The eighties are making a comeback in film this year. Whether due to a lack of imagination, or a general interest in the return of our favourites characters from a bygone era, several franchises are set for rejuvenation in 2007. Weí¢â‚¬â„¢ve already had Rocky Balboa and Die Hard, Rambo and Indiana Jones are all set to make a comeback over the next 18 months. Yet the rejuvenation is not limited to action pictures as animated childrení¢â‚¬â„¢s hits Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or TMNT as they are now known) and Transformers are also set to return in a big way. TMNT is already upon us and cleaning up at the box office, while a new big budget, live action version of Transformers is expected in a few months. Inevitable cash in or a valuable trip down memory lane? Ití¢â‚¬â„¢s a tough call.

The Transformers brand was a colossal success in the eighties, spawning several series, an animated movie and an armada of merchandise worldwide. Blockbuster uber-director Michael Bayí¢â‚¬â„¢s takes the reigns for the 2007 re-make that will doubtless have as many twenty-something fans packing out the cinemas as children. As an excited fan, the prospect of seeing perfectly rendered, giant robots battling it out with one another, fills this reviewer with giddy glee. No doubt the film will pander to every commercial excess, but hopefully there will be enough heart brought over from the original TV series to make the film worthwhile.

Check out the new trailer

However, this is not the first big screen foray for the battling í¢â‚¬Ëœbots. The original Transformers the Movie was released in 1986 and featured anime style animation, a quintessential 80í¢â‚¬â„¢s rock soundtrack and the voice of Orson Welles, making it the perfect nostalgic time capsule (for us boys at least). Portraying the eternal struggle between good and evil is personified by the Autobots (the good guys) and the Decepticons (the bad guys). Transforming robots the size of dinosaurs that can change into cars still hold a lot of appeal, even for those of us who are well past our cartoon watching age. It may not feature the nuance and spectacle found in, say, Miyazakií¢â‚¬â„¢s Spirited Away, but Transformers the Movie certainly gives you a lot of bang for your buck. Flopping on its initial release, Transformers the Movie has gained a huge cult status over the years. Brisk, action packed and with a fairly dark tone (witness all the favourite characters from the TV series being slain in the opening twenty minutes); the new version will have a lot to live up to.

Watch a clip from the animated Transformers the Movie.