You can pretty much get a Lego version of any popular movie franchise, not just as a physical Lego set, but as a video game as well. It has become more popular than ever.
Now, we have an original concept from Lego themselves as we delve into the world of Ninjago. I first knew about Ninjago through my nephew who can't seem to get enough of them. It seems to be as popular, if not more then its other creations.
As for its films, I really liked The Lego Movie and The Lego Batman Movie. Both have eye-catching imagery and visual effects, as well as smart and self referential humor and has fantastic re-watchability.
This latest venture started with something potentially interesting. But in the end, it went into a formulaic story that you see in a lot of family films. That wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as thankfully the gags made me laugh pretty consistently throughout and I was enjoying the world that I was being introduced to.
I must mention at this point that I cannot compare it to the TV series as I never seen an single frame of it. So I have no idea if it's being faithful to that material.
There were parts towards the end of the second act that did feel slow that almost took out me out of the film. But by the end of it, it was a solid final act and I came feeling pretty well entertained.
So many things you now expect from Lego films deliver in this. The imagery and visual effects are just a joy to watch take place. The vibrant colours are very effective and it just makes you feel like you're actually playing the Lego.
Another strong aspect that has worked with Lego's film are the gags. While they are primarily aimed at kids, there is enough humor in there to keep the adults entertained, especially if those adults have a childish mindset.
There weren't many negatives to speak of. Like I said, it does have its slow moments. But thankfully, there don't last long.
Also, I think like The Lego Batman Movie, there was a lot of stuff happening on screen that it was almost tough to keep up with everything. So that might work on multiple viewings, like what it is doing with Lego Batman.
So while it is definitely inferior to the two previous Lego films, it is still a fun time with a solid amount of laughs. It's not as clever or smart in its gags and ideas and the story is very formulaic. But it still introduced me to this world rather well, and I was enjoying the mythology surrounding it, the characters involved and the action that took place.
In fact, it pretty much felt like a Lego version of Kung Fu Panda mixed with Power Rangers and maybe Big Hero 6 as it had a similar story structure and vibe to it.
Kids will definitely love this and there are a lot of cool vehicles that will get a lot of sales from the films merchandise. It's got some fun themes and solid messages that I remember seeing in films when I was a kid.
On a final note, be sure to stay for the first half of the credits as there's a mildly fun sequence that could work out great if there are loads of kids in your screening, and there's also a nice out-take scene.
Rating: 7/10
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