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An article I wrote on my blog. Too long for a forum post so here is the link .


http://www.budmaloney.com/2015/06/transformers-movies-are-more.html

I've always looked at the movies like this. Except, I wouldn't call Optimus the villain. Because in a situation like this, it isn't really as simple as "good guys and bad guys." Optimus did what he thought was right, he always does. Autobots aren't really any better than the Decepticons, morally. They never really have been. The only reason the Autobots are viewed as the "good guys," is because they were on the side of humanity in the first 3 movies. So, in AOE, when the humans decide to turn against them, it's a natural evolution of the story.

Interesting read.

I agree with most of what was written here. But I wouldn't call him a villain per se. More like a very beetle-headed (aka dull-witted and obstinate), ineffectual leader with a massive messiah complex.

Honestly, I wouldn't analyze OP as if he were an actual entity, as he's so poorly characterized in the movies that there's very little material to analyze anyway. It's really the writers' fault for repeatedly writing this character into a corner, and trying to bring out his "heroic" side in such a ham-handed way that it backfires. It's hard to root for a character that's so caught up in playing Jesus to the human race that he repeatedly brings his own race closer and closer to extinction.

Sure, Megatron is every bit as deluded and egotistical as OP is, if not more so. And yes, Megatron needs to be defeated; otherwise, Cybertronians would still suffer under his rule in the long run. But if OP (essentially, the writers) was more resourceful and intelligent, he'd have at least tried to find a 3rd option in order to save both humanity and the future of the Cybertronians. But the way things unfolded in the movies, everything was too shallow to allow for a more intelligent solution. All the movie TF stories dealt in simple absolutes--either Megatron wins and eradicates mankind, or he loses and Cybertronians slip a little further to damnation and extinction.

Because it can't be denied that Megatron, totalitarian and tyrannical though he is, does what he does to for the benefit of Cybertronians. Had the writers not written him as such, perhaps OP's actions wouldn't have been so damning to his own race, and therefore wouldn't be seen as a villain.

With that said, OP in AOE was much more believable. At long last, he starts thinking of the safety and benefit of his soldiers and comrades instead of giving in to his messiah tendencies. Took him long enough, though.

For the record, I have absolutely no problem with his level of violence in combat (let's face facts; this is nothing by anime standards, and kids love anime), although "give me your face" is IMO one of the most ridiculous lines I've heard in a movie to date.

If Optimus is a 'bad guy' then everyone who tries to help someone else is also bad because helping is often reciprocal and helpers often gain allies.

SlyTF1 wrote:I've always looked at the movies like this. Except, I wouldn't call Optimus the villain. Because in a situation like this, it isn't really as simple as "good guys and bad guys." Optimus did what he thought was right, he always does. Autobots aren't really any better than the Decepticons, morally. They never really have been. The only reason the Autobots are viewed as the "good guys," is because they were on the side of humanity in the first 3 movies. So, in AOE, when the humans decide to turn against them, it's a natural evolution of the story.

Agree completely with this.