LEGO BATMAN MOVIE (Spin Off To Lego Movie)

[Skrilla31]

But Punisher-Man is a perfect gateway into Batman?

What are you talking about?

 

[Greens]

Didn't really love it, it was.. okay I guess?

A lot of the humor just felt lazy to me. I smiled but I didn't laugh. I appreciate a good callback but you can't make it the crux of the comedy itself because it's not that funny on it's own.

Agreed.

 

[Asr]

Saw this last night, loved it! I'm more of a fan of WB/DC's animated material more than their live-action stuff, so in that respect, it was great to see a "return to form" to the Batman that I know. I did get a kick out of all the side references to BTAS as well, including that cameo by The Condiment King.

I was a bit disappointed that the JL didn't show up for the final battle, felt like a missed opportunity there since there were so many villains on the screen. So now I want a Lego Justice League movie, make it happen WB!

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

There was The Lego Movie in 2014 which had Batman as one of the main characters. There has also been some direct to video Lego superhero movies. One of which was Lego Batman: The Movie in 2013. Is that what you are thinking of?

I'm pretty sure the one I'm thinking of is Lego Batman: The Movie. Have you seen it?

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

So now I want a Lego Justice League movie, make it happen WB!

Pretty sure it's coming!

 

[BaelaTargaryen]

The LEGO Batman Movie under fire for being 'pro-gay propaganda'

 

[terry78]

Of course it is.

 

[nyyarod]

people these days just find ANY reason to complain. Wow.

 

[ernesth100]

You Know What? Let Whoever Directed This Film have reigns over the DCEU after JL.

 

[BaelaTargaryen]

You Know What? Let Whoever Directed This Film have reigns over the DCEU after JL.

He's in talks to make a Nightwing movie.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

You Know What? Let Whoever Directed This Film have reigns over the DCEU after JL.

With the News about the Nightwing movie I'd say that just took a big step closer to becoming possible!

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Can anyone help? I haven't seen The Lego Movie. Are there any references in The Lego Batman Movie that depend on having seen The Lego Movie in order to make sense, or to understand a joke? Thanks.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

The LEGO Batman Movie under fire for being 'pro-gay propaganda'

oh for pete's sake

 

[terry78]

Can anyone help? I haven't seen The Lego Movie. Are there any references in The Lego Batman Movie that depend on having seen The Lego Movie in order to make sense, or to understand a joke? Thanks.

It helps if you know Batman. Lego is an afterthought.

 

[2kt09]

The LEGO Batman Movie under fire for being 'pro-gay propaganda'

Lemme guess: Robin and Joker being Batman fangirls

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

It helps if you know Batman. Lego is an afterthought.

Fine on Batman

Thank you!

 

[Leenie]

Lemme guess: Robin and Joker being Batman fangirls

And the whole, "I have two dads!" thing with Robin.

Good lord. People really can't take any clever jokes, can they?

 

[Lantern Venom]

I know that I'm going to get flamed for this, but it's no secret that I loathe Lego Batman. There are numerous reasons, none of which is a desire to be brazenly freethinking or provoke negative emotions out of others. While I have no problem asserting that Lego Batman might is the low point for DC in cinema, and possibly the worst licensed comic book adaptation ever made (note that I just disqualified fan films and comic book anomalies like 3 Dev Adam), I still have a very small degree of admiration for its existence. My singular reason for viewing it in the theater was that my youngest daughter wanted to see it. Lego Batman will undoubtedly hook young kids into the Batman mythos. I can only hope they aren't disappointed when they find that his dreary world and tunnel-visioned essence are the antithesis of what the Lego Batman movie presented.

Not all characters can be properly adapted to certain forms of media. There are plenty of super heroes with personalities more suited to this type of production, but Batman isn't Deadpool or Plastic Man. The Batman mythos rapidly falls apart when slapstick and/or goofy comedy is introduced. The '66 Batman TV series reflected the attitude of condescension, if not outright hostility, that mainstream pop culture once held toward comic books. Comic books were viewed as strictly the fare for kids and adults for whom real entertainment was too complicated. The true stories of now-legendary comic book characters were softened around the edges and turned into goofy, shallow romps. Yet, somehow, this approach formed a fan base. We still see fans who like this flavor of story, regardless of whether it's appropriate for that particular character or backdrop. Batman's story was detonated rather than respectfully presented. Yes, it was popular, but that doesn't equate with reverence. An unfortunate holdover from this series, particularly for the titular character, is the association of bright colors and goof ball antics with fun at the cinema. Thus, we get situations like Batman being shoehorned into a whimsical world of deformed plastic trolls, where his the pillars that support his narrative are swiftly chopped down, one by one.

This isn't to suggest that comedy can't exist anywhere around him. In fact, he had a very humorous exchange with Hal Jordan in the Justice League New 52 Origin, which was later adapted in the animated film Justice League: War. However, Batman's sardonic wit still came from the surly, tireless place within him that drives him to be a tireless scourge to criminality. Lego Batman is the polar opposite of Batman's original conception. Yes, his parents are gone, presumably murdered, but this has resulted in a character who is egomaniacal and clueless. You can preach to me all day about how this was just parody and fun, but don't pretend like it's actually Batman's story. Lego Batman was utterly deconstructed to the point where the on-screen character and his pulpy namesake had only superficial similarities. Bruce Wayne's conceptual motivation in the comics was outrage at the randomness of violence. As Affleck's Batman succinctly put it in BvS, life only makes sense when you force it to.Take the dark out of the knight, and the entire construct quickly erodes. You might like those syrupy musical numbers, which I found painful, but that's not Bruce Wayne's story in any sense. It also wasn't funny. How It Should Have Ended's Batman vs Superman was far more funny despite being only a few minutes long.

Marvel seems to have a better handle on this, even in their most kid-friendly shows. When Blade appeared on the whacky Ultimate Spider-man cartoon, he was still easily recognizable as the brutal vampire slayer. He was surly to Nick Fury and annoyed when he perceived that the other heroes were getting in his way. Even the Super Hero Squad, which was aimed at very young children, presented the Punisher better than Lego Batman did with its titular character. Even without the pervasive gunfire, Punisher's bleak attitude toward the world wasn't altered. It takes more than the costume and powers/gadgetry to adapt a character. Lego Batman should have understood that.

Batman's motivation isn't the only essential part of the character that is absent in the film. For some reason, Batman is also a complete dolt. Alfred has to remind him to take off his cowl. He struggles to use his microwave. He adopts Dick Grayson without knowing it, and he's unaware that the Justice League has regular gatherings without him. So much for the fabulous intelligence that makes him the most dangerous human in the universe nd the World's Greatest Detective.

Ben Affleck’s Batman has drawn criticism for his lethal methods in Batman vs Superman. I’m baffled that some moviegoers rejected the DCEU Batman based on that criteria, but fail to see that Lego Batman is an oblivious anti-hero for 90% of the film. From the time he suggests that he “doesn’t need anyone”, prompting the Joker to take the philosophical high road (ugh!) to treating Dick Grayson’s life as a tool to be used for selfish ends , Batman is thoroughly unlikable, let alone heroic. You may assert that this was his arc, but it was poorly conceived. Based on the number of villains in the film, Lego Batman had been at his job for an extended period of time. Yet this crusade didn’t come from a place of altruism, but egocentrism. Batdouche didn’t sacrifice relationships out of concern for other people joining his fight, but because he was too self-important for other people. If that meant sacrificing the adoring Dick Grayson in the process, so be it. Even his fellow heroes in the Justice League had been spurning him for years. It’s supposed to be “fun” to see a legendary hero reduced to a morally-stunted jerk with whom no one wants to associate?

Batman is further unraveled by the villains’ retirement and Batman’s subsequent obsession with them. From the start in the comics, Bruce Wayne set out to ensure that justice was done in a world that he felt was ill-equipped to adequately dispense it. Yet Lego Batdouche is offended by the idea of his community coming together under Barbara Gordon to stand up to crime. His ego refuses to let him do anything other than obsess about fighting his villains. With his city temporarily safe, Lego Batman doesn’t use his funds to support the newfound wave of optimism, nor does he rejoin the Justice League to use his skills for other threats. He can’t even take some time to be a recluse with the feeling of a job well done, ala the Dark Knight Rises. Instead, he makes himself an annoyance. This was painfully unfunny, as was just about every joke in the film, but it continued to present Batman as an anti-hero who lacked any sense of community and or discernable intelligence. Again, I must ask, this was the “fun” Batman?
Not to be outdone, the Lego Justice League was the worst assembly of super heroes imaginable. Joker cleans out of Phantom Zone, and not a single JL member lifts a finger to stop them. If this was meant to be a straight Batman solo, the last thing the writers should have done is show the JL. Superman’s super hearing, Aquaman’s sensitivity to events in the ocean, Green Lantern’s ring, and Cyborg’s connection to sattelites must have all been in need of repairs. Of course, Batman never contacts them when the world is going the way of Trigon. He’s either too petty because he wasn’t invited to their parties or too stupid to realize that some of the most powerful villains in history loose at the same time should have been a JL job.

The rampant deconstruction of characters wasn’t confined to the heroes. We were “treated” to lame attempts at humor with lines like “Joker said mean things to us” when Batman was courting the villains help. Why did he select bad guys instead of the Justice League? Remember, he’s dimwitted. That’s how he operates. Meanwhile, Batman’s arch-nemesis is perhaps gutted worse than any character in the film. There was *almost* a decent story in the idea that Joker was offended by Batman’s neglect. Yet the execution made for a baffling inverted dynamic. The Joker had the moral high ground for much of the film and Batman was the de facto villain for whom Phyllis was preparing a spot in the Phantom Zone. I have no idea how Batman accosting Deadshot in front of his child or misconstruing the threat of Superman is so controversial, but Joker giving solid life lessons is viewed as funny. Is everything giving an automatic pass because of the superficial nature of this kind of story? I kept waiting for Joker’s character to be saved by picking an opportune moment to reveal that he was disingenuous. When Batman sought his help at the climactic moment, that would have been the perfect opportunity for Joker to spray acid on Batman’s cowl and remind him that saving the day isn’t in Joker’s nature. Yet Batman and Joker’s “drama” ended with the worst ending in comic book film history. They share some weird affection while two piles of Lego figures snap Lego Gotham back together. It was poorly written and an odd visual on top of that.

While the Lego figure designs and movements that were as painfully stilted as the costumes on Yo Gabba Gabba, I expected that. I had previously viewed 1 and ½ of the Lego Justice League films, and I already knew that these low-end toys make for awful animation. However, they were also accompanied by plenty of forgettable voice performances. The uninspired dialogue certainly didn’t make their jobs easy, but Rosario Dawson's performance as Barbara Gordon was the only one that stood out as authentic. Everyone else phoned in their performances. Will Arnett’s performance was especially egregious during his screeching song. If there’s one thing that Batman should never do, it’s sing. That was difficult to endure, and had I been viewing this movie on TV, I certainly would have changed the channel at that point. That would have saved me from seeing Batman flop around on the floor of Wayne Manor as he hummed his ’66 TV theme song. I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed to be a Batman fan as I was at that moment.

Beyond my hope that Lego Batman made a few lifelong comic book fans, it did have one positive effect for me. Although I have been a fan of the DCEU since Man of Steel, I’ve been critical of certain castings and storylines. While I can admit that the DCEU isn’t perfect, I realize that comic book fans could still be stuck in the days of hollow made-for-TV movies and Ill-conceived trash. Lego Batdouche reminded me that there was a time when nothing important was even attempted in comic book adaptations, let alone something as magnificent as a shared universe. While I know that some fans prefer this type of story, it was the worst experience that I’ve had watching a CBM since Batman & Robin 20 years ago.

 

[idiot09]

I actually agree with a lot of that. It has a lot of plot holes, and bad characterization like you have pointed out. But I did enjoy the movie. It was dumb mindless entertainment, and like I said I had a great time with my friends.

 

[shauner111]

Lantern Venom, why are you taking a LEGO MOVIE seriously?! I'm baffled.

 

[The Joker]

Maybe because it's insanely popular and critically praised. Or maybe because the director of it did such a stellar job that they've hired him to do a Nightwing movie. Or maybe it's because BvS just won four Razzies. Anyone who seriously deconstructs a movie that was meant to be tongue in cheek has missed the point of the movie entirely.

Criticizing a movie for the comedy element of things like Alfred having to keep reminding Batman to take off his cowl, or Bruce adopting Dick without realizing it is like criticizing The Simpsons for making fat or bald jokes at Homer's expense. It's supposed to be comedy, not serious characterization. But the movie does do a lot of great things with the Batman mythos. Screenrant did a great write up;

15. The Batman-Joker Relationship
There is no Batman without the Joker, and vice versa. They are the yin and yang of comic book culture; the ultimate case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. When Heath Ledger’s Joker said they seemed “destined to do this forever” in The Dark Knight, it was chilling affirmation that Batman was but a nudge from becoming his own worst enemy. Lots of heady, mentally damaging stuff to deal with here.And though it’s a movie intended for kids, LEGO Batman does a great job honoring this relationship. The driving plot point is that Joker (Zach Galifianakis) wants to be seen as Batman’s one true foe, and it is in the rejection of this title that he goes about planning the film’s evil scheme. Its treated humorously, almost as though the two were bickering lovers, but the dichotomy of both men’s motivations are true to the characters: Batman the consummate loner, and Joker always trying to compare their likeness. They are at their most compelling when pitted against each other. It’s a key ingredient of every great Batman story, and this movie gets it very right.


14. Batgirl
Batgirl has had a rough history onscreen. She debuted at the tail end of Batman in the 1960s, and made so little of an impression her planned spinoff was never aired. She appeared again in Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997), where a miscast Alicia Silverstone did manage to make an impression– a very, very bad one. To date, Batgirl’s finest appearance has been in 2016’s The Killing Joke, but even then, her prologue was criticized for its sexist undertones and overall objectification of the character.LEGO Batman‘s version of Batgirl has made the right changes. No longer the useless schoolgirl or the sacrificial lamb, this Barbara Gordon is sharp, brave, and just as capable of fighting crime as her Bat-boss. Rosario Dawson brings a spitfire vocal charge to the character, asking questions we never thought to ponder (“If you call me Batgirl can I call you Batboy?&#8220 while leading the legal charge as Gotham’s new commissioner. The movie makes her formidable and helpful in equal measure. By comparison, Batman & Robin‘s Batgirl couldn’t even manage to fake a British accent!


13. Coherent Storytelling
The story to LEGO Batman is predictably silly: Joker gathers up every villain he can find (DC or otherwise) for a large scale assault on Gotham, while Batman joins forces with Robin and Batgirl to stop them. That’s it. Working off the pretense that it be enjoyable for both kids and parents, it’s a very simple approach. But in the wake of the complex, multi-strand mysteries that made up Batman v Superman, it’s one that provides some much desired clarity.Zack Snyder’s divisive blockbuster got a little too confusing for its own good, with flash-forwards, visions, dream sequences that supposedly weren’t dream sequences, and an investigation that turned out to be a red herring. Combine this with multiple edits of the film, some of which made more sense than others, and it’s understandable as to why things got so out of hand. With LEGO Batman, the filmmakers took nearly the same amount of characters (more on that later) and fitted them with a story that was straightforward and fun. In this particular case, less is definitely more.


12. The Theme Song
No hero has more iconic songs than Batman. From the 60s original to Danny Elfman’s genre defining score in 1989, it’s become clear that the Dark Knight is only as good as his theme. The same goes for The LEGO Movie, which crawled into our collective ears in 2014 with the infectious single “Everything Is Awesome!!” Now, with the pressure of delivering on both brand legacies, Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump gives us “Who’s the (Bat)Man,” and like it’s predecessor, it’s pretty awesome.

With callbacks to the original Batman theme, the song throws in screamo-inspired vocals and screeching guitar solos that match the film’s manic energy. The lyrics consist of one outrageous humblebrag after another, with lines like “You think my muscles are big? You haven’t seen my brain,” and “Ladies, it’s okay if you stare, cuse I’m a billionaire!” All the while, Bats levels his opponents with the vanity license plate “Battitude.” It’s narcissistic, ridiculous, and completely catchy.

Later in the film, rapper Lil’ Dicky drops in to give the song a hip-hop touch (both versions can be found on the soundtrack).


11. Easter Eggs That Don’t Distract
Easter Eggs can be a blessing and a curse. If applied well, they can enrich the world of a film or TV series and add to the overall story. Applied poorly, they can come off like pandering attempts to cling to a die-hard fanbase. The LEGO Batman Movie lands triumphantly in the former category, offering a smorgasbord of references that whizz by so fast they mine as well be the “Bam!” and “Pow!” that result from Batman’s punches or the assembly line that stores all his iconic costumes (with designs from Batman ’66, Batman ’89, and Batman Beyond).Director Chris McKay and his army of screenwriters Seth Grahame-Smith, Chris McKenna, Eric Sommers, Jared Stern and John Whittington are unapologetic in their Batman fandom, and the sly nods they include in the film are proof. From shouting out the infamous Shark Repellant Spray to giving fans a brief glimpse of the Nightwing suit, LEGO Batman takes the same kitchen sink approach that made The LEGO Movie such a delight, while being able to explore a single character’s mythology.


10. It Pays Tribute to Batman Lore
Perhaps the most ingenious idea that The LEGO Batman Movie brings to the table is in making Batman aware of his past– his movie past. This version of the character not only remembers his tragic origin, but that time when he danced The Batusi in 1966, donned a suit with nipples in 1997, and was broken by Bane in 2012. One exchange even leads to Alfred (Ralph Fiennes) listing the years of every major movie release as the times in which Batman was at his most troubled. “I have aged phenomenally,” he chimes in, providing a blend of homage and self-mockery that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Deadpool flick.

Beneath all the humor, however, is a rich understanding of Batman lore. McKay structures the film as an encyclopedia for Dark Knight nerds, slyly working in material from the franchise (“what about that time with the two boats?” “What about that time with Prince music and the parade?&#8221, the TV series, and even the original 1943 serial. What makes all this work is the wonderfully inclusive tone that the film creates– LEGO Batman celebrates what fans love about the character and pokes fun at the things they don’t. It’s all welcome here.


9. It Addresses The DCEU Issues
In terms of tone, LEGO Batman and DC Extended Universe Batman are worlds apart. The latter has had a divisive effect on fans, who debate over whether their vigilante should be a violent murderer. LEGO Batman doesn’t presume to have the answer for his live-action counterpart, but there are a few gags in The LEGO Batman Movie that poke fun at the problem(s). When Joker tries to get Batman to name him as his archenemy, Bats instead suggests that the honor might go to Superman. “Superman isn’t even a bad guy!” Joker angrily exclaims, highlighting the obvious flaw of having the two icons fight. Earlier in the film, audiences were treated to a flashback that recreates the BvS fight.

Suicide Squad gets a similar treatment, as Batman is presented with the idea of unleashing villains to help take down the Joker and his crew of villains. The Dark Knight questions (and rightfully so) why anyone would ever do something like that. Granted, the film does just that in the final act, but even then, it feels satirical in nature.


8. It Doesn’t Take Itself Too Seriously
Given his emotional turmoil, it’s easy for Batman to come off as a moody grouch. He is a hero predilated on being a loner, and channeling his guilt and rage into defending those that can’t defend themselves. The key to making him tolerable for fans has always been in the balance of the light and the dark. The LEGO Batman Movie wisely operates on both of levels, dispersing moments of emotion to balance out the LEGO shenanigans that this Batman gets into.

The film isn’t afraid to point out the fundamental flaws in the Batman myth– like the fact that he never keeps the streets of Gotham safe for very long, or the fact that he’s a loner who keeps taking in sidekicks. It actually embraces these shortcomings, and invites us not to critique, but to laugh along at the core silliness of a man who dresses up like a bat to fight crime. In a time when superheroes are opting for more grim material, LEGO Batman is a warm reminder that sometimes the best heroes are the ones who are in on the joke.


7. It Skips Over The Origin Story
In the pantheon of superhero origin stories, Batman reigns supreme. His tragic childhood is known by even the most casual of consumers, while his parental guilt has trickled down to everyone from Spider-Man to Hellboy. The downside to having such an iconic origin, however, is that filmmakers can’t help but shoehorn it into nearly every Batman project that gets made. Whenever a new Dark Knight is cast, it’s pretty much a tradition to have a new version of his parents’ murders included.Unfortunately for Batman v Superman, who leaned heavily on this trope, the time for recreated origins has seemingly run its course. In an age where we get superhero reboots every few years, rehashing old material is no longer exciting nor necessary to the story. LEGO Batman takes heed of this new trend and hops right into the opener by having Batman be a cynical veteran. He’s still haunted by his dead parents, but the most we’re exposed to the actual event is a photograph in Wayne Manor. Who knew LEGOS could be so subtle?


6. Fun Justice League Cameos
While all hopes go towards this year’s Justice League being a success, their introduction in Batman v Superman was less than stellar. Barring Wonder Woman, who still had to deal with being shoehorned into the final act, JLA members Aquaman, Cyborg, and The Flash were given their grand unveiling through a computer screen. We suppose you could also count Flash’s urgent message to Batman, but that was more confusing than anything else. In LEGO Batman, the Justice League have equally limited screen time, yet they manage to turn it into one of the film’s standout scenes.

Here, Batman stumbles onto the 57th Anniversary party of the Justice League and chats with Wonder Woman (Cobie Smulders), Superman (Channing Tatum), Green Lantern (Jonah Hill), Aquaman, and an especially energetic Flash (Adam DeVine). There’s also a dizzying amount of verbal and visual gags to be found, least of which includes cameos from deep cuts heroes like Samurai, Black Vulcan, the Wonder Twins, and even Krypto the Superdog as a DJ!


5. Will Arnett’s Voice
There’s so many ways to say “I’m Batman.” There’s the hushed Michael Keaton method, the throaty Christian Bale yell, and the menacing Ben Affleck voicebox. Somehow, actor Will Arnett manages to channel each of these famous voices into a Batman that’s both authentic and amusing. He gives the character the gravitas needed to be convincing, especially when growling signature lines like “You wanna get nuts!?” or trading verbal barbs with the Joker. Arnett, a comedian best known for shows like Arrested Development (2003-) and 30 Rock (2006-13), also has the crackerjack timing to make the script’s most ludicrous lines work. Without him, the film greatly suffers.

“Vocally, physically, it would get hard,” Arnett said while discussing the recording process with Reuters, “After four hours of doing it, I’d be pretty spent.” On the bright side, the actor said the Batman voice does come in handy, especially when it comes to his children. “It allows me to drop into the Batman voice when I need to drop the hammer at home,” he told ET Online, proving that even as a LEGO, The Dark Knight is terrifying.


4. Batman’s Relationship With Robin
Robin is Batman’s red flag of silliness. Barring The Animated Series (1992-95), the boy wonder always shows up when Batman is at his most kitschy– Batman: The Movie and Batman & Robin being prime examples. What McKay does so well here is not to subvert this reputation so much as play into for the audience. Robin (Michael Cera) is a wide-eyed orphan whom Bruce Wayne adopts by mistake, only to have him suit up and begrudgingly tag along as his sidekick. “He’s not my son,” Batman tells Barbara Gordon, only to have her explain that “it’s even weirder if he’s not.”

Despite all the mockery, where the film earns Robin brownie points is in the kinship he finds with Batman. Both are orphans wounded by their loss, and despite Batman’s “do as I say, not as I do” attitude, the boy wonder actually provides Batman with a friendship he never thought he needed. He goes from treating the kid like an expendable (literally) to being overcome with how much he cares for him– even though Robin says stuff like “Tweet tweet on the street.”


3. It’s Enjoyable For Casual Fans
Though the movie has more inside jokes than a Batman trivia game, rest assured it does not ostracize casual viewers. It actually does the opposite, in that it familiarizes less known concepts and characters for easy consumption. Early on, the Joker hijacks an airplane and rattles off an array of Batman villains, from the commonly known (Riddler, Bane, Penguin, Catwoman) to the painfully obscure (Eggman, Calendar Man, The Condiment King). Instead of burying the references, McKay gets them right out in the open, and has the perplexed pilot ask if some of these are made up. Joker not only affirms their existence, but advises he Google them– something that viewers will surely do upon walking out of the theater.

Outside of the Bat-canon, the script peppers in more general punchlines, like Lobster Thermidor, Afrika Bambaataa’s “Planet Rock,” and a gaggle of guilty pleasure movies from the 1990s (Jerry Maguire, Serendipity). Casual moviegoers will also enjoy the opening credits, as Batman narrates –and mocks– the importance of having dramatic logos before the feature begins. As we’ve seen before, taking things way too seriously isn’t always the best plan of action.


2. It Explores The Character Flaws of Bruce Wayne
Let’s be honest, Bruce Wayne has some issues. From seeing his parents murdered in front of him to fighting crime in a batsuit, his behavior isn’t far off from your average crazy person. But while past versions have either made too little or too much of this character profile, The LEGO Batman Movie offers a healthy dose of both. There’s plenty of jokes at the expense of Bruce’s inherent loneliness, from his shallow public persona to the stifled little boy that still tries to play tough in front of Alfred.

Yet for every satirical bit, there are moment of sincere drama. The mantra that Batman works alone and doesn’t need anyone’s help is his greatest flaw, and it is only when shown the man he has become that he realizes he needs to accept his parents’ deaths and move on with his life. McKay really makes you feel for this little LEGO figure in a cowl, and the results make for one of the finest Bruce Wayne portraits ever put on screen.


1. It Has A Timely Message
In today’s troubled times, it’s important to remember the good that can come from standing together. The brooding Batman seems to stand in direct opposition to that. He is arguably the most famous loner in all of comic books, and this is a trope that gets cleverly flipped when he realizes the benefit of getting help from others. Not only does Batman accept Alfred, Robin, and Batgirl, but he also mends his relationship with the Joker, after spending the whole movie insisting they didn’t even have a relationship (or “ship” as he puts it).

In a last ditch effort to save Gotham from splitting in two, Batman reconciles with the clown prince and they (literally) band together to make peace. The gesture inspires the rest of the city as well, who do likewise and are able to put Gotham back together. It’s a heartwarming message, and one that’s to be expected from a kids movie about toys. But even for adults, it is important to be reminded of the amazing things we can do when we work together. All it took were the actions of a rich, egotistical, non-tax paying vigilante.

http://screenrant.com/lego-batman-movie-2017-better-deserve/?view=all

Number 9 is my favorite.

 

[terry78]

The guy that directs episodes of Robot Chicken and two of the writers from American Dad along with Seth Grahame Smith wrote the thing. I don't know what you were expecting.

 

[Kane52630]

Spoiler

I know that I’m going to get flamed for this, but it’s no secret that I loathe Lego Batman. There are numerous reasons, none of which is a desire to be brazenly freethinking or provoke negative emotions out of others. While I have no problem asserting that Lego Batman might is the low point for DC in cinema, and possibly the worst licensed comic book adaptation ever made (note that I just disqualified fan films and comic book anomalies like 3 Dev Adam), I still have a very small degree of admiration for its existence. My singular reason for viewing it in the theater was that my youngest daughter wanted to see it. Lego Batman will undoubtedly hook young kids into the Batman mythos. I can only hope they aren’t disappointed when they find that his dreary world and tunnel-visioned essence are the antithesis of what the Lego Batman movie presented.

Not all characters can be properly adapted to certain forms of media. There are plenty of super heroes with personalities more suited to this type of production, but Batman isn’t Deadpool or Plastic Man. The Batman mythos rapidly falls apart when slapstick and/or goofy comedy is introduced. The ’66 Batman TV series reflected the attitude of condescension, if not outright hostility, that mainstream pop culture once held toward comic books. Comic books were viewed as strictly the fare for kids and adults for whom real entertainment was too complicated. The true stories of now-legendary comic book characters were softened around the edges and turned into goofy, shallow romps. Yet, somehow, this approach formed a fan base. We still see fans who like this flavor of story, regardless of whether it’s appropriate for that particular character or backdrop. Batman’s story was detonated rather than respectfully presented. Yes, it was popular, but that doesn’t equate with reverence. An unfortunate holdover from this series, particularly for the titular character, is the association of bright colors and goof ball antics with fun at the cinema. Thus, we get situations like Batman being shoehorned into a whimsical world of deformed plastic trolls, where his the pillars that support his narrative are swiftly chopped down, one by one.

This isn’t to suggest that comedy can’t exist anywhere around him. In fact, he had a very humorous exchange with Hal Jordan in the Justice League New 52 Origin, which was later adapted in the animated film Justice League: War. However, Batman’s sardonic wit still came from the surly, tireless place within him that drives him to be a tireless scourge to criminality. Lego Batman is the polar opposite of Batman’s original conception. Yes, his parents are gone, presumably murdered, but this has resulted in a character who is egomaniacal and clueless. You can preach to me all day about how this was just parody and fun, but don’t pretend like it’s actually Batman’s story. Lego Batman was utterly deconstructed to the point where the on-screen character and his pulpy namesake had only superficial similarities. Bruce Wayne’s conceptual motivation in the comics was outrage at the randomness of violence. As Affleck’s Batman succinctly put it in BvS, life “only makes sense when you force it to.” Take the dark out of the knight, and the entire construct quickly erodes. You might like those syrupy musical numbers, which I found painful, but that’s not Bruce Wayne’s story in any sense. It also wasn't funny. How It Should Have Ended’s Batman vs Superman was far more funny despite being only a few minutes long.

Marvel seems to have a better handle on this, even in their most kid-friendly shows. When Blade appeared on the whacky Ultimate Spider-man cartoon, he was still easily recognizable as the brutal vampire slayer. He was surly to Nick Fury and annoyed when he perceived that the other heroes were getting in his way. Even the Super Hero Squad, which was aimed at very young children, presented the Punisher better than Lego Batman did with its titular character. Even without the pervasive gunfire, Punisher’s bleak attitude toward the world wasn’t altered. It takes more than the costume and powers/gadgetry to adapt a character. Lego Batman should have understood that.

Batman’s motivation isn’t the only essential part of the character that is absent in the film. For some reason, Batman is also a complete dolt. Alfred has to remind him to take off his cowl. He struggles to use his microwave. He adopts Dick Grayson without knowing it, and he’s unaware that the Justice League has regular gatherings without him. So much for the fabulous intelligence that makes him “the most dangerous human in the universe” and the World’s Greatest Detective.

Ben Affleck’s Batman has drawn criticism for his lethal methods in Batman vs Superman. I’m baffled that some moviegoers rejected the DCEU Batman based on that criteria, but fail to see that Lego Batman is an oblivious anti-hero for 90% of the film. From the time he suggests that he “doesn’t need anyone”, prompting the Joker to take the philosophical high road (ugh!) to treating Dick Grayson’s life as a tool to be used for selfish ends , Batman is thoroughly unlikable, let alone heroic. You may assert that this was his arc, but it was poorly conceived. Based on the number of villains in the film, Lego Batman had been at his job for an extended period of time. Yet this crusade didn’t come from a place of altruism, but egocentrism. Batdouche didn’t sacrifice relationships out of concern for other people joining his fight, but because he was too self-important for other people. If that meant sacrificing the adoring Dick Grayson in the process, so be it. Even his fellow heroes in the Justice League had been spurning him for years. It’s supposed to be “fun” to see a legendary hero reduced to a morally-stunted jerk with whom no one wants to associate?

Batman is further unraveled by the villains’ retirement and Batman’s subsequent obsession with them. From the start in the comics, Bruce Wayne set out to ensure that justice was done in a world that he felt was ill-equipped to adequately dispense it. Yet Lego Batdouche is offended by the idea of his community coming together under Barbara Gordon to stand up to crime. His ego refuses to let him do anything other than obsess about fighting his villains. With his city temporarily safe, Lego Batman doesn’t use his funds to support the newfound wave of optimism, nor does he rejoin the Justice League to use his skills for other threats. He can’t even take some time to be a recluse with the feeling of a job well done, ala the Dark Knight Rises. Instead, he makes himself an annoyance. This was painfully unfunny, as was just about every joke in the film, but it continued to present Batman as an anti-hero who lacked any sense of community and or discernable intelligence. Again, I must ask, this was the “fun” Batman?
Not to be outdone, the Lego Justice League was the worst assembly of super heroes imaginable. Joker cleans out of Phantom Zone, and not a single JL member lifts a finger to stop them. If this was meant to be a straight Batman solo, the last thing the writers should have done is show the JL. Superman’s super hearing, Aquaman’s sensitivity to events in the ocean, Green Lantern’s ring, and Cyborg’s connection to sattelites must have all been in need of repairs. Of course, Batman never contacts them when the world is going the way of Trigon. He’s either too petty because he wasn’t invited to their parties or too stupid to realize that some of the most powerful villains in history loose at the same time should have been a JL job.

The rampant deconstruction of characters wasn’t confined to the heroes. We were “treated” to lame attempts at humor with lines like “Joker said mean things to us” when Batman was courting the villains help. Why did he select bad guys instead of the Justice League? Remember, he’s dimwitted. That’s how he operates. Meanwhile, Batman’s arch-nemesis is perhaps gutted worse than any character in the film. There was *almost* a decent story in the idea that Joker was offended by Batman’s neglect. Yet the execution made for a baffling inverted dynamic. The Joker had the moral high ground for much of the film and Batman was the de facto villain for whom Phyllis was preparing a spot in the Phantom Zone. I have no idea how Batman accosting Deadshot in front of his child or misconstruing the threat of Superman is so controversial, but Joker giving solid life lessons is viewed as funny. Is everything giving an automatic pass because of the superficial nature of this kind of story? I kept waiting for Joker’s character to be saved by picking an opportune moment to reveal that he was disingenuous. When Batman sought his help at the climactic moment, that would have been the perfect opportunity for Joker to spray acid on Batman’s cowl and remind him that saving the day isn’t in Joker’s nature. Yet Batman and Joker’s “drama” ended with the worst ending in comic book film history. They share some weird affection while two piles of Lego figures snap Lego Gotham back together. It was poorly written and an odd visual on top of that.

While the Lego figure designs and movements that were as painfully stilted as the costumes on Yo Gabba Gabba, I expected that. I had previously viewed 1 and ½ of the Lego Justice League films, and I already knew that these low-end toys make for awful animation. However, they were also accompanied by plenty of forgettable voice performances. The uninspired dialogue certainly didn’t make their jobs easy, but Rosario Dawson's performance as Barbara Gordon was the only one that stood out as authentic. Everyone else phoned in their performances. Will Arnett’s performance was especially egregious during his screeching song. If there’s one thing that Batman should never do, it’s sing. That was difficult to endure, and had I been viewing this movie on TV, I certainly would have changed the channel at that point. That would have saved me from seeing Batman flop around on the floor of Wayne Manor as he hummed his ’66 TV theme song. I don’t think I’ve ever been so embarrassed to be a Batman fan as I was at that moment.

Beyond my hope that Lego Batman made a few lifelong comic book fans, it did have one positive effect for me. Although I have been a fan of the DCEU since Man of Steel, I’ve been critical of certain castings and storylines. While I can admit that the DCEU isn’t perfect, I realize that comic book fans could still be stuck in the days of hollow made-for-TV movies and Ill-conceived trash. Lego Batdouche reminded me that there was a time when nothing important was even attempted in comic book adaptations, let alone something as magnificent as a shared universe. While I know that some fans prefer this type of story, it was the worst experience that I’ve had watching a CBM since Batman & Robin 20 years ago.

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[DarthSkywalker]

Lego Batman is a parody, one that explores the various nonsensical aspects of comic books and Batman. Like how the greatest hero ever is incapable of bringing down the crime in Gotham at all. Or how Batman is the kind of downer you wouldn't want to hang out with. Deconstruction is the point.

As with most good parodies, it has heart and a poignancy at the heart.

 

[Milk Tray Guy]

Lego Batman is a parody, one that explores the various nonsensical aspects of comic books and Batman. Like how the greatest hero ever is incapable of bringing down the crime in Gotham at all. Or how Batman is the kind of downer you wouldn't want to hang out with. Deconstruction is the point.

As with most good parodies, it has heart and a poignancy at the heart.

Nicely put.