When I purchased our tickets to see the Lego Movie this morning, I considered for a moment whether I should write a review of it here once we’d seen it. After all, there aren’t many bigger Lego nerds than me (well, not that I know anyway) so it’s only right that I should share my thoughts, right?
Then I realised that in actual fact there were far more reasons for me NOT to review it. For instance:
- I’m not exactly first in the queue. Sadly, despite my Lego-nerd status (or ‘Master Builder’, as I shall hence-forth call myself) I didn’t get invited to any advance screenings or previews, so you’ve probably already read at least 5 different reviews of the film by this point.
- I’m biased. You all know that I love Lego to pieces (pun intended), so I suspect my review would be viewed as biased by most. Though ironically, being the nerd that I am I was completely prepared to hate the movie – after all, we’ve all seen toys or TV shows from our childhood utterly ruined by rubbish modern-day remakes or adaptations – who was to say this wouldn’t get the same treatment?
- My reviewing days are behind me. Despite having worked at a movie-magazine publishing company for 5 years, and written many a film review whilst I was there, my reviewing days are long-gone – so I doubt I could write anything particularly eloquent that people would garner much about the film from.
So as you can see, I was fully prepared to watch the film and move on – perhaps sharing my thoughts in a Facebook status or tweet, but nothing more.
Until we saw the film.
Or to be more precise, until we came OUT of the film after the credits, and I thought to myself “I think I’ve got a new favourite movie!”. Yes, it really is THAT good.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that I’ve not enjoyed a film that much in years – possibly decades. Despite my sons being their usual fidgety selves, I had what can only be described as an epiphany in that cinema. I now feel changed, both as a Lego fan and a father.
Seriously, you HAVE to see this film. It has everything you need in a film – action, adventure, thrills’n’spills, comedy – buckets of comedy. The characters are great, the storyline is ingenious, there were plenty of twists and surprises which I didn’t see coming.
And it has HEART. So much heart. Seriously – if you’re a parent and you don’t come out of the cinema feeling a little bit more in love with your children, I’ll eat my hat. That’s not to say the non-parents won’t love it as well – but boy, we’re talking a moment like the one at the end of Toy Story 3, where Andy gives the toys away. I was genuinely welling up in a movie about Lego.
Nothing I can say can justify quite how – there’s no other word for it really, and it’s very apt – AWESOME this movie is. I expect I’ll have to see it a dozen more times before I’ve absorbed every little detail, joke and Lego easter-egg in there – and I can’t wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray so I can have that opportunity.
Anyway, I’d write more, but I’ve really got to go and play Lego with my kids now… watch the movie, you’ll understand why.
1 MILLION STARS
I fully agree. This film is one of the best I had seen for years.
I saw it on an aeroplane a couple of years ago flying over to New York. Watched it twice.
In fact I think it re-energised my love of Lego. Since seeing the film my Lego interests has risen exponentially. That and the fact that I need to build a Lego collection for when my little boy is old enough to appreciate & love it…. That mission is well underway now thanks in part to that inspiring film.
I have been reading all your Lego related posts and I must admit to being very surprised at something. The complete lack of comments or feedback. What is wrong with people? Do they not see Lego for what it is? – the greatest toy ever made! Maybe they are not interested in Lego? But that does seem odd as if they are following your Blog they will undoubtedly have kids of their own so they should (all logic tells me) already know what we both clearly know. It’s got me puzzled for sure.
Anyway. Not to worry. Keep spreading the Lego enthusiasm. Your Lego posts have certainly inspired me to write some posts for my Blog – http://www.beinganolddad.com – about the greatest toy ever made. I will get onto that soon.
Chris (aka anolddad)