The Bible: A Brickfilm opens in the beginning in Genesis and, story by story, LEGO by LEGO, we find ourselves moving through the Old Testament: Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, Joseph, Moses, and more. The storytelling scale of the movie is impressive.
The production is fun, clever, and makes you want to bring out the LEGOs. Rather than CGI animation, or stop motion, the visuals are closer to classic puppetry, with LEGO characters interacting with real dirt, water, and more. This works as well as it does because of the great sound design. Vocal performances are engaging, the music is cinematic, the sound effects are convincing. It’s an amped-up iteration of how it feels to play with LEGOs. Yes, it’s about building. But it’s also about voices and interacting with the real and pretend environments.
If the kiddos haven’t graduated from Duplos yet, some of the violence (though obviously pretend) should be considered. Character’s have weapons, are attacked, hanged, impaled, and more. Animals are sacrificed, as well. There’s some artificial blood (it sometimes looks like strawberry jam) which some viewers may find goofy. Others may find it a tad gory.
Other content, particularly because of the LEGO depictions, is restrained. Adam and Eve are “naked” in the Garden, there’s some name-calling, and Potiphar’s wife’s failed seduction, and her lie, aren’t very graphic.
It’s also worth saying that, as you probably expect, the are some artistic LEGO liberties regarding the source Scripture. Watching the film as a springboard (rather than a substitute) to the Word may be something to consider.
Because of some of the LEGO violence, The Bible: A Brickfilm is Dove-approved for Ages 12+.
The Dove Take:
Expansive LEGO adaptation of Old Testament stories has fun visuals and solid sound design, but a heads up for some violence.
