While I wouldn’t say Transformers is the best film series ever, it does have its great moments. A majority of these moments are in the action scenes. They’re mostly the only parts anyone cares about with these movies, and those parts are usually done well. This is my Top 10 BEST Transformers Live Action Movie Moments. Some spoilers are present.
10. The Betrayal (DOTM)
If ever there was an unexpected turn I thought would never be done in these movies, this was it. As I explained in my review of Dark of the Moon, I did not see this coming at all. The only thing in the film that counted as foreshadowing was when Wheelie was watching Star Trek and said “I’ve seen this one. It’s the one where Spock goes nuts.” I passed it off as a Star Trek reference, which this film was full of, but it was the only clue given in the entire movie. since Leonard Nimoy voices Sentinel Prime, I should have pieced that together. But that line was said so casually, with no emphasis on it to make it obvious, like other films would do, which always bugs me. There are some that do the twist well, and Dark of the Moon is one of them. Here, it’s genuinely surprising. It’s one of the few plot related moments the movies did really well.
Not only is it shocking, but what happens after the traitor is revealed is rather sad. My favorite character from all 3 movies gets killed. My emotions went from shocked, to confused, and to heartbroken in a matter of seconds. This was where the film got serious. Seriously serious.
9. Scorponok Battle (2007)
There hadn’t been a real action scene since the beginning of the movie when Blackout attacked the military base, so I guess they decided to throw this one in. And it was awesome. This part really showed off how strong these robots can be, because Scorponok gets shot, blasted and airstriked twice, but he’s only barely damaged! Funny how the robots in the first movie were dang near invincible, but all the Decepticons in the sequels die so easily. Either the humans learned how to fight them, got stronger weapons, or the Decepticons were made out of glass.
Anyway, this scene is my second favorite part of the 2007 movie, due to its intense gunfight with an evil missile shooting robot scorpion, neat looking explosions, and an epic score by Steve Jablonsky. His music is what makes this scene (and the movie). Watching the jets take off and the soldiers dodging missiles to that music is what sold it for me. There’s a few funny bits amongst this destructive sequence, which you’d think would detract from it, but it just makes this part a lot more enjoyable.
8. Autobots at Sam’s House (2007)
One word to describe this part: Priceless. This isn’t an action scene at all, it’s just the Autobots at Sam’s house, waiting for him to find the glasses that have the coordinates to the Allspark. The Autobots don’t really do a good job at ‘blending in’, at first. They think randomly assorted vehicles in his backyard counts as ‘hiding in plain sight’. They wreck the whole yard, cause a blackout across the neighborhood, and get involved in a few other hilarious situations. This isn’t the ‘typical Michael Bay humor’ people are so used to hating. It’s actual humor. One of the best lines from the movie is here as well.
Ironhide: “The parents are very irritating. Can I take them out?”
Optimus: “Ironhide, you know we don’t harm humans! What is with you?”
Ironhide: “Well, I’m just saying we could. It’s an option.”
This is one of the more memorable moments of the franchise. I love it.
7. Megatron’s Death (DOTM)
In nearly every other series of Transformers, Megatron either gets away, or is ‘brought to justice’. Optimus always hesitates to finish him. Know how that ends up? With some more of Optimus’s friends and allies dying. Finally, in Dark of the Moon, Optimus put an end to it all. After all the crap Megatron put everyone through, all the damage he’s done to Cybertron, all the hurt, he deserves to have Optimus go all Sub-Zero on him. I could almost hear “Finish him!” When it happened. Optimus (with ONE arm!) puts an axe into Megatron’s face, then proceeds to rip his head from his body, with his spinal cord still attached. This was easily the most amazing kill move Optimus has ever done in the movies.
One thing that got people upset, was that Megatron suggested a truce before Optimus killed him. Truce my @$$! Megatron said “All I want is to be back in charge.” Back in charge of his army so he could try to take Earth again. Yeah right. Sure, Megatron wanted to revive Cybertron, but he was going about it the wrong way. Optimus tried reasoning with him many times before, but that never ended too well. And since Cybertron had been OBLITERATED, Earth was the next candidate for Conquest Attempt #2. Optimus would never agree to that.
Also, Megatron asked “Who would you be without me, Prime?” as if he was trying to save himself. True, without Megatron, Optimus Prime wouldn’t be a hero like he’s considered to be. The two basically complete each other, if you think about it. But Optimus will deal with being ‘incomplete’. His response is perfect. SO, VERY PERFECT.
“Time to find out.”
Let the end of the war begin. Well, it ended until summer 2014 at least.
6. The Entire Mission City Battle (2007)
One thing I never get tired of is the battle at Mission City (LA). So much destruction and war is going on all at once, everything gets crazy and intense, robots are getting wiped out, and the Allspark turned a Mountain Dew machine into an evil psycho. This was the big finale of the first movie, and it’s one of the best action sequences I’ve ever seen in my life. It never gets old, no matter how many times I see it.
5. Destruction of Chicago (DOTM)
Thought Dark of the Moon got serious when the big betrayal happened? It did, but this is where it got even more serious. No more screwing around, the Decepticons mean business, and they eradicate the city of Chicago. There’s drone ships, spider walkers, and random Decepticons turning people to bone! Their flesh and organs disintegrate, but their bones and clothes are fine. That’s the part that makes me think it’s from a 1950’s sci-fi. I did not expect the filmmakers to go that far with a PG-13 rating. It was almost kinda scary. This is one of the best city destruction scenes in film. No joke.
4. The Highway Chase (DOTM)
Another from Dark of the Moon, we have the highway chase with the Dreads. This isn’t a typical car chase, because these cars turn into giant freaking robots! The Dreads don’t even need car modes! They can run faster than the other cars on foot! They’re flipping stuff around, charging through everything, then the Autobots turn their cars into battle modes, fully equipped with guns, missiles, rockets, and everything. The best part of this spectacular scene is once again the score. Steve Jablonsky really outdid himself with the music to DOTM. I can’t get enough of it! Sometimes if I’m bored, I’ll listen to the soundtrack of the movies he’s done. In case you haven’t figured it out by now, the soundtrack, to me, is one of the most important parts of any film. The Transformers movies always exceed in that department, and the music to the highway chase is perfect.
3. Optimus Prime’s Rage (DOTM)
Yet another moment with perfect music is Optimus Prime’s rage attack in Chicago. Steve Jablonsky is kinda ripping off the Inception trailer music, but heck, it’s a good track, it works, so why not? And it fits perfectly with this scene. Optimus Prime has always been awesome, but we didn’t think he was awesome enough to take out 13 guys in one sweep, did we? I’ll let you watch this one.
How were the Autobots losing the war on Cybertron, again?
2. The Forest Battle (ROTF)
This is perhaps the greatest Optimus Prime moment of the live action film series. In the first movie, Megatron was a lot stronger than Prime, but here, Megatron is getting the crap beat out of him! In his new and improved form! With the help of 2 other Decepticons! Even outnumbered, Optimus still puts up a fight. He gets hurt a bit, but he comes back and puts everyone in their places. He completely dominates them! They didn’t see this coming! Optimus taught them a very valuable vocabulary term:
@$$ Kicking: Noun. To have your posterior presented to you with overwhelming force.
That’s a lesson they won’t forget.
The epic fight combined with the epic music makes an amazing overload of amazingness.
1. Arrival To Earth (2007)
This is the greatest scene in the entire movie franchise, and one of the best scenes of anything Transformers ever. There isn’t much about this part that has what could be considered ‘Michael Bay-isms’. I said in my review of the film that it felt like Spielberg did this part. Since he’s the producer, it’s not that surprising. I got the same feeling here as I got when I saw the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park for the first time. Imagine the feeling you get from that moment, but with Transformers touching down on Earth. It’s like that.
I personally LOVE this scene to death, and it’s the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking about the live action films. It’s wonderful in every form of the word.
These scenes are what define the movies. Are these movies perfect? No. Do I still love them, regardless of what the Tomatometer and critics say? Yes. What are some of your favorite moments from the Transformers movies? Saying “when it ended” doesn’t count.
Be expecting my review of Age of Extinction by late at night on the 28th. Unless you are reading this in the future. Then you can read it whenever you want.
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