So 400 posts. Its amazing. I've managed to reach this amount in just over 2 years of doing this blog and there is still a lot to talk about in the world of LEGO. This time around, I'm taking a look at one of LEGO's very popular themes, until it got disbanded when the 00s ended. Its one that attracted more mature LEGO fans and for the most part, its a great theme with a very original story and became more than just a theme for LEGO. It became its own franchise and we loved it a lot. The part of this theme that I'm going into today, is the films (which by the way, are the first ever LEGO based on a theme films ever created) and all the events that lead up to the films. Are they any good, and more importantly, will it give LEGO that chance of someday getting the blockbuster treatment? Let's find out:
Mask of Light
Some of you will be thinking why you haven't heard of this franchise. Apart from the sets, a lot of the franchise wasn't advertised for various reasons and for the most part, anybody that buys this direct to DVD film, will not understand it. Its best if you follow the story of it on Bionicle websites (best way is if you find a fan site as Bionicle no longer exists). Anyway, serving as the second of 2 storylines in the 2003 era, we get a short prologue explaining about who Mata Nui and Makuta Teridax are and their purpose in the franchise (Mata Nui being the great spirit that brings the inhabitants of the island, known as Matoran to the island, giving them the 3 virtues (unity, duty and destiny) to which they must abide to and embrace, before being put into a deep and deadly slumber by his spirit brother, Makuta Teridax who serves as the franchise's main antagonist). We then cut to Ta-Koro (the fire village that is surrounded by a fortress in a lake of lava) where a villager by the name Jaller (who serves as the Captain of the Guard and is voiced by Andrew Francis) goes to find his Kolhii (which serves as the native sport in Mata Nui) teammate, Takua (who serves as the island's chronicler and is voiced by Jason Michas) who is trying to acquire an artifact which turns out to be a legendary mask known as The Mask of Light, which he gets when the totem he acquires, falls into the lava. After being saved by Tahu Nuva (the Toa of Fire who is also the leader of the Toas and is voiced by Scott McNeil) and completing a 3 way game of Kolhii, the 2 matoran then take the mask to be examined by the village elder, better known as Turaga Vakama (voiced by Christopher Gaze). After much deliberation, he comes to the conclusion that the 2 matorans must venture into the island to find the 7th toa, which they do. But with Makuta Teridax (voiced by Lee Tockar) and his sons, the Rahkshi on pursuit of the mask and the herald of it, will the matorans succeed and can the 6 toa protect them from harm? Only by watching the film, you will know. This is a good film that makes good use of CGI elements, but like with the TGWTG Anniversary films, you need to have read up on the 2001, 2002 and the first part of the 2003 eras before watching this film as it will not make sense to you in anyway if you don't. The film also lacks character development too. Despite those things, its still a good film that makes good use of CGI and I would humbly recommend buying or renting this film, because it is good, despite the story and characters. 8/10
Legends of Metru Nui
Serving as a prequel to the last film and explaining the entire 2004 era of Bionicle, we come to the legendary city of Metru Nui. A city where the villagers believed that it would be protected by the Toas of that generation, but eventually someone would come and defeat them, before unleashing darkness onto the city. The last remaining Toa of Metru Nui called Lhikan (voiced by Michael Dobson) passes 6 toa stones to different matorans (who by the way, are the Turaga in the main storyline of the theme) before getting captured by 2 dark hunters called Nidhiki (voiced by Paul Dobson) and Krekka (also voiced by Michael Dobson). The 6 chosen matorans come together at the great temple in Ga-Metru (the part of the city that is filled with water) where they then change into toas. Vakama (who in this film is voiced by Alessandro Juliani, while his Turaga form is voiced once again by Christopher Gaze who also serves as the narrator) then has a vision, which prompts the toas to find the six great disks and bring them to the coliseum in the centre of the city to prove their worth of being toas. However upon arrival, the city's leader, Turaga Dume (voiced by Gerald Plunkett) proves them wrong and has them take part in a test inside the coliseum, which they fail at. Dume then calls them impostors and has the city's law enforcers, the Vahki go to capture them. With 3 on the run and 3 captured, can the new Toas be the warriors that they are meant to be and can they save the city from the evil that is unleashed upon it? Watch to find out. Like with the first film it looks great visually and manages to fill up the plot holes from the last film, but I think a lot of us would say that it's just a way to promote the products, but I choose to believe otherwise. A great improvement in my opinion. 9/10
Web of Shadows
Serving as a continuation of the last film, before it's ending at least, the toas return to find the remaining matoran prisoners and bring them to the island of Mata Nui. However, Makuta has changed the city and the city is now in control of a king and queen and their army of spider like creatures called the Visorak. In order to find the matoran, the toa must battle the army, who turn them into Toa Hordika which can be permanent unless they find an ancient god like Rani called Keetongu (voiced by Scott McNeil) who can change them back. However, thanks to the new form he has, Vakama gets angry with getting his team into a trap and as a result, storms off to find the matoran, before getting captured and beginning to serve for the king and queen. Can the remaining Toa find this god like creature with the help of a Rahaga called Norik (voiced by French Tickner) in time and has Makuta finally got a Toa within his grasp? Only by watching the film, will you find out. Possibly the best in the series, I find this film to be great on its visuals as before, the story and characters are great this time around and I like the idea of having a more darker, scarier and more intense film, than just a regular, heart warming film. This is one that was definitely made for the fans and I like it. 9/10
The Legend Reborn
After a 4 year hiatus, we get the 4th film in the series. Like with Mask of Light, its best if you follow the storylines of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 eras before watching this one. Initially this was to be the start of a new trilogy of films, before LEGO decided to discontinue the franchise, the following year, thus making this film, the last in the Bionicle series, with the storyline of the following year, told online via comic books and slideshows (and believe me, there is an epic fight between Mata Nui and Makuta in titan form, which I wish, could've become a film, but oh well). With a new animation department around and a new distributor as well, the film begins with the long awaited awakening of Mata Nui, which is short lived, when his brother, Makuta, takes over his body and puts everything that was Mata Nui, into the mask of life (previously owned by the now deceased toa of life, Ignika) and sends it into orbit to prevent him from returning and allowing Makuta to begin his takeover of the Matoran universe. Where does Mata Nui end up exactly? Well he ends up on a remote planet that has a decaying wasteland of robotic parts, called Bara Magna. There, he transforms into a Toa himself and while trying to attempt to get off planet to fight Makuta, he instead helps the locals with their own problems, leading to him joining a team of warriors called the Glatorians. Will he get the chance to defeat his brother and wait awaits him on the planet? Watch to find out. Now given that this was made by a different animation studio and that it was supposed to be the start of a new trilogy of films, this isn't the greatest of the lot. The animation style looks too basic and childish and while the original films had a very dark tone to them, this is more light hearted than before and to be honest, the story is good, but doesn't provide closure to the Bionicle universe as such and there are a few other things that would make this film, very confusing, especially if you haven't caught up with the events that too place beforehand. 7/10
So as a whole, this is a good attempt from LEGO to get into making films and while I thought the last one wasn't great, it's still a good series of films and a great franchise as a whole that I feel will go down as one of LEGO's most successful franchises, period. 9/10
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