The Lego Movie was one of 2014’s most vibrant and upbeat movies, so it may be surprising that the movie actually lends itself to a much darker, much scarier version. YouTube users crazimen74 posted a parody trailer of The Lego Movie as if it were a horror film. Pulling footage from the movie but swapping in some new title cards, music, and lighting, the trailer makes the most colorful comedy of 2014 into a dark and horrific tale of evil. More than that, the parody trailer, which started as a project for a school course, pokes fun at how predictable the marketing for a modern mainstream horror film has become. The dramatic beats, the swelling score—it all may feel eerily familiar. Watch the trailer below and see as Emmet’s journey to becoming a Master Builder is transformed into something far more sinister.Let friends in your social network know what you are reading aboutTwitterGoogle+LinkedInPinterestPosted!A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Exclusive: Everything Is Awesome in Legoland's new Lego Movie 4DLast SlideNext SlideDefying conventional wisdom, The Lego Movie has proven to be enormously popular and wildly funny -- not just among the toy brand's target audience of children, but for adults as well.
Released in 2014, the quirky movie generated north of $450 million at the box office, earned glowing reviews, and bestowed a hip cachet to the line of plastic figures and snap-together bricks.On January 29, Legoland Florida will debut a sequel of sorts when it opens The Lego Movie 4D A New Adventure. Developed exclusively for the toymaker's theme parks (it's set to open February 6 at Legoland California and at all Legoland Discovery Centers soon after that), it's really more of a mini reunion. The 12 ½-minute film brings some of the movie's key characters and voice talent back together for a story set at Brick World, a shameless knockoff of Legoland.Rendered in glorious CGI animation, the unlikely gang of returning do-gooders includes leading lady Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), the pirate with the oversized, weapons-packed body, MetalBeard (Nick Offerman), spaceman Benny (Charlie Day), and unicorn/anime kitten mashup with serious anger management issues, Unikitty (Alison Brie). Instead of Chris Pratt, voice actor A.J. LoCascio takes over the role of everymini hero, Emmet.
Also MIA is Will Ferrell. The Lego Movie 4D introduces Risky, the brother of Ferrell's character, President Business. (Yup, that makes him Risky Business).As with the theatrical movie, the new film simultaneously succeeds on two levels. Your children will love the fizzy action and silly antics. You will love the sly, laugh-out-loud, meta dialogue and absurd plot developments that will sail right over kids' heads. How sly and absurd? Upon meeting Risky, not-Chris-Pratt Emmet remarks that Business' "voice sounds so much less expensive" than his brother's. Played by comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, the megalomaniac replies, "Indeed. And with the millions I saved on voice talent, I made something truly spectacular – a magical, fun-tagical place with rides based off of your adventures in The Lego Movie!" The nonstop stream of self-aware lines like those is hilarious – and sometimes bordering on mildly subversive. And this is at a Legoland theme park, no less.In order for Brick World to work, Lord Business needs to subdue the protagonists and incorporate them against their will into the park's shows and attractions.
Will evil and corporate profits triumph over the earnest, if hopelessly overmatched Emmet and pals? Did we not learn that everything is awesome in the original movie?To help thwart the baddies, the Master Builders enlist the help of the audience, thereby making them part of the action. The "4D" effects also immerse guests in the attraction. Shot in 3D, the fourth "D" includes sensory enhancements such as water spritzes and wind blasts.The New Adventure has the same delightfully off-kilter sensibility as its predecessor. There are even some subtle – and funny – digs at the Disney parks (the President Business to Legoland's more ragtag Emmet). But underneath all of the shenanigans, there are some heartfelt human feelings that resonate (well, as human as CGI renderings of plastic figures can be, I suppose). Given its much shorter run time and its theme park setting, the Legoland film doesn't have the ability to go as deeply as the original movie. But the qualities that first endeared us to the characters are bubbling just beneath the surface.
Helming the new film is Rob Schrab, who also co-wrote the script. Known for his work on smart, celebrated TV shows such as Community and The Sarah Silverman Program, he brings a deft touch to the proceedings and maintains the tone of the first film. "We only spotlight [the characters] for a fraction of the amount of time," Schrab said, "so it's important to get to the fun as soon as possible."But he'll have plenty of time to go deeper when he takes over the director's chair for The Lego Movie sequel, which is in production and is scheduled for a May 2018 release. "The events of the first movie will push the second chapter forward and upward," said Schrab. "[We have] written a lot of funny stuff for Emmet and Wyldstyle, but there’s a deep, emotional message at the core of the story."Until then, you and your kids can check out the awesome and fun-tagical Legoland 4D movie.The Lego Movie 4D A New Adventure is included with admission to the Legoland theme parks and Leogland Discovery Centers.
Uh-oh, it looks like your Internet Explorer is out of date. For a better shopping experience, please upgrade now.A Maverick in the Making A Maverick in the Making A Candid Talk with Scratch Film Master Steven Woloshen A Candid Talk with Scratch Film Master Steven Woloshen Marcy Page Leaves Her Mark on the NFB"Whether you think it's funny or annoying, there's no denying that it's a ridiculously hooky thing," said Sara Quin of her band's Lonely Island collaboration. Although diehard fans of The Lego Movie are disappointed that the animated comedy didn't make the best animated film category during this morning's Academy Awards nominations announcement, the film did score a best original song nod for its chirpy anthem "Everything Is Awesome." Performed by Tegan and Sara featuring the Lonely Island, the song was co-produced by Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and written by Shawn Patterson, the latter of whom will compete for the gold at the Feb. 22 ceremony. The insanely upbeat track does not exactly fit into the nuanced indie-pop catalogue of Tegan & Sara, but that's what attracted the veteran sister duo toward the project, the group's Sara Quin told Billboard when the song debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 chart last February.2015 Oscar Nominations: Nods for Common & John Legend, But Nothing for Lorde"We want to be a 'serious' musical band
, while also being funny people," said Quin. "But this was so adorable, and the movie looked great, and the opportunity to do something with Mark Mothersbaugh and the Lonely Island... it was sort of a no-brainer, and it's turned out to be this really cool moment. We feel like it was a win-win."Tegan & Sara signed on to record "Everything Is Awesome" after hearing an early version of Patterson's song, which didn't yet have the Lonely Island delivering the rap breakdown. Although the duo typically writes its lyrics, the song's cleverness and catchiness pushed Tegan & Sara to cut vocals for a new version of the "Awesome" song. "It's a crazy earworm," said Quin. "As someone who prides myself on being able to write things that are memorable and hooky, the second that we heard this song, I was astounded. Whether you like the song or not, whether you think it's funny or annoying, there's no denying that it's a ridiculously hooky thing. As soon as you hear it, it never leaves your brain." Quin said that her sister Tegan went into the studio with Mothersbaugh -- the leader of Devo who composed music for films like 21 Jump Street and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs -- to record the song's main vocals, while Sara sent in backing vocals from her apartment.