cdm72's Full Review: Hasbro Transformers Movie Leader: Optimus Prime
When I first got wind of a live-action Transformers movie, a few years before the movie hit theaters, I was very excited. I’ve been a huge fan of the franchise from day one. I still have my first Transformer, Sideswipe. He’s not in the greatest condition, but he’s still hanging in there. So a live-action version of this series sounded like an amazing idea, especially given current technology. I knew if whoever was in charge of the effects knew what they were doing, we’d have some amazing transformation sequences with cars unfolding and transforming into giant robots. It would be just the thing for the fan boy in me, that final piece of the puzzle to bring these beloved characters to full life. I couldn’t wait to see the classic yellow Volkswagon stand up and reveal itself to be Bumblebee. And that giant red cab-over truck, with the arms pulling free of the sides, the head lifting out of the roof, and the rear of the truck becoming those giant blue legs. I was psyched.
Then I saw the designs for the movie’s figures. What the holy hell is this giant red and blue skeletal THING calling itself Optimus Prime? That is NOT Prime. WTF???
In the end, I got over it and came to admire the new design just as much as I ever loved the original, and while I do see them as entirely different characters, the Optimus Prime from the live-action series of movies has more than established himself in my mind as leader of the Autobots. It’s also one of the most difficult figures I’ve ever tried to figure out how to transform. It might even be the only one I’ve ever had to ask my son to show me how to do. In my defense, he memorized the instructions, then threw them away, so don’t you judge me.
The figure starts in its traditional semi form, although the new design is a red extended cab Peterbilt with blue flames along the sides. Unlike previous versions of the figure where the rear forms the legs while the cab makes up the torso, this Prime pretty much just unfolds downward in order to stand.
The truck’s grille comes loose by sliding the bumper away from the center, revealing cracks that become the robot’s feet, while his legs are hidden under his body. The rear wheels and wheel wells fold down to form the backs of his legs. So you’ve got this truck with the front and rear sections bold folding down from the center so he can stand, while the rest of his torso unfolds from the rest of the cab.
The top of the hood splits in two, then each section of that also folds over itself once more to form Prime’s kneecaps. The sides of the hood fold away from the body and, along with the tanks and toolboxes along the runners, will be tucked away behind the body, out of the way and useless. The sleeper section of the cab forms Prime’s arms with his hands folded away inside his forearms, while a button on his stomach is pressed, revealing the gimmick in these movie figures: Advanced Automorph technology, designed to give the illusion of the figures transforming themselves. In Prime’s case, all it does is allow his chest to expand and his head to rise up out of the cab, while his chest- and eye-lights flash with electronic sounds adding to the illusion.
In robot mode, the figure has several points of articulation, not the least of which include turning his head from side to side and each individual finger (thumbs included) also being maneuverable. He has ankle joints that allow him to stand easier by spreading the feet shoulder-width and pivoting the feet at an angle so he’s still flat-footed. In fact, the only thing you CAN’T move on this figure is his waist.
The figure also comes with a clip-on weapon which fastens to a tab on his right arm and, with his hand folded back into his forearm, unfolds to cover the nub and, when it’s swung into place, extends guns from his arm, plus, when a tab on the top is pushed, releases an inch-long blade to mimic his sword from the movie.
I have to admit, I’m very impressed with the detail in this figure. In truck mode, he’s more camouflaged than he’s ever been before. It’s really a very complete disguise. And in robot mode, there’s little enough left of the truck mode, he doesn’t fall into the category of most Transformers figures, which is “robot made to look like a car”. In this case, it’s obvious the robot form came first and that the truck was secondary. I like that. Too few Transformers over the years paid much attention to the robot design, too-interested in making a passable vehicle. So what if the robot’s hands have wheels on the end of them or the jets have giant cones on the tops of their heads!
Well, the Optimus Prime figure breaks that trend, offering the best of both worlds, convincing truck mode and plausible robot form as well.
Comparing the figure with its movie screen counterpart reveals a much bulkier form, but that’s forgivable; the figure doesn’t operate on CGI, these pieces actually have to fit somewhere.
I hate to admit I’m wrong--it happens so seldom, though--but in this case I humbly acquiesce and can give the live-action movie version of Optimus Prime my thumbs-up approval. And the figure is right up there with some of the best in the line, even going back to the original Generation 1 line. Movie Prime is definitely a 5-star figure.
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