LEGO Ninjago Video Game Movie Shows off the “Stinging Bee!”

lego ninjagoBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Video game week continues with a quick look at the latest video released by Warner Bros. Interactive and Travellers Tale’s Games of the upcoming LEGO Ninjago movie. This newest trailer shows off some new moves of Lloyd and gang in the game due to arrive in shelves the same week as the movie, September 22.

This new teaser looks fantastic and has me excited to play TT Games’ products again. While I found past products repetitive, the same game engine with different franchise wrappings, this game feels different. I’m hoping I am right. This latest video features this team performing epic combat moves, such as the “Stinging Bee,” “Swooping Hawk,” and “Skyward Dragon” and upgrading their weapons to defend Ninjago City from Lord Garmadon and his Shark Army.

This game will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.

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Loving the LEGO Ninjago Early Halloween Treat, Day of the Departed — A Review

Fans of LEGO Ninjago living in Canada were treated to an early broadcast on Oct 26 of Day of the Departed on Teletoon.

lego-ninjago-masters-of-spinjitzu-season-6-episode-5-peak-a-booBy Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Fans of LEGO Ninjago living in Canada were treated to an early broadcast on Oct 26 of Day of the Departed on Teletoon. The American broadcast is slated for October 29, and it will most likely be on Cartoon Network. This animation continues after the events of season six where Nya was meant to die (a plot point to recall) but due to a wish, the event was undone. A few months have passed and Sensei Wu, Cole, Jay, Kai, Zane and Nya honouring their fallen comrades and respected ancestors in this world’s version of Halloween.

Technically, the time spent feels very much like Chinese Ghost Month being compressed to a night. During this year’s celebration, the moon is going to eclipse and will take on the look of yin and yang. This omen can bring either good tidings or mourning for all of Ninjago.

In the spirit world, the enemies have gathered to talk about what they want to do to Cole and team. Revenge is on their mind and each of them wants to take their grievance upon their mutual rival who sent them to the Cursed Realm. For example, Wu and Morro have a sordid history together. Wu recruited him and when the young warrior was in training, he believed he would become the Green Ninja. As most viewers know, that honour went to another lad.

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Trying to Name the 16 Realms in LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu (Part Two)

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

curseworld

The LEGO animated series universe may well simply consist of 16 realms. In the Ninjago series, three were visited during season five — Chima, The Dark/Cursed Realm, Underworld and Cloud City — and that begs the question of just what does the other realms thematically represent. The immediate assumption, because of the Laval cameo, is that this company’s in-house products are included. While some folks can hope for licensed titles like Harry Potter or Star Wars to be included, that’s not the case. To include other worlds made by other creators brings the count to 20+! In what’s coming, the movie worlds would include:

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LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Makes for a Fun Asian Ghost Month Watch! (Part One)

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

curseworld

The latest season of LEGO Ninjago is certainly worth watching during Hungry Ghost Month. In Asia, this tradition of entertaining spirits during the start of a new lunar month is widespread and based on folkloric beliefs. Some of what’s presented in the series comes into play, and it adds to the versatility of what this world represents. Although this latest season’s introduction is in part due to the events from the last story-arc, to see how much of the spirit realm influences daily life needs to be observed. Lord Garmadon is the blame when he had to cast powerful magic to open a portal to the Cursed Realm to save the day. He may have inadvertently traded places with Morro, a renegade spirit. When this ghost saw that Lloyd is the new Green Ninja, he had to figure out a plan in how to possess him.

But Morro also has a vendetta against Sensei Wu. He was a former pupil whom Wu thought was the chosen one. But when the master saw an ambition and arrogance that would rival even Darth Vader, he knew the boy was not the one (“Winds of Change”). The number of episodes made to tell this latest chapter is shorter than its early seasons, and the 10 episode count makes for a perfect weekend watch. The storytelling is top-notch and the Hageman Brothers have outdone themselves in how they pay respect to a few supernatural Asian traditions.

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Prepare yourself for LEGO Star Wars Droid Tales, A Review

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

LSW-DT_SWC-600x834Some fans of a peculiar galaxy far, far away love LEGO, and it’s about time a new animation is made. The Yoda Chronicles was short lived and The New Yoda Chronicles (retitled due to rights ownership) just did not have the same quality that the previous season had. LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales is suffering from a similar fate. Ever since Disney acquired the rights, the consistency of this spinoff world has not been perfect.

When the directors and executive producers have changed between products, perhaps that’s the cause. The only person involved in all these shorts is Lucasfilm writer Michael Price. His plotting is quite good. Somehow, as more products have been made, the execution has not matched what was presented in The Padawan Menace. The way young Anakin is characterized in the premiere is familiar. He’s a touch annoying in the films but the fact he almost becomes Darth Vader is toyed with much like how Lloyd Garmadon in Ninjago wants to be evil.

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Criticisms Towards LEGO’s Incorporating Scooby Doo

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

lego mm

LEGO’s mighty empire is going to get scarier with the inclusion of Scooby Doo into its line of licensed franchise properties. This deal will certainly reignite interest to some degree, but for fans who loved the darker take in Scooby Doo! Mystery Incorporated, the chances of that kind of continuation will be sorely missed.

With the next cartoon, Be Cool Scooby-Doo, scheduled for broadcast later this year, the back to basics approach will have a selective appeal by older fans. Younger viewers will most likely eat it up, but the worry is with Warner Bros. Animation producing a 22-minute animated LEGO special featuring the characters. If it’s going to follow in the same direction as the painful to watch LEGO Yoda Chronicles than the excellently written Ninjago or Legends of Chima, the characterizations of the beloved Scooby gang are going to suffer. The series might take on a familiar design tone like in Scooby-Doo! Adventures: The Mystery Map, where puppets were used.

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