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rich_jackoThe Lego Batman Movie may actually be the best Batman movie. It isn't the best Lego movie however.
It deftly balances dark broodiness and zany humour, both essential Batman elements. No one has managed to do that effectively in a film since Tim Burton was running the show. Okay, it's mainly zany humour ("Waiter!"), but it's a very affectionate and knowing tribute to all things Batman. I loved all the references to the character's many incarnations and adventures over his 78-year history ("Atomic batteries to power; turbines to speed..."), including many of the more obscure villains (the Condiment King, anyone?). Great to see some unexpected, crossover guest villains in there too. ;o)
As any Lego nerd will tell you, "Lego" is a contraction of "leg godt", meaning "play well". And the message of The Lego Batman Movie, as with its predecessor, is about playing nicely together as a family. But whereas The Lego Movie subtly made that the entire basis of the plot, with an ingenious twist, here there's no such cleverness. The message is in your face and layered on with a trowel. It's still an enormously fun adventure though.
Also like its predecessor, the inventiveness of the Lego world is astounding. Millions upon millions of virtual bricks, and some of the action sequences will need to be watched several times to absorb all of the detail of what's going on. Special mention for the Scuttler, because it's awesome (but then, isn't everything?).
I saw the film with 16 friends. It's been a long time since I've gone on a mass cinema trip like that and I'd forgotten how much fun it can be. Afterwards, most of us decamped to the Lego shop. Of course. :o)
It deftly balances dark broodiness and zany humour, both essential Batman elements. No one has managed to do that effectively in a film since Tim Burton was running the show. Okay, it's mainly zany humour ("Waiter!"), but it's a very affectionate and knowing tribute to all things Batman. I loved all the references to the character's many incarnations and adventures over his 78-year history ("Atomic batteries to power; turbines to speed..."), including many of the more obscure villains (the Condiment King, anyone?). Great to see some unexpected, crossover guest villains in there too. ;o)
As any Lego nerd will tell you, "Lego" is a contraction of "leg godt", meaning "play well". And the message of The Lego Batman Movie, as with its predecessor, is about playing nicely together as a family. But whereas The Lego Movie subtly made that the entire basis of the plot, with an ingenious twist, here there's no such cleverness. The message is in your face and layered on with a trowel. It's still an enormously fun adventure though.
Also like its predecessor, the inventiveness of the Lego world is astounding. Millions upon millions of virtual bricks, and some of the action sequences will need to be watched several times to absorb all of the detail of what's going on. Special mention for the Scuttler, because it's awesome (but then, isn't everything?).
I saw the film with 16 friends. It's been a long time since I've gone on a mass cinema trip like that and I'd forgotten how much fun it can be. Afterwards, most of us decamped to the Lego shop. Of course. :o)
