Hello Everyone, Janet W. here…
THE FILM
When you were a kid, which of your toys was limited only by your imagination? Dolls? Cars and fire engines? Your Big Wheel? For many people, it was LEGOs. If you could imagine it, with hard work and lots of LEGOs you could bring it to the third dimension. A LEGO Brickumentary explores the origin, innovation, and longevity of this building block known around the world. Guided by a trusty LEGO minifigure narrator (Jason Bateman), the film travels from the outer reaches of space to LEGO’s birthplace, Denmark. What Ole Kirk Christiansen created started out as solid red blocks with small knobs to attach it to other blocks (“Clutch Power”) has evolved into translucent, motorized, and magnetic units available in a bevy of different colors. Chock full of facts and awe-inspiring constructs, A LEGO Brickumentary reveals there is more to this block and its uses are infinite or are they? For example, the name LEGO comes from the Danish word Leg Godt, which means “play well.”
LEGO’s fandom is varied from the individual experience to a worldwide community. With its AFoLs, KFoLs, LUGs and the ever-growing size of their BrickCon, LEGOs are a pop culture phenomenon that has stood the test of time. The contests and battles that take place at the LEGO conventions are hilarious. LEGO also has some celebrity followers as well. No spoilers here, so you will have to see the film to know who. They have even coined a term for people that build with LEGOs for the sake of creating something rather than money or fame, “doing it for the brick.”
The practical applications make LEGOs more than a mere toy. Wait until you see what NASA, the Yale School, MIT research institute, architects, and progressive artists can do with LEGOs. I wish I could have seen “The Art of the Brick” sculpture show in person (the work of Nathan Sawaya is mind-blowing). LEGO the company has not stood in the way of progressive out of the box thinkers. In fact they embrace and reward the ideas of builders outside of their own R&D department, in their contest COOSUU which means “dream/wish” in Japanese.
The film is at times too long. It could have been about fifteen minutes shorted and not have lost my attention. The information was both interesting and inspiring, but some segments were more energized than others. I was glad that the directors, Daniel Junge and Kief Davidson, chose to keep the different languages of the many countries to which LEGO has spread in the film instead of English voiceovers. Let me state for the record, Alice Finch rocks! I can completely understand why her son, Thorin, believes her to be the greatest master builder. Watch the film and you will agree. This $4 Billion brand is another connector of our world that is only limited by our imaginations. Seeing this film reminded me how much I wished that I had a set of my own. Yep, a grown woman wants to build with LEGOs. Leg Godt!
THE VIDEO/AUDIO
The display for A LEGO Brickumentary was transferred into a 1080p HD with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio. The image is sharp. Regardless of the environment whether different countries, indoor/outdoor, wide shot or close-up, A LEGO Brickumentary is as clear as though the television is a window instead of a display reproduction. Time-lapse photography was well timed, so you could really see structures come to fruition, but not so slow that the viewer feels a drag. The black levels are even producing a consistent depth in every shot, in real life or Lego. The color palette is both natural and really vivid whether IRL or Lego.
A LEGO Brickumentary resounds the DTS-HD MA 5.1 mix. The sound mix is Dolby Digital 2.0; the sound is very distinctive. The viewer can clearly hear interviewees in sync with that the viewer occasionally hears the narrator from behind. The sound design is crisp and well balanced between the dialogue and the non-diegetic sounds (score, soundtrack, etc.). In addition, the volume matching is perfect for the narrative in that from interview to interview, no sudden blast difference in levels.
THE EXTRAS
Deleted Scenes (21 mins.) – Three additional stories. I’m so glad that one of the three stories, the X-treme Team/FIRST Competition in particular, was included as an extra. Usually, films can keep or discard the scenes that are cut without effect to its integrity, but this cut was essential. It would have made the film too long, but it was touching and inspirational. A hope for all girls who wonder if they can be builders or whether should play with Lego.
LEGOLAND: Resorts and Discovery (2 mins. 35 secs.) – Essentially a commercial, but great insight to what is available to see and do. This is an opportunity to see what makes LEGOLAND so special and different from other theme parks and science centers.
THE ULTIMATE WORD
A LEGO Brickumentary seemed sharper on my TV than in the theater. The plot structure is linear as well as circular which is perfect for such an iconic part of the world’s childhood. Bateman was an excellent narrator. The extras added to the amazing step inside the world of Lego. Rarely do you see a film that is so educational as well as entertaining. From kid to adult, Lego is for everyone. A LEGO Brickumentary and this Blu-ray made me want to go out and buy a Lego set. Hey, if you can envision it, this film proves, you can build it with Lego.
5 out of 5
– Janet L. White