What happens when your father is Garmadon, an evil warlord?
Well, high school student Lloyd asks that very question, in The LEGO Ninjago Movie. It saw a Digital release on Dec. 12 and the Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD packs will arrive on Dec. 19.
The original LEGO Movie hit screens in 2014. It landed in the Top 5 for biggest movies of the year – a $257 million domestic gross. How can anyone forget the particular earworm of a song, ‘Everything is Awesome.’
The four movies to beat the world of LEGO were: American Sniper, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain America: Winter Soldier.
Now, we have reached the third installment of this unlikely franchise, with the inclusion of The LEGO Batman Movie, which was released in early 2017. Despite the surprising run of the movies, not even Batman ($175 million domestic) or Ninjago ($59 million) were able to pass the first film at the box office.
NINJAGO
The movie’s concept is from the animated television series of Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu. It first premiered in 2011 and wrapped the latest season in July, 2017.
(I have never seen the show, so I can’t compare between the two.)
Ninjago City lives in constant fear of Garmadon (Justin Theroux), as his frequent takeover attacks lead to destructive battles with six young ninjas, led by Master Wu (Jackie Chan.) Among the group is the mysterious Green Ninja, who may just be Garmadon’s son Lloyd (Dave Franco.)
While Ninjago maintains the animation and emotional beats of what is expected of these LEGO movies, it also feels like the weakest story to date. Or perhaps, the style and formula are starting to become too familiar.
Either way, it’s not the best of the three films. I pick The LEGO Movie for the frontrunner, just because the story went in a direction, which surprised me.
Ninjago features a cool voice cast with the likes of Franco, Theroux, Fred Armisen and Abbi Jacobson and Olivia Munn, Kumail Nanjiani, Michael Peña, Zach Woods, and Chan. Yet really, beyond Franco, Chan, and Theroux, not many of the characters make a big memorable impact. I can’t even think of some of their names.
It could be because of Theroux, as Garmadon practically steals the movie. His origin story banter and discussing a particular injury were two of the standouts for this writer. The bridge battle between Garmadon and Master Wu was also a cool action sequence.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie is directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher and Bob Logan.
MY VERDICT
Would I buy the film? No.
It will certainly be worth the watch to anyone who liked The LEGO Movie and/or The LEGO Batman Movie.
If you are someone who has not seen anything LEGO, Ninjago wouldn’t be the place to start.
The film has a rainy/snowy day quality to it though – almost a rental level selection. The movie is passable entertainment, but there are definitely better options to pick.
SPECIAL FEATURES OVERVIEW
Featurettes
- Team Supreme: Building Ninjago (8 minutes, 19 seconds)
- Rumble in the Bricks (5 minutes, 19 seconds)
- Rebrick Contest Winners (4 minutes, 39 seconds)
Team Supreme is the usual behind-the-scenes glimpse with conversations on the visual effects to the voice actors.
Rumble in the Bricks is the one to grab my attention the most, because the Martial arts featured in the film, is choreographed and designed by Jackie Chan and his team.
Rebrick was the LEGO contest for stop motion films. It had the subject of ‘Ninja for a Day.’
Mini–Movies
- Shark E Shark in Which Way to the Ocean – (2 minutes, 25 seconds)
- Zane’s Stand Up Promo (2 minutes, 2 seconds)
- The Master: A LEGO Ninjago short (5 minutes, 18 seconds)
Shark E Shark gets the cuteness factor. Garmadon uses sharks as weapons, how would one of those sharks react?
LEGO Ninjago TV Series Sneak Peek (11 minutes, 14 seconds)
Music Videos
- Oh, Hush! & Jeff Lewis Found My Place (3 minutes, 21 seconds)
- Everybody Have a Ninja Day (1 minute, six seconds)
- Warlord Ballad (1 minute, 10 seconds)
- Rocktagon (1 minute, 19 seconds)
Deleted Scenes
- Animated Bridge Test (1 minute, 33 seconds)
- Baby Fight (2 minutes, 50 seconds)
- The Dock (3 minutes, 16 seconds)
These so-called ‘deleted scenes’ were not actually cut from the movie. None of the scenes have any connection to the final product.
The bridge was to test the animation. The baby fight was an attempt at the action and done in the style of Jackie Chan. In fact, the sequence is also what inspired Chan to get involved in the movie.
The dock started as an initial concept for Ninjago, when time-travel featured into the story. There is no time-travel in the final product.
Gimme Some Outtakes! (4 minutes, 42 seconds)
Silly and fun, the outtakes really aren’t directly from the movie like the deleted scenes.
Promotional Materials (Roughly 18 minutes)
- Behind the Bricks
- Please Silence Your Cellphones
- Please Put On Your 3D Glasses
- LEGO Sets In Action
- Ninjago Movie: Ninja Formation
- Ninja Jokes with Jackie Chan
- Kicks and Bricks: Making the LEGO Ninjago Movie
- Back to School
- Me and My Minifig
Commentary by director Charlie Bean and crew (1 hour, 41 minutes)
The standard DVD only includes the TV series sneak peek and deleted scenes.
Warner Brothers Home Entertainment
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