 |
 |
|
|
buying more than one thing? (uses Multi-Item Price Optimization™) ...or |
||
 |
 |
intereact!Director: Nelson Shin
Actors: Norman Alden, Jack Angel, Michael Bell, Gregg Berger, and Susan Blu
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Retail Price (not our price): $19.98
Release Date: 2000-11-07
Theatrical Release Date: 1986-08-08
Studio: Rhino / Wea
Run Time: 86 minutes
Format: Array
Format: Animated, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Discs: 1
Editorial Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
1) Amazon.com
During the 1980s, one cartoon series ruled the airwaves... The Transformers. This paragon of consumerism was created with a dual purpose--to entertain and to galvanize children to buy the toys. Somewhere along the line, the show became a cult favorite, so in 1986 they fashioned an epic tale of good versus evil specifically for the big screen. The result looked vaguely like an animated remake of Star Wars. Who are the Transformers? The good guys are the Autobots: Optimus Prime, SoundWave, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, and many more. Their mortal enemies are the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron and StarScream. The Autobots must save their home planet from an evil entity known as Unicron (voiced by Orson Welles). At the same time, they must defend themselves from an all-out attack from the Decepticons. Along the way, lives are lost, battles are fought, and a new Autobot leader is born as another dies. The story and action never stop in a thrilling ride that often makes you forget that you're watching an '80s cartoon with inferior graphics. The violence will also come as a mild shock to those who haven't seen this film for a while--definitely a movie for the 8 and over audience. For those who grew up on this series, this is a movie that must be watched. Unlike cartoon serials before and after, The Transformers relied on solid stories and interesting characters, a manifesto the film itself upholds with gusto and grace while also being morally responsible. Don't underestimate this movie; there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. --Jeremy Storey
Customer Reviews (supplied by Amazon.com):
Average Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5
1) Transformer (Cartoon) [Rating: 4 out of 5]
I gave this product as a Christmas present and got a fantastic response. I have watched it and it is great. The cartoon is a great review and just plain fun to watch before or after watching the new "Transformers" movie. DO ENJOY!!!!2) Great stroll down memory lane, good cartoon artwork, a little cheesy dialogue [Rating: 3 out of 5]
I assume if you're looking at this product, it's because you saw it back in the day, or you saw the new live-action movie (2007) and are catching up on old stuff.So for what it is, which is an old cartoon, put into a fairly ambitious cartoon movie for its time, it's awesome. If you're hoping to find something on par with the live-action movie, you'll be disappointed. I grew up with Transformers and saw the movie originally in the theater. I loved it. Sometimes when you go back to things like this, they aren't as good as you remember - this isn't the case. Yes, the dialogue is a little cheesy at times; yes, the plot is a little thin; but the artwork is great, and it's freakin' Transformers for crying out loud, and the story concept is pretty grand in scale.I recommend it for true fans of Transformers old and new.3) Didn't See it Twenty Years Ago, So Judging it Without Nostalgia [Rating: 2 out of 5]
I just picked up the new live action transformers the other day, and, based on the reviews on this sight that claim the animated movie was even better, I picked the animated movie up as well. My family watched the live action movie last night (after having seen it in the theatres last summer,) and everyone loved it. We all -- my wife, daughter, son and myself -- thought it was fantastic. We watched the animated movie earlier tonight, and only my son liked it at all. My wife (who enjoys anima quite a bit) only needed a few minutes to decide it wasn't for her and left the room. My daughter got bored pretty quick, and came in and out of the room several times while the movie played, (although she did finally settle in for the end.) And while I watch a lot of animation and really enjoy good animated action, I was only able to force myself to watch about an hour of it with my son -- bored through all of it except the Optimus vs Megatron fight -- before giving up and finding other things to do in the room while the movie finished playing. My son liked it, but thought the live action movie was better. My daughter actually asked if we could watch the live action movie again after the animated movie while the animated movie was still playing. Every member of my family thought the live action movie was better.So I'm writing this review for people like myself who aren't caught up in the nostalgia of having loved this movie twenty years ago. While I give the movie credit for actually killing off characters and making changes to the mythology, only the Optimus vs Megatron fight entertained me at all, and much of the rest of the movie I thought was bad to terrible. I honestly regret having spent my money on this.The soundtrack (which during my quick look through the reviews I saw people praise) is the most over the top, oppressive, melodramatic soundtrack I have ever heard. It never stops. There is always music playing, every second, and 90% of it is up tempo cheesy eighties rock that's trying to drive the movie forward rather than letting anything build. It never lets up, and I found myself really wanting it to. 90% of the movie felt like that scene in every Rocky movie where Adrian's just given him her blessing and he goes into a music training montage to show how everything has come together and is positive and he's going to be ready for the fight. That scene shouldn't be sustained for an entire movie. The soundtrack shouldn't be that overpowering for an entire movie. At least in my opinion. And boy the music just sounds cheesy to me today. Orchestral music is far more timeless, and I think is a better way to go in most movies.There's also little to no characterization. The movie feels like the third movie in a trilogy where you are expected to know who everyone is and only the climax remains to be told. If you watched the series regularly and went straight from that to this, ok, but if -- like me -- you've only ever seen a few episodes of the show, most of the action and death mean nothing because you just don't care about the characters. And the plot just never seems to get any room to develop. In the first hour the characters go from Cyberton to Earth back to Cyberton back to Earth then crash land on two new planets on their way back to Cyberton yet again, with nonstop battles going on the entire time. Now as an action junky I never thought I'd say it, but I kept waiting for things to slow down a little and for some characterization, depth, and structure to be built up, but they never were. It was all action, and the action just didn't do anything for me because it seemed so arbitrary -- sometimes robots could shoot hundreds of shots and every shot would miss, other times a single shot would kill an enemy. The capabilities of the robots never really seemed to be set or determined, so you couldn't really feel any sense of tension or suspense.Honestly, I don't understand anyone thinking this was a better plotted, better written, better structured, more exciting, or more engaging movie than the new live action version -- and that's why I wrote this review. As someone who's not biased by "twenty years ago as a kid I really loved this movie," I gotta say I will never watch it again. I've seen the live action movie twice so far -- enjoying it quite a bit both times -- and I'm certain I will watch it again. The animated movie will very likely never be played in my house again, as only my son would have any interest in watching it, and even he liked the live action movie better. The live action movie seemed much more real -- and not just because it was live action with real actors -- but because it was written better, the character were introduced and developed better, and the action was better established and choreographed.4) Go drink napalm if you think that new trash trumps this! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
I had to pop this in to remind myself on what a good Transformer movie is. This one stomps all over the remake. Human characters were still annoying but wasn't too important. Much better battles. Far better soundtrack. And better character personalities. This is Transformers to me and to alot of people. After watching this, michael bay's crapfest feels like nothing more than a bad dream.5) Must have! [Rating: 5 out of 5]
This movie is a must have for anybody that is interested in the world of Transformers. This movie has a great story and has a side bonus of the good music from the 1980's. The character Unicron is also introduced in this movie who is an important character to know from the world of transformers, and he's just plain awesome. I highly recommend getting this movie.