Lego Movie - A political movie: Upfront and Obvious

[draketungsten]

I took my kids to see the new Lego Movie tonight.

Now I'm not the type to go reading in to things that don't actually exist. I'm also fiercely independent when it comes to politics but the Lego Movie isn't. I don't watch Fox News or MSNBC. I get my news as close to apolitical as humanly possible. However, within the first 2 minutes of this movie, you are being subjected to the creators' indoctrination. All but the last 10 minutes are anti-democratic government and anti-big business.

1. The first 5 minutes was a tribute to a Workers Paradise. You are a part of a collective, every should be the same, everything that is given to you is awesome, you shouldn't think...you should follow instructions.
2. Everything the Lego characters needed food, security, jobs, and even instructions on how to accomplish tasks were produced by a single source.
3. The main bad guy is named "President Business" and "Lord Business"
4. The main character from the workers paradise world goes to a world "free" and "without rules" where everyone can do anything they want and everyone loves and gets along with each other.
5. The main character when introduced to other world asks "How do you know what you're not allowed to do here?" It is replied with "You can do whatever you want. There is no government, no business here."
6. The main character's teacher/father figure looks like he was a hippy in the 60's and never left. White long beard and tie die.

I came home and googled it thinking "I'm very rational. I'm don't follow political parties. Therefore, I can't be the only one who saw this. I can't be crazy." It looks like I'm not crazy. There are a few articles out there from news outlets about this very thing. But like you would expect from most "media" (which is not journalism) tend to either ignore it or refuse to see it

 

[bwframe]

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Daggy]

It seems very libertarian for me. Shoot, the spirit of deregulation and anti big government is very Reagan. Otherwise it's the typical Hollywood 'you can be whatever you want to be' theme.

 

[MisterChester]

Calm down OP. It's just a movie.

 

[bwframe]

... It's just a movie...

...that most parents are content to use as an unmonitored electronic babysitter.

 

[88GT]

Well, that's going to put a damper on my day when I buy it. My kids absolutely love Legos and cannot wait until it comes out on video (we don't go to the theater). Is there some redeeming quality about the movie I can cling to while watching it, now that you've planted the seed of suspicion and doubt for me?

It seems very libertarian for me. Shoot, the spirit of deregulation and anti big government is very Reagan. Otherwise it's the typical Hollywood 'you can be whatever you want to be' theme.

There is no collective in libertarianism. There is no "the individual is a cog in the machine of society" in libertarianism. Libertarian also doesn't eliminate government or rules. What definition of libertarianism are you using?

 

[draketungsten]

Well, that's going to put a damper on my day when I buy it. My kids absolutely love Legos and cannot wait until it comes out on video (we don't go to the theater). Is there some redeeming quality about the movie I can cling to while watching it, now that you've planted the seed of suspicion and doubt for me?


There is no collective in libertarianism. There is no "the individual is a cog in the machine of society" in libertarianism. Libertarian also doesn't eliminate government or rules. What definition of libertarianism are you using?

I'm always about everyone making an informed decision on their own. My suggestion is to watch it for yourself and then make a decision based on that.

As for a redeeming quality, I'd say it's the Batman lego. He's kind of got a dark and cocky humor to him.

 

[MisterChester]

...that most parents are content to use as an unmonitored electronic babysitter.

It's the parents responsibility to teach their impressionable children that most movies/tv shows aren't real. Don't even think most children the age group the movie targets can even understand what we see, they're just waiting for batman to show up and cheer.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Wow. That's some overthinking and a pretty lopsided synopsis. Almost like a professional reporter, you've got a bright future in media.

I liked the movie a lot and thought it was pretty funny. You have kids, right? When I put together legos with my son I follow the instructions and build what that set is supposed to build. He puts together random stuff, and invariably will take apart the thing you are "supposed" to build and build his own stuff. Just like I did as a kid with building toys. That's pretty much the thread of the movie. I won't give away the ending, but that's made pretty darned clear.

1) Yes, which is what they are fighting about.
2) No, everything the lego characters in ONE of the lego worlds was that way.
3) Yeah. The reason is obvious but would be a spoiler to anyone who hasn't seen it.
4) Again, one of the worlds, and its pretty obvious there are issues with it.
5) ....and there's more to it.
6) Tie die? That's what you noticed about Gandalf?

Why didn't you mention the Old West world where they could constantly fight in the saloons? Or the good guy Pirate who OC's two cannons? Or the fact the good guys use guns to fight against the tyranny?

 

[yeti rider]

Wow! I'd say you way over-thought that movie. I came away from it with BehindBlueI's thoughts...

 

[cubbetm]

Did you also hate Harry Potter because it had "witchcraft?"

It's a movie. If your kids are learning more from a movie than they are from you, I'd say you're doing something wrong.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

The OP's post reminds me of these uncomfortable questions from back in the day:

Why does Johny Quest look more like Race Bannon than his own father?
What's the deal with Haji, and what do two grown men need a houseboy for anyway?

 

[bwframe]

A lot of these questions don't have answers that are evident until years later when the exposed children are putting these learned things into practice. Look at how overwhelming the numbers are of college students voting the direction they do.

 

[MDave]

Is there some redeeming quality about the movie I can cling to while watching it, now that you've planted the seed of suspicion and doubt for me?

We went and saw it at the Matinee'. I can see where someone might feel like it was anti-business and anti-government but to be honest I think there were some anti-socialism themes in there too. If your kids are a fan of Legos they might have a Lego Video game or two. Lego Batman or Starwars for instance... The movie strikes me as Lego Matrix.

Quick Question about your handle... Are you referring to a Mustang GT? I only ask because I have had quite a few over the years.

Take Care!

 

[MDave]

How many million dollars of Legos were used to make this film...

 

[Scutter01]

OP has never played with Lego and doesn't get the difference between people who build Lego only according to the instructions and those who build from their imagination.

This was not a "politically-motivated film". This was a movie about playing with Lego, made by Lego fans for Lego children. It's just a movie.

 

[Scutter01]

How many million dollars of Legos were used to make this film...

It was CGI, so....zero dollars?

 

[Cameramonkey]

I saw it yesterday too with my kids. 88GT, no sweat. only the adults will see the stuff OP saw.

My 7YO got out of it that in the beginning of the movie, everyone was supposed to follow the rules. If there wasn't a rule, you couldn't do it. That's as deep as a kid sees. At least my observant one.

And yes, EVERYTHING IS AWESOME about that movie. (those that already saw it will get the joke there)

 

[MDave]

It was CGI, so....zero dollars?

See I knew I would get a literal reply. Perhaps I should have asked.. How many million dollars worth of Legos do you think it cost?

 

[traderdan]

Constant indoctrination of children begins early..Remind me again why I should waste money patronizing an industry that promotes people I would not want in my home??