Customer Reviews

Transformers the Movie (20th Anniversary Edition)

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First, I like to get the obvious out of the way. It may seem like a "duh" statement, but the more I see, the more I believe this has to be said. This is the soundtrack to the original 80's animated movie, not the '07 live action movie. If you're looking for the live action movie soundtrack, it's the one with the profile shot of the head of CGI Optimus. Try again. Now for the review of this release...

I first bought the 10-track soundtrack years ago. Even that version, without the four bonus tracks, I would have rated a solid five stars. It was great car driving music and there wasn't a single track that I would skip. If you've ever seen the movie, there isn't a single song or score on here that won't immediately conjure up images in your mind of the scene that it came from.

How much better is it now that it has four new bonus tracks? For one thing, even having said I'd rate the original album with five stars, there was one score that I always felt was missing, the Unicron theme. Now that this release has cleared up that minor oversight, I have to say that this album is nearly flawless.

Nearly flawless because I must admit I do skip over the new remix of the Transformers theme. But that's just personal preference. Besides, show me any other album where I only skip over one song, and I'd still have to rate it far above most other cd's out there.

With the inclusion of the Unicron Medley, Moon Base 2 score, Megatron Must be stopped scores and the original 10-tracks which I've already stated I never skip a track, this is a solid buy for any fan of the original Transformers Movie. In fact, if you dare to call yourself a Transformers fan, than this album deserves to be in your collection.

The original soundtrack from the ORIGINAL 80's animated movie. Please do not confuse this awesome soundtrack with the "eh" soundtrack from the new live-action film. This soundtrack is the epitome of 80's cartoons and rock fusing together to create that unique experience that us kids of the 80's had. The new movie is good and doesn't disappoint even die hard fans I know of, but this soundtrack (in comparison to the new soundtrack with the new theme song) from the original feature length film is really what it was all about. Hope all those who have not experienced it before can do so and enjoy themselves while they grab a bit of that 80's action cartoon nostalgia!

This is a great CD with melodic rock songs and a cool score and the bonus tracks are great. You must get this if your a transfomer fan and a fan of 80's rock/metal and synthesized scores.

I love this CD partly becasue I love the original CD, but more so becasue of the bonus tracks. I remember the first three bonus tracks from the movie; however, I was a little disapointed by the Alternate Transformer Theme (last track) and like the original Transformers Theme song better.

Stan Bush and Vince DiCola bring to the auditory senses what Michelangelo brings to the Sistine Chapel. Pure beauty that could never be replicated but forever appreciated worldwide, and on Cybertron.

I'm a college student who doesn't have much spending money. But I'd watched "Transformers: The Movie" and been intrigued by the music. You might say that this album was an impulse purchase. After I'd clicked "Submit" I was already doubting the wisdom of my decision.

Once the CD arrived, however, my regrets disappeared. This music has been bringing me a lot of enjoyment while I wash the dishes at night. "The Touch" and "Dare" have especially given me a great deal of encouragement, as school has been a bit difficult this semester.

I'm not a music expert, so it's hard to describe this album. But if you like 80's style rock, you'll probably enjoy this album. The rock instrumentals are unlike anything else I've heard, combining simple melodies with a rich palette of unusual sounds. And obviously, if you're a Transformers fan, the images evoked by the music add a whole new dimension of meaning to the album.

The only reason I haven't given this album 5 stars is that there are one or two songs I don't care for much, and some memorable fragments of the score have not been included. Otherwise, this album is a real treat. I'm glad I bought it.

You got the touch. You got the power. When all Hell's breaking loose, you'll be riding the eye of the storm.

If you don't own "The Touch," you're a societal leper. The only cure is this soundtrack. No, no; not even another CD with Stan Bush's master opus can cure what ails you. Buy this or you'll never be loved by anyone else ever again, ever.

The other thirteen tracks are pretty solid as well, including Unicron's long neglected theme, White Lion's opening track, and the alternate, bizarre "Transformer's Theme" that closes the CD.

Highly recommended for everyone who likes music and wants to be loved at some point in the future.

Transformers The Movie (1986) is one of my all-time favorite movies and I wasted little time securing a copy of the soundtrack on LP shortly after the movie was released back in 1986. As the movie remained unavailable for purchase or even rental for several years, listening to the soundtrack was pretty much my only reminder of/link to the movie I loved and it was one of my most treasured albums and one of my best friends surprised me by getting me a copy of the CD reissue of the soundtrack a few years later for one of my birthdays. The original release, which contained all of the vocal tracks and some of the instrumental tracks composed by Vince DiCola (Rocky IV) from the movie, was always enjoyable to listen to but the soundtrack nevertheless seemed somewhat limited when considering the size and scope of the magnificent instrumental score that Mr. DiCola composed for the movie (especially after having an opportunity to watch the movie again) but, given that it was the only commercially available version of the soundtrack available until last year I accepted its limitations and managed to enjoy it as it was. I was very pleased to accidentally discover via iTunes last year that the soundtrack had been re-released containing some additional instrumental tracks from Mr. DiCola's score. Unfortunately, the instrumental tracks included on the re-release were still not as comprehensive as I had hoped for but it did fill in some of the gaps left by the previous release and the soundtrack now includes nearly all of the instrumental music featured during the first 30 minutes of the movie including a collection of music from scenes featuring Unicron ("Unicron Medley"), the post-credits Autobot moon base/shuttle launch sequence ("Moon Base 2 Shuttle Launch"), and the second half of the Autobot City Battle containing the conclusion of Prime's battle with Megatron and the Decepticon's subsequent retreat ("Megatron Must Be Stopped Parts 1 & 2"). As an added bonus, the re-release also has an alternate version of the Transformers theme composed by Vince DiCola with vocals performed by Stan Bush, who had previously contributed the soundtrack's standout tracks, "The Touch" and "Dare". Despite its limitations, I continue to frequently listen to it and it is probably one of my most-played albums with the possible exception of John William's collection of music composed for the "Star Wars" movies. My only hope is that we will eventually get a commercially available release of Vince DiCola's entire instrumental score for the movie. My understanding is that full-length recordings of the score were actually released (albeit in limited quantities) at the 1997 & 2001 Bot-Con conventions but they have since become discontinued/out-of-print. Based on personal correspondence with Mr. DiCola, it appears that even he himself is unsure of the prospects of a future commercial release of his entire instrumental score for the movie. In the meantime, however, I am continuing to enjoy what I consider to be an amazing soundtrack to an amazing movie! The 2007 release is highly recommended to fans of the movie and the G1 Transformers series in general.

I dare any fan of action cartoons from the 80's to not get chills running up and down their spine as they hear the opening bars of 'The Touch' by Stan Bush. This would have to be one of my favourite hard rock songs of all time and one that can instantly lift my mood no matter what.
Being more a fan of metal the tracks 'Instruments of Destruction' by NRG and 'Nothin's Gonna Stand in Our Way' by Spectre General are also stand out and it is hard not to be a fan of Kal Swan's soaring vocals on the Transformers Theme which is surely one of the best vocal tracks this guy has ever laid down.
Woven throughout these pumping rock tracks is the work of Vinnie DiCola, which is also able to transport you to various parts of the movie instantly with his talented compositions. I still get a bit misty eyed when I hear 'The Death Of Optimus Prime'.
Sheerly in terms of its nostalgic value this would have to be my favourite movie soundtrack of all time, without a doubt.

Guys and gals - this is an awesome album...if you loved the movie (original!!) this brings it all back. Some of the tracks I skip every now and again, but definately a real feel good album with loads of nostalgic memories attached! Enjoy.