The Lego - Movie Review Example

Number] The Lego Movie The Lego Movie, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, has received over 90% of positive reviews. The animated movie by Warner Bros. Pictures is based on the LEGO marketing as it has been funded by the company and also the character and set designing has been done under the creative thinking of the LEGO Company. The movie was very well received at the box office as well as the critical appraisal. It has turned out to be an ordinary plot vowing to become extra-ordinary mainly because of the amazing elements used. Every character was a LEGO character living in a virtual world made up of LEGO blocks from the water, to the smoke and the lasers from guns. Overall, in the Lego movie, everything is awesome just as the soundtrack tells us. The Lego Movie is the kind of movie which rarely comes out. It is an animated movie which is free for all as it’s not only a kid’s movie but also a movie loved by adults. The animated, visual image and LEGO characters are loved by the kids whereas the shameless, sharp wit and humour is a joy for the adults and people of all ages. A movie which is familiar to all as it uses the LEGO blocks which have been a part of everyone’s childhood. The movie is based on a team of superheroes who go out to save the LEGO world from the evil inventions of President Business (Lord & Miller, 2014). The philosophy of the film is based on the characteristics of a communist and fascist authoritarianism in a world of LEGO ruled by Lord Business. The movie shows the LEGO characters living a packed life where they are afraid of making decisions without following the instructions. They are trapped by capitalism and so brainwashed that they are happy to drink over-priced coffee. As the audience see the film, they acknowledge the fascist elements of the capitalist society with thought-provoking and insightful humour. These aspects of the film tend to keep the audience attracted as it offers much more than just a LEGO world for the kids. However, from the fascist LEGO world comes the ordinary guy, Emmet who is encouraged to give his own ideas which conveys the philosophy to the audience that with the LEGOs, we can do anything. We can either make our own ideas and imagination and execute them or simply follow the rulebook. Thus, the LEGO-ness of the movie also contributed greatly to its philosophy and the way it developed because its elements showed the pure LEGO features and it kept the audience attracted to the realness in it. The company was Animal Logic that was assigned for the animations of the movie. The animations were based on the LEGO building blocks using some of the most amazing physical creations to make it look real. Everything in the movie was made of bricks which gave the essence of a real life kid with unlimited LEGO blocks. The film was visually portrayed as the most attractive imagery for kids as it was everything that they have dreamt of; a world of LEGOs (Kermode 1). The computer animations were used to portray the physical designs of the movie where characters were miniatures made of bricks. The animations were aimed to look realistic yet there was an irreverence as everything was made of LEGOs which was rather unrealistic. Even though a world of LEGOs is totally absurd and unrealistic, the film managed to enter the fantasies of many children and teenagers since their childhood. The animation style was unique with obvious special effects and computer graphics, to the style which reflects the fact that the whole movie has been created by a young boy while playing with his father’s LEGO. The research and design of the movie received much critical appraise. Some of the designs were rather simple while others required researches and specific details. The creative team had researched immensely for the creative interpretation of the designs. The movie consisted of a love story, adventures, action and the political reality of the society. The visual effects interpreted all the emotions and events into LEGO style and designs. The animation of the movie has been greatly loved by the LEGO fans around the world as they leave them stunned in their seats. The colours and shades used in the movie have also developed gradually what the philosophy of the movie is. Firstly, the typical yellow-coloured faces of the characters like in the real LEGO tends to show the reality of the LEGO characters which shows the world in which the movie is made. These characters also have physical limitations as they cannot bend their knees, don’t have prominent facial expressions, wrinkles, facial hair, glasses or scars. Thus this makes them have no typical personality-like features. They are the first pure LEGO characters in a completely LEGO movie. Simple colours are used without any detailed mixing or techniques for shades and filling. Secondly, the colours represent the society and Lord Business in the simplest way to keep the LEGO world alive. Not only the images or the colours, but the story also has a LEGO-ness which develops as the philosophy of the film. The construction worker, the hero of the movie, is a simple, ordinary yellow-coloured LEGO character with a smiling face. Moreover, the humour and wit used in the film mostly comes from the capitalist society and the physical limitations of the LEGO toys. The movie keeps its focus on the reality of the LEGO characters and makes the humorous jokes about the regimented anonymity of these toys. Thus, the jokes, the characters, the creativity, and the designs; nothing lets the audience go out of focus that this is a purely LEGO movie with an essence of the realities of the capitalist society. The focus of the movie is thus purely on the LEGO-ness of the characters, story, plot, and physical setting (Mendelson 1). The speed of the movie is considerably fast. It is an adventurous movie with a lot happening at the same time. Superheroes have teamed up to save the LEGO world from the evil President Business. The superheroes plan, strategize, and take actions against the evil and to save the society from the fascism of the capitalist society. The heroes are the ones who give the people a sense of freedom otherwise they were immensely brainwashed. There are several actions that take place quickly without any extra slow-motion effects or inconsistency. The movie is steady and events take place one after another with some really fast moments to some soft and normal-paced moments of love and emotion. In every scene, the movie reaches to a new exciting plot which spins the audience and surprises them in different directions. The perspectives of the movie include the main philosophy; the pure LEGO focus and design. The perspective portrays the research done on the LEGO toys by the designers. The only linking factor of the characters and the sets are the LEGO bricks. The film clearly shows the perspective of the directors and set designers. They use the LEGO perspective along with the political messages to hook up the audience. The audience of all ages are hooked up; the children are attracted to the LEGO-ness of the movie, and the adults are attracted to the reality and politics of the capitalist society which the children may not have understood at all. The researchers looked into the LEGO details as well as societal problems to ensure that the audience well receives the movie; and they were successful (Mendelson 1). The camera shots and movements have also contributed in building up the philosophy. The movie was shot in 3D and high-quality equipment was used. Many different angles were used to portray the sets in a way that if any scene is paused, the LEGO buildings and sets could be clearly perceived. Several LEGO models were used throughout the movie and every scene consisted of different angles and styles. Moreover, the construction of the models was made using the original LEGO rules of construction (Mendelson 1). The camera movements were also important portray the wideness of the scene and locations which were used. Some of the original locations were animated and depicted using LEGO bricks. Thus, this depicted the realness of the LEGO world. The transitions of the movie were rather smooth and simple. The characters and scenes changed from one to another smoothly throughout. The scenes were connected and shifted from one to the other, from steady to action sequences effortlessly such as from the initial scenes of people living in the capitalist society totally brainwashed to the ordinary life of the construction worker. The sounds used in the movie included several background songs, as well as the dialogues of the characters. The main character was known for his witty humour and for saying ‘awesome’ on everything he finds cool even while living in the fascist society (Mendelson 1). The original soundtrack was composed with the main theme song being ‘Everything is Awesome’ which totally suits the setting of the film, even when the capitalism in society has taken over and the characters have learnt to live with it believing that its awesome. Thus, with reference to all the elements of the film, it is easy to understand that the film develops into a world of LEGOs which is very realistically pictured. The whole movie is about the LEGO characters and their reality. There is also a very important story which surrounds the philosophy of the film. It gives the essence of the capitalist and fascist society in which the ordinary guy has hooked up with superheroes to save the world. It gives the message to the children that when playing with LEGOs, they can create their own ideas and stories. The focus, perception, visuals, and colours of the film greatly develop the LEGO world and portray how the LEGO characters live in that world. This is a world which is rather a fantasy for the audience but still so close to the realistic designs that have existed in our world since a long time. Moreover, the realities of the society have also allowed this film to be praised and well received throughout. Hence, The Lego Movie is an interesting and insightful movie which can get inside the head of the audience very easily with a catchy song, interesting buildings and designs, and humorous and witty jokes. Works Cited Kermode, Mark. The Lego Movie-review. UK: The Guardian, 2014 Lord, Phil., Miller Christopher. The Lego Movie. USA: Warner Bros. Pictures, 2014 Mendelson, Scott. Review: ‘The Lego Movie’ is a Deconstruction of Blockbuster Gentrification. USA: Forbes, 2014 Read More