Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, directed by Steven Caple Jr, builds upon the rich mythology of the Transformers universe, delivering an entertaining watch for both old fans and newcomers to this world of super robots.

The Maximals, a race of advanced Cybertronians with beast modes, face an attack on their homeworld by the planet-eating dark god Unicron. To protect their greatest piece of technology, the Transwarp Key, the Maximals escape to Earth under the leadership of Gorilla-shaped Optimus Primal (voiced by Ron Perlman).

Meanwhile on Earth, Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos), an ex-military electronics expert, unwittingly gets involved in the inter-galactic battle when he attempts to steal a disguised Autobot Mirage (Pete Davidson). Museum intern Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback) discovers half of the Transwarp Key, leading to a conflict between the Autobots, Maximals and the army of Terrorcons who serve Unicron. As they seek to recover the key, Noah secretly plans to destroy it but eventually joins forces with Autobot leader Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen) to stop Unicron.

One of the strengths of Rise of the Beasts is its diverse and dynamic cast of characters. The film introduces a host of new Transformers — the Maximals and the Terrorcons — ringing a delightful sense of nostalgia for fans of the original 1990s series. These new additions have well-developed personalities and along with the classic Autobots and Predacons, there’s a nice blend of the familiar and the fresh.

The action sequences in Rise of the Beasts are nothing short of spectacular. There are epic battles between colossal robot warriors, and the film takes full advantage of its diverse setting, with breathtaking scenes in cities like New York and Machu Picchu, elevating the scale of the Transformers’ battles to a global level.

The overarching plot of Rise of the Beasts may feel a tad formulaic to Transformers fans but the heartening part is that it does not sacrifice storytelling for spectacle. The narrative explores themes of identity, loyalty and the delicate balance that is needed between humanity and technology. It delves into the inner conflicts faced by the Transformers, allowing one to connect with them on a deeper level.

The intense action sequences are interspersed with comedic moments, which serves as a welcome breather without undermining the gravity of the film’s events. And with a possible G.I. Joe crossover promised in the epilogue, things are about to get more exciting.