Variety Reviews Transformers: Prime

Variety wrote:Alas, there's no animated Megan Fox for, er, considerably older kids.

Variety wrote:As no-brainers go, a Transformers TV show on the Hub -- welding Hasbro's popular toy line into its cable co-venture with Discovery -- ranks down there with making a sequel to the first movie. Yet the product of that assembly line, "Transformers Prime," proves unexpectedly sharp -- better than the movies (admittedly damnation with faint praise), thanks to the arresting CGI animation, which proves especially well-suited to rendering shiny robots and their vehicular alter egos. There's nothing more than meets the eye here, but what does appear is a plenty entertaining addition to this well-oiled moneymaking machine.

• It's in widescreen, though (unfortunately) most of us won't get to watch it in widescreen because most of our Cable companies haven't started airing The Hub in HD yet. Here's hoping for a quick release of this show on DVD, or at least when the toys inevitably come out.
• This show has an actual musical score along the lines of the music from the live action Transformers films. It's complex, not repetitive, and it always seems completely appropriate for the scene. Beast Wars suffered greatly in this department whereas it seems to be one of Prime's greatest strengths.
• The voice acting is superb in my book. I was pretty geeked about Peter Cullen and Frank Welker reprising their rightful roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. The rest of the voices seemed appropriately cast. None of the voices seem out-of-place. Everything seems natural. It definitely feels like the animation was done to the voice acting instead of the other way around, which was one of Beast Wars greatest strengths.
• The kids weren't as annoying as I had expected. I'm one of those fans that understands the purpose of having humans in the Transformers cartoons. Without humans, there'd be little point to Transformers being "robots in disguise". They're a necessary evil and, in this case, they're handled fairly well. The show is about the Transformers and not the kids -- there seems to be little confusion about that.
• "Prime" is dark at times -- some themes that might not be appropriate or suitable for young children. They might even be getting away with some of what happened in the first two episodes because what occurred happened to "robots" and not humans and because it's airing on a cable channel half-owned by the same people who own the Transformers (*ahem* that'd be Hasbro folks). If you question whether or not the show is dark, just ask yourself this ... has the word "cadaver" ever been used in an episode of Transformers before?
• The overall mood of the show, or at the very least the first two episodes, is far more serious than we've seen in a long time. I guess this is what makes me keep thinking of Beast Wars. But not all of Beast Wars. Think "The Trigger", "Dark Voyage", "Law of the Jungle", "Other Voices", "Other Visits", and "Code of Hero". Not on an epic scale like Other Voices or a heart-wrenching scale like Code of Hero, but in its own unique way.
• The animation has grown on me. There are some things that I don't like. This might be the show's weakest link and one of its greatest strengths. The backgrounds, the complexity of each scene, the transformations, the alternate modes, and the Transformers robots themselves all look incredible. Yet at the same time, I get this feeling like I'm watching the cut scenes in a video game. Something's not quite right and I can't pinpoint it. For the most part though, the show looks incredible. I really like the overall style of the animation even though I have a few issues with it. It is definitely unique, as unique as the style of Transformers Animated is and the style of the live action Transformers films.
• Speaking of transformations, they're very fluid -- more along the lines of the live action films. To be honest, I really had to think about this because none of the transformations really stood out to me -- but that's actually a good thing because it means they didn't waste a lot of time forcing the transformations upon you. It just happened and the show went on.
• As I've said before, War For Cybertron/Exodus and Transformers Prime are a "forced" continuity meaning that they weren't originally intended to be the same continuity despite what Hasbro tells us. There are a few things that contradict what's already been established in the WFC universe, not to mention a flash back scene in Transformers Prime that uses the Prime animation models and not anything that looks like the WFC designs. I'll consider them the same continuity to humor everyone but they're as forced together as Transformers Cybertron was forced into the Unicron Trilogy.

• Optimus Prime - he's basically the same as his movie counterpart. As much as I love Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime, I sometimes feel that he takes the role a little too serious. Everything always seems so epic and heavy with him voicing Optimus. Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm just looking for something to complain about like a typical fan boy. Or maybe he does need to loosen up a little bit.
• Megatron - I'm not usually on the Frank Welker-voicing-Megatron bandwagon like many fans are. Every time I've heard him do his "Megatron" voice in recent years, I kind of cringe. His recent Megatron voice is definitely not his G1 Megatron voice, whether it's him or how it's vocoded I don't know. So I was a little reluctant about him reprising the role of Megatron. His voice at the end of the first episode is like his recent Megatron voice that I don't particularly like. However, his voice in the 2nd episode is unlike any other Welker/Megatron voice I've heard before. It's unique to this character and very appropriate. This Megatron is EVIL, a true villain, something that has been missing from Megatron for a very long time. Sometimes I wonder what the difference is between Megatron and Optimus because we rarely get to see Megatron be evil. You do in Transformers Prime and that's why this Megatron has got me wondering if this could be my favorite Megatron since the Beast Wars Megatron.
• Arcee - She's a pretty major character in the first two episodes that gets a lot of screen time. She's the bridge that basically brings the humans into the Transformers storyline. She's a very serious Arcee. This isn't your Headmasters "secretary" Arcee or Susan Blu's Animated Arcee. This is an Arcee with an attitude. Not IDW's Furmanized Arcee, but definitely more of a serious warrior Arcee
• Starscream - not a wuss. Voice is different than previous incarnations. More like the first live action film than the second. It's unique and not the "screaming" high pitched voice either. I wasn't quite sure what to think of it at first. I liked it, but I just kept thinking that it's not a voice for Starscream. I was sold pretty quickly on it when I saw Starscream being a complete badass in the first episode when he does something we haven't seen in a Transformers cartoon in a really long time (if ever). Give this Starscream a chance. He might just give previous Starscream incarnations a run for their money.
• Ratchet - Jeffrey Combs does an incredible job with this really fun character. This might be the best rendition of Ratchet to date. Picture a cross between G1 cartoon, comic, and Transformers Animated Ratchets -- and the best of each to boot. He's not fond of the human kids, has a sense of humor, grumbles, complains, and still gets the job done. I'm rooting for a Starscream versus Ratchet battle, they both might be worthy of revisiting Simon Furman's Marvel Comics battle between these two characters.
• Soundwave - Megatron's here because of him basically, no thanks to Starscream, but we really don't find out too much about him. We don't even really hear him speak, he just plays back a recording of something Arcee said. Hopefully he's more than just a drone.
• Bumblebee - more-or-less like his movie counterpart with some added bits from his Animated self. He can't talk, which is one of my few complaints about the show, especially with no explanation about why he can't speak other than via beeps and boops, which Raf can oddly understand. He surprisingly didn't get as much screen time as Arcee did, which I thought was a little odd. I'm sure he'll get his moment in the spotlight in the near future though.
• Bulkhead - basically like his Animated character, but without the goofy clumsiness. All muscle it seems. Voice is similar but different. Lots of fun potential with him. Minimal screen time but enough to get a taste of him.
• Cliffjumper - seems like a cool character. Not sure that they needed to bring in a Hollywood name to do his voice. His design is one of my favorites in this show. Definitely a risk taker. He was portrayed very well in IDW's Transformers Prime comic and his characterization carried over to the cartoon show.

"Transformers Prime" Production Credits:

Produced By Hasbro Studios

Executive Producers:
Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Jeff Kline are executive producers. Kurtzman and Orci served as co-writers of the feature films "Transformers," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and "Star Trek." Kline was also executive producer of the animated series "Jackie Chan Adventures."

Main cast:
Optimus Prime - Peter Cullen
Arcee - Sumalee Montano
Ratchet - Jeffrey Combs
Bulkhead - Kevin Michael Richardson
Megatron - Frank Welker
Jack - Josh Keaton
Miko - Tania Gunadi
Raf - Andy Pessoa
Starscream - Steve Blum
Agent Fowler - Ernie Hudson
June Darby - Markie Post

Seibertron wrote:•Bumblebee He can't talk, which is one of my few complaints about the show, especially with no explanation about why he can't speak other than via beeps and boops, which Raf can oddly understand.

Didicos wrote:

Variety wrote:Alas, there's no animated Megan Fox for, er, considerably older kids.

Rodimus2006 wrote:I cant wait to learn more on "The Blood of Unicron" and how Megatron will create this army.

Rodimus2006 wrote:Overall I give Prime a 4 out of 5 or a 90 out of 100 and a Silver Rating.

but they're as forced together as Transformers Cybertron was forced into the Unicron Trilogy.

Rodimus2006 wrote:Actually you are wrong 3 out of 5 is 80, 4 out of 5 is 90 and 5 out of 5 is 100.

Seibertron wrote:•Bumblebee He can't talk, which is one of my few complaints about the show, especially with no explanation about why he can't speak other than via beeps and boops, which Raf can oddly understand.

Didicos wrote:

Rodimus2006 wrote:I cant wait to learn more on "The Blood of Unicron" and how Megatron will create this army.

If I got it right "The Blood of Unicron" is the Dark Energon.

Spiritimus Prime wrote:I've got my fingers crossed for this new series. I really, really hope that we'll get something out of it. The pictures are great from the summaries we've seen. I've already got a few fanfiction ideas swimming around in my head.

Anyone notice the possibility of an Arcee/Cliffjumper OTP going on there?

Blurrz wrote:

Spiritimus Prime wrote:I've got my fingers crossed for this new series. I really, really hope that we'll get something out of it. The pictures are great from the summaries we've seen. I've already got a few fanfiction ideas swimming around in my head.

Anyone notice the possibility of an Arcee/Cliffjumper OTP going on there?

Me too! I think this is going to be a great series to watch... and thank goodness, it's been too long since Animated.

Pontimax 01 wrote:I just finished watching episode one on Hub. I really like the show and the scripting.

But man, do they ever need to work on the sound quality of the show. The speech is fine between characters, mostly. But the sound effects need turned way up.

It's like the output fades in and out of stereo and mono.

Mindmaster wrote:

Blurrz wrote:

Spiritimus Prime wrote:I've got my fingers crossed for this new series. I really, really hope that we'll get something out of it. The pictures are great from the summaries we've seen. I've already got a few fanfiction ideas swimming around in my head.

Anyone notice the possibility of an Arcee/Cliffjumper OTP going on there?

Me too! I think this is going to be a great series to watch... and thank goodness, it's been too long since Animated.

I agree too... If I knew what an OTP is.

hellkitty wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

Blurrz wrote:

Spiritimus Prime wrote:I've got my fingers crossed for this new series. I really, really hope that we'll get something out of it. The pictures are great from the summaries we've seen. I've already got a few fanfiction ideas swimming around in my head.

Anyone notice the possibility of an Arcee/Cliffjumper OTP going on there?

Me too! I think this is going to be a great series to watch... and thank goodness, it's been too long since Animated.

I agree too... If I knew what an OTP is.

OTP is a fangirl term, One True Pairing. OT3 is a threesome, etc. Basically, robots likin' other robots.

And...looks like not so much for that het pairing, SP!

HK, DREADING the megatron/starscream fics. DREAD.

Shadowman wrote:

hellkitty wrote:

Mindmaster wrote:

Blurrz wrote:

Spiritimus Prime wrote:I've got my fingers crossed for this new series. I really, really hope that we'll get something out of it. The pictures are great from the summaries we've seen. I've already got a few fanfiction ideas swimming around in my head.

Anyone notice the possibility of an Arcee/Cliffjumper OTP going on there?

Me too! I think this is going to be a great series to watch... and thank goodness, it's been too long since Animated.

I agree too... If I knew what an OTP is.

OTP is a fangirl term, One True Pairing. OT3 is a threesome, etc. Basically, robots likin' other robots.

And...looks like not so much for that het pairing, SP!

HK, DREADING the megatron/starscream fics. DREAD.

One True Pairing (Oh no, there he goes with TV tropes links again) is a shipping term, nor necessarily fangirls though they do tend to be the more common perpetrators. It's essentially fan shipping taken to it's illogical conclusion. Imagine thinking Arcee and Cliffjumper are going to get together and then being completely psychotic about it.

Read TV tropes. It'll save your life someday.

Seibertron wrote:

Pontimax 01 wrote:I just finished watching episode one on Hub. I really like the show and the scripting.

But man, do they ever need to work on the sound quality of the show. The speech is fine between characters, mostly. But the sound effects need turned way up.

It's like the output fades in and out of stereo and mono.

It has something to do with the sound being in surround sound or something. It sounds perfect on my DLP TV upstairs but my old school TV downstairs I heard the exact problems you mentioned. Can anyone else shed any light on this?

Glad to hear that you liked it.

rpetras wrote:Now, GI Joe: Renegades on the other hand ... not good. Not good at all.

Sabrblade wrote:And why is there Energon seeded on Earth?

Wheeljack35 wrote:I noticed Susan Blu is the voice director and it funny how the cast is the same from animated except instead of Prowl being the motorcycle it's Arcee

Shadowman wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:And why is there Energon seeded on Earth?

Well see, there was this big Vok experiment where they seeded Earth with mass amounts of radioactive raw Energon. They placed an artificial moon in orbit as a monitoring station with a killswitch. And then the Maximals and Predacons went and mucked everything up by destroying the Fake Moon, which caused the Energon to be usable but not radioactive.

Shadowman wrote:Alternate Theory: A wizard did it.