Bumblebee proves Transformers movies can actually be resonant and emotional

It’s nearly impossible to separate the Transformers film franchise from the creative aesthetic of director Michael Bay. From the slow-motion flag-waving to the copious explosions and visually incomprehensible CG action, the series has become the ultimate expression of Bay’s idiosyncratic style. Audiences may love it — the movies have collectively made billions of dollars at the box office. Or they may hate it — the critical responses have been dire, but even the fans often complain bitterly over these films, while still hopefully turning up for each new one. Regardless, there’s no mistaking a Michael Bay fighting-robots flick for anything else.

But we live in the era of the expanded cinematic universe, where every studio is eager to...

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