are almost identical. I guess we shouldn't expect much from such an old movie. I would have preferred a widescreen presentation (none available) but the video is otherwise very crisp and clear. Any fan of the original 1980's show will want to pick this DVD up. When the theme song (in rock form) comes on during the menu, you'll feel like you're 10 all over again, waiting anxiously for your favorite transformers to lighten up your day after a hard day at school.
  
  
• "Coronation Starscream? This is bad comedy..."
  By AW7C9Y6DOYUFF on 2000-11-18
  Hey y'all,

  Just got my Transformers DVD the other day and I have to say I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the DVD transfer. I've had the video, which I thought was decent. But clarity, color, and crispness of this DVD version is remarkable. I am yet another one of the millions of bona fide Transformers fans out there who can tell you that this movie is one of the best animated movies ever made. A solid story, strong voice cast, excellent animation by the Japanese artists, and engaging and appropriate soundtrack by Vince Di Cola. I have to say that I don't know any other movie in which the music meshs so well with the actual movie. Very well done. I know this movie backwards and forwards, and I could even quote you line by line. I love it. This was THE kid's show of the 80's. This movie just brings back so many childhood memories. Now for the quips: the 'extras' as they call it leaves much to be desired. I mean it was cool with the interview and whatnot and storyboards. It would have been cool if they maybe had a behind the scenes featurette with the voice actors and other cool tidbits on how the process was done. But all in all this was a good package for the price. A truly definite buy!!!! Get yours now!
  
  

• Movie is 5 Stars, 20th Anniversary DVD is 3 Stars
  By A2E1QTFS01GT4P on 2006-11-14
  It never seems to amaze me anymore with 2-disc "Special Editions". Not only is the release an insult to all of those fans who have already bought the regular DVD edition, but there really isn't anything "special" about it. All of the "special features" could have been included on the original release as all, but the 2007 Movie material, was available at that time as well. As we all know the movie, let me say that the remastering is what you are paying for and will be happy. The colors are corrected and the image is very sharp. Now what the marketing people would have you believe you are paying full DVD price for is as follows:
  
  Original theatrical trailer and TV spots
  --This is to be expected and the TV spots are very redundant (as they usually are)
  
  Cinex and credit tests
  --Perhaps one of the biggest wastes of time and effort for a dvd. If anyone understands what this is or why it was put on a dvd I would love to know. (All you see is the various intro credits and original test sheets--no animation or any real point. If you want to see "Leonard Nimoy" handwritten on a credit sheet, then see the name appear as it did in the credits, then this "special feature" is for you!
  
  Photo gallery
  --Designs of the various Transformers with information on them. Standard fair and not all that interesting, especially trying to squint and read the text next to the photos.
  
  "Scramble City" episode with fan commentary
  --This could have been REAL good, I mean REAL good--WITHOUT the fan commentary. In fact, there is no audio from the episode. All you hear is the fan's talking somewhat intelligently about a Japan-only episode that was released before Transformers: The Movie was released in Japan. (Note: It was released in Japan in 1987, so this Japan episode bridges the gap between the 1st and 2nd season Transformers and the movie.) This episode gives you a glimpse of a lot of the Transformers that first appeared in the movie over here in the states. One scene shows Optimus and Ultra Magnus together--which over here in the states, didn't happen until Prime's death in the movie. Likewise, you will see some epic battles of the various "combiners"--the Constructicons, Stunticons, Combaticons, etc., and the first appearance of Metroplex--in the states, he didn't appear until after the movie. This would have been perfect had it contained the original sound effects and subtitles. As it stands, you here two fanboys talk during the whole episode.
  
  Remastering side-by-side comparison
  --Interesting, but it gets old after about a minute. It basically makes it appear that the remaster process was more of a "brightening" process than anything else--as the images appear more bright in the remastered version.
  
  Trailer: Transformers live action film
  --A teaser trailer that was in the theaters a while back. It briefly shows what appears to be a Decepticon towards the end, but apparently the CGI was not yet complete at the time this teaser came out--so it is more of a second glance and a shadow.
  
  Sneak peek: Transformers live action film
  --Literally, about one minute long. This has a quick "I always thought Transformers would make a great film" line from Spielberg, some non-CGI crash scenes (showing scenes of the actual actors reacting to non-existent effects). Nothing here to wet the appetite really.
  
  Next generation video game trailer
  --Not even a Transformers game!! Some generic new PS3 game!
  
  Featurette: "Death of Optimus Prime"
  --Features the original producers, a writer, and the woman who played Arcee talking about how surprised they were that Prime's death really mattered to people. My favorite part is when they said something to the effect of "We were just trying to kill off a toyline so we could start the next generation of toys." They also talk about the parents' complaints about Prime's death and how it affected their kids. Again, this would have been great had there been something that appeared to show that Prime's death was written as an important plot point rather than killing off an old toy line.
  
  Featurette: "Cast and Characters"
  --The same crew above talk about what it was like working with various actors--somewhat interesting.
  
  Featurette: "Transformers Q & A"
  --Probably the best "featurette" as there were some decent questions and answers--but still, you could tell they were trying to fill the 2nd DVD to justify the price.
  
  Promotional trailer with commentary
  --Worth one look. Beyond that, not much.
  
  Test, deleted/alternate footage with commentary
  --This is where one would think the meat of a "special edition" would be, but there is nothing that stands out. You see some alternate (read: unfinished scenes) with commentary over the scenes, so you really can't hear the scenes. Likewise, there is such a subtle addition or change from the original version that you can't tell really what has been deleted even with the commentator yapping away.
  
  Animated storyboards
  --Interesting again for one view. The "cut scene" was nothing spectacular.
  
  US and Japanese toy commercials
  --low quality vhs versions of the commercials. It was cool seeing the first few, but then it was redundant. Likewise, what was up with the blurred children's faces? Is it illegal to show kids from commercials that appeared in the '80's?
  
  "Scramble City" commercials
  --Pathetic!
  
  All in all, wait till this is a $9.99 DVD and buy it for the 1st disc that has the remastered version. The animated menus are nice, but there is very little substance here. It was a quick way to get $16-20 out of Transformers' fans again!
  
  
• Until the Day Till All Are Satisfied...
  By A24RY5G4I81ASX on 2006-11-20
  Obviously no one special edition DVD is going to satisfy every fan of a franchise as pervasive as the Transformers. It's continuities are all over the spectrum and their individual fanbases are famously, fiercely loyal. But insofar as paying homage to each subsequent franchise by paying homage to the first, Generation 1, this DVD certainly comes close to knocking it out of the park.
  
  Having owned several incarnations of this film in various formats (the U.S. VHS, followed by the Canadian release- which reintroduced Spike's infamous expletive- to the initial DVD to, finally, this one) I have to say first and foremost that the color-correction and digital remastering are absolutely phenomenal. So much so that a layman like myself can actually notice the difference without a side by side comparison. (Which, you'll be glad to know, they include anyway, just in case)
  
  The colors are noticeably brighter and more vivid, without drawing attention away from the drama. In fact, the remastering is so crisp that I found myself actually noticing aspects of the action in both foreground and background that I had not noticed before, even after having seen this film upwards of two hundred times in my life. That this newly enhanced version allows me to revisit the film and discover something new makes it already worth its $20.00 price tag.
  
  But let's be honest; special editions are bought for the icing, not the cake. And more than anything, you're dying to know about the extras. Trust me on this, you are. There hasn't yet been a review that puts the DVD extras in the context in which they were intended.
  
  Extras:
  
  16x9 Widescreen presentation: The rumors are true- this is not a "true" widescreen presentation. If the legends can be believed, the film itself was never made in widescreen format and as such, a "true" widescreen format does not exist. The cropping of this version is done relatively well though, all things considered. I think there was maybe one moment where the top of Hot Rod's head was cut off for no reason I could fathom and sure enough, when compared to the full screen edition it was not. All things considered though, it's probably the closest thing that we'll ever get to the original theatrical viewing experience (which, I imagine, involved a similar top cropping) so if not for anything but the nostalgia factor, this "widescreen" presentation makes me happy. But it's almost as if the makers of this DVD saw potential dissatisfaction in the pipeline, because for the cinema purists who need to see as much image as is available, regardless of what format that may be, they have also included the full screen version. Everybody's happy.
  
  Autobot Matrix of Knowledge: a feature that that can be applied while viewing the movie, the Autobot Matrix of Knowledge is essentially the Transformer's answer to VH1's Pop-Up Video. I actually really enjoyed this. Having spent the better part of my life reciting lines from this movie, and re-enacting scenes with my friends and our toys as a child, I liked that there was a little something `new' to an old standby which made public things my die-hard fan friends and I had known privately for ages. Being told, for example, that Cliffjumper was voiced by radio personality Casey Kasem, who hosted a weekly top 40 countdown show WHILE Cliffjumper counts down the shuttle launch at the top of the film is gloriously satisfying. Having someone finally acknowledge Sludge's `Loony Tunes Moment' made me laugh out loud. Likewise, being told what the "official" spelling for the Universal Greeting is, is nothing short of thrilling. Because let's be honest: how different ways have YOU seen it spelled?
  
  Theatrical Trailers and Vintage TV spots: Someone wrote that the resolution on these is horrendous. I'd call it vintage. Twenty years ago broadcast television was not digital and as a result, the quality of these ads definitely suffers. But that they are archivable at all and given to us here in DVD format is definitely a plus. How many people remember "trading" VHS tapes with strangers on eBay before the series was made available on DVD? I certainly do. On one such occasion, I had twenty minutes worth of TF toy commercials on VHS and knowing that they would only get progressively worse with every viewing really made me sad. Having them now is total bonus.
  
  Video Galleries: On both discs you'll find a menu selection for Video Galleries. Arguably the coolest extra on the discs. The deleted/alternative footage is video only with commentary by someone whom I presume worked on the film. Much of it covers subtleties in the production design which really gives you a perspective on how much work goes into the now-dead art of cell animation. (e.g., `you'll notice the ripple effect in the background of the underwater scene- we added more in the foreground later' etc.) but what you'll love about this segment most, if you're a die-hard, is the three seconds of footage that comes immediately after Astrotrain flies the retreating Decepticons away from Autobot City which truly is never-before-seen and informs the storytelling in a such compelling way that it made me wish they hadn't cut it.
  
  Also included in the Video Galleries are a series of animated story boards. I really liked these because, being as familiar with the film as I was, I got to see how much (or little) several famous scenes deviated from their original concepts when they were ultimately rendered. With live-action you get the luxury of having real people behave in an organic environment. But with animation, every camera angle, every pan, every head-turn is pre-imagined and it was fun for me to see how a simple difference of posture makes Optimus Prime go from looking powerfully menacing in his fight with Megatron to looking like a compassionate leader just trying to defend and protect. There was also a deleted scene, (never animated) which involved Ultra Magnus actually using his car carrier to transport troops to defend against Devastator within the halls of Autobot City.
  
  Featurettes: "The Death of Optimus Prime" details how being martyred makes for franchise longevity. Yes, it's a little heartbreaking to see how corporate the logic and mindset were which murdered one of your childhood icons, but to the credit of those involved, the only romanticizing that goes on is the speculation of where the franchise would be today had they not done what they did. What's the first thing people say after you bring up Transformers in regular conversation? "I can't believe they killed Optimus Prime!" Martyrdom = Franchise longevity.
  
  "Cast and Characters" and "Q&A" give further insight with creatives Susan Blu, Flint Dille, Joe Bacal, Nelson Shin and Tom Griffin. While these interviews could maybe have been a little bit longer, I for one found the Nelson Shin "Chinglish to English Subtitles" to be amusing in just the right measure. Any more would have been overkill, any less would have been a little too "double-u tee eff". Trust me on this. I speak Chinglish. Nelson Shin telling an Orson Welles anecdote is plenty of director commentary. Also noteworthy is hearing them all answer the question: what's your favorite scene in the movie and why.
  
  Scramble City episode with commentary: Okay - detractors of this bonus feature are completely within their right to say how disappointing it is. I will only say this: having seen the Scramble City episode on VCD, I can say that an English language audio track does not exist for it. And anyone who has ever seen the Malaysian/Singaporean English dubs of the last 3 Japanese G1 series (Headmasters, Masterforce and Victory) will know that even the great Transformers sound utterly lame in English when not produced with an American aesthetic. So to hear it as it aired is far less fun than to view it while listening to two really geeky dudes (who you totally wish you were right about now) argue about it. Sure, it would have been nice if the OTFCC guy and the TFW2005 guy had more chemistry between them when they talked or at least were a little more secure with themselves and less competitive... but come on, that they're knowledgeable [read: geeky] enough to be invited to speak for the fan community at all kind of precludes them from being socially engaging, right? (I keed, I keed.)
  
  Overall, my feeling is that this DVD really knew who its audience was and really tailored itself for that audience: the fans who grew up with it and whose lives were changed because of it. That the DVD-ROM trivia game "Activate Autobot City" exists at all is testament to that. Anyone who would bother to open that application would already know more about Transformers trivia than they would probably let on at a cocktail party. And for the curious, yes, I played it, yes I got everything right and yes, it made me feel as good about myself for knowing that much about the Transformers movie as it did ashamed of myself for, well, knowing that much about the Transformers movie. This review might not change your mind about whether the extras on this DVD are great or a huge waste of time. But I for one feel like it was made with great care by fans who could be any number of people I actually know, who love the mythology, love the archetypes, love the relationships, and loved most of al that for a half hour or so every day they not only found a hero in a robot that turned into a car but a hero in themselves too.
  
  
  
• Historic, one of the greatist US cartoon movie productions
  By A1BHK6FFUZNKSN on 2000-01-03
  This movie is historic because it was the first time a lead character was killed off in a cartoon series intended for kids. This resulted in 1000's of letters from angery parents and kids and led to a script rewrite for GIJoe the movie (another classic).

  80's rock soundtrack really adds to the experiences, the movie stands fairly well on it's own, but will holds special meaning to long time fans of the series.

  Cartoons have pretty much gone to hell these days, The Transformers was epic, the show only lasted four seasons (98 episodes), but it was complete in the end, with the final 3 episodes concluding the series with the bad guys defeated. This movie takes place somewhere in the middle of the series, it picks up about 13 years after the cartoon series left off (at the end of season two) in the year 2005, many new transformers are introduced, old characters are killed off, and the leadership roles are changed out for both good and bad. The seaons that followed continued on with the story and eventually was concluded due to a drop in ratings, the series continued on in Japan into the early 90's with three more seasons.

  I wish Rhino would put this out on DVD, It would also be great if they would release a box set on DVD (like was done in Japan on Laserdisc) with the first two seasons and the last two seaons.
  
  

• Probably the best toy movie ever.
  By A3K6N5JJDK2E25 on 2000-08-31
  That's right, while other toy franchises have come and gone (and the sooner Pokemon goes the better IMHO)Transformers has kept its loyal band of followers through the years. What differentiates it from the usual cash-in movie, is the amount of effort which has gone in to make this simply a good movie. The writers and producers ovbiously had a love for the subject, as the quality of the script is superb. It ranges all the emotions, even giving saving private ryan a run for it's money in the "war is hell" stakes. Featuring the deaths of major characters and the erosion of hope in the good guys, the storyline is quite mature for basically a kiddy movie. The continuity is sometimes lax (where does Blaster go to after the battle of Autobot city?) and the animation quality is varied, but the voice acting is superb (Leonard Nimoy and Orson Welles both feature), which along with the script, fleshes out the characters and gives a good heart to the film. The essential good versus bad cartoon. Buy this (and Iron Giant ;) instead of a yellow mutant rabbit, and you won't be disappointed.
  
  
• Good image quality, lots of features, but not true theatrical widescreen.
  By A3MB2L3K20OWLO on 2006-11-10
  Let me say first that those hoping for a true theatrical widescreen format will be disappointed. The movie was released in theaters in a higher aspect ratio than 16x9 which means it had to be modified to fit in both 16x9 and 4x3 format. In the widescreen format, the entire left and right sides of the movie is displayed, but rather than slightly letterbox the movie, about an inch was cropped off both the top and bottom. You can see this very clearly in the scene with the beakers breaking at the very beginning of the movie where in the full screen version you can see the tops of the beakers while in the widescreen version you can not.
  
  The fullscreen version is the opposite. They cropped the left and right sides and left the top and bottom intact. So basically if you watch the widescreen you lose part of the top and bottom of the movie and if you watch the fullscreen you lose the left and right side. Neither edition is complete and each edition has more visible area than the other. The widescreen format has less cropping, but it is still cropped.
  
  The back of the case says the movie is remastered and color corrected. I compared this version with the special edition movie DVD from Rhino that was released in 2000, which also claims to be remastered. The color does look a bit brighter in this release, so overall it does look better.
  
  There are also a lot more features in the edition than there was in Rhino's release including a Japanese transformers episode never before seen in the US. There is also a "pop-up video" version of the movie with bits of interesting trivia which the DVD calls the `Autobot Matrix of Knowledge'. There is both official and fan movie commentary in the widescreen version, but not in the fullscreen version. The 2nd disc contains a number interviews and bonus DVD-ROM content. The box claims there are easter eggs on both discs but so far I've only found some on the first one.
  
  One of the downsides I've found besides the widescreen issue is that the audio track cannot be changed on the fly (at least on my player). I'm not sure why this was disallowed and it may not bother others, but I found it annoying that I could not switch audio tracks without restarting the movie.
  
  Overall if you're a Transformers fan you'll want to add this to your collection. It is a good release, but it lacks perfection because of the lack of an actual theatrical widescreen version.
  
  

• Transformers (Two-Disc Special Edition)
• Transformers Cybertron - Robots in Disguise, A New Beginning
• Voltron - Defender of the Universe - Collection One: Blue Lion
• G.I. Joe: The Movie
• Transformers Optimus Prime 20th Anniversary Figure