The Transformers franchise has been going strong for over 16 years, and it shows no signs of slowing down. To celebrate the latest live-action Transformers film, Rise of the Beasts, joining the pack, Paramount has released an awesome Transformers 4K Steelbook Collection that brings together all six of the previously released films in the franchise into one slick boxset.
The case itself is simple in shape, but that’s what the majority of collectors and fans would want, as it will fit easily onto shelves, or wherever you may keep your film collection, without sticking out like a sore thumb, or requiring some sort of special treatment in order to squeeze it in somewhere. The front of the box has the Autobots logo on it, which looks spraypainted on in blue, which fits, as the box itself is made to look like it’s a concrete of sorts. On the back we’ve got the Decepticons logo, which matches the style of the Autobots, but is spraypainted on in red. As a whole it’s simple, but it’s incredibly appealing, and instantly captures the earthbound vibe of the films within.
Instead of being a regular, pull-off slipcase, or opening up to paged sleeves holding the discs, the above casing is a very cool magnetic cover that opens up to reveal the carvings from the film, and also the spraypainted letters TF, for obvious reasons. The cover opens up nicely, while remaining attached to the box itself, giving easy access to the Steelbooks within, while also giving the bundle a high-quality feel. The Steelbooks are placed neatly within and are each given their own colours, which help give them catch the eye before you’ve even taken one out.
Each of the Steelbooks has a matte finish, which is fantastic, as it takes away any risk of fingerprints, or glare when looking at them, while also allowing the metallic styling and look of the Transformers found on each cover to stand out more than they would had the entire case been glossy. It also just feels more industrial to have this finish to the cases, matching the exterior box art and transformer style from within the movies. The covers each have one of the main Transformer characters from that particular film on the cover of the Steelbook, alongside the title of the movie on an angle.
The transformers take up the majority of the front, which is great, really showcasing their giant presence instead of worrying about showing more or the entirety of the character being showcased. The colours chosen not only compliment each character, but also bring a nice variety to the look of each film once taken out of the case as well. The first film, Transformers, has Optimus Prime on the cover, which is no surprise. Next up for Revenge of the Fallen we’ve got Megatron front and center, which also makes sense, given they’re the leaders of both sides. Then we’ve got Shockwave beautifully overtaking the Dark of the Moon Steelbook, while Age of Extinction sees a transformed Grimlock in dinobot form, mid-roar, which is my personal favourite cover. Then we’ve got Optimus once again taking center stage for The Last Knight, and Bumblebee as the one aptly chosen for the Bumblebee Steelbook.
At the risk of sounding silly, the background art on the Steelbooks have a steel look to them. They look as though they may be shipping crates, or the likes, with the back of each Steelbook showing wear and tear (sometimes literally) that steel or metallic casing would over time. Each case has either an Autobots or Decepticons logo on it, with Transformers: The Last Knight being the odd film out, combining half of each logo in the center. There are claw marks on the back of two, the first film and Age of Extinction, though I’d say AoE is likely claws, while the first film I’d argue is more apt to be cuts from blades. The other films have holes punched out of the metal, or deterioration happening. It’s just a really fun, cool looking way to individualize and add some life to the Steelbooks, instead of simply having the logos on the back in a sea of colour.
For the interior slip covers, this collection chooses to remain harmonious, with each showcasing scenes from that particular film, over focusing on one, large, all-encompassing moment to cover the entire interior. With this being a celebratory collection of sorts for the franchise thus far, this decision makes sense, and looks great. The images aren’t neatly placed, and much like the titles on the front of the Steelbooks, these pictures found within are on angles, with paint splatter, or peeling metal giving them a nice, stylistic look that fits the packaging, over simply placing rectangular pictures inside scrapbook style and calling it a day.
Inside the Steelbook for the first film you’ll also find a high-quality Autobot decal, which fans will surely love and find a special place for.
It’s nice to see the care that was put into this collection, as everything is aesthetically pleasing on all fronts. The colours chosen weren’t done to match the themes of a movie as much as they were so that they’d look good alongside their counterparts in the boxset. The industrial styling given to each of the Steelbooks suits the films wonderfully, and the decision to go with matte finishes is the icing on the cake, just giving the entire set the feeling of top tier quality as soon as you open it and the spines of the Steelbooks are revealed. If you’ve yet to get yourself these films in 4K then I highly recommend you roll out and pick this set up. If you do already own them in 4K then it’ll be a personal call; however, know that the feeling of value is there with this set in a way that could be transformative to one’s film collection.
Overall Collection Score: 5/5
4K Blu-ray Video and Audio Review
These 4K releases are the same as the previous releases, which were already of superb quality, so there’s not much more that could be done with current technology. For those who haven’t looked into the 4K films, know that these are the types of movies that are worth upgrading or purchasing in this format straight out, as they’re the kind of explosion-filled, over-the-top action movies that 4K was made for. I mean, I love a fantastic looking drama or comedy, but when you get a top tier summer blockbuster that can shake your walls like you’re in a theater, well, it doesn’t get much better for home viewing.
Each film looks gorgeous in 2160p/Dolby Vision, with the transformers popping off the screen, and the action just rocking the room from start to finish. The detail found in the transformers is phenomenal, and one of the cooler aspects of the 4K releases is getting to see that detail in the highest of quality that may be lost, or at least easier to miss otherwise. There are some beautiful set pieces and scenic choices in the films as well, which are showcased spectacularly here, especially in the midst of all the action happening in and around them.
There isn’t one film that stands above the rest, as each really do shine equally as bright due to their similarities thanks to the majority (all but Bumblebee) being directed by Michael Bay, with his explosive, warm and vibrant trademark style. If you’re a fan of the films but have been holding off for a collection, then know that while there are more Transformers films to come, this box set is a great packaging of the Bay films, which will kind of stand on their own to a degree given the soft reboot happening with Bumblebee and Rise of the Beasts. This is a safe bet pick-up that’s also a great looking collection overall.
On the audio side of things it’s even more impressive than the massively impressive visuals, which only helps elevate the movie-going experience even more. Having strong audio is just as important as the visual side of things, and when the audio is even better than almost perfect, well, you know you’re in for a treat. The Transformers films are absolutely packed with sound effects, and the Dolby Atmos mixes will have those effects flying at you from every side of the room if your sound system is set up for it. From the transformers, well, transforming, to buildings exploding and crumbling to the ground, it’s just an all-encompassing blockbuster experience in the comfort of your own home.
The dialogue is also wonderfully handled, which is vitally important in movies like this. If the voices are being drowned out, or hard to here, then the constant juggling with the remote control and volume takes away from the fun. There’s no worry of that here, as the dialogue comes through crystal clear from center stage, even while the world on the screen is exploding around you.
Special Features:
The special features are carried over from the previous releases, so I’ll break down what can be found on each disc below. Know that the 4K discs only contain the films, while the Blu-ray discs in each Steelbook are what contain the legacy special features for that film.
Transformers (2007)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Commentary by director Michael Bay
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
Our World
Their War
More Than Meets the Eye
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Commentary by Michael Bay, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
The Human Factor: Exacting Revenge of the Fallen
A Day with Bay: Tokyo
25 Years of Transformers
NEST: TRANSFORMER Data Hub
Deconstructing Visual Bayhem
Deleted/Alternate Scenes
The AllSpark Experiment
Giant Effing Movie
Linkin Park – New Divide
The Matrix of Marketing
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
Above and Beyond: Exploring Dark of the Moon
Uncharted Territory: NASA’s Future Then and Now
Deconstructing Chicago: Multi-Angle Sequences
The Art of Cybertron
The Dark of the Moon Archive
The Matrix of Marketing
Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
Bay on Action
Evolution Within Extinction—The Making of Transformers: Age of Extinction
Just Another Giant Effin’ Movie
A Spark of Design
T.J. Miller: Farm Hippie
Trailers
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
Merging Mythologies
Climbing the Ranks
The Royal Treatment: Transformers in the UK
Motors and Magic
Alien Landscape: Cybertron
One More Giant Effin’ Movie
Bumblebee (2019)
Disc 1 – 4K Ultra HD
Feature Film
Disc 2 – Blu-ray
Feature Film
Sector 7 Archive
Deleted and Extended Scenes
Outtakes
Bee Vision: The Transformers Robots of Cybertron
Bringing Bumblebee to the Big Screen
Paramount Pictures Presents Transformers 6-Movie 4K Steelbook Collection. Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Peter Cullen, Mark Wahlberg, Hailee Steinfeld, John Turturro, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Bernie Mac, Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, John Cena. Running time: 881 Minutes. Rating: PG. Released on 4K Blu-ray: May 30, 2023.
