Today I wanted to share a recent family movie night selection that got four thumbs-up from our household. The movie is called “A LEGO Brickumentary”. We recently saw it for rent on iTunes and decided to check it out. So glad we did…it was a great choice for family watching.
The documentary takes you through the history and future of LEGO. It was interesting from so many perspectives and kept all of us entertained. Most of all, the movie was inspiring. Inspiring to see how tragedies or failures can eventually lead to new discoveries and success. Inspiring to see how a seemingly simple piece of plastic can be the building block for infinite possibilities. And inspiring to see how a company can rely on its users to lead the way. Here is a peek at the trailer to give you a visual:
I also loved getting a glimpse at the whole AFOL community. What in the world is AFOL, you ask? AFOL stands for “Adult Fans of Lego”. Their passion for this brand is infectious and so much fun to watch. Their mega convention, called BrickCon, is a showcase of genius works created with LEGO pieces by these superfans. Which brings me to LEGO as an art form. The film features an artist who uses LEGO pieces as his medium. His work was incredible. He recreated famous works of art using LEGO for a Times Square exhibit that would have been so cool to see in person.
Our kids have been into LEGO for several years now, but I have to admit, my affinity towards them was starting to wane. After watching the documentary, it occurred to me that it is probably due to the pre-determined set models. By that I mean the sets that tell you exactly what you are going to build. Like a Batmobile, or a Police Station, etc. Our boys have plowed through dozens of sets like that through the years. And while I do love the concentration it entails to put them together, the short lifespan of play is kind of a downer. I often see the sets disassembled and pretty much useless because the pieces are so customized for that particular set, that you can’t do much else with them. But watching the LEGO Brickumentary this weekend has reinvigorated the passion for LEGO for all of us around here.
After the movie was over, it was time for bed, but Ben asked if we could get up early the next morning to start building, and I said sure. So the next morning, we all came together and started building LEGOs together. We actually purchased a LEGO Classic set that I have had my eye on for a while. I have been wanting to pick one of these up for a while now, but the movie was the perfect impetus to get it. It is chock-full of simple pieces that can create whatever your imagination creates. We worked together to build a house which included a shower, and even a garden. If you are having the same issues with LEGOs as we were, I encourage you to try these. They have not stopped building since then. In fact, I also think these would be a great teacher gift to keep in the classroom.
Recent LEGO creation. No plans necessary.
I know beyond just the LEGO specifics, my kids came away from this documentary with many valuable lessons. Have you watched any great documentaries lately?
