TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT
US, 2017, 149 minutes, Colour.
Mark Warburg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel, Laura Haddock, Stanley Tucci, John Turturro, Glenn Morshower, Gemma Chan, Tony Hale, Maggie Steed, Phoebe Nichols. Voices of: Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Eric Aadahl, John Goodman, Ken Watanabe, Jim Carter, Steve Buscemi, Omar Sy, Reno Wilson.
Directed by Michael Bay.
This is the fifth instalment in Michael Bay’s series of Transformer movies. Originating in the 20th century as Hasbro toys, and with films in animation style, the series has now become huge, with mammoth productions of action and effects – and particularly loud.
It can be said that the series is really critic-proof. Box-office dwarfs critical response. And, for more than 20 years, critics have had it in, so to speak, for Michael Bay, almost unanimously condemning his films as mindless, big and bombastic. In fact, they are usually big and bombastic but employ a different mind-set from that of the critics. All that is left to do is really indicate aspects of the films for the fans. Because, it is only the fans who will go to see them.
The writers of this episode must have been watching Game of Thrones very carefully because they come up with the idea that the Transformers actually arrived on Earth from outer space and taken refuge in a cave in ye olde England. Down in the pre-Camelot valleys, King Arthur and his knights are battling against savage Saxons, against overwhelming odds. Merlin (Stanley Tucci doing something of a parody) has indicated to Arthur that there is help at hand but, more than a little drunk, (sozzled is his word), he has a hard time persuading the Transformers to come to Arthur’s aid, but they do produce a firebreathing dragon who overwhelmingly wins the day.
The reason that this is not well-known is that it has been kept secret by descendants of Merlin, waiting for the day when a hero will come, or heroine, who will find the Transformers staff and participate in a cosmic battle to save the planet Cyber Tron as well as the humans on Earth destroy the influence of the evil quintessence and her plans to obliterate Earth.
And that time is now.
Actually, Optimists Prime has disappeared from Earth as his Megatron. Optimists Prime is being deluded by Quintessa Cybertron to persuade him to turn on his Earth friends.
A lot of this information is given by Anthony Hopkins, an English lord, with a marvellous castle, who holds most of the secrets but knows that it is time for a chosen one to come to the aid of the Transformers and of humans. The chosen one is Cade Yeager, Mark Wahlberg, strong American hero from the previous films. However, there is need for a descendant of Merlin and she is personified in an Oxford professor, multiple degrees, Vivian, Laura Haddock.
In the meantime, there is a special force in the United States destined to hunt down the Transformers and get rid of them. However, the Transformers who remain on earth seem to be a generally playful lot, providing touches of humorous special effects. If the Transformers have acclimatised with broad American accents and, Anthony Hopkins’ servant, the epitome of British upstairs/downstairs.
A lot of the action takes place in Britain, especially an all-stops-out special effects battle including Optimus Prime, Megatron, Quintessa and battling Transformers along with the saviours, Cade and Vivian.
And, before the final credits, it seems that there is, at last, peace on earth, but…
1. The fifth episode? The popularity and box office? The original toys, animation films, this series, Michael Bay and his action-packed treatment?
2. This episode as being, long, loud, bombastic?
3. The action sequences, King Arthur and the battles? The Transformers themselves, the variety, distinct activity, friendly and hostile? The voices? The musical score?
4. The title, Sir William and his narrative, the tones of Anthony Hopkins? British, the King Arthur story, the fighting with the Saxons, the fierce battles and the editing, action, facing defeat? Arthur and his knights? Merlin, drinking, finding the cave, discovering the Transformers, their being aliens? His pleading with them to help, the transformation of the Dragon, the fiery attack and victory? The Transformers in Camelot? The secret history? The symbolic pendant and its being passed on, for power? The secret staff and its being lost? The chosen ones, the Last Knight, Merlin’s descendant?
5. Optimus Prime, Megatron, the conflicts in the past? The battles, gone from Earth, gone to Cybertron, Optimus and the power of Quintessa, her plans? The tricking him? The buildup to the attack, Optimus against the humans, confronting Megatron, the final confrontation and elaborate battle?
6. The range of Transformers, good and bad, characters, voices, their exercise in transformation into cars, the speed, on the road, the chases? The interactions with the humans?
7. Children, entering the ruins, the young girl, the reaction of the authorities, the young girl and her continued activity with Cade, a young heroine?
8. The official force, military, against the Transformers, the range of personnel, the general, the pursuers, their missions? Hunting, Transformers as enemies? The pursuit and action?
9. Cade, his past, inventor, helping with the Transformers, in exile, the authorities, with his daughter on the phone and unable to speak? The pendant, his being the chosen one, Cade as the Last Knight, going to the United Kingdom, meeting Sir William, the explanations, meeting Vivian, the clash between the British and the Americans? Working together?
10. Sir William, his Transformer servant and the spoof of British butlers? His castle, his research, the library, knowledge of the history, Cade and his help, the pendant, searching for the staff?
11. Vivian, polo, at Oxford, the mother and her friends, wanting her married? Her lectures at the University? With Sir William? Descendant of Merlin? The truth, the search for the staff, memories of her father, the flashbacks, his secrecy? Cade and Vivian searching his room, the clues, the picture, finding the staff?
12. The American authorities, aggressive, the threats, coming to the UK?
13. Optimus, Megatron and Quintessa coming to earth, the battles, killing of Sir William? The two main Transformers, on earth, Optimus against the humans? His discovering the truth, change?
14. The final extended battles, the dangers, the stunt work, Cade and Vivian sliding, surviving, Cade and the demands on him, Vivian, revival, the staff? The young girl and her participation?
15. Order restored – but hints not…
