Does the LEGO Movie show that toys are cinema’s last hope?

With the LEGO Batman Movie and the LEGO NINJAGO Movie due for release next year, it is easy to forget just what an unexpected delight the LEGO Movie was. With no expectations for anything other than a glorified 90 minute toy commercial, the multi-layered movie managed to take the box office by storm and earn critical acclaim.

Flickering Myth have run a piece that is well worth reading, arguing that in a time of franchise fatigue thanks to endless reboots, sequels and alternate realities that toys and theme parks give filmmakers the opportunity to get a reasonable budget to make something original.

Here is an excerpt from the article, arguing that toys allow more scope than existing franchises:

There is no collected preconceived idea of what these worlds are. Sure, a character has a name but they don’t have a personality. Where as Batman has an immense back catalog in a variety of media, a movie based on Stretch Armstrong only has the stories unspooled from your childhood imagination to compete with. With no canon, there is no other story to prefer. Admittedly, this makes Stretch Armstrong’s stories more personable, but the lack of baggage gives filmmakers the ability to tell any story they want to tell.

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Author Profile

Graham
Graham was the BrickFanatics.com Editor up until November 2020. He has plenty of experience working on LEGO related projects. He has contributed to various websites and publications on topics including niche hobbies, the toy industry and education.

Follw Graham on Twitter @grahamh100.

Graham

Graham was the BrickFanatics.com Editor up until November 2020. He has plenty of experience working on LEGO related projects. He has contributed to various websites and publications on topics including niche hobbies, the toy industry and education. Follw Graham on Twitter @grahamh100.

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