Family Movie Night: The Lego Movie

Title: The Lego Movie
Directors: Chris Miller, Phil Lord
Original Release: 2014
Choice: Purple Penguin's
My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

via Brickipedia

This was my second time watching The Lego Movie.  The Purple Penguin and I went to see it earlier this year on the big screen just the two of us so it was the first time for My Wife.  Whatever else I might say about this movie, it certainly makes me want to collect LEGOs!

Emmet, an ordinary construction worker figure voiced by Chris Pratt, lives a happy but humdrum life.  One day, he meets Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), a smokin' hot, mysterious female figure who believes Emmet is the "Special", prophesied to save the universe.   Wyldstyle leads him on a crazy adventure to other LEGO worlds where a host of others join in the crusade against the evil tyrant, President/Lord Business (Will Farrell).  Given the vast LEGO licensing empire, there are mini-figure cameos to satisfy nearly any geek affiliation: Gandalf, Dumbledore, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Han Solo, Chewie, Lando, C-3PO and even Shaquille O'Neal.

Given that I already knew the story, I was able to sit back and better appreciate the truly stunning visuals this time.  For the first 90% of the movie, nearly everything that can be made out of LEGOs is made out of LEGOs.  Even when the animators could be forgiven for taking a break - car exhaust, dust kicked up during a desert chase - everything is LEGO.  My favorite LEGOscape is the ocean waves.

The story is cute, told with engaging humor.  I won't spoil the ending except to say that it's pretty much make or break for one's opinion of the movie.  I like it.  My Wife didn't care for it.  I'm already eager for the sequel, coming 2017.

Go ahead, I dare you to keep this song out of your head:

On the Coffee Table: The Green Lantern Chronicles

Title: The Green Lantern Chronicles, Volume One
Writer: John Broome
Artists: Gil Kane and Murphy Anderson

via DC Comics Database

During DC Comics's New 52 relaunch a few years back, the story that impressed me most was a bit of a surprise: the Green Lantern saga.  Prior to that, my only experience with the Emerald Crusader was the old Superfriends TV show.  As is often the case for me with these classic characters, I was inspired to go back to the beginning.  The Green Lantern Chronicles, Volume One covers Showcase #22-24 and Green Lantern #1-3, all originally published between 1959 and 1960.

Of course, as devotees already know, that's not quite the beginning for Green Lantern.  The character first emerged in 1940 during comics' Golden Age.  The hero's basic equipment was already there: a magic lantern (inspired by that of a New York subway worker) and a magic ring to go with it.  When the character was re-introduced in the late '50s, he got a Space Age origin story and the snazziest costume in comics.

I think the appeal for me with GL over other DC heroes is simply the fact that the basic set up is so wonderfully weird, even by comic book standards.  Abin Sur, Hal Jordan's predecessor as GL of Earth's sector, lies dying in his crashed spacecraft. The Lantern selects Jordan out of all the planet's inhabitants as best suited to carry on the responsibility.  Jordan takes it on with very little understanding of his powers or their purpose.  His Ring has to be recharged with the Lantern every 24 hours - such a modern world hindrance for a superhero.  Best of all is his weakness: he has no power over things that are yellow - so arbitrary!

Oh, then there's the Oompa-Loompas...er, excuse me...Guardians who run the Green Lantern Corps for the entire universe from their home planet of Oa.  GL knows nothing about them, yet he obeys them unquestioningly.  The one time he is brought to meet them, albeit in virtual form, his memory is wiped immediately afterward.

Beyond the trappings, Green Lantern faces all of the same problems the other superheroes do, fighting evil-doers and managing his love life.  The early stories in this collection don't do a whole lot for character development but seeds are already planted for the broader GL universe, one of the most fascinating in comics.  I'm definitely in it for the long haul with this character.