Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 241

Before Price Increases Hit Disney+ in October, Get the Streamer for $2/Month

Price increases are coming to Disney+ this October. These price hikes will hit every tier currently available to Disney+ subscribers. Disney+’s ad-supported tier will go from $7.99 a month to $9.99 a month, that’s a $2 increase. Meanwhile, Disney+’s ad-free tier will go from $13.99 to $15.99, which is another $2 increase. That’s a very salient $2 theme. But in the spirit of it, there’s one more $2-based idea in play from Disney+, and consumers might light it a bit better. For a little while, you can pay only $2 a month for the streamer. But you’d better act quickly if you want to snag this lower price point.

Disney

As of September 12, new and returning U.S. Disney+ customers can sign up for the ad-supported Disney+ Basic plan for $1.99/month for the first three months. After that, the plan will revert to the now-increased Disney+ Basic plan cost, $9.99 per month.

This $2 for Disney+ deal only lasts until September 27, however. So you have a couple more weeks to save $24 bucks. That may not seem like a lot, but with the cost of streaming services these days, you’ll probably be glad you did. Plus, $2 months just feels a lot better than $10. In fact, we like it so much we’d love it if Disney+ made it the permanent price.

For those of us who are already subscribed to Disney+, we say Godspeed as we hunker down for the price increases to hit in October. May there not be more price hikes on any streamer for a good long time after that.

The post Before Price Increases Hit Disney+ in October, Get the Streamer for $2/Month appeared first on Nerdist.

BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE Proves Tim Burton and Michael Keaton Should Make Another BATMAN Movie

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice isn’t a perfect movie, but it sure is a wildly entertaining one. It’s also a return to form for Tim Burton. The Ghost With the Most helped the director find some of his old mojo. That has led many to wonder what other franchises Burton could return to next. The most popular—and most obvious—choice has been another one his Beetlejuice star also headlined. And you know what? That should absolutely happen. Warner Bros. Discovery, right now, should sign Tim Burton and Michael Keaton to make a third and final Batman movie together.

Warner Bros. Discovery

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s already massive box office haul is proof moviegoers, even after waiting for decades, will turn out in droves to see Michael Keaton in a Tim Burton movie. And that was with a property not nearly as guaranteed to find success as a new Batman film would be. Superman is not DC’s single most bulletproof cinematic superhero. It’s the Caped Crusader. Every time Warner Bros. makes a solo Dark Knight, film people show up.

A third Burton Batman wouldn’t pose any problems for James Gunn’s burgeoning DCU, either, even though that cinematic universe will soon introduce its own Bruce Wayne. Movies set outside of the DCU, like Joker: Folie à Deux, fall under a separate “Elseworlds” banner. And it’s not as if anyone would confuse Burton’s surreal Gotham with Matt Reeves’ far more grounded and grittier “Battinson” Elseworlds franchise, either. There’s room for all of them. Especially since Burton and Keaton would almost certainly only be making one final Batman film.

Warner Bros.

But ticket sales are a concern for the studio, not fans. Just as the multiverse and canon questions are something for James Gunn to worry about. The best reason Burton and Keaton should bring back their Dark Knight is the only one that actually matter: the movie itself.

Burton’s two Batman films are distinct, memorable, and fantastic in their own ways. He created a stylish, heightened universe that stands out from every other live-action adaptation of Batman. His Gotham is a comic book full of iconic characters come to life. The director’s films also feature what many consider to be the greatest Batman ever. For an actor who was a “controversial” pick at the time, Keaton delivered a perfect Bruce Wayne for Burton’s vision. The Flash also showed Keaton still has great Batman performances left to give. (After Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, it’s obvious Michael Keaton can put on any old costume and it will seem like he never took it off.)

DC Studios

Yet, the two never got to finish their story. Batman Returns is not a satisfying conclusion in any way. It’s ending is a somber setup for another entry. And as much as DC would like us to think George Clooney and Val Kilmer’s turns as Bruce Wayne served continuations, no one really believes that. Joel Schumacher’s far sillier, far more “family-friendly” Gotham was definitely not Tim Burton’s, which is even more beloved and appreciated now than it was when him and Keaton walked away from the franchise.

The very long delay for a third film could also end up being a huge blessing. It could help Burton and Keaton make something special. Had they returned for Batman 3 in the ’90s, they would have told another chapter in the same story. It would have been the same Bruce Wayne dealing with a new problem. But decades later, Keaton’s Caped Crusader would be so much older and different in meaningful ways.

What would that mean for him? How would he have changed? Did failure harden him? Did loss soften him? How would he have reacted to age and diminishing strength? How would experience and wisdom have shaped him over the years? Did he train someone else to take over as Gotham’s hero?

There are plenty of great stories about an older Bruce Wayne, including Batman Beyond, that Burton could take inspiration from while crafting his own tale, just as he did with his first two films. The possibility alone is enough to that DC should greenlight this movie tomorrow without a script. Simply returning to that version of Gotham is, too. Just as seeing Michael Keaton as that Batman, and not his multiversal counterpart, is.

But there’s one final reason Beetlejuice Beetlejuice should lead to Batman 3. Burton’s two installments are among the most important movies ever made. Yes, movies, not just superhero movies. The genre now dominates Hollywood, and superheroes would not be as ubiquitous on the big screen without Keaton’s time in the cowl. Few movie franchises have left behind a legacy like that. And even fewer are worthy of a legacy sequel.

Warner Bros.

Parents upset about McDonald’s toys should not have deprived Tim Burton from closing out his time in Gotham the way he wanted. It should not have made Michael Keaton walk away from Wayne Manor. They should have been able to drive off in the greatest Batmobile ever they way they wanted.

Tim Burton spent decades away from the afterlife, but when he returned there with Michael Keaton they found cinematic magic once more. Now that they have it’s time to finally let them do the same in Gotham City.

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Will The One Ring Be Forged on THE RINGS OF POWER Season 2?

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Lord Celembrimbor is going to do something he swore he wouldn’t. He’s going to help craft nine rings for men. In The Rings of Power‘s “Halls of Stone,” Annatar used the elven smith’s ego, vanity, and guilt to manipulate Eregion’s leader into doing the Dark Lord’s bidding. Before he did, Sauron saw firsthand what it takes to make a ring that will bring its wearer into the Unseen world. With that knowledge, and his time as Annatar coming to an end, the question must now be asked: Will we see Sauron forge the One Ring during the show’s second season?

Prime Video

Celebrimbor’s refusal to make rings for “easily corruptible” men led Annatar to try making them himself with the other smiths of Eregion. That ploy did more than tempt Celebrimbor. It also allowed Sauron to learn from trial-and-error. Mirdania was working with a ring that featured more mithral than previous ones.

When she put it on she vanished from sight and ended up in a place Frodo will one day know all too well. Mirdania went into the Unseen world, “a place, like this, but shrouded in mist and darkness.” There she saw a tall being of flames with eyes “pitiless and eternal” that reeked of “death.”

Prime Video

Lord of the Rings fans also know that realm as the wraith-world, because Sauron’s One Ring will draw the Nazgul into that dimension. That flawed ring might be the most important failure in all of Middle-earth, because it might have taught Sauron what he needed to know when he forges his ultimate ring alone in Mordor.

This episode also saw Sauron learn something important about how to bend the rings to his will. King Durin’s ring has made him different. His son says he is “colder, quicker to anger” and suddenly greedy. Sauron said that’s because they made the dwarf rings under a pall of deception. Celebrimbor lied to his High King about what was happening in Eregion. Sauron might be lying about that cause and effect, but he loves to deceive by bending the truth. And he certainly was honest when he told Celebrimbor “these are matters of spirit, as much as craft.”

The Dark Lord’s time in Eregion is proving tremendously fruitful. Each iteration of rings make its wearers more and more corruptible. This is reversed from official lore, yet will still work in the same way. We know from The Lord of the Rings how each generation of rings will work (or not) on Sauron’s behalf. And on The Rings of Power nine mortal men doomed to die will soon wear rings Celebrimbor swore never to make. Those rings will connect those men to the Unseen world Mirandia visited.

Prime Video

Once the rings of men are made the only thing left for Sauron to do is make the One Ring to rule them all, to find them to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them. With his partnership with Celebrimbor almost done, it’s very possible Sauron will end season two by finishing his life’s work.

Fortunately when he does he will seemingly forget about another lesson he learned in Eregion. He also told Mirdania that the crafting of the rings left Celebrimbor “diminished.” It surely has, just as the One Ring—whenever he forges it—will leave Sauron diminished, too.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. A ring of power would not corrupt him (maybe). You can follow him on Twitter and Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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SALEM’S LOT Trailer Takes an Unholy Creature and Small Town Terror to the 1970s

The long journey towards the Salem’s Lot film that’s coming to Max is almost over. The infamous Stephen King story will take us to Jerusalem’s Lot for a terrifying tale involving vampires. After a long wait, we finally have a trailer and release date for Salem’s Lot and we cannot wait to see Lewis Pullman’s take on Ben Mears. 

The clip gives us everything we’d expect: attempts to control demons with crosses, bloody shirts, writing bodies, and all-around terror. I’ve long maintained that small towns are the scariest places on Earth and that’s true here. Just imagine going home to spark your creativity only to find yourself in the middle of a real life horror situation. Sucks to be Ben. 

Here’s a quick summary of Salem’s Lot to go with that trailer: 

Ben Mears is a writer who returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot in search of inspiration, only to discover his hometown is being preyed upon by a vampire, leading him to band together with a ragtag group to fight it.

What Is the Release Date for Salem’s Lot? Max

Salem’s Lot will skip theaters and head straight to Max on October 3.

In the meantime, read more about Salem’s Lot here.

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New WICKED Trailer Takes Us Into Elphaba’s Complicated Life and Relationships

L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz got turned on its head with Gregory Maguire’s Wicked. The 1995 book put the spotlight on Elphaba and her life, often one full of hardship, until Dorothy kills her. Wicked became a Broadway musical in 2003 and has since become the fourth longest-running Broadway series. And this journey through Oz doesn’t stop with a musical: we’re getting a two-part film adaptation from director Jon M. Chu.

Wicked‘s New Release Date

Wicked was slated to be released on November 27, but it will now release a little earlier on November 22. Meanwhile, Wicked Part Two has also already moved its release date. It was meant to release on November 26, 2025. But Wicked Part Two‘s official release date is now November 21, 2025. This move could be thanks in part to avoiding a battle with Disney’s Zootopia 2, which releases on November 26.

Wicked Part 2. November 21, 2025. pic.twitter.com/U5BOoGiCG6

— Wicked Movie (@wickedmovie) September 12, 2024

Watch the Wicked Movie’s Trailer

There’s a fresh trailer for Wicked that really gives us a better look at Elphaba’s life, including a romance and some events leading up to her death.

The Wicked trailer shows off a beautifully cinematic version of Oz and the beginning of Elphaba and Glinda’s fateful and witchy friendship.

Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba and Ariana Grande plays Glinda. They meet as students at Shiz University and become close friends. Elphaba and Glinda could not have more different backgrounds. Those backgrounds definitely put a thorn in the side of the friendship. As Wicked‘s synopsis explains:

The two meet as students at Shiz University in the fantastical Land of Oz and forge an unlikely but profound friendship. Following an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, their friendship reaches a crossroads and their lives take very different paths. Glinda’s unflinching desire for popularity sees her seduced by power, while Elphaba’s determination to remain true to herself, and to those around her, will have unexpected and shocking consequences on her future. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfill their destinies as Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.

We’re glad to see the Wicked movie trailer embrace its roots and even tease the movie’s version of the many iconic musical songs. We can’t wait to hear them in full.

You Can Also Check Out the Wicked Trailer in LEGO Form

In case the real version of Wicked‘s movie trailer left you wanting more, you can also check out a LEGO version. Who doesn’t love LEGO Oz?

Wicked Movie Featurette and First-Looks

Wicked is an epic and long story. Is it a story that needs two movies? Only time will tell. Happily, it does seem like the cast and crew of the movie are very passionate about it.

Universal

In addition to Erivo and Grande, the cast for Wicked includes: Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible; Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero; Ethan Slater as Boq; Marissa Bode as Nessarose; and Jeff Goldblum as the legendary Wizard of Oz. Bowen Yang, Bronwyn James, and Keala Settle also star. Most recently we learned that Peter Dinklage would Dr. Dillamond, a goat with the ability to speak. You can see more first-looks from the movie, below.

We really love this Wicked featurette with Chu taking us into building the world of Oz.

Here Are Some New Looks at Wicked‘s Cast

Jonathan Bailey as Fiyero in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/puAf9mGV1n

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Ariana Grande as Glinda in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/DLlL7ZMQdC

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Michelle Yeoh as Madame Morrible in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/LR4jrw59Lh

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo insisted on singing live when filming #Wicked, says director Jon M. Chu.

“When we were shooting it, those girls were like, ‘F—k the pre-records. We’re going live.’”

🔗: https://t.co/IJpREEjocR pic.twitter.com/mbo3CcYGqK

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) March 21, 2024

Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in ‘WICKED.’

In theaters November 27. pic.twitter.com/0QduNvx3gy

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 21, 2024

Wicked arrives in theaters on November 22, 2024. Wicked Part Two will follow on November 26, 2025.

Originally published on February 12, 2024.

Featured Image: Universal

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Sauron’s Creeper Scene Offers Us Haladriel Crumbs on THE RINGS OF POWER

It’s hard when a ship is separated by the narrative. (Although, the most amazing thing ever when the story brings them together.) And for Haladriel/Saurondriel shippers, who are legion in The Rings of Power‘s world, it’s been an especially trying time. For those not in the know, Haladriel shippers is the name for fans who love the relationship between Galadriel and Sauron (formerly known as Halbrand). But although the pair are parted, it seems that The Rings of Power wants shippers to know: it’s going to be okay. Sauron is definitely still thinking about Galadriel. (Although he’s being kind of a creeper about it!) Here are The Rings of Power season two’s most distinct Haladriel crumbs to date.

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In season two of The Rings of Power, Sauron heads off to Eregion to manipulate Celebrimbor into making more Rings of Power. But Celebrimbor isn’t the only elf in Eregion that Sauron has been influencing. He also seems to be having quite an impact on Celebrimbor’s student and protege, the elven smith Mirdania (played by actress Amelia Kenworthy). And there is something about Mirdania. Something very… Galadriel-esque. In fact, in the lead-up to The Rings of Power season two, fans even speculated that Mirdania was Galadriel’s daughter Celebrían, whom the show has still not introduced. But it turns out the resemblance has a bit of a different purpose, and we’re not the only ones who have noticed. In The Rings of Power season two, episode five, Sauron and Mirdania share a moment that’s all about Galadriel.

Prime Video

Sauron has been extra honey-tongued and solicitous toward Mirdania since he arrived in Eregion. And we learned a big reason why in The Rings of Power season two, episode five. Sauron is slowly setting the scene to turn the other elves of Eregion against Celebrimbor. He wants the elves to feel Sauron/Annatar is the force of good and calm in the kingdom. Thus, Sauron can alienate Celebrimbor and make him easy prey to his gaslighting ways. But amid this manipulation, Sauron finds time to be just a little extra creepy to Mirdania, talking suddenly about how she reminds him of Galadriel. This The Rings of Power scene both highlights to us that Sauron is not our friend and gives Haladriel shippers cause to rejoice.

Prime Video

Sauron says to Mirdania, “How strange. When the light caught your hair for a moment, you seemed her perfect likeness.” And when Mirdania asks, “Whose likeness?” Sauron responds with, “Why Lady Galadriel’s, of course.” And then strokes her hair. Ahhh (don’t touch her!), or AHHHH (Haladriel!), as you prefer. The moment is so icky and yet so good. Clearly, Galadriel is very much on Sauron’s mind. She’s someone he’s seeing in the shadows and on the faces of others. And there is something incredibly intimate and darkly romantic about it. Especially since it comes complete with a hair touch. It definitely adds to the gothic romance energy that is slowly descending upon Eregion. And clearly, although he’s presently wooing Celebrimbor, Sauron thinks he and Galadriel are the stars of this twisted movie.

@nerdist

Sauron’s exes joining forces #TheRingsOfPower #LordOfTheRings

♬ original sound – nerdist

It’s not as good Galadriel and Sauron/Halbrand spending a whole season together in The Rings of Power‘s first chapter. But it’s certainly something. Congratulations Haladriel shippers, that was intense.

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Max Will Be Bundled Into Spectrum TV for Free in New Deal

The streaming bundles just keep bundling. But now there’s a brand new kind of bundle coming to us. This time, a linear/traditional TV platform is bundling with a streamer. Yes, in the newest deal between Charter Communications‘ Spectrum TV and  Warner Bros. Discovery, Spectrum TV customers will receive the Max streaming service at no extra cost.

HBO

Details of the deal further reveal that Spectrum TV customers will receive an ad-supported version of Max, which includes HBO and MAX content, and they will also receive Discovery+. David Zaslav notes, “This innovative partnership with Charter recognizes the value of our linear content and the investments we’ve made in premium original programming, sports and news, while also significantly expanding the distribution of Max’s ad-supported service to Spectrum’s millions of Select customers.” It’s definitely an interesting move.

The fate of linear TV and streaming TV has been shaky for a while. Not too long ago, it seemed that linear TV would be replaced by streaming. But, of course, streaming has been undergoing intense shifts and shenanigans as well. The glut of streaming channels has made maintaining all of them very expensive to the consumer. And streamers are finding their audiences tapped out. So, naturally, streamers began exploring bundles, which essentially make streaming and cable/linear/traditional TV one and the same. The “innovation” of a bundle that combines streaming and linear TV, as we see in this Spectrum TV and Max deal, makes this all the more salient. Perhaps the demise of linear TV was greatly exaggerated.

For our part, we just want the next change to be for the best of the consumers. It seems like neither streaming nor linear TV quite has the answer at the moment. But we guess it’s good news for Spectrum TV customers who love Max… today, anyway. Hopefully, this messy landscape will find its way.

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VENOM: THE LAST DANCE’s Final Trailer Introduces Its Villain Knull

The end is here for Eddie Brock and his symbiote better half. The only question is whether or not Venom: The Last Dance will also be the end for all of Earth. The film’s final trailer makes clear humans can’t survive Symbrock staying together after Venom’s home world finds their way to his new one. But even before they’ll have to make the difficult decision whether or not to split up, they’ll have to deal with their most dangerous foe ever. This final look at their final film introduces the franchise’s most dangerous villain yet, Venom’s creator Knull.

Yes. YES! Venom: The Last Dance is basically a nightclub Stefon would tell us about. This trailer has everything: hippies, an alien invasion, gambling addictions, a symbiote horse, Juno Temple.

It obviously won’t be all fun and casino games for Eddie and Venom, though. It’s all out war, as the symbiote’s evil creator Knull makes the jump from the pages of Marvel Comics to the big screen. What exactly is going on? Here’s the official synopsis for Venom: The Last Dance from Sony Pictures to pair with this trailer:

In Venom: The Last Dance, Tom Hardy returns as Venom, one of Marvel’s greatest and most complex characters, for the final film in the trilogy. Eddie and Venom are on the run. Hunted by both of their worlds and with the net closing in, the duo are forced into a devastating decision that will bring the curtains down on Venom and Eddie’s last dance.

Sony Pictures

The film also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rhys Ifans, Peggy Lu, and Alanna Ubach. Stephen Graham is also back as former detective Patrick Mulligan. It comes from writer-director Kelly Marcel​​. Venom: The Last Dance arrives in theaters on October 25, which means you don’t have much time left to prepare for the end of Symbrock.

Honestly, it’s probably best if Knull destroys Earth during this film. Who wants to live in a world where Eddie and Venom can’t be together?

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DEXTER: ORIGINAL Sin First Teaser Trailer Says It Takes a Village to Make a Serial Killer

The Dexterenaissance continues. The return of the infamous serial killer continues with Dexter: Original Sin, a Paramount+ with SHOWTIME series which will take us back to the ‘90s to uncover more of his origin story. The series stars Patrick Gibson as Dexter and Christian Slater (one of my personal faves) as Harry Morgan, Dexter’s adoptive father and, interestingly, a homicide detective. Molly Brown is also a part of the Morgan family as his younger sister Debra Morgan. We got some first-look photos a while back and now we finally have our first look teaser trailer for Dexter: Original Sin. 

In it, Dexter says that he’s not a natural born killer but instead it took a village to lead him down his dark path. I must say, Gibson does capture the spirit of Dexter really well with his actions as we hear Michael C. Hall’s voice as his inner thoughts. Here’s a synopsis for Dexter: Original Sin to accompany this first teaser trailer: 

Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Patrick Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness. With the guidance of his father, Harry (Golden Globe® winner Christian Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department. Patrick Dempsey, Molly Brown, James Martinez, Christina Milian, Alex Shimizu, Reno Wilson and special guest star, Sarah Michelle Gellar also star in this new series, with Michael C. Hall returning to voice the iconic inner monologue in Dexter Morgan’s head. 

What Is the Release Date for Dexter: Original Sin? Paramount+ with SHOWTIME

Dexter: Original Sin will begin streaming on December 13 on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME.

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TRANSFORMERS ONE Is a Surprisingly Dark Animated Adventure

The continued popularity of Transformers as a media franchise doesn’t surprise me in the least. It’s giant robots that turn into cars and jets and stuff. No-brainer. Genius concept. But the continued success of the film franchise has been a total shocker. The first movie in 2007 was a fun anomaly. None of the next four were any good. People loved Bumblebee, oh yay, a new beginning! But then last year’s Rise of the Beasts, which I reviewed, was just visual noise… and noise-noise. So now we have Transformers One, a fully animated prequel, and guess what? It’s kinda great.

Paramount/Hasbro

One of the reasons I ended up not enjoying Rise of the Beasts that much is they made a big deal about the Maximals coming to prominence but then spent most of the runtime with Bumblebee, Optimus, and the rest of the car-based Transformers. I had gotten tired of all those characters, somehow. But what Transformers One has in its favor is a fresh take on those old G-1 characters. We’d never seen the origins of the Transformers we know on Cybertron, in all its vibrant, bustling glory. I think, even 40 years later, Transformers is just better suited to animation.

The story takes place in the distant past of Cybertron. The energon rivers have dried up and the massive city of Iacon is really starting to feel it. Ages ago, the ruling council of Transformers, the Primes, fought against an alien threat and lost, with the Matrix of Leadership missing. Only Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm) remains to protect Iacon and its citizens from the constant threat of destruction.

Paramount Pictures

Zoom in on a couple of hapless mining bots, best friends Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry). They dig down, down, down into the core of Cybertron attempting to find more energon, day in and day out. Orion is a dreamer and a troublemaker while D-16 is a rule follower to the utmost. Despite their meager lives, Orion believes the two of them together can make a difference.

A chance discovery among rubble and garbage leads them to travel to the surface in the hopes of tracking down the Matrix of Leadership. Along the way they recruit mining shift leader Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson) and motormouth trash sorter B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key) and eventually discover terrible truths about their lives and eventually grow to be the bots we all know they can be (if you’ve ever seen any Transformers media).

So it’s no secret, really, who all of these characters will become. They don’t look that dissimilar to the iconic versions. The fun of the movie is seeing how they get there, and why certain characters go the way they do. Often times prequel or origin movies feel like foregone conclusions. That’s partially the case here. We know where everything ends up, but the journey is enjoyable enough to hold your attention, especially with how dark it gets.

Paramount Pictures

The biggest positive of the movie is the gorgeously vibrant and tactile animation. Iacon is enormous and busy, like what New York was like in 1997’s The Fifth Element but 40 times larger and with way more realistic graphics. I was blown away by sequences like a massive F-Zero-style race through the city early in the film, or fast-paced train escape later on. It’s a blast. Letting the visuals and sound wash over you is just a delight. Transformers One is not attempting artistic heights like the Spider-Verse films or even TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, but what it’s doing succeeds fully.

Now to some less positive parts. Tonally, the movie isn’t at all consistent. Early on, Orion and D-16 get into silly shenanigans, and B-127 says goofy lines constantly, and the movie just feels like it’s totally for kids. Totally fine in and of itself, I love kids movies. However, as the story progresses, the tone gets progressively darker and more upsetting as the lines between good and evil feel more clearly defined. This too isn’t a problem. The stakes are enormous, it only makes sense for it to feel weighty. The problem is, when we get a stray joke or bit of slapstick in the second half, it feels completely at odds with the rest of the movie.

Paramount Pictures

I’m a 40-year-old, so naturally I dug the more outwardly Transformery stuff we get in the second half of the movie. The action is big and exciting and packs a wallop while friends become enemies and enemies become friends. But the early part of the movie is clearly aimed at a younger audience, which I thought was just okay. I’m not saying this is good or bad. I’m merely saying, it gives the movie a bit of an identity crisis.

That said, Transformers One is a fun reminder of why we all liked the robots who were more than meets the eye in the first place. It doesn’t touch the artistic crossover heights of Spider-Verse or Mutant Mayhem but that doesn’t mean it isn’t pretty darn great. The voice cast do an admirable job assaying younger, unrefined versions of established characters. The growth of Orion and D-16 lands more than it has any right to. The movie is just solid. Bumblebee aside, easily makes for the best of the big screen Transformers. Low bar, I know, but it clears it easily.

Transformers One ⭐ (3.5 of 5)

Transformers One hits theaters on September 20.

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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