7.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
Following the destruction of their base at the hands of Megatron, the Autobots, along with Jack, Miko, and Raf, are separated and struggle to reconnect with one another. However, Smokescreen returns to Jasper to rescue Optimus Prime, who is close to death. Meanwhile, Shockwave returns, having cloned an ancient Cybertronian, dragon-like beast called a Predacon in hopes of having it hunt down the Autobots. While Smokescreen tries to find a way to save Optimus, Ultra Magnus comes to Earth to lend the Autobots a hand as the Predacon named Predaking starts to get intelligent.
Starring: Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Steve Blum, Jeffrey Combs, Sumalee MontanoSci-Fi | 100% |
Animation | 93% |
Adventure | 92% |
Action | 91% |
Family | 48% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
None
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (2 BDs)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (locked)
Movie | 3.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 3.0 | |
Overall | 3.0 |
The Transformers franchise has been an incredible cash cow for Hasbro. Hasbro took original designs from the
Japanese firm of Takara Tomy and first created a toy sensation in the mid-eighties but which soon (appropriately)
morphed into an animated television series which ran for some four seasons. During the run of that series, The
Transformers: The Movie, a feature length animated enterprise, debuted. Comic books, videogames and more
animated television outings (like Beast Wars: Transformers) followed, but the franchise really burst into
the mainstream with the live action film series, which to date includes Transformers, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
and Transformers: Dark
of the Moon (with a fourth entry primed—optimus or otherwise—for release in 2014). The Transformers
saga is by now so varied and labyrinthine that only the most rabid fan is probably able to keep track of all the ins and
outs of the various timelines, storylines and characters, and that may be part of what tends to make Transformers
Prime, a CGI-fest which aired from 2010 to 2013 and managed to pick up several Emmy Awards along the way,
seem to be nothing much more than a footnote to the franchise at times, which may not be entirely fair for a series that
has managed to maintain a relatively high bar for this type of show. Transformers Prime at least boils the entire
franchise down into what is after all its central thesis: the age old battle between good and evil. Autobots take on
Decepticons, while a gaggle of humans looks on like slightly befuddled sidekicks at times. For those not up to speed on
this particular iteration of the Transformers saga, my colleague Martin Liebman has reviewed the two
previous seasons:
Transformers
Prime: Season One Blu-ray review
Transformers
Prime: Season Two Blu-ray review
Transformers Prime: Season Three is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Shout! Factory with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. As Martin Liebman noted in his review of the second season, Transformers Prime has a generally sharp and solid image, one which offers nicely rendered fine detail on the Transformers, if not quite so much on the humans who assist them. The best elements in this third season are the purely "special effects" sequences (see screenshots 4 and 5 for good examples), which often feature incredibly vivid colors and excellently sharp imagery. As with the second season, there are some compression artifacts that crop up from time to time, including banding in some of the gradients as well as minor shimmer.
Transformers Prime: Season Three has a nicely boisterous lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix which features nicely immersive content during the many battles that make up the series. The down side to this is that the series can sound a bit noisy at times, without well articulated foley effects. Dialogue is very cleanly presented, and the show's score also utilizes the surround channels and sounds fine. Dynamic range is extremely wide throughout the series, and there's more than ample low end to satisfy those who enjoy seeing their subwoofers pulse with activity.
- Darkmount, NV with Jeff Kline, Executive Producer, and writers Steve Melching, Duane Capizzi and Mairghread Scott.
- Scattered with Jeff Kline, Steve Melching, Duane Capizzi, and Mairghread Scott.
- Prey with Jeff Kline, Steve Melching, Duane Capizzi, and Mairghread Scott.
- Rebellion with Jeff Kline, Steve Melching, Duane Capizzi, and Mairghread Scott.
- Plus One with David Hartman, Supervising Director/Art Director, Josh Keaton (Jack), James Horan (Wheeljack) Sumalee Montano (Arcee) and Todd Waterman (director).
- Synthesis with David Hartman, Christophe Vacher (Lighting, Color, Texture, Matte Painting), Scooter Tidwell (Director), Jose Lopez (Art Director), Vince Toyama (Production Designer), David Sobolov (Shockwave).
- Deadlock with David Hartman, Josh Keaton (jack), Steven Melching, Sumalee Montano (Arcee), David Sobolov (Shockwave).
This third season of Transformers Prime moves with more concerted dramatic moementum than the second season did, but there's also a bit of the law of diminishing returns here as well. The miraculous survival of one character (I've attempted not to overtly spoil anything, but fans can no doubt guess who it is) is just the latest rabbit the show's writers pull out of their hat, but the series probably benefits from only having 13 episodes this season, which keeps the action compressed and exciting, without too much filler material getting in the way. As with previous seasons, the technical merits here are generally strong, even if the video has some minor issues. Unlike the last season, this year has a glut of commentaries and an enjoyable Comic-Con panel. Most Transformers fans have already made up their minds about Transformers Prime. For those who like the show, this third season is Recommended.
Limited Edition | Includes 96-page prequel graphic novel
2011
2012
2013
30th Anniversary Edition
1986
2010-2011
2012
2008
2010
Special Edition
1987
2008
2012
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #13
2012
Warner Archive Collection
2011-2012
2022
2007
Collector's Edition
2020
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #11
2011
DC Universe Animated Original Movie #15
2012
2007
Ultimate Collector's Edition
2018
2017-2018