The Lego Movie

Like many people who have reviewed this offering unfairly, I received an email from Amazon indicating that my order had been cancelled because THE DISTRIBUTOR would no longer be offering it. Instead, Amazon suggested this set as an alternative. If the rest of the dopes bothered to read the email in its entirety and do a little research, they would have discovered that that it was WARNER HOME VIDEO that CANCELED this release, NOT FLIPPING AMAZON. Here's what happened: Warner had already planned for the original releases that we pre-ordered well before the film was released in theaters. They knew they would have a hit on their hand but were unprepared for how big of a hit it would become. So, they scrambled to do a bunch of market research regarding this new set and discovered that consumers OVERWHELMINGLY preferred it to the original Blu-ray/3D Blu-ray/DVD/Digital (and Blu-ray/DVD) release which was made available only SEVEN days after the film was released. Amazon DIDN'T screw you (if you want to call it that, anyway), Warner Home Video screwed you. Someone said, "I guess I'll just go somewhere else" Sure, you can go somewhere else... and buy the EXACT SAME SET AMAZON IS OFFERING BECAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT'S GOING TO BE RELEASED FOR THIS TITLE FOR AMAZON AT MOST RETAILERS. Target is the ONLY retailer to offer the standard Blu-ray/DVD combo as it's their exclusive. Again, blame Warner, NOT Amazon. "Now we have to do this again for a more Expensive 3D version .....?" NO... As noted by the CAREFULLY WORDED product description, the 3D disc is a BONUS. So, if you don't like it, TAKE IT UP WITH WARNER HOME VIDEO, NOT AMAZON. You slobs are lucky that Amazon is such a decent company that they gave us all a $10 credit (or better in some cases) to purchase this when they were under no obligation to do so because they did nothing wrong. WARNER changed their mind, ya dopes, and the fact of the matter is that the set would probably have been down to what you paid for the set you initially pre-ordered by relase day anyway, or something close to it. I already had a $10 credit applied to my account over a customer service issue so I was able to apply the code and get $20 off, so score for me and if it goes down by release day I'll be paying even less than $20 for it. Bait and switch? Please. You people are embarrassing. ORIGINAL FILM REVIEW POSTED ON THE ORIGINAL PRE-ORDER SET: Please note, this is a review for the film only. Today's date is February 14, 2014 and at the time of this review, this film had only been in theaters for one week and the 3D Blu-ray/Blu-ray/DVD/Ultraviolet home video release was only available for preorder. It is a rare event that I give a film a perfect score but if there was ever a film that was more deserving in recent memory, I can't think of one. The LEGO Movie is by far the best animated film I have ever seen and that includes ANY Pixar film (yes, I know... blasphemy). It is also the first film I have seen in years in which the entire audience stood up and applauded when the credits rolled. Cleverly acted, the film showcases the comedic talents and sometimes surprising comedic talents of some of the biggest names in popular film today. Will Farrell (Lord Business/President Business) and Will Arnett (Batman/Bruce Wayne)... heck, those guys are givens as far as comedic timing is concerned but who knew that Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson could be so funny? From the beginning, the story seems like nothing more than a rehash of the themes in Kung Fu Panda or The Matrix with the role of Po/Neo taken on by our very ordinary hero, Emmet (Chris Pratt). As the film progresses, it takes on the tone and plot of a million of other action film clichés but the visually stunning frenetic action combined with multiple clever pop-culture references allows you to forgive what seems like a generic story and just simply enjoy the awesome adventure that you and your kids are on. The level of detail is absolutely phenomenal, right down to the tiny scratches in the ABS plastic and my favorite, the visible finger prints on the minifigures themselves. And make no mistake, by design, this film was meant to be seen by families which just makes the experience that much more enjoyable. So, am I saying that the overall experience of the film makes up for the weak story? Nope. In the last 20 minutes of the film there are live-action sequences that tie the whole story together and turn what was a generic and almost mediocre plot into one of the most brilliant pieces of complex fantasy story-telling I have ever seen in a family film. It was so cleverly done that I literally slapped myself in the forehead for being tricked like I was because the film drops not-so-subtle clues as to the big twist throughout its entirety. I came out of this film realizing that though cleverly marketed as a kid's film, this is a nostalgia film for X and Y Geners (is that a word? don't care, going with it...) and the tell was with 1980s Spaceman, the insanely hyperactive Benny (voiced by Charlie Day). Anyone whoever had this minifigure (or a similar one with the space helmet) knew that within a month's time of taking that helmet off repeatedly, the bottom of the helmet near the chin would split because it was so thin. The reason for this is simple: it was a two part injection-molded piece of plastic and that thin little piece was right on the seam. The fact that someone thought of this very esoteric detail in and of itself is not only brilliant but it also helps achieve one of the film's main goals: taking our generation back to a time when we were seven years-old. The level of violence in this film is probably the biggest factor in the MPAA PG rating, but it's the exact same kind of violence that a seven year-old kid would inflict on their own LEGO minifigures through normal imagination-fueled play and like everything else in the film, it ties into the big twist that brings the whole film together. Is The LEGO Movie, as some have claimed, just a two-hour advertisement for a toy? Yep, but who cares? LEGO toys are a permanent part of our pop-culture and certainly no different than film franchises based on G.I. Joe or Transformers... except for the fact that I can watch a LEGO film with my kids and not scare the living crap out of them. The motivations for this film are irrelevant as to its quality despite the cynical attitudes towards it. My only regret is that we didn't see it in 3D as this is one film that it is a moral imperative to see in 3D. Oh, well... I guess we'll just have to go see it again. Everything is awesome, indeed.

If you have any soul at all, you’re going to love The LEGO Movie. If you have no soul, you might just walk away with one after watching this film. The LEGO Movie opens to show Emmet Brickowski (voiced by Chris Pratt) living an ordinary life as a construction worker in his LEGO world. In fact, his life is so ordinary that he is forgotten by almost everyone who knows him. The brick world is regulated by strict rules established by President Business (voiced by Will Ferrell), and even though Emmet tries to follow all of them, he soon finds himself chasing after the beautiful WyldStyle (voiced by Elizabeth Banks) – a minifigure who breaks every rule. When Emmet accidentally fuses with the fabled Piece of Resistance, WyldStyle mistakes him for a MasterBuilder of legend. Emmet’s adventures take him all over the various LEGO worlds, and he meets a variety of other MasterBuilders, who are secretly fighting against President Business’ evil plan to turn the world solid. According to the legend, only Emmet can save the brick world from certain doom. Anyone who has ever built with LEGO bricks – and that’s pretty much everyone – will get some great laughs out of The LEGO Movie. People like me, who are lifelong fans of LEGO, will be delighted with the film. There are many cues for LEGO fans that will keep them laughing throughout the film. With a wide cast of characters lending voice talent – including Morgan Freeman (Vitruvius), Will Arnett (Batman), Charlie Day (Benny, the 1980′s Spaceman), Jonah Hill (Green Lantern) and many others – the show manages not to obsess about screen time for any non-major characters, no matter how impressive their filmography. But the real standout start of the film is Elizabeth Banks voicing WyldStyle. It seems that LEGO has suddenly realized that little girls like to build with their bricks, and they seem to have finally created a strong female character. She’s important to the film and my daughter’s eyes lit up when she watched her outdo the boys through the entire film. Banks, who you may know as the infamous Effie Trinket from The Hunger Games film series, captures the personality of the character beautifully. When the film was over, my daughter didn’t want to go buy a Batman LEGO set, or even an Emmet set – she wanted one with WyldStyle. For that, I thank LEGO and I thank the directors of this film. As you watch the film, you’ll be begging to get your hands on the video game, which fits so well with the format of past LEGO games that it seems as if the film was made to play. The action is fun and the story lends itself to the rapid building features of the game. On top of that, the film will make you want to buy the sets from the movie so you can reenact scenes from the iconic scenes of the film. And trust me, I already bought a set because I couldn’t resist that chance to build WyldStyle’s sweet motorcycle with my daughter. The style of the film is reminiscent of a slick stop-motion fan film made with LEGO minifigures. It has a slight choppiness which fits the genre and makes it look like a very impressive fan film instead of a multimillion dollar computer animated film. Keeping this spirit up, the directors are able to pull some very fun gags off, one of which includes Vitruvius (Morgan Freeman) at the end of the second act of the film. There’s so much to love in The LEGO Movie that it is guaranteed to be a great time for anyone who remembers being a kid. The humor is sophisticated enough for adults without being thinly-veiled, and the story is engaging enough to make anyone think about it long after the film stops rolling. There are many surprises and you’ll love every second of it. I give The LEGO Movie 5 stars, since I haven’t had that much fun watching a film for years!

it's not a toy it's a highly sophisticated interlocking brick system the best movie ever made. I have no idea how this movie isn't at 5 stars I watch it every single night before bed.

When I first heard about "The LEGO Movie," I thought it couldn't be any good. For one thing, I thought we already had Lego movies. There are tons of stop-motion Lego movies on YouTube. How could a "Lego Movie" be any different or better than what I'd already seen? The key to this movie is that it's about Legos itself as a concept, not just making movies with Legos. The movie dramatizes the age-old war between two types of Lego builders - those who follow the directions and those who ignore the directions, those who are rigid in building exactly what Legos are supposed to be and those who build whatever they can imagine. In "The Lego Movie," we meet Emmett (Chris Pratt), an average construction worker. He always follows the instructions in everything from eating breakfast to making friends. He lives in a city rigidly organized by Lord Business (Will Farrell), who's promoting an upcoming holiday called Taco Tuesday. But when Emmett falls into a hole in the Earth, he becomes bonded to a mysterious object called the Piece of Resistance. He discovers Lord Business plans to use a weapon called the Kragle, which will freeze the world in place, forcing everyone to stay the way he wants them to, forever. Emmett is rescued by a sultry woman who works with the Master Builders, an eclectic group who can reshape the world to build anything. Led by Vetruvius (Morgan Freeman), a blind and scatterbrained wizard, Emmett discovers the world is literally constructed in different realms and genres. Emmett must become the Special, rediscover his power, and save the world. The story is a cliché, intentionally so. "Lego" parodies all the tropes of the Heroes Journey, including the prophecy, the aging mentor, and the special individual who saves the world. Along the way, Emmett meets other Master Builders like an egotistical Batman and an 80s astronaut obsessed with rocket ships. Even though all the Legos are computer-generated, the movie mimics the feel of a stop-motion animated movie. Flames are shown as Lego fire pieces. Water is a cascade of blue studs. It's all part of the charm and fun. There's a twist in the end where the true nature of their world is revealed, and it's surprisingly emotional. Overall, "Lego Movie" is a great movie with a lot of laughs, fun and heart.

LEGO is easily one of the most recognizable brands in all of the world. It's loved and appreciated by both kids and adults. I didn't think I'd enjoy this movie as much as I did, but I was certainly surprised. With most animated movies, the kids are brought in by the likeable characters and the colorful pieces of LEGOs. The adults aren't tasked with sitting through the movie, but instead are engaged with the many jokes it provides. It's not your typical, run of the mill story...no, actually it is. What makes it different and unique is that it provides a story telling in all of its LEGO glory. The pieces move just like you'd expect them to: as LEGOs. Along with that are noticeable products that serve a specific purpose (ie, the hilarious "Kragle") The hero, protagonist, whatever, is a seemingly normal, average Joe that goes through life day by day. Once accidentally being put into a compromising position, he's tasked to do more than he (in his mind at this point) is capable of. I think a lot of people, both kids and adults, boys and girls, can kind of relate to that in a way. Anyway, in this journey, he learns, just as we do, that there's more of a world beyond the bricks he was used to. He has a love interest, meets up with superheroes such as Batman and Superman, and eventually does battle with a man he once heralded as the all-knowing and helpful being: Lord Business. I think what I enjoy most about the movie is that it shows you how powerful, yet delicate, an imagination is. As we grow older, we analyze and interpret things the way we see them. It doesn't mean we're wrong or more or less of a being, but simply reminds us of how unique and creative we are. I shed a few tears of joy after watching this because it really is a feel good movie. I really think it's a very good family movie that many people can enjoy together. I think the main theme is really corny, but it works because it's a positive message. I don't have anything bad to say, so I'll end it with that. If you think you'll like this movie, you probably will. If you don't, why not give it a try? You might even turn out to love it. I sure did.

Full disclosure: I loved this movie. Based on the reviews I have read, some of you won’t understand why. But some of you will. And some of you will know just what it is I’m talking about. Perhaps a bit of background about me and where I’m coming from is in order. I was a wee lad when I was first introduced to LEGO. I somehow skipped the Duplo stage and made it straight to the good stuff. Every Christmas and Birthday, LEGO was the preferred gift for me. After a few years it mattered less what the actual set was than the parts count -- I built each set from the instructions exactly once, then took it apart and proceeded to use all the pieces in my own creations. And when I say all the pieces, I mean pretty much ALL. Think windows as floors, doors as ceilings, and what have you for walls. What was a building was now a flying fortress. A boat was a spaceship (except for the actual boat hull which was frustratingly limited - but it DID float and we still have it today). For me, LEGO was an immersive world where an imagination could run wild. And mine often did (clue #1 for why I love this movie). Fast forward to today, I’m a liiiitttle bit older than I was back then, and have three kids of my own. We also have approximately 9 billion more LEGO pieces in the house than when I was a child. That’s a slight exaggeration I suppose, the actual count is probably closer to one billion more pieces. At least it feels that way during clean-up time. It’s worth it though because all the added and new special parts have allowed me to build some really fun stuff with and for my kids that I only dreamed about as a child. Curves? Awesome! Big rubber wheels for extreme terrain vehicles? Amazing! I’m no LEGO genius but the LEGO parts universe works for me (clue #2). Movie quote spoiler alert: When a particular character says, I only work in black and sometimes very, very dark grey.” my inner child giggled. All my designs were very carefully built with symmetry in mind. To the point where, if I ran out of enough pieces of a certain color I would rebuild half of it just to properly incorporate the additional LEGO blocks of a different color if that was what was called for (clue #3). Which brings me to why I loved this movie. I know. Finally right? There is no way for me to explain all the clues noted above without giving away too much of the movie. I can simply say the following: for those of us who grew up on LEGO: we’ve seen some of these action sequences in our own imaginations time and time again. We know the joy of recrafting a spaceship or land rover of some sort in mid-play to fit the new, dreamed up need of the moment (somehow there is always a parts depot nearby). The sheer joy of knowing what part or set of parts you want in your head before you start building - because you’ve got a vision. The spirit of this movie captured, for me at least, the essence of LEGO. What it is to be a builder. Someday, hopefully, a Master Builder. If any of this resonated with you, see the movie. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

I loved this movie and it was really creative and had a sweet ending.

One of my very favorite films of 2014. What I worried would be a feature length commercial is instead a very funny, and somewhat subversive film, overflowing with ideas, puns, perfect music, and wacky 'cameos' by everyone from Shaquile O'Neil, to a wonderfully warped and dark Batman (given terrific voice by Will Arnet). 'Lego' doesn't look quite like any film I've seen before. It has a rough, almost bizarrely low- tech look to it's Lego people -- stop motion that looks like stop motion --oddly (but very effectively) combined with mind-blowingly huge and complicated shots of the Lego universe in action. Somehow in the unlikely mix of slickness and lo-fi something wonderful is created; animation that is wildly impressive, but also clearly human, creative and DIY at the same time. The film is basically a spoof of every Hollywood vision-quest movie you've ever seen. You know the films. A young character (almost always male) is called on to save the world/neighborhood/kingdom. He's over-matched, and under prepared, but with a kindly older mentor of great power to guide him, you know he will find a way to prevail. Except here the "special" character at the center really ISN'T very special. He's a young working guy like a million others, who's not very bright or especially brave, and who just wants to live his happy, blank, endlessly repetitive safe life. And the mentor? None other than the voice of Morgan Freeman, expertly spoofing his own image as the ultimate voice of wisdom. He plays a wizard who is far less consistently brilliant and all knowing than he claims or wants to be. He's very, very funny, which is not the first thing one thinks of with Morgan Freeman. The same could be said of Liam Neeson, who also does a great voice job as the good cop/bad cop, who's personality changes depending on what side of his head is facing front. Will Ferrell is also excellent as the villain of the piece, being just silly enough to be funny, but just real enough to give the story some real tension. Not everything works, and there were a few spots near the end where the energy flagged. But overall this is an exciting and creative (and wonderfully fun) piece of film-making, that manages to attack the near fascist mentality of a society obsessed with consuming, and determined not to question it's own lives (it's not for nothing that the villain's name is 'President Business')-- while still being very funny, and almost never feeling like its preaching. And without giving anything away, in the last 20 minutes it changes the rules again, and asks a few profound questions about the nature of existence, without seeming like it had suddenly jumped the track as a film for kids as well as adults. In the end, I walked around with the hysterical, awful (in a great way), and when you think about it kinda dark anthem "Everything is Awesome" banging around in my head for days.

Je ne connaissais pas du tout cette franchise, j'ai donc acheté le blu-ray un peu par hasard. Je n'ai pas été déçu. Il y a de tout : une animation très riche, qui offre le meilleur de la 3D et un côté "stop motion" très sympa ; de l'humour pour petits et grands ; des clins d'oeil à des films mais aussi pour les fans de légo (le cosmonaute des années 80 avec son casque fendu au même endroit que les vrais...)... La fin est un peu difficile à comprendre pour les plus petits, mais ça n'est pas bloquant.

Need I say more?

The basic plot of the movie is your standard Joseph Campbell tale: ordinary guy is discovered as prophesised saviour and goes on adventure to save the world. That and the film is just gut-bustingly hilarious. Every moment is packed with jokes, often multi-layered ones, and a good majority are guaranteed to make you laugh. It even has a layer of social satire, commenting on how our world has become controlled by the media and the questionable nature of authority. The film wraps this all up with a hearty message about the joys of imagination and creativity that seams perfectly with the child-like nature of the movie. I always have a grt time watching this flick. I would recommend all to watch this plus we get BATMAN!! Everything is awesome song is truly awesome. 👍👍 Video quality : 10/10,Movie : 9/10

Great quality

No es mala. Sin duda Batman lego es mucho mejor película que ésta.