Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows (2005)

My youngest son is a huge Lego fan, including Bionicle, so naturally we had to see this third movie in the Bionicle series. To be honest, there is no other way I would have seen it; even though I've always been intrigued by the Bionicle action figures, I am in no way so into them that I'd watch an entire movie -- not to mention a second, a third, and *sigh* God help me, in two weeks, a fourth -- with some semblance of a story line about their exploits against evil. (The only thing more heartwarming than watching a Bionicle movie is to do so while accompanied by the constant chatter of character explication and play-by-play from a preteen fan -- sounds like: "Toa Metro Nui Matoran Keetongu Visorak Rahaka Makuta Turaga yada yada..." Actually, the Lego folks have been lazy about building their imaginary world by trademarking wholesale words from the Maori, Polynesian, and Melanesian languages -- and even Latin -- until a Maori lawsuit shooed them off New Zealand's cultural legacy at least.) The animation in this and other Bionicle movies specializes in swirly, murky, and vague imagery -- not the best. Care seems to be taken with the Toa warriors themselves though; I've always been intrigued by how their faces and postures are made to show a certain level of emotion. The storyline is always (then, now, and ever) about "unity, duty, destiny" and a "prophecy" that "predestines" an individual's service, sacrifice, and victory, often with the words "You have no choice." Often the Toas' appearance (esp. their armament) transforms against their will, leading them to question their essence, purpose, and mission. Lego and animation fans will feel compelled to see this movie -- as may their family members though for different reasons. Cheers! 2.5 stars.