My Review of Bumblebee · 7:21pm Jun 24th, 2020
Rating Scale:
12/10—a complete masterpiece; flawless and outstanding
11/10—Excellent, near-perfect film
10/10—the standard rating; awesome with a couple of flaws
9/10—a wonderful film with several flaws
8/10–a great film with numerous flaws but not enough to ruin it
7/10—a fun and entertaining movie; not great but still enjoyable
6/10—a slightly above average film; might not watch it again but still happy I watched it for the first time
5/10—mediocre movie; not awful but not great either
4/10—a below average film; it could have been much better
3/10—a bad film; poorly written and poorly executed
2/10—a very bad movie; the few good things in the movie overshadowed by the bad things
1/10—a terrible movie; a total waste of time
0/10—a worthless piece of abomination; should have never been made
**********
Hey, guys. Here is my review of Bumblebee. After watching the fifth film of Michael Bay’s Transformers series, I started to lose faith in the entire franchise. I was really hoping that the Bumblebee movie would not suck like three of his films did big time. Thankfully, during the time of release, I watched the film online around Christmas time. After watching it, I LIKED IT! However, there are a number of flaws this movie has which I simply cannot overlook. With that being said, let’s begin the pros and cons.
PROS:
1). At FIRST, this cute little Autobot was able to talk! I LOVED that! Yay, we finally have a Transformers movie where he is talking in his own voice! No radio talking Bumblebee for—*Blitzwing rips his voice box out* NOOO!!! COME ON!!
2). Charlie was actually a really good protagonist. Finally, we have a female character not sexualized, objectified, or showing off exposed body parts. Instead, the movie focuses on her character and her relationship with Bumblebee. Their relationship and bond together was so adorable and touching. To me, this is much more believable and healthy unlike some shitty protagonist who calls our hero... a car. She is even better than Cade in my opinion.
3). The Cybertron scene... my goodness, that was pure AWESOMENESS!! The very prologue of the movie starts with the Autobots and the Decepticons fighting each other on Cybertron! Additionally, their designs were G1-inspired. You can actually tell who is who. You will immediately say, “Hey, that’s Wheeljack! He does not look like Einstein anymore!” “That’s Ratchet! Hey look, that’s Soundwave! He talks in his vocoder again!” Every Transformer in this movie was not a disappointment... well, except for one (see point 1 in CONS section).
4). The action scenes were well-executed; you can actually tell what is exactly happening because the camera doesn’t do up-close shots like what Michael Bay did in his films. While I didn’t mind that, it was a breath of fresh air for the camera to not act so crazy through shaky cam or rotating around every 5 minutes (like ROTF) or to repeatedly change aspect ratio (like TLK).
5). Most of the human characters were really funny. Memo, for example, was really good. I like him a lot more than Leo and Shane who were both horribly written characters with forced humor.
6). The main Decepticon villains actually have personalities. Shatter was fantastic; she was the smooth-talker, the brains, and the calm & collected leader. Dropkick was also fantastic; he was the bulk or muscles, the violent, and impatient type who always enjoyed destroying and killing anyone and anything he sees fit. Not once in the movie did they argue or fight. They respected each other and efficiently worked together to accomplish their goal. They are a perfect dynamic duo.
7). The story itself is simple to follow and not convoluted. However... the story itself seems familiar. Oh yes... (see point 2 in CONS section).
8). John Cena was decent in this film. That’s all I have to say about him.
CONS:
1). Blitzwing was a massive disappointment in this movie. First off, why the hell does he look so much like G1 Starscream? Many fans including myself had high hops for “Starscream” to be the main villain who fights Bumblebee. However, in June 2018, Travis Knight revealed that he was Blitzwing, not Starscream. I was slightly disappointed but not discouraged. In fact, I was a little happy that Blitzwing would have his chance to shine. But at the same time, I was hoping that they would make him a triple-changer and give him his G1 colors. Seriously, that is NOT Blitzwing! He looks NOTHING like him! Even worse, he gets killed off after he rips Bumblebee’s voicebox out? In the beginning of the film? I was extremely disappointed by that outcome. I wanted no Decepticon to be killed off. (Sigh) At least David Sobolov (the one who voiced Shockwave in Transformers: Prime and Depthcharge in Beast Wars) voiced him.
2). The story is the same as that in E.T. and The Iron Giant. It would really be nice if the story had more originality therein. Still, it’s a simple one and not difficult to follow such as Bayverse.
3). I really didn’t like Charlie’s parents in this film. Why does almost every film and show have to paint parents as annoying, strict, or just unbearable? Those two and Sam’s parents from the Bayverse remind me of Rainbow Dash’s parents from Parental Glideance and Starlight’s dad and Sunburst’s mom from The Parent Map. It’s becoming a generalization now which is really sad.
4). How is it that Agent Burns was the only one suspicious of Shatter and Dropkick’s true intentions then later on believed them that Bumblebee was a bad guy? Didn’t Bumblebee literally tell him earlier in the film that he didn’t want to hurt anyone? When not-Blitzwing was about to shoot them, Bumblebee warned them to run away. Then later, Burns sought to hunt him down after... believing what the ‘Cons said? That just proved how gullible and stupid they all were. On a side note, Bumblebee should have told Burns as soon as he landed that he meant no harm. He saw their shocked looks, so why didn’t he say anything? Did he really have to run away? That only gave them a bad impression.
5). Now here is my main gripe with the film: we learn literally NOTHING about Bumblebee. This film was entitled after him, yet the film focused on a girl besides him. Yes, he nearly shares almost the same screen time with her, but there is no backstory on why he became an Autobot, how he joined the Autobot resistance, and his mature character as an Autobot. But now, we have to make him mute to look cute and “kid-friendly” for the children watching, have him behave like a puppy throughout 80% of the movie, and act like a 10-year-old. Seriously, this was just hard to watch.
6). Just like all the other films, it focuses too much on the humans rather than on the Transformers. IT IS CALLED TRANSFORMERS, NOT HUMANS, right Ironhide?! (watch Johnny Flash’s Bumblebee Review video to get the reference).
7). Lastly, I didn’t like the Easter eggs that pointed to the first movie. I know why they did that, but I want a Transformers movie with no references to the Bayverse at all. Thankfully, it is a reboot.
Yeah, you didn’t think I would point out flaws in this movie, did you? Well, look, this movie is good, but it’s far from flawless. Face it. It’s not as great as many fans make it out to be. I rate it a 7/10. This is my opinion, and I do not consider everything I say as factual. This is just my thoughts on the movie. Thank you. Anyway, I look forward to watching the Transformers films currently in the works one of which will be released in 2022. Any thoughts?
Peace.
I thought that move Bumblebee did with the chains was cool.
One word for this movie: JOHN CENA!
Wonder if you would review the MLP movie yet?
5293516
I will in the future.
5293661
Nice
Fun fact:
This movie is what I’d like to call the very one that got me interested in the Transformers franchise. And the one that helped me gain a better understanding of it.
5542154
You have to check out other installations and shows that can give you a much more broader scope of the franchise. This is only the beginning step for you, newbie.
I didn't see anything wrong with Charlie's parents, personally. But, many people in the Hollywood industry have often been making shows or movies where adults (particularly parents) are idiots compared to kids. It has often been what my parents have called an attack on heterosexual families as a whole, particularly the father.
Least Charlie's weren't as bad as Timmy Turner's parents in "The Fairly OddParents". Those two were literal idiots with brains the size of fleas.
5574981
Oh, my goodness, you just reminded me how utterly terrible Timmy’s parents are. They are some of the most neglectful, stupid, oblivious, and underdeveloped parents I’ve ever seen in any show. It’s one of the reasons why I hate The Fairly Oddparents.
5575040
Me too.
I remember seeing the show here and there as a kid, but unlike Spongebob…it just never stuck with me. Even today, I honestly find everything about it to be deeply preposterous.
5575068
Yeah. Plus, I don’t like the very premise and concept of the show. A kid having fairies grant him every wish he desires? To me, it’s just stupid. I love Tara Strong and Grey Griffin, but their respective roles as Timmy and Vicky are some of my least favorites roles featuring them.
5575071
I agree.
Whether this would be of interest to you is something I don’t know, but...I’ve been interested in seeing Bumblebee’s backstory be explored in a direct sequel to this movie. It’s the one reason as to why I was saddened that we were getting a movie called “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” instead.
5581160
I never told you this personally (except for some of my friends here), but I have something to tell you. Bumblebee is one of my least favorite characters in the Transformers franchise. In my opinion, he is so overrated and often takes the spotlight in almost every modern TF show while more interesting characters take the backseat. That has been the issue I’ve been having with him for a long time, and the fact that he is the main mascot of the franchise and the cash cow by Hasbro doesn’t make it any better.
Optimus Prime is more interesting to me as a character for many reasons which is why I and many others have been waiting for an Optimus Prime solo film ever since this movie came out. Thankfully, Rise of the Beasts will focus more on his character and make him more fleshed-out than before.
5581166
I’ve actually been aware of that for quite a long time. Especially after seeing one of your “least favorite characters” lists.
But still, while I am interested in seeing “Rise of the Beasts”, I’m honestly more interested in seeing Bumblebee be given more expansion than Optimus Prime. And let’s face it, everybody pretty much knows Prime’s story and who he is as a character, so what’s the point in making a solo film for him?
5581170
I think what people really wanted to see was how he became Optimus Prime and how he organized the Autobot resistance in the first place. They actually what to see him become an actual character than somebody who is normally portrayed as a stoic, stone-faced leader who often gives speeches every now and then.
During all the years in which I’ve been a hardcore fan, Optimus hasn’t really been someone who has an actual personality except for the times in which he DID have one such as the original G1 series, Transformers: Age of Extinction, and Tansformers: Animated. So yeah, I can see why many of us want to see a solo film for him.
But that’s not the only reason. The second reason is that Peter Cullen would be given the chance to have the spotlight and have the opportunity to express himself more as the lovable character he’s been doing ever since 1984. He even stated many times how he wanted to voice Optimus again. He has truly earned it.
5581175
Good point.