Product Details

• Actors: Frank Welker, Peter Cullen, Chris Latta, Jack Angel, Corey Burton
• Directors: Peter Wallach
• Writers: Roger Slifer
• Producers: Atsushi Shimizu, Edward Lee Rapp, Kenichi Morohashi, Tim Spiedel
• Format: Animated, Color, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Rhino Entertainment Company
• VHS Release Date: September 21, 1999
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305538557
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #357,415 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the back cover

A Prime Problem. Megatron comes up with a devious plan to lure the Autobots into a crevice filled with Korlonium crystals, a deadly mineral that destroys electronic circuitry. To do this he must first make an exact duplicate of Optimus Prime, Starscream, Soundwave, and the other Decepticons create a diversion while Megatron knocks Optimus unconscious and scans him into a computer. Now it's time to put their deadly plan into action--replace Optimus Prime with an impostor who will lead the Autobots to self-destruction. City Of Steel. The Decepticons have secretly established an underground base beneath New York City's busy streets. Their goal is to steal its tallest structure, The Empire State building, and turn it into their indestructible headquarters. From there they will conquer New York. When Optimus and the Autobots arrive, Megatron springs his trap in Central Park. Long Haul and Scavenger dig a hole underneath Optimus who falls in and is turned into scrap. It's up to Bumblebee and the others to save the city and put their big leader back together.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TransFan's dream come true!, February 26, 2000

By 

Chris Gooley (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transformers Vol. 1 - Prime Threat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Original TF-G1 episodes have been hard to come by until recently. They've been available on-line now for about a year and a half from Sunbow Productions in Canada. But now Sunbow and Kid Rhino are releasing this classic in the United States. And they're available here at Amazon.com! <--- web site plug :-) Both of these episodes take place in Transformers' second season when there was a mass surge in the creation of adjunct teams on the show. The second season was also the peak in creativity for the writers, as they searched for new ways to keep the story of the pre-Cybertronian Transformer wars interesting. I really enjoyed the episode selection for this volume."A Prime Problem" tells the story of Megatron sneaking a duplicate Optimus Prime into autobot ranks to lead them into a dangerous crystal-trap. The episode was a gem as far as character-reinforcement. Optimus Prime as the patient leader who kept his cool even when his very identity was on the line, and who's caring and protective nature eventually restores his identity. Ironhide as the one to step up and take charge during a crisis. And especially accurate was Starscream, the impatient and unrealistic psycho-bot who's lack of wisdom or backbone works against his plans for fame and glory... once again.In the second episode, "City of Steel", Megatron dismantles the foundation of the Empire State Building right out from under the building (unlikelihood considering laws of physics notwithstanding), and features some of the most haunting images of the Generation One series... especially to a seven year old (which was how old I was when the show originally aired). What awestruck child who sees Prime as the greatest leader of all could forget the images of Prime's disembodied head, his body reconstructed into a reptilli-con, and his own right arm set atop of the highest skyscraper in all of New Cybertron! Making an always-welcome cameo are the famous Constructicons, first seen in "Heavy Metal War" season one (this episode is thankfully featured in the new Boxed Set, Vols. 4-6).If you're a remeniscing fan, this video is well worth the price. If you're a stickler for quality, there is a bit of disappointment in this series which is obvious when comparing it with the Canadian releases. The Canada editions have been remastered and look fantastic, but it seems that less care was taken in preparing the US releases. At least the US versions don't use ENTIRELY movie art on the covers of G-1 episodes! To a fan, this is a no-no. :-)All in all though, this video well worth the cost for a fan, and probably the best volume of the first three. Highly recommended for purchase here at Amazon.com. If you found this review helpful, check out my reviews for everything Transformers (including volumes two and three of this pack... reviews for the second pack coming soon.)

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great re-release of a classic cartoon, October 14, 1999

By 

allen ([e-mail]) (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transformers Vol. 1 - Prime Threat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Volume 1 contains "A Prime Problem" and "City of Steel." I speak for every child of the 80's when I say IT'S ABOUT TIME these classics were made available again.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Cartoon Finally Comes To Video, January 3, 2000

By 

Christopher (Cybertron) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transformers Vol. 1 - Prime Threat [VHS] (VHS Tape)

If you are a Transformer fan than you will love this video. It contains 2 classic episodes, "A Prime Problem" and "City of Steel." Episodes which are one the two best in the series. A real chance for all of us to see some of our favorite characters such as Optimus Prime and of course Megatron. Even an awesome appearence by the mighty Devastator. Believe me you will not be disappointed.