Ralph Potts reviews the first official documentary about the world of the Lego brick and follows the evolution of the billion-dollar franchise, delving into the impact of Lego and its fans around the world.

The Review at a Glance:
(max score: 5 )

Film:
Extras:
Audio/Video total rating:
( Max score: 100 )

83
Details:

Studio and Year: Anchor Bay - 2015
MPAA Rating: G
Feature running time: 93 minutes
Genre: Documentary

Disc Format: BD-25
Encoding: AVC
Video Aspect: 1.78:1
Resolution: 1080p/24

Audio Format(s): English DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish
Directed by: Daniel Junge and Kief Davidson
Music by: John Jennings Boyd
Written by: Daniel Junge, Davis Coombe, Kief Davidson
Region Code: A

Blu-ray Disc release Date: November 3, 2015
"If you thought you knew the world of Lego, you don't know Brick"
My Take:

A Lego Brickumentary is the first official documentary about the world of the LEGO brick and follows the evolution of the billion-dollar franchise, delving into the impact of Lego and its fans around the world. Suitable for “kids” of all ages, the film explores the brick that has captured imaginations for generations and look at the fundamental question – is it a toy or something more?

What an interesting and enlightening documentary film. Over its 90 minute runtime it delves into the extraordinary impact of the brick and the innovative uses for it that have sprung up all over the world. The narrative takes us through art galleries full of Lego creations, introduces us to Lego Master Builders designing and creating life-sized Lego models (as well as those who employ Lego bricks to create their own films), leads us into the world of Lego therapy and brings us along to meet Adult Fans of Lego (AFOLS), each with amazing stories to tell. The film talks about the essential nature of human creativity and the ways we seek to build and understand our world.

It would be fair to say that Lego has become ingrained in our pop culture. I wasn't aware of its huge popularity among such varied groups. I also found its history, which began in Denmark (where it is still headquartered), quite interesting. Recognized the world over Legos have most assuredly touched the lives of all of us at some point. Its derivation began so simply and has grown into a worldwide phenomenon that has been put to use in ways that seem almost limitless. How cool is that?

A Lego Documentary is time well spent and presents an enlightening and interesting look at the "Brick" and how it continues to evolve, inspire and entertain.

Parental Guide:

This film is appropriate for all ages.


AUDIO/VIDEO - By The Numbers:REFERENCE= 92-100/EXCELLENT= 83-91/GOOD= 74-82/AVERAGE= 65-73/BELOW AVERAGE= under 65

**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**



Audio: 78
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
  • Dynamics:
  • Low frequency effects:
  • Surround Sound presentation:
  • Clarity/Detail:
  • Dialogue Reproduction:
  • Low frequency extension * (non-rated element): NA
  • DSU Rating * (non-rated element): NA
Video: 88
(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)
  • Resolution/Clarity:
  • Black Level/Shadow Detail:
  • Color Reproduction:
  • Fleshtones:
  • Compression:
A Lego Brickumentary comes to Blu-ray Disc from Anchor Bay Entertainment featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 21 Mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 3.3 Mbps.

This is a solid looking high definition presentation that boasts lifelike detail, vivid colors and natural looking fleshtones. Resolution can be rewarding as images are resolved cleanly and exhibit excellent depth and dimension. Blacks aren’t inky but appear a deep shade of black when onscreen with mixed light/dark elements.

The DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio soundtrack won’t test the limits of your surround sound system but sounds fine. The narrated segments and recorded dialogue during the various interviews is crystal clear and definitively rendered. Other than the music score’s light ambient bleed to the rear channels the mix remains front oriented. Being a documentary style film there is little call for an active surround mix and to that end I didn’t find the presentation lacking in any way.


Bonus Features:
  • (HD) 3 Deleted scenes
  • (HD) Legoland Resorts and Discovery Centers Promo
Final Thoughts:


A Lego Brickumentary is the first official documentary about the world of the LEGO brick and follows the evolution of the billion-dollar franchise, delving into the impact of Lego and its fans around the world. I found it to be time well spent as it presents an enlightening and interesting look at the "Brick" and how it continues to evolve, inspire and entertain. . It comes to Blu-ray from Anchor Bay Entertainment featuring gratifying high definition video, clear 5.1 channel lossless sound and a disappointing supplemental package that consists of a few deleted scenes and a promo. A Lego Brickumentary is deserving of your time and decidedly worth the price of a rental on Blu-ray.


Ralph Potts
AVS Forum Blu-ray Reviews



Reference Review System:
JVC DLA-RS4910 3D Ready 1080p High Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Calman 5 & C6 Meter from Spectracal )
Stewart Filmscreen - Studiotek 130 G3 100” 16x9 Screen
Carada Masquerade Horizontal Masking System
Marantz AV8802A 13.2 Channel Audio/Video Processor
Sherbourn Technologies - 7/200 Seven Channel Amplifier
B&K Reference 200.7 Series 2 Seven Channel Amplifier
Oppo BDP-103D Universal Disc/3D capable Blu-ray Player (With Darbee video processing)
Panasonic DMP-BDT310 3D capable Blu-ray Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
Sony Playstation 3 Blu-ray disc Player (HDMI Audio/Video)
System Controller: Apple iPad/iRule Pro HD Universal Remote Control
Canton "Ergo" and In-Ceiling series speakers
Axiom Audio QS8 Quadpolar speakers
SVS PB-13 Ultra (Rosenut finish)
SVS PC12-NSD
Panamax M5400-PM Power Conditioner/Surge Protector
Wireworld, Better Cables (Silver Serpent) - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
Cool Components - CP-CP102 cooling package