3 Reasons to buy Transformers: Rise of the Beasts

If you made a list of the top ten most profitable franchises in Hollywood, one that would be at the top end of list would be Hasbro and Paramounts multi-billion dollar making juggernaut, ‘Transformers. Totalling 7 live action instalments since 2007 and grossing a total of over $5 billion at the worldwide box office, not to mention merchandise and home media sales. Its attraction comes from the fact it can play to a broad audience. The films are successful across the globe, and not just one specific location, which has resulted in the franchise lasting as long as it has.

Transformers: Rise of The Beasts follows the trend of the previous instalment Bumblebee, taking place in the 1990s, giving us a retro look at our favourite characters. The film follows a new faction, the Maximals, as they join the Autobots on earth to battle the Decipticons. The film doesn’t reinvent the wheel in terms of Transformers action, but it remains a fun and exciting instalment in the franchise. To celebrate its release on physical media this month, I will be breaking down 3 reasons why you need to check out Transformers: Rise of The Beasts. So without further ado, let’s get stuck into it!

“He sent his most powerful henchmen to collect it” – the cast of characters –

A common complaint amongst fans during the Michael Bay era of the Transformers saga was the over reliance on the human characters. Granted, you need them there, but the audience really just wants to see the Transformers characters. These characters are what made the franchise so enjoyable in the first place. Rise of The Beasts still has the human elements but benefits from these characters being so damn likeable. Our lead here is Noah Diaz (played by Anthony Ramos), he is a returning army veteran who by happenstance, ends up stealing an autoboot, Mirage (voiced by Pete Davidson). His character set-up is unique and something we haven’t seen from the franchise before, which makes it feel fresh and different. On-top of this, the Transformers here are great, we of course have Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, but we also have newcomers Arcee, Wheeljack, the beasts themselves Optimus Primal, Cheetor, Airazor and Nightbird. Their retro designs are so much fun and add to the overall aesthetic of the film. It's obviously paying homage to the cartoon and toys from that time period, but it works so well. I am a big fan of the balance this film struck in comparison to others in the franchise.

“This is my fight” – The action –

One of the main hallmarks of a Transformers film is of course, the action and spectacle. Transformers: Rise of The Beasts doesn’t disappoint in this department. It amps up the action to eleven, with some really fun and jungle themed set pieces, to go with the whole Beasts aesthetic and theme of the film. This was refreshing as all the previous films have predominantly taken place in the big cities. These jungle and forest inspired influences really do elevate all the action sequences to me, whilst we still do get our fair share of action still on this scale in the cities, it isn’t as prominent as it has been in other entries. Following Bumblebee, that was far more toned down then other instalments, this was a much-needed change. I like the direction that the franchise finds itself in and it makes me excited to see future sequels with this type of aesthetic, maybe on Cybertron or the ocean?? We shall see…

“Finally, the hunt draws to a close” – Unicron and the Decepticons – the films villains –

One of the biggest strengths from the Transformers universe, is its wide array of characters, plots, locations, lore and of course, the Decepticons. The villains have always been a focal point of the Transformers series, Megatron obviously being the main antagonist from the franchise. This film however, we see Unicron take centre stage. Unicron is the archenemy of his twin brother Optimus Prime, so automatically, we have a deeper connection in terms of friend and foe. The design of Unicron here is also inspired, being one of the better-designed characters in the chronology of the Transformers films. He clearly stands out from other Decepticons which have unfortunately previously been bland and uninspired, but here Unicron looks fantastic!

Overall, Transformers Rise of The Beasts is a fun, action-packed, Transformers adventure that is worthy of praise. It may just be my favourite entry in the franchise to date. If you’re looking for a fun action flick, then look no further, this one has something for everyone.

Pick-up your copy of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts on DVD, Blu-Ray or 4K Ultra HD today, you won’t want to miss it and for all things Transformers, shop Sanity’s incredible range. From movies, tv shows, toys, pop vinyls and more, Sanity is the place to shop!

Long live physical media!

Buy The Transformers Movies including Rise of the Beasts here

Christopher Pattison wrote this blog post for Sanity. See more from Chris here