Not being a fan of the Michael Bay Transformers franchise, I thought Bumblebee was a film more enjoyable and engaging than it has any right being.
Mostly putting aside the tedious effects heavy bombast of the Bay films, this 80s set prequel plays less like a spirit-draining CGI blockbuster and more like a heartfelt homage to 80s family films, most notably producer Steven Spielberg's ET, though the spirit of War Games and Flight of the Navigator is evident too with a dash of The Iron Giant thrown in for good measure.
Effectively helmed by Laika Studios animator and Kubo and the Two Strings director Travis Knight, and led by a very charming lead performance from Hailee Steinfeld, Bumblebee is a retro treat that occasionally, perhaps inevitably, succumbs to all too familiar and scrappy robot on robot punch-ups but redeems itself with a cuter and more human story than usual.
John Cena is fine as the government agent on Bumblebee's trail while Love, Simon's Jorge Lendeborg Jr. makes for a winningly geeky sidekick for Steinfeld.
Better than expected it doesn't entirely escape the Bay excesses and is admittedly derivative at times, but in its quieter more retro moments it's a fun and emotionally involving blockbuster with a great 80s soundtrack that's actually worth seeing.
Bumblebee
- kevinknapman
- Kids' Choice Awards 2016 Prediction Master
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Bumblebee
Member No.41 of the "100 free films in 2018" club! 22 seen 78 to go
Recent free films:A Star is Born, Smallfoot, Overlord, The Girl in the Spider's Web, Home Alone
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2017" club! 29 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2016" club! 44 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2015" club! 61 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2014" club! 40 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2013" club! 64 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2012" club! 88 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2011" club! 108 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2010" club! 84 films seen
Recent free films:A Star is Born, Smallfoot, Overlord, The Girl in the Spider's Web, Home Alone
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2017" club! 29 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2016" club! 44 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2015" club! 61 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2014" club! 40 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2013" club! 64 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2012" club! 88 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2011" club! 108 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2010" club! 84 films seen
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- Phase IV
- Posts: 300
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Re: Bumblebee
Hated Bay TF films but this one amazingly was ok, wouldn’t watch it again but was surprised it was passable. 2.5/5
Upcoming films want to see;
Top Gun Maverick
MI 7 & 8
The Many Saints of Newark
Ghostbusters : Afterlife
Best films seen recently;
Tenet
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
In The Heights
A Quiet Place 2
Top Gun Maverick
MI 7 & 8
The Many Saints of Newark
Ghostbusters : Afterlife
Best films seen recently;
Tenet
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
In The Heights
A Quiet Place 2
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- The Third Man
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- Location: London
Re: Bumblebee
saw this weeks ago and again few days ago, its a love letter to all those 80s caper/sci fi movies for sure.
very family friendly but in a nice way, hope the next movie is a anthology then a direct squeal
8/10
very family friendly but in a nice way, hope the next movie is a anthology then a direct squeal
8/10
Re: Bumblebee
I've only seen one of Michael Bay's headache inducing Transformer films, but I thought this was great fun.
Bumblebee was full of personality and could give Rowan Atkinson a run for his money in terms of physical comedy (maybe it was him doing the mo cap )
The main relationship between Bumblebee and Hailee Steinfeld was really well done and the minor characters all got a nice moment or two as well.
And it was great to see a true PG family film with no gore or darkness and only some mild swearing.
A nice surprise 8/10
Bumblebee was full of personality and could give Rowan Atkinson a run for his money in terms of physical comedy (maybe it was him doing the mo cap )
The main relationship between Bumblebee and Hailee Steinfeld was really well done and the minor characters all got a nice moment or two as well.
And it was great to see a true PG family film with no gore or darkness and only some mild swearing.
A nice surprise 8/10
Member No. 35 of the "100 free films in 2021" club 2 down 98 to go
(Hopefully I can beat last years 12! Unlikely to beat 2013’s 91)
2021: A Quiet Place 2 8.5/10
2020: Little Women, Richard Jewell 8.5/10
2019: Wild Rose, Shazam!, Avengers, Eighth Grade, Shaun the Sheep, The Farewell 9/10
2018: Coco, Three Billboards, Missouri, Avengers, MI: Fallout, Quiet Place, Stan & Ollie - 9/10
2017: Paddington 2 10/10
2016: Sing Street, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I, Daniel Blake, Sully 10/10
2015: Star Wars, Whiplash, Ex Machina, Minions - 9.5/10
2014: Pride, The Imitation Game 10/10
2013: Good Vibrations, Song for Marion, Alan Partridge, Captain Phillips - 9.5/10
2012: Muppets, Untouchable, Argo 10/10
2011: ROTPOTA, The Artist, Mi4 - 9.5/10
2010: Kick Ass, Toy Story 3 - 9.5/10
2009: Up 10/10
LOVE FMUK https://youtu.be/62YY4trpDEY
(Hopefully I can beat last years 12! Unlikely to beat 2013’s 91)
2021: A Quiet Place 2 8.5/10
2020: Little Women, Richard Jewell 8.5/10
2019: Wild Rose, Shazam!, Avengers, Eighth Grade, Shaun the Sheep, The Farewell 9/10
2018: Coco, Three Billboards, Missouri, Avengers, MI: Fallout, Quiet Place, Stan & Ollie - 9/10
2017: Paddington 2 10/10
2016: Sing Street, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, I, Daniel Blake, Sully 10/10
2015: Star Wars, Whiplash, Ex Machina, Minions - 9.5/10
2014: Pride, The Imitation Game 10/10
2013: Good Vibrations, Song for Marion, Alan Partridge, Captain Phillips - 9.5/10
2012: Muppets, Untouchable, Argo 10/10
2011: ROTPOTA, The Artist, Mi4 - 9.5/10
2010: Kick Ass, Toy Story 3 - 9.5/10
2009: Up 10/10
LOVE FMUK https://youtu.be/62YY4trpDEY
- raj101
- 8 1/2
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Re: Bumblebee
the first transformers release thats actually a movie. Keep Bay out of it for future films and we might see more.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
fav 5 films of the year - Tenet, Bill n Ted 3, Invisible Man, JoJo Rabbit, ?