Because Bionicle isn't definitively Lego, it's a subcategory of Lego. The Lego Movie is more about classic Lego, with Lego people, and Lego bricks. The creative aspect of Lego, not some dark and gritty footnote in the Lego Hall Of Shame. Ever wonder why they opted to go with Hero Factory? Because HF is geared more towards kids; it's adventurous and accessible. Bionicle was discontinued partly due to it's convoluted story that makes the collective works of Tolkien look like Hop on Pop. Movies are first and foremost, mass entertainment (keyword: mass), it's the filmmaker's job to fill theater seats and to do that they have to appeal to the common denominator. They're not going to waste screen time devoted to material unfamiliar to the core audience. The Lego Movie, first and foremost is a children's movie. Bearing this in mind, the filmmakers are likely going to appeal to what's most popular to kids today. What's really popular right now? SUPERHEROES. Marvel and DC is everywhere, and obviously is a huge money maker for Lego. Now put yourself, hypothetically, in charge of making The Lego Movie. Who are you going to appeal to with this movie? Millions of kids who love the current superhero culture... or a few thousand collectors in their 20s-30s who won't let a peripheral series that ended almost a decade ago die? It may have been a dick move to diehard Bionicle fans who have some false sense of entitlement, but to the rest of us it was merely an innocent reference. Please show me proof that Lego was facing foreclosure had it not been the holy savior that was Bionicle. Again, tell me more how a 50 year old company, the Hershey's chocolate of the toy block business, would not exist today were it not for Bionicle.
Bionicle isn't anything Lego should be ashamed of but I do agree that the backlash against the reference is ridiculous.
Not definitively LEGO? What does that even mean? No bricks? Give me a break. It definitively saved LEGO, so I'd say it's more important than almost any other product in LEGO history because of that. I do agree superheroes are more popular. But I think the movie should have given Bionicle a proper thank you or ignored it all together, not a little picture that seems like "We did this and hate it but here you go it existed." You don't do that for the line that kept you around when you couldn't make money. It's wrong. Also, lol at Bionicle's convoluted story. It least it had one, unlike HF.
You keep saying Bionicle saved the entire Lego company, something you haven't backed up with anything but your own opinion.
I did, you just don't bother reading the whole thread. LEGO was in the middle of not turning a profit for four years, massive layoffs and losses, then 2004 came, Bionicle was their entire profit margin.
Now I haven't seen the Lego Movie yet, since i've been sick last weekend and all of this week, but honestly Bionicles is deader than disco. and IMO, its story was convoluted, perhaps it would have had a chance if it had a cartoon instead of direct-to-video/DVD's.
Maybe they might have, actually. But nobody would've been upset. Not being invited to a party isn't as bad as being invited just to be insulted. But they didn't, that's what I'm saying. It's not that Bionicle was not mentioned, or only briefly mentioned: it was only mentioned to be shit on. Sweet dodging of the question, bro. But you know that's not even close to what I implied, but please, continue how Lego is a flawless Godsend company who can do no wrong as they dis their previous brands, adult collectors of their products, and make shittier sets at increased prices. I would've been totally fine if they just never mentioned it, because you're absolutley right, it wouldn't have worked. But they did mention it, only to discredit it. That is the problem, but evidently one you cannot understand. Nobody's trying to say Bionicle saved Lego, don't be ridiculous. We're just saying it was important. Lego, however, treated it like it was nothing.
Haloid and Split Lip Bionicle was not "Shat" on nor do Lego hate it, And it is true that Bionicle was brought out to save Lego from a Financial Crisis but Lego are not going to spend time advertising or talking about a line that is discontinued.
Who said they needed to spend time or advertise it? Are people just incapable of not going to extremes? I just don't like that Bionicle was brought up to be shoved aside. Like I said, why bother inviting it to the party if you're just gonna kick it out? Spoiler tag it. I'd be really interested to know the context and if it helps/hurts the matter. I have no inclination to see the movie, nor did I honestly before this "news." I was, at best, gonna get it on Blu Ray in the discount bin in the years to come, like most movies I don't HAVE to see.
Looking at Amazon prices on some old Bionicles, I'm about to go on a little buying spree. Get the four Toa Nuva I need and '03 Takanuva.
And if you ever need pieces, head to Bricklink. I finished most of my Bionicle collection through that site.
Amazon can really be a savior can't it. Anyways I got some Bionicles I'd like to sell. Such as my Toa Likhan and Kikanallo and most of my Toa Hordika and Visorak sets. I'm willing to talk trade or purchase.
Again, maybe because the producers knew that if they didn't bring up Bionicle, fanboys would start complaining? That's a shame, since the Lego Movie really is a good movie, even if Bionicle isn't in it.
So, bringing it up just to mention how they won't bring it up is better? That makes no sense, but thanks for trying? It's just not a movie I want to watch. I thougth it looked funny and okay for what it was, but what it is isn't my thing. Just like I didn't watch Frozen or other kids movies.
I'm just gonna duck in here and point out the context of the "we don't need to talk about" was less 'these suck let us never speak of them again' and more 'these also exist but aren't relevant right' now in the middle of exposition. Considering that line out of context seems to be a big force in this argument and some of the people in this big hissy fit haven't even seen the movie. To weigh in my opinion; I was a fan of Bionicle through it's whole run, from my mom picking up Kopaka and Onua for me through to me getting Stars Tahu and Takanuva. There were big periods in there where Bionicle was the only thing I was collecting, and I was happy that Bionicle got the shout-out that it did. I didn't go into the movie expecting the climax to be the toa show up and save everyone and I honestly didn't even expect it to get referenced at all. So I was happy with the wink and nod it got; it's certainly more than Alpha Team, Knight's Kingdom or Exo-force got and is pretty much equivalent to what Adventurers and Ninjago had. Tl;dr: stop whining that your favorite line was "insulted" by only getting a cameo when at least it actually appeared.
I feel like this post would mean a metric ton more if it wasn't demeaning at the same time. I find it funny nobody can apparently voice their arguement without belittling the opposition, by calling it a "hissy fit" or "whining." Also, since nobody has bothered explaining the context, (despite me ASKING THEM TO and then they change the subject) it's hard to really know it, huh? Instead of trying to explain the context as best possible to quell concerns, y'know, reasonably, the people on Lego's side have merely just kept enforcing our view on the matter by treating it as actuality, telling the upset people to "let it go" or other such canned insults. If this really was a misunderstanding over context, then try and make the opposition understand instead of just calling them whiners and telling them to shut up, huh? We don't know what happened, expect what has been told, and nobody has told us any different. You don't get to play the "the context changes it" if you supplied the incorrect context.
This. Lego doesn't owe anything to the Bionicle fans, nor do they have to treat the franchise itself as some holy grail. Bionicle fans need to stop bringing up ancient history and accept that the franchise is dead, and it's not going to be resurrected anytime soon.
Again with the pettiness. How is it that the pro-Bionicle side has managed to remain civil towards the opposition, but you can seem to make a point without talking trash? Also, I guess being a fan means you CAN'T ACCEPT Bionicle is dead, hmmm? Like, what sense does that make? Nobody says it should be resurrected (well, we were discussing it way before, but that was just "Man Bionicle was awesome, what if it had gone on, what would they do?" type discussion) you're putting words in people's mouths. Also also, "ancient history" Has it even been five years since it ended? Again, can't make a point without talking shit and throwing insults. You COULD, easily, if you or anyone else bothered to explain the misunderstanding, but rather than try and resolve things you all decided to start insulting fans of Bionicle, bringing up that it's dead, etc. All because Lego's infallible name was threatened?
How is it pettiness? I could just as easily say you're being a huge fanboy whose feelings are hurt due to one stupid line in a movie. I won't because I have some tact. Bionicle is one small part of Lego history, not the other way around. Don't like the movie? Don't watch it. Nobody cares.
