jtpreview-review:

As much as Michael Bay is criticised (and rightfully so, for the most part) for his rock ’em, sock ’em style of film-making, and how that loud, dumb, CGI-saturated ethos was imposed on the Transformer’s franchise, we need to give him credit for bringing the Hasbro toy-line into a mammothing global film staple. Without that, we may not have been given Bumblebee; the film that fans have wanted to see of the 1980s animation this whole time. Director Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) has created more of a reboot than a spin-off, reaching under the hood and stripping the blockbuster machine to sweet-tones, with an 80s beguile like ET and The Goonies. The result is a much more easy experience on the eyes and ears.

Bumblebee demonstrates how to incorporate an engaging human story with the Transformers lore. Hailee Steinfeld plays the outcast 18-year old Charlie, who has her character thoroughly fleshed-out in a brilliant opening scene where she is simply getting ready for the day. Desperate for a car, she bring home a banged-up Volkswagen Beetle from the scrapyard she spends most of her free time at. That Beetle is of course the adorably dinky Bumblebee, in hiding on Earth after the autobots were forced to flee Cybertron. A touching friendship forms, with the likes of family problems and Decepticon bounty-hunters breathing down their necks.

The story hits the familiar beats of a Spielberg-ian coming-of-age adventure. Charlie and Bumblebee bond mostly through 80’s cassette tape recordings and rebellious acts of harmless havoc. They both have suffered loss and Knight jumps on their sensitive state with a touching approach. John Cena plays the sort of ‘Keys’ government tyre from ET, as the trigger-happy Agent Burns; not necessarily a bad-guy but one who poses the most threat to Charlie and Bumblebee’s friendship. And for the fans of the metal-on-metal mayhem, the macho aspects of the franchise are still here as well. Knight constructs a climatic showdown that doesn’t overload your brain, and fights off the urge of delving into a toy cars in a washing machine style of action.

Was that really so hard? Six movies in to the Transformers film franchise, we are finally given a joyous robot spectacle.

4/5

that-food-dude:

cat-wings:

leonacortez:

Melissa McCracken, a painter with synesthesia, explains what it’s like to see your favorite songs. [x]

“Karma Police” — Radiohead

“Little Wing” — Jimi Hendrix

“Gravity” — John Mayer 

“Imagine” — John Lennon

“Joy in Repetition” — Prince

“Since I’ve Been Loving You” — Led Zeppelin

“Life On Mars?” — David Bowie

“Tonight, Tonight” — The Smashing Pumpkins

i migght be overly caffeinated but i cried looking at these