MovieChat Forums > The Transformers: The Movie (1986) Discussion > Similarities with Star Trek: Generations

Similarities with Star Trek: Generations

posted 4 years ago by TMC-4 (20287)
2 replies | jump to latest

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/star-trek-generations-is-kind-of-like-transformers-the-movie-hear-me-out.293708/

It starts with Captain Kirk & Optimus Prime, who both die heroically, and ends with Captain Picard & Rodimus Prime in command.

Transformers: The Movie jumps Transformers from the 20th Century to the 21st, while Star Trek: Generations jumps the Star Trek movies from the 23rd Century to the 24th.

In Transformers: The Movie, you're replacing the Pre-Movie Cast with the Post-Movie Cast. In Star Trek: Generations, you're replacing the TOS Cast with the TNG Cast.

In Transformers: The Movie characters are killed off for no reason, other than to make room for new toys. In Star Trek: Generations, characters are also killed for no reason and the Enterprise is "killed off" just so they can have a new one in the next movie.

Transformers: The Movie had Orson Welles, best known for the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds play in the main villain. Star Trek: Generations had Malcolm McDowell, arguably best known for A Clockwork Orange playing the main villain.

[–] Ghaleon (606) 4 years ago

Some interesting parallels, but I've only seen Generations once over twenty years ago, so I can't really comment on whether there are any other similarities.

It's a well worn trope of the '80s and '90s (and probably earlier) that franchises would kill off the leads from previous installments and introduce new heroes. By having the metaphorical torch passed, they can manipulate the audience into feeling like the new protagonist is worthy of attention. This doesn't always work out, though.

In the case of Hot Rod/Rodimus this was his introduction to the series, if I'm not mistaken. So, people didn't really have ample time to warm up to him. Whereas Picard had several seasons of his own show beforehand, and many people actually prefer him to Kirk.

[–] [deleted] 4 years ago

[deleted]