Animation Source Forums

Everyone by now, I presume, has seen the teaser trailer for next year's Lego movie (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/). It looks like it's going to be very typical of a Lego-brand movie, and that can only be a good thing! This because all Lego movies, regardless of who wrote, directed and produced them (and that is a long and varied list), incorporate tongue-in-cheek humor, meant to poke good-natured fun at the characters they are spoofing (licensed characters most specifically, such as those from Star Wars and DC Comics), but also are able to poke fun at themselves. All of this is licensed and backed up by the Lego company itself (http://www.lego.com/en-us/default.aspx. And you know something? They really are pretty freaking funny! There is some amazing comedic timing in these things that you might not expect from an animated movie based upon toys.


The 2014 Lego movie is going to feature a top-billed cast, including Liam Neeson, Morgan Freeman, Will Ferrell, Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks and Will Arnett (among other talents, including those who have done v.o. work in animation before). Here is the existing teaser trailer, in case you haven't seen it already (post continued after):









What's cool about the Lego movie is that it is not entirely stop-motion filming (though the style of the production makes it seem so), but that combined with some CGI. Some of the other Lego movies of recent years (detailed in my follow-up post) seem to have primarily been CGI-based, even re-cutting some elements from the video games upon which each was based. Though each, in their commercial released packages, also includes amateur and semi-pro short movies made primarily by stop motion (including the earliest licensed films, which had almost no dialogue, but only grunting and other vocal noises...perhaps licensing issues or budget limitations).


These various movies feature the famous Lego "minifigures" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Mini_figure), which first appeared in the 1970s. They developed out of an earlier type of minifigure which wasn't articulated or detailed much at all. The Lego website now has a whole page devoted to these iconic little figures, which haven't changed, in their basic construction, since their release in the late 70s (http://minifigures.lego.com/en-US/Default.aspx), though the figures have diversified a LOT. There are now at least ten (and counting) sets of minifigures you can purchase separate of any kits, featuring all kinds of subject matter.


The first minifigures I ever saw, when I was a kid in the 70s, were part of Lego's first "space" kit line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Space), which I LOVED as a kid. Released in the late 70s, this was the precursor of all later Lego space kit lines, and was one of their first themed kit lines. I still have these kits, though they're sort of jumbled now (as a kid, you don't buy a package and then not play with it). I had to find and download the construction manuals from a website devoted to old Lego kits, as I had long since lost those. There is even a cameo by a Lego space minifigure guy in the Lego Movie. XD


Rediscovering them reminded me of just how much I missed Legos, and how deceptively-addicting they are (and how pleasantly-diverting, in fact). Legos run the gamut from the simple Duplo line created for young children to the "Architecture" line aimed specifically at adult builders who remember their youthful Lego experiences. And still, the licensed kit lines draw lots of adult buyers and aficionados. As does a whole culture of Lego fans, collectors, and artists. There are books, movies, video games, brick kits, Lego STORES, Lego THEME PARKS, etc. It's an experience alright!

OTHER LEGO MOVIES
In addition to the upcoming Lego Movie, as indicated above, there were a few other movies, released by both Twentieth Century Fox and Warner Brothers (respectively), which were spoofs of two licensed product lines previously released by the Lego company...both as brick kit lines and video games: Star Wars and DC Heroes (specifically Batman and, more recently, Superman). These were created and marketed for television, rather than theatrical, release. More about those down below.


To top that off, Lego also worked with Hollywood to create short subject movies based upon their own products...the most notable being the "Clutch Powers" movie of 2010 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587414/). Another humorous movie which, while it does not spoof any specific product line of Lego's, it does spoof many genres, and is basically an action-adventure comedy. Here's the trailer:








Back in 2008 or so, Lego began allowing Hollywood to work on short-subject movies in conjunction with Lucasfilm and Twentieth Century Fox, to spoof and market their Star Wars product line (including brick kits and video games). Not only did this result in the multi-episode Yoda Chronicles series (http://starwars.com/news/announcing-lego-star-wars-the-yoda-chronicles.html), but also some short movies. Two of these have been scripted, with dialogue (unlike the very early-generation Lego movies, which just have lots of grunts and vocalizations), and have been released in DVD/Blu-Ray combo packs, often with exclusive Lego minifigures included in the packages. What's cool is that two famous actors, who participated in the original Star Wars movies, actually did the v.o. work for their characters in these movies too! Antony Daniels voices C-3PO in both, and Brian Blessed voices Boss Nass! This ties the Lego movies back in nicely with the original Star Wars material, and lends them a touch of authenticity.

Of those movies, there are two so far which have been released as DVD/Blu-Ray and/or just DVD packages:


Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005268/) Released in 2011, this one is a spoof of the first three Star Wars movies, and features Yoda taking a group of Jedi younglings on a guided tour, which winds up outside the Republc's Senate building. Feeling a disturbance in the Force, Yoda snags R2-D2 and a reluctant C-3PO to finish the tour while he investigates the disturbance he felt, which leads to some confrontation with the Sith. C-3PO and R2-D2, meanwhile, end up in some misadventures with the mischievous and troublesome younglings, including a tag-along who's trying to get away from an orphanage, and ditches some Senate building guards by quietly slipping into the tour. Turns out this is a young Han Solo! lol The adventure gets crazier from there. The DVD/Blu-Ray pack includes bonus shorts and a young Han Solo minifigure. I don't know whether or not there is a DVD-only release, but I am sure there must be.




Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402600/) Released in 2012, this is a spoof of all six Star Wars movies in one short package, and features Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Boss Nass, with cameos by Yoda, Bib Fortuna and others. It is set just after the destruction of the first Death Star by the Rebellion. Emperor Palpatine wants to build another Death Star, but has to deal with some "sibling rivalry" in the unexpected re-appearance of Darth Maul, as both he and Darth Vader compete for who's the greater Sith Lord. Meanwhile, our rebel heroes face their own problems trying to put a stop to the Empire's plans, including a lot of Gungan slobber. The commercial DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack includes a Darth Vader minifigure (without light saber, unfortunately). It is also available as just a DVD pack (without the minifigure and bonus materials).








More recently, Lego coordinated with Warner Brothers in its desire to do a Lego movie about the DC Superheroes, which it owns the movie/TV rights to. Lego already has released a series of licensed DC Superheroes kits and video games, and there have been some short movies also released (in the same manner as the older Star Wars ones, without hardly any real dialogue).


In this case, the one movie they've released commercially so far, as a DVD/Blu-Ray combo pack (with a Clark Kent minifigure enclosed) loaded with bonus features, is actually a bit longer than the Star Wars movies, and with a more complex story line. But still with the same tongue-in-cheek, good-natured humor as the others.


Lego Batman The Movie: DC Superheroes Unite: (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2465238/) Released in 2013, this movie spoofs the Batman characters. It features Batman, Robin (the more recent version of Robin with the mostly-red suit), the Joker, and then Superman and Lex Luthor. The basic story is that Bruce Wayne is being honored as Gotham City's "man of the year". In attendance is Lex Luthor, who is fully expecting to get the award (especially presuming that he's a shoe-in because he also happens to be running for the Presidency), and becomes a bit bitter and jealous of Wayne when HE gets it instead. Just as the ceremony is reaching a climax, the Joker crashes the party, along with a few criminal cohorts, and steals the award. Wayne changes into his Batman outfit and pursues the Joker, along with Robin, and eventually captures him. Superman shows up at the very end of it for a little light-hearted interplay with Batman and Robin.

Later, in Arkham Asylum, Joker sits stewing about his predicament, when Lex Luthor appears and frees him, using a Kryptonite-powered weapon he calls "the Deconstructor", which can take apart any structure or device made of black bricks (hint hint). He offers to the Joker a chance to escape and use it on the Batman, in exchange for some of the Joker's famous gas concoction and help in securing more Kryptonite to keep powering the weapon. As usual, chaos ensues, along with lots of DC-style battling, Lego-style humor, and brief appearances by the Justice League. A great movie, this! And even more so in that the guy who voices Lex Luthor is the same one who portrayed him throughout Warner Brothers' Superman, Justice League, and Justice League International series: Clancy Brown. This, in its own way, lends a touch of authenticity for fans of those animated series, who remember Brown as arguably THE best Lex Luthor ever voiced in animation.








Finally, while this isn't really a Lego movie in of itself (it's actually more of a long, three-minute advertisement for one of their former kit lines), I thought it'd be cool to include this, because the little movie ad is so funny and creative!


This was created to market Lego's "Power Miners" kit line, which they've since phased out. It doesn't have the level of animation on the faces of the minifigures as seen in the previously-listed movies, but it does feature impressive animation and a clever bit of humorous scripting, v.o. work and action! And, for that reason alone, was worth mentioning and showing (the clip below, released in 2009, is actually the full minimovie instead of just a trailer).

And, just for some laughs, a quick scene from the Lego Star Wars movie "The Empire Strikes Out" (though the maker of this video clip put an unnecessarily-long intro at the beginning, which is annoying)...


...Gungan slobber-fest. ROFLMAO

I'll have to admit, that one episode that you showed me on Skype was pretty entertaining. lol These clips also look pretty good too. And the Gungan XD

What makes these so enjoyable is not, in of itself, seeing Lego minifigures in action. While that's nice, it wouldn't be enough, I think, to make these movies worthwhile OR profitable for Lego and the other entities involved. Rather, it's the humor, and the spoofing. Such as seen here. XD And these movies are rife with it (though I have yet to actually see the Clutch Powers movie...I do own the two Star Wars and the Batman movie now on the DVD/Blu-Ray combos. I'll have to search out the Clutch Powers one...because it seems closer in concept to the upcoming Lego Movie).

I purchased Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers (see the trailer above) last night and watched it, and man was it a pleasant surprise! Managed to get it from Barnes & Noble, on sale, for just under $8.00, and the story was very well-written for a Lego movie. And it was a good length too...on the order of the Lego Batman movie (longer than either of the Lego Star Wars movies).


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1587414/


The basic story is that hero and adventurer (and explorer) Clutch Powers, is called upon, by the agency he works for ("Lego Headquarters"... ) to...yep, you guessed it...save the universe from some awful, powerful guy...one of "the three most vicious criminals in the entire galaxy". XD In this movie, after an initial opening adventure Clutch is on by himself (reminiscent of the Lego: Power Miners video above), he's forced to team up with a group of other adventurers who have talents needed to complete the mission they're all sent on: to recapture this powerful evil villain...a sorcerer who has escaped from a maximum security prison planet ("X-4") and headed back to the medieval world of Ashlar to take it over and claim an all-powerful magical sword, with which he can rule the galaxy...a sword with which he was first defeated and imprisoned. The man who defeated him last time was the good, brave king who ruled over that world. But when he broke out of prison, he swore vengeance, and "stole the creation spark" from the king (effectively killing him, or perhaps banishing him to some nether realm, in Lego terms...it's never made completely clear). The king's son, Price Varen, rules the kingdom now, and is being groomed to lead the kingdom's troops against the evil sorcerer and save the day. However, he's seriously wanting in the skills department. While he's basically brave, he is a bit inept and not too good with a sword. But Clutch Powers is coming to help him find what he needs to save the day! lol Clutch is also going to have a mystery on his own hands...the whereabouts of his father. A mystery held by the evil sorcerer!


Also, during the course of the adventure, the four members of this team, who start out as a collection of individuals (who occasionally clash with each other), have to learn to work together as a real team. And leading that team is the rugged individualist, Clutch Powers. He too learns, during the course of the adventure, what it means to be a part of a team, and for the individual members "to build on each other" (to work off of each others' skills and advantages for mutual benefit).


The DVD has a series of great extras -- a mini-movie and a few shorts typical of a Lego DVD/Blu-Ray product. And this was the first Lego movie produced, and probably the first one released commercially as well. It's worth looking for, and would be very entertaining to any Lego fan!


What's interesting is that, unlike the Star Wars and Batman Lego movies, this one appears to fit more into what the upcoming 2014 Lego Movie is going to be in terms of a setting: the Lego world, where the mini-figure inhabitants KNOW they are in such a world. Some of the inhabitants have the "creation spark"...the ability to construct things from Lego blocks and parts, using their imagination and their talents. Just like Clutch Powers does. And the movie has tons of humor and actually, for an animated movie of this genre, plenty of good action and, as I said earlier, a pretty good storyline...complex, well-written and it manages to hold your interest (well, it held mine anyway).


THE MAJOR CHARACTERS:
(They can also be found listed on this page, which also describes the movie in detail: http://lego.wikia.com/wiki/2854298_LEGO:_The_Adventures_of_Clutch_Powers)


Clutch Powers:



Normally, Clutch is a loner (his catch phrase, rather predictably, being "I work alone", or some version thereof). Despite his surname, his only similarity to Austin Powers (from the hilarious Mike Myers movies) is that he is so well-known among the Lego world inhabitants that he's a celebrity. EVERYONE knows his name, and the girls all fawn over him. Also, his father, Rock Powers, ends up missing and their relationship is very similar to that between Austin and Nigel Powers...as is the current situation with his father (and there is a brief nod to Indiana Jones' relationship to HIS father in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Henry Jones' diary). In terms of personality, Clutch is a mish-mosh of Han Solo, Captain Kirk (the William Shatner version, not the Chris Pine one), Indiana Jones, and even a little bit Korben Dallas (from the movie The Fifth Element).


Peg Mooring:



Peg is an Australian animal biologist with a flare for pointed observations and an obsession with her appearance (specifically her hair). Relaxed and generally good-hearted, but can also be a bit bossy at times. Especially to Brick Masterson, with whom she has frequent difficulties. She normally sports fucshia-colored clothes, earrings and a blond, Carol Brady-style ("swoosh/flip") hair style. She also likes to keep an extra "set" of hair on hand. XD


Brick Masterson:



Brick is a big, brusque tough guy...a firefighter who also happens to be a weapons specialist and demolitions expert. Unfortunately, he's not terribly careful about his job, and often finds himself in close calls and tough scrapes as he crashes his way through his adventures. He also tends to find himself in frequent spats with Peg Mooring, thanks to his rather misogynistic view of women "doing men's jobs", and for his rather direct, often careless manner. While often seen in his signature fireman's hat, he sports a "high & tight" hairstyle and wears a handlebar mustache and a five o'clock shadow beard. He also sports a tank-top t-shirt underneath his firefighter gear.


Bernie Von Beam:



Bernie is a brilliant German engineer, who unfortunately has a bit of a self-esteem problem. He's constantly seeking everyone's approval, and gets very depressed when he doesn't seem to get it. He also develops a substantial crush on Peg Mooring, almost to the point of distraction. Good-natured and friendly, he's a bit of a nervous wallflower too, though he does find his heroic spark during the adventure. He is also meticulous and exacting in his engineering skills, and loves to approach building and other projects in precise detail. When Brick Masterson throws a wrench into that plan (on frequent occasions), it drives Bernie into amusing and high-strung fits of anger. He has spiky hair and sports a pair of red-tinted goggles.


Kjeld Playwell:



Kjeld (just pronounced "Keld") is the apparent leader of the Lego Headquarters, and it is he who pulls the team of adventurers together. He's got a rather dry and blunt personality, and tends to speak his mind. However, he is very intelligent and well-versed in all matters pertaining to the Lego world, and is an effective leader. Kjeld is a bit older than the team members, with a graying beard and bald head. He's always seen in his suit, and sporting an I.D. tag.

Art Fol:



Art (also "Arthur", though he prefers to be called "Artie") is a scientist and inventor who works at the Lego Headquarters. He's a very quirky, eccentric, clumsy and sometimes excitable fellow who also happens to be a total fan boy of Clutch Powers...engaging in some major hero worship when he finally gets to meet him (which Clutch finds a bit unsettling). He even tells Clutch he's his "number one fan". He wears an I.D. tag which reads "A. Fol". While this represents his name, it apparently also is a subtle tribute thrown in by the writers...an acronym which means "adult fan of Lego"...a tribute to all the grown-ups in the real world who love Legos! Art is always seen in his lab coat and his bifocal glasses, and he sports some very bizarre unkempt hair...which appears spiky. He is the designer of the space ship which the team uses on their adventure.


Mallock The Malign:



The major villain in this story, Mallock is one of what Kjeld Playwell refers to as "the three most vicious criminals in the entire galaxy". Mallock is your basic evil sorcerer who is bent on galactic domination and power. He commands an army of undead skeletons and some goblins. Mallock sports the typical evil wizard wear, including a tall pointy hat and has a magic staff which releases dark energy that do any number of things at Mallock's will. His right eye is red, while the left is black, and he has a long white beard. And he is totally bad. Vicious, mean and merciless.


Hogar the Troll:



Hogar is a troll of a most unusual manner. When initially encountered by Clutch Powers, he is doing what trolls typically do (according to myth)...guarding a bridge to the castle of Prince Varen's kingdom. He confronts Clutch and forces him to pass three tests in order to cross the bridge, or face being eaten. Of course, Clutch succeeds with flying colors, and it is then that Hogar's true nature begins to show...he's actually a good guy who, in spite of his outward appearance, is the caretaker of the young prince, whom he swore (to the now apparently deceased king) to protect and to teach. But he's having trouble with the wayward and sometimes clumsy prince. Meanwhile, he has done all he can to ready the troops as well as protect the castle (and the king's magic golden sword, with which Mallock can be defeated, and which Mallock wants to steal). He built a wall around the castle and used magic to make it appear invisible to the sorcerer and his minions. Hogar tells Clutch of how the king had found him and taken pity on him, and showed him hospitality and kindness. So he became a good and loyal minion to the king and his son. He's brave and heroic, but his concern for the prince outweighs all other factors, even if it means he may have to give in to Mallock's demands. Hogar sports a horned helmet and a big studded club.


Prince Varen:



The young successor to the throne of the ruling kingdom of the medieval planet Ashlar, Varen has a good heart, but is young and hopelessly inexperienced in the ways of leadership, war and personal combat. When first introduced, by Hogar the Troll, to Clutch Powers, he is fumbling his way through sword training, and doing quite badly at it. Clutch tries to instruct and encourage him, but the frustrated young prince only gives up and intends to try and take on Mallock without the training. Hogar knows that, in order to defeat Mallock, the boy will have to learn to wield his father's magical golden sword, the only thing which can overcome the evil sorcerer and, as Clutch knows, help to re-imprison the criminal. When the prince gives up trying, Clutch goes off to confront Mallock without him, gathering his team members for the attempt. But soon Varen finds the spark of courage he needs (with Hogar's help), and soon joins Clutch and his team, with Hogar and his troops, for the fight! Varen sports a head of wavy red hair and freckles, and the typical royal clothes and armor and, of course, his crown.


Skelly:



Skelly is one of two bumbling undead skeleton minions of Mallock the Malign. Along with his counterpart, Bones, they bumble their way around trying to do Mallock's bidding, only to end up blundering at almost every turn. They are the comic relief of the movie. lol And unlike the other skeleton minions of Mallock, who have glowing red eyes, both Skelly and Bones have black eyes. Skelly's a bit smarter than Bones, however, and is often trying (in vain) to keep Bones from making matters worse once they find themselves in trouble. XD


Bones:



Bones is Skelly's counterpart, and a real dunderhead. XD The major difference between he and Skelly is that he sports a metal helmet. And, of course, he's rather dumber than Skelly. Both of these two often try to concoct the excuses they'll eventually use on Mallock, their boss, after they have bungled their assignments.


Lofar the Dwarf:



Lofar is one of two dwarfs seen in this movie. The other makes a brief appearance in Varen's castle as a blacksmith and weapons maker. Lofar is first encountered outside of what appears to be an abandoned mine. When Clutch and his team set up there initially, after arriving at Ashlar, Lofar presumes they're there to try to steal his gold for Mallock, and he attacks. When they manage to convince him that they're actually there to recapture Mallock, and to help Prince Varen, Lofar immediately changes his mood and embraces Brick Masterson, and joins up with the team. He's a touchy, excitable dwarf with an Irish accent, and a reddish-brown beard. He wears a winged, metal helmet and carries a big war hammer.

This film doesn't sound half bad, perhaps I'll check it out sometime.

EDIT: I was able to find this movie on Netflix, and it was quite the enjoyable watch. I especially enjoyed Skelly and Bones.

To be deleted

I suspected you might. On both counts.

And as you can see, there's much more Lego movie fun to choose from. You should sally forth and dive right in.