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Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui

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Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui
Directed byDavid Molina,
Terry Shakespeare
Written byHenry Gilroy,
Greg Klein,
Thomas Pugsley
Produced byVanessa Chapman
StarringChristopher Gaze,
Michael Dobson,
Paul Dobson
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release dates
October 6, 2004
Running time
75 min.
LanguageEnglish
Budget$US 5,000,000

Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui is the second movie of the Bionicle series and is a prequel to Bionicle: Mask of Light. This movie was created using Lego elements from the Bionicle series, and was released direct-to-DVD.

In this story, Vakama recalls the events that took place long before Mata Nui. His Turaga friends Nuju, Matau, Onewa, Whenua, and Nokama are chosen to be the Toa Metru of the island of Metru Nui. They must destroy the voracious plant Morbuzakh to save the island of Metru Nui.

The film was received with mixed reviews, with some noting the filling in of plot holes from the last movie, but continued to be noted for its visual effects and musical score, though others questioned its artistic merit. The film was followed by a sequel, Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows.

Plot

The film opens with Turaga Vakama describing a land that existed before Mata-Nui. Toa protected the residents of Mata-Nui until the creatured Makuta came to the land and defeated all of the Toa except Toa Lhikan. Before he fell, Lhikan retrieved six sacred stones and delivered them to each Matoran in Metru Nui. The six were Whenua, Nuju, Matau, Onewa, Nokama and Vakama, who met at the temple of the Great Spirit who transformed them into six giant Toa. They then seek to recover six sacred discs hidden throughout Metru Nui. Only with these disks of Kanoka can they hope to defeat the evil Makuta posing as Turaga Dume, the mayor of Metru Nui. The story also centers around the creation of the Kanohi mask, or the Mask of Time, which will bring victory to which ever side possesses it. In the subsequent battles against Makuta, Lhikan sacrifices himself, the Mask of Time is lost, and Makuta is sealed away by the Toa's combined powers. Vakama has a vision of Mata Nui, and declares it to be their new home.

Production

File:Behindthescenesbionicle2.jpg
Behind the scenes building for Bionicle 2

Plans were in place before the release of the first Bionicle movie to create a second movie.[1] The writers Terry Shakespeare and David Molina did have some input into the script, though most of the mythology had already been sketched out.[2]

For the visual style of the film, director David Molina stated “We wanted to give this audience a bigger view of the BIONICLE world – more environments, larger vistas.” Also, “The island of BIONICLE 2 is something like Manhattan, with lots of commerce and large buildings. The first film was very intimate, very organic. Metru Nui is more mechanical, so it has a different feel.”[3]

For the camera work, director Terry Shakespeare said "We really concentrated on depth of field with the camera," Comparing the two Bionicles, he felt "The first film had primary colors that were coded to the areas and a younger feel. For BIONICLE 2, we opened it up – the palette had to be more sophisticated, more realistic with earth tones, so we desaturated the characters."[3]

Most of the animation was created in Taiwan by a company called CGCC.[2] The process of creating the movie, from storyboarding to delivery of the film took 12 months.[2] Molina additionally added that the pipeline and process for creating this film was faster and more refined than the original Bionicle movie. “Our strength is bringing characters to life and not just robots,” added Shakespeare.[3]

Rating

Though being a direct-to-video release, this film was rated PG by the MPAA for action violence and scary images.

Reception

Cartoon Networks Toonami aired several scenes from the film along with the first Bionicle movie Mask of Light.[4] The film was first screened on October 6, 2004, at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California.[2] Cartoon Network aired the movie for the first time less than two months after its release on December 18, 2004, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time.[5]

Though reviewers are still skeptical as to the toy promotional nature of these films, several noted their marked improvement over the original Bionicle movie, including its filling in of major plot holes that had been present in the first film.[6] It was also noted for its references to The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Matrix, and Excalibur.[7] Some found the short but complicated introduction of characters and places to be difficult to follow, and the story itself hard to follow. There was also concern that the Bionicle brand promotes violence, running counter to the LEGO themes of patience and careful construction.[8] A sequel entitled Bionicle 3: Web of Shadows was released in 2005.

Bionicle 2 was nominated at the DVD Exclusive Awards for Best Animated Premiere Movie.[9] It was also nominated for best director and best original score.[10] Bionicle was nominated at the 32nd Annual Saturn Awards for Best DVD release.[11] It was also an iParenting Media Award winner for Best Home Video/DVD.[12] Two awards were won by the studio that created Bionicle 2 at the 27th Annual Telly Awards.[13] It also won the Golden Reel Award for Sound Editing in a Direct to Video Release.[14]

DVD release

Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui was released on DVD on 6 October, 2004 in the United States. It was praised for its high quality picture and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. The DVD included a number of documentaries including the making of the movie and associated toy line.[15] There is also a featurette entitled "The Legend Revealed" that has a brief question and answer session with the production team.[16] Some critics were concerned that the DVD makes too much of an attempt to sell the Bionicle product.[17]

Cast

Trivia

  • It is most awkward that during the movie in some cases the characters don't move their lips while speaking. Most notably when Matoran Vakama shouts "Oh, help me, please!" and Nidhiki's "Do it." line. The audio-lip synch has proven to be a bit faulty as a whole, however with no explanation given as to why, it's considered a goof. Also, it can be noted that none of the Toa of Water have any mouths to speak with.
  • The biggest goof is though when Matoran Nokama inserts her Water Toa Stone into an ice symbol. Since it (the symbol) has a light blueish glow, the animators must have mistaken it for a water symbol.
  • Although not necessarily a goof, Matau's aeroslicers open up to form his wings when, in fact, they do not in his toy.

References

  1. ^ Hettrick, Scott (September 16, 2003). "Bright prospects for bow of Bionicle". Video Business Online. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  2. ^ a b c d Feng, Yunda Eddie (October 15, 2004). "Bionicle 2 Screening and Interview". DVD Town.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b c "BIONCLE 2 DVD Opens Up Characters and Environments". Animation World Network. October 20, 2004. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  4. ^ Kelly (April 1, 2004). "Mask of Light on Cartoon Network Bonuses". Lego. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  5. ^ "Bionicle 2 on Toonami Next Saturday". BZPower.com. December 11,2004. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  6. ^ Mindflash (December 1, 2004). "BIONICLE 2: LEGENDS OF METRU-NUI". SciFilm.org. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  7. ^ Hattaway, Judge Mitchell (October 27, 2004). "Bionicle 2: Legends Of Metru Nui". DVD Verdict.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  8. ^ Feng, Yunda Eddie (October 13, 2004). "Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui". DVD Town.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  9. ^ Hettrick, Scott (January 2, 2005). "Spidey takes on Frodo in DVD kudos". Variety. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  10. ^ Ball, Ryan (January 3, 2005). "Lion King 1 1/2 Rules DVD Exclusive Noms". Animation Magazine. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  11. ^ "Saturn Award Nominations". The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. January 3, 2005. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  12. ^ "Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui". iParenting Media Awards. 2005. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  13. ^ "27th Annual Telly Awards (2006)". Telly Awards. 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  14. ^ Mix Editors (February 28, 2005). "Golden Reel Winners Announced by MPSE". Mix Online.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  15. ^ Ruest, Gaetan (October 19, 2004). "Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui". UpcomingDiscs.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  16. ^ Miller III, Randy (October 13, 2004). "Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui". DVDTalk.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  17. ^ Alley, Dodd (2005). "Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui". Movieweb.com. Retrieved 2006-06-27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |year= (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
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