Can I level with you? I've seen practically every movie that is in town.
But one I hadn't seen? That's right, the LEGO one.
And that's why I went to see it.
And here's the funny thing: I sort of enjoyed it.
When I entered the theater, I didn't see any seventy year old guys sitting around! All were younger and had youngsters in hand.
That's the way to see it.
Because, then you see what the small generation is all about, and believe me, they're indeed a vigorous lot.
"LEGO THE MOVIE" was made principally for them.
As most-- if not all-- of you know, LEGO is a hugely successful building block megaculture corporation that has been able to capture the patronage of youngsters and many adults.
You can build just about anything with LEGOS.
So how does this film entertain? Well, the co-directors- Christopher Miller and Phil Lord-concoct a story where a titan--President Business-who pretty much controls the "Universe" and all the workers there- plans the diabolic scheme of freezing workers in their traces...
He's invented a substance called "Kragle" that will keep all of the workers powerless to create anything on their own.
His voice is that of Will Ferrell.
But there is one thing that he needs to acquire that will allow him to gain control.
That thing, clever enough, is called the "piece of the resistance.
" So who has this piece? Well...
many years before, a wizard by the name Vitruvius, (voice by Morgan Freeman) has foretold that a special person will one day arise and claim this "piece" and save the world from the bad President Business.
(Are you with me?)...
Well, one day, one of the master builders in a LEGO locale falls down a hole and (like Alice) enters a strange new world where Vetruvius dwells with another character called Wyldstyle/Lucy (voice by Elizabeth Banks).
Well, surprise, surprise- It turns out the guy falling down the hole is a plain rule-conscious worker who's called Emmet (voice by Chris Pratt).
The problem is he thinks he is just a regular guy, not "The Special".
So those two side-kicks and a lot of other folks spend movie time convincing him that everyone-- that is EVERYONE-- is special.
In other words, we really all ARE special-maybe in ways we've not discovered- but we should start THINKING we are.
(People, places and things here are made of LEGOS.
) The movie ends with Emmet at the ear of President Business, convincing him that even he is special; and as such, he should know that all of his workers are quite special in their ways, too.
It's a morality play-- on a kid's level-and I thought it might well teach kids that we certainly need conformity in life with many things, But then there are other things that each of us should have the freedom to explore and do as we like.
I'm pretty sure Albert Einstein would not see this film if he were alive (!); yet he said, "IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE.
" And it wouldn't hurt for kids to look around and realize that all that they see is the result of man or woman bringing forth through imagination that very thing into the world.
Kids often think that what they see has always been around, without thinking the truth.
There's a cute ending to this film that brings it all together, which probably makes the folks at LEGO and the creative film folks willing to sing the movie's song: "Everything is awesome.
Everything is cool when you're part of a team.
Everything is awesome, when we're living our dream.
Everything is better when we stick together side by side, you and I gonna win forever, let's party forever.
We're the same, I'm like you, you're like me, we're all working in harmony.
" Would I recommend it? I am not really sure.
If you've seen all the films around; and you're game for a stretch of your world-weary mind...
Yeah, see what's so great about it.
As for a grade, I'd have to hold it to a SIX.
(A four year old, might rank it more!)