LEGO Ninjago is out to take home and gift. Will this one be a real crowd-pleaser this holiday season and beyond? Check out Kidzworld’s Blu-ray review.
By: Lynn Barker
In The LEGO Ninjago Movie, six high-schoolers, led by the mostly hated Lloyd (Dave Franco), live in big city Ninjago. Dreaded warlord Garmadon (Justin Theroux) is coming to destroy or dominate the city so the teens have to don their secret identities. They are ninjas and hop in their giant Mechs to destroy him. Green Ninja, Lloyd’s alter-ego, is loved by all…ironically, but Lloyd is Garmadon’s son, another reason to hate him. What a messed up social life for this good-hearted teen!
Garmadon in his MechCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
In Our World
We see live action actors, one the magical owner of a Chinese antique shop (Jackie Chan, also the voice of martial arts whiz Master Wu), the other a LEGO-fanboy, share the story of Ninjago; it’s warriors and villain.
Jackie Chan as the antique shop ownerCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Into Ninjago
The mini-fig citizens of Ninjago are warned on TV that villain Garmadon will strike again very soon. The call is out for secret ninjas, who represent Fire, Water, Earth, Ice and Lightning to come save the day. We have the Green Ninja (secretly Lloyd), Kai (Michael Peña), Nya (Abbi Jacobson), Jay (Kumail Nanjiani), Cole (Fred Armisen) and Zane (Zach Woods) trained by Master Wu (Jackie Chan).
Lloyd (right) and his ninja crewCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
School Daze
As Garmadon’s son, Lloyd is ridiculed and hated at school. It’s his birthday but the kids are all into singing “Boo Lloyd” which goes viral. The call for help is received and the secret teen ninjas change clothes, hop into their giant Mechs and fight Garmadon. Green Ninja saves a school bus full of kids and confronts his dad who couldn’t care less about him. Missiles are fired but Garmadon has a shield. None-the-less the villain retreats to his home inside a volcano pissed off that Green Ninja keeps chasing him away and firing a bunch of his generals for not stopping him.
The ninja teens in classCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
What Are These Elements?
Master Wu scolds the teen ninjas for not being more open-minded and not using their elemental powers. Lloyd, being Green isn’t sure what his is but the ninjas manage to find and use Wu’s “Ultimate Weapon” which is… uh, a laser pointer! This fun “toy” of course attracts a “giant” (at least to mini-figs) cat who comes to play with it in the city, destroying everything. The locals name him Meowthra. Lloyd found the pointer so it’s all his fault. Even his fellow ninjas hate him.
Green Ninja with the dreaded laser pointerCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Another Ultimate Weapon?
Wu tells the ninjas that they must become united and go on a quest across the island to obtain the last weapon against Garmadon. Wu, who is the evil villain’s brother and the warlord fight. Garmadon is captured, caged and forced to go with the ninjas on their trek. On the way he must face all the angry generals he fired! What is the last ultimate weapon? Will father and son ever reconcile? Will Green Ninja figure out what his elemental power is? Will the city be saved from the dreaded house cat Meowthra?
Meowthra attacks the cityCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Special Extra Features
The first of a group of featurettes Team Supreme: Building NINJAGO presents Producer, Director and Special Effects wizards talking about putting the LEGO twist on a martial arts movie for the first time. Extensive sets, mini outdoor locales, the Mechs and that giant kitty are shown and we see the actors recording in the same room, a rarity for animated films. A fun extra.
- Rumble in the Bricks discusses how the filmmakers plus Jackie Chan planned and shot the impressive martial arts action in the film. The LEGO animators watched Chan’s team of experts and tried to copy them with mini-figs. Not easy. Cool.
- Rebrick Contest Winners – These short stop-motion films are the best of those sent in to the filmmakers by fans and they are all adorbs and fun!
- 3 Mini-Movies feature the on land adventures of a shark toy shot at Ninjago by Garmadon, Zane’s lame stand-up comedy act and The Master, the funny short we saw in theaters starring Master Wu versus a chicken. So cute. All mini films are a laugh.
- LEGO Ninjago TV Series gives us a sneak peek at a couple of episodes and they are fun for fans.
Garmadon in full attack modeCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
- 4 Music Videos present some of the funny songs from the film. One song gives us lyrics on screen to sing/rap along with… all are fun.
- 3 Deleted Scenes represent parts of the story that was eventually changed. All are well done and funny, one is even touching.
- My fave extra is Gimme Some Outtakes!. It is so clever to actually take time to shoot fake line flubs, physical boo boos etc. using the mini-figs as if they were real life human actors messing up. Hilarious!
- Audio Commentary by Director Charlie Bean and Crew is a hoot plus you get some insider info. Worth a listen.
- Promotional Material is really cute trailers for the film. These are more fun than most and worth a once-watch.
The ninjas in their massive MechsCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Wrapping Up
Okay, it’s time to get The LEGO Ninjago Movie on home video so you can check out all the creative little builds in the background that you didn’t have time to see in theaters. This is a very entertaining, creative and funny film with a serious story about an estranged dad and son at its core. The overall premise is borrowed from every “Power Rangers” movie or TV show out there but the fact that the teen heroes are LEGO mini-figs adds that fresh element and voice actors do a top drawer job.
Lloyd and the ninjas on their final questCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Special Extras are all fun to check out and I love the “Blooper Reel”, outtakes beautifully and hilariously made by the filmmakers as if their mini-fig actors were real human goof offs. The LEGO Ninjago Movie is great to collect and gift this holiday season. We go four stars.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Blu-ray Rating: 
The LEGO Ninjago Blu-ray CoverCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment
Buy The LEGO Ninjago Movie to gift or keep December 19th!
Have Your Say
Are you a LEGO builder? Do you just enjoy the movies? Are mini-figs who do martial arts cool? Leave a comment.
