Synopsis
The LEGO Movie was released in 2014, bringing the LEGO toys to life in a whole new way. Directed by Phill Lord and Christopher Miller, the film uses inventive humor, engaging storytelling, and a vibrant visual display to create a unique experience for audiences of all ages.
At its core, The LEGO Movie is about an ordinary LEGO minifigure named Emmet Brickowski. Emmet is a construction worker in the city of Bricksburg, and like all the other minifigs, he is a rule-follower and an instruction-gestation worker. As he mindlessly repeats the same happy tune every day (“Everything Is Awesome”), overpriced coffee in hand, and a daily happy singalong, one would assume he is in pure bliss.
But, life takes an unexpected turn for Emmet because he happens to come across the Piece of Resistance, a strange object that attaches to him. This is not a boon in Emmet’s life, in fact it makes him the Special, a prophesied hero destined to stop an evil villain from freezing the entire LEGO universe.
The antagonist in the story is Lord Business. He wishes for everything in the LEGO world to remain decaying and to become permanently glued in place as the world is perfectly organized and designed along with his vision. He wishes to accomplish this with the powerful weapon known as the Kragle. (This is a humorous take on real world products cleverly disguised with LEGO wordplay).
Emmet is then pulled into a world of Master Builders. They are in charge of building and creating anything they want using only their imagination and no building instructions. There is also tough and clever Wyldstyle (who also goes by Lucy), the quirky and wise wizard Vitruvius, the cheerful Unikitty, and pirate-like MetalBeard, and the comical Batman.
Emmet undergoes a series of rescuing and the travelers must overcome in order to defeat apostle Business. In their quest to regain imagination and autonomy to their nation, he is the only one that suffers with the concern that they must all refrain from in order to preserve Lord Business. They must all maintain imagination and the authoritarian Business. He is the only one that must prove the others with a vision in order to regain autonomy project. He is and suffers to stake the claim in order for the others with.
The travelers must all regain one order to preserve Lord Business. He is the only one that must prove the others with a vision in order to regain autonomy project.
The film LEGO Masters showcases the imagination of a young boy, Finn, and the world of the LEGO universe and its possibilities. Finn’s father, played by Will Ferrell, is the antithesis of Finn and imaginative LEGO players. He is a serious adult and LEGO enthusiast who wants the sets made and kept in correct and perfect order, and disapproves of mixed theme improvisation. The conflict that unfolds in the father-son relation is mirrored in the imaginary LEGO world, and is a testament to the need to embrace imagination, and spirit of connection in order to relate with others.
In the end, Emmet and his inspiring triumphs facilitate the perfect balance of structure and imagination. Finn and his father learn to let go and Finn’s father, in particular, learns to enjoy the essence and magic of play. The film culminates in the touching message of the universality of the adjectives ‘everybody’ and ‘special’ in the sentence ‘when they are themselves, everybody is special’.
Speaking of players, The LEGO Masters has the wonderful creative talents of the British actor Chris Pratt to voice the character Emmet Brickowski, the LEGO Master universe and the inspiring hero of the film.
For this fun and ambitious character Wyldstyle (Lucy), the filmmakers hired American actress Elizabeth Banks. She embodies the spirit of a Master Builder who fears nothing and helps Emmet.
Will Ferrell as Lord Business and “The Man Upstairs” – he is the main antagonist in the LEGO world and the controlling father in the live-action scenes.
Morgan Freeman as Vitruvius – the wise and magical mentor who believes in the prophecy.
Will Arnett as Batman – a parody of the famous superhero with a serious voice and a humorous twist.
Alison Brie as Unikitty – a bright and cheerful creature who tries to stay positive.
Nick Offerman as Metal Beard – a rugged, swashbuckling pirate with mechanical parts.
Charlie Day as Benny – a 1980s-style spaceman with a love for building spaceships.
Directors & Writers
Phil Lord and Chris Miller are recognized for their distinct fusion of comedy, warmth, and wit. They not only directed the film but wrote the screenplay. Their ability to appeal to all age groups was vital to the film’s success.
Production
The animation style mimics stop-motion using CGI to make it appear as though real LEGO bricks and characters are being moved by hand. The detail in the animation is precise, with each LEGO piece behaving as it would in real life—scratches and fingerprints.
Themes and Messages
The LEGO Movie has lots of fun and action, and also has important themes that resonate with a multitude of viewers:
- Creativity vs. Control
The story illustrates the tension of whether one chooses to follow instructions or thinks independently. There are certainly times where constructing something from a manual is useful, however, the film promotes creativity, improvisation, and the use of one’s imagination.
- Belief in Oneself
Emmet’s transformation is a powerful one. His journey helps to illustrate that the greatest of things stems from within, and that one does not have to be of extraordinary talent to do extraordinary things.
- Teamwork and Diversity
The movie is a testimony that individuals of different skills, talents, and ideas, along with different personalities, can collaborate and achieve more together rather than separately.
- The Power of Play
The movie, through the real-world connection of Finn and his father, reminds us that play is a vital in growing, strengthening bonds, and understanding. LEGO bricks are a testament to story telling, building, and weaving together memories.
IMDb Ratings and Reception
The LEGO Movie has an IMDb rating of 7.7/10 and shows that is has the appreciation of both critics and the audience. The movie was praised for its wonderful storytelling, witty dialogue, and fast-paced humor, along with its thoughtfulness.
Critics recognised that the film was much more than a toy commercial. It managed to craft a smart, touching, and entertaining narrative that struck a chord with a wide-ranging audience. Some called it “surprisingly profound” and “a joyful explosion of imagination”.
The accolades for the film included multiple award nominations and wins, including a BAFTA for Best Animated Film. It also topped the charts as a theme for the film, “Everything Is Awesome”, which was subsequently nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song category.
Conclusion
The LEGO Movie is a cheerful, spirited, and bright film that remains fun while imparting important life lessons. It playfully embellished with animation which kept children entranced. Clever humor and animated characters kept the adults engaged. It, gently, imparts an important message on the power of imagination, and how each of us can, and should, strive to achieve great things.
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