Transformers Prime: Season 3

How many Transformers films, TV shows, toys, and spinoffs have there been over the years? Too many to count, that's for sure. Nothing will ever compare to the original series and film from the 80s in my opinion. Sure, some people say the originals were full of cheese, but I disagree.

I have gone back and watched the original series on my DVD volumes and rest assured, they still hold up today as they did 30 years ago, especially the film. At first, this CG animated series called ‘Prime’ had me thinking I would hate it just as much as the Michael Bay films, but to my surprise, it wasn’t all that bad. Actually, I thought it was very good. You can check out how Season One was by clicking HERE.

But it's a similar story you've heard before. It’s an age old battle between good and evil, with it being the Autobots battling the Decipticons. In this third season, there are bigger story arcs that take several episodes to get through. The Decepticons are winning the fight against the Autobots with some sort of event that is preventing the Autobots making things safe on Earth and for the humans.

You know how in the comic book world, several publishers have "killed off" certain super-heroes, but have always had them return a few issues later to take care of evil? Well there is some of that going on in 'Transformers Prime', as a few big characters who were thought to be dead are not pushing daisies just yet.

Unfortunately, one of these characters decides to help the Decipticons. But the Autobots have a special trick up their sleeve, as one major character learns to do more than just switch from a car to a robot, which helps out the autobot's prime directive. In the end, it's the same song and dance. Earth and the humans are on the brink of being destroyed, and the Autobots manage to save the day.

We all know this going in, as there never seems to be a real sense of big suspense at work here. But what does work well are the amazing voice actors. With Peter Cullen (the original Optimus Prime) returning to his iconic role, Ernie Hudson (the 4th Ghostbuster), Jeffrey Combs (Re-Animator), and Michael Ironside (Total Recall), every voice is delivered perfectly for their characters.

The entire series is done with CG effects, but for some reason some of the CG looks sloppy, where others look outstanding. I'm not sure why some scenes look like CG from the old tv show 'Reboot', while others look top notch. It seems like some scenes were rushed through, while others received the majority of the attention. Overall, 'Transformers Prime Season 3' is a solid outing with a great voice cast and a decent story line. For new and old fans of Transformers, this should satisfy you.

'Transformers Prime Season 3' comes with a solid 1080p HD transfer presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio. Even though some of the effects look a little rushed and not as good as some of the heavier action sequences, the detail is very good and sharp. The fine details on the Autobots and Decepticons look impressive.

However on the humans, the detail is lost. Not sure why. The colors are vibrant and seem to pop off the screen. There are some instances of banding and aliasing that pop up throughout, but with a project that is so heavy with CG, there is bound to be some. But that shouldn't sway you from not purchasing this.

This release comes with a great lossless DTS-HD 5.1 audio mix. Your speakers will definitely receive a workout here. The dialogue is always crystal clear and easy to understand. It's perfectly balanced on the center channel with some great examples of some directionality during the epic fight scenes.

The sound effects are in full force and pour out the surrounds, but these ambient noises and sound effects sound a bit sloppy and not tightened. The dynamic range is extremely wide here and if you're looking for some bass to rumble your walls, this is the show for you. This is a great and loud audio presentation.

• Audio Commentaries - There are seven different episodes with commentary tracks with some of the cast and crew from each episode. If you like the show, you will want to give these a listen as they provide some informative information on the history of the 'Transformers, how some of the show was made, and how the story is evolving.
  
• San Diego Comic-Con Panel 2013 (HD, 29 mins) - The panel includes Michael Vogel, Jeff Kline, Duane Capizzi, David Hartman, and Jerry Jivoin.
  

• Extended Scene (HD, 2 mins) - Here is one extended scene from the episode 'Deadlock' that doesn't advance the story to0 much.
  

'Transformers Prime Season 3' is a lot of fun, although you can see where the story is headed miles before it gets there. The voice acting is top notch with some great CG effects throughout. The video and audio or good with some decent commentaries. For fans of the 'Transformers' universe, you will want to check out 'Prime', and this third season is spot on.