Wyldstyle

We've never covered LEGO cosplay here on BrickNerd, but that's about the change. For the uninitiated, cosplay is basically "dress up like your favorite character". I know that's overly simplistic, and that dedicated cosplayers literally spend months if not years perfecting their costumes. This Wyldstyle costume by SunlitEquinox is awesome. So is she a DJ?

Winter Chalet

Here in California we just don't get much snow, at least where most of us live. Maybe that's why I find winter MOCs so appealing, since they represent something far away and somewhat exotic (at least to me). This modular diorama by sdrnet depicts a scene I've never actually experienced at a snowy winter vacation spot. There's so much detail in this scene and inside the building I invite you to click through and take a look. There's also a fantastic little surprise under the mountain, very nerdy.

The LEGO Movie - Reviewed

Going into the movie theater on Saturday afternoon I honestly didn't know what to expect from The LEGO Movie. I suppose part of me expected the movie to cater to the target LEGO audience 6 to 13-year-olds, but I hoped deep down for something more. I wanted the LEGO Movie to transcend the product, to show the rest of the world what those of us in the LEGO community already know - that the LEGO system of play is thoughtful, complex and beautiful.

A motley crew of heros: Unikitty, Benny, Emmet, Batman, Vitruvius, and Wildstyle.

Not much was known about the LEGO Movie plot going into the release weekend. What we did know was that the movie featured average-Joe Emmet Brickowoski somehow joining forces with the fearless Wildstyle in hopes of saving the LEGO world from Lord Business' evil plans. What they delivered was one amazing, and sometimes bizarre, adventure that criss-crossed many of the classic LEGO themes including city, old west, castle, and pirate. While watching the movie I kept thinking that the plot felt like it was taken from the imagination of my 9-year-old self playing with bricks down my basement.

The animation is top-notch with every element of the landscape and characters rendered in great detail. Each minifigure was brought to life with tiny, lifelike movements of their hair, hands, and limbs. Explosions, lasers, and even water were made from digitally rendered LEGO bricks. The animators used LEGO bricks to painstakingly create all of the structures, vehicles, and environments seen in the movie. I kept wishing I could pause the movie and look at just how everything was built. That being said things on screen got a little overwhelming at times, which made it hard to tell what was going on, but maybe these eyes of mine are just getting old.

So, was LEGO able to break away from historically terrible toy-themed movies? I fully believe so. From the prospective of an adult fan of LEGO the movie succeeded in reminding me of why and how I fell in love with LEGO bricks in the first place. I appreciated the throwback LEGO themes, unexpected cameos and humor that only adults would get. But this is also a family movie and the directors gently remind us that as a community of adult LEGO builders we should help inspire our children, the next generation of LEGO enthusiasts, to think beyond the instruction sheet.

I give The LEGO Movie 5 out of 5 Nerdlies.

Magnificent Desolation

My first childhood memory is sitting on my dad's lap watching a NASA mission unfold on TV. I've always had a fondness of the brave men and women of space exploration, and I'm also fond of this picture by tiler. The MOC isn't particularly fancy or spectacular, but it's clean, well designed and evocative of the lunar rover. But this is all about the excellent photo. The composition, lighting and editing are great, but the subtle touches like the registration marks and the reflection of the astronaut in the helmet truly make it.

KG2.5 - ARC Omelet

This was a pleasant sight to wake up to this morning. It's been a while since we've seen a MOC from lights, and this cheery little odd-shaped ship is a treat to the eyes. The side-opening cockpit is way cool and it looks just as awesome docked as it does flying.

"Hatchet"

This little baby is called the T.A.H. MK II "Hatchet" Multipurpose Tactical Construction Hardsuit, which is a bit of a mouthful so I'll just call it awesome. The color combinations and construction are very clean, it really looks like an official set. I love the slight asymmetry to it as well, gives it a more utility feel.

Angry Uni-Kitty

Yay! Tomorrow The LEGO Movie comes out! I have no idea what context this is in, but angry Uni-Kitty is clearly not to be messed with. It's always so odd when you have a rush of exposure to characters before the movie comes out. I know that in just another day this image will mean so much more to me. This MOC by Lego Junkie is spectacular.

Gumi

I remember when I took my first gig in Hollywood. It was literally IN Hollywood (that's actually kind of rare) and there was a pizza place around the corner that I ate at fairly often. Nearly every time I was there there was a girl with neon green hair in the corner having a slice and reading a script. I guess she went on to rock star manga status, who knew?

BrickNerd Episode 203 is online

Featuring LEGO Castle 70403 Dragon Mountain and Cooperworks stickers. 

Lego Castle Dragon Mountain - 70403

Master Oogway

First Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and now an ancient Kung Fu tortoise, what's next, midlife crisis karate terrapins? All joking aside this amazing build by Bruce Lowell from the movie Kung Fu Panda captures the essence of Master Oogway to a T. Bruce has pulled off some cool new tricks, from the white minifig heads shrouded in space helmets for eyes to the excellent use of Ewok glider wings for the back of the sash.

Mmmmmm Lobster

I didn't get to eat lobster as a kid. I remember my parents having it from time to time, but it seemed every time they did, it was TV dinners for me and my siblings. Yes, while they ate lobster, I had salisbury steak, and you know what? I was fine with that. I'm an adult now though, and this MOC by F'Alves is making me hungry.

Funky And Chunky

No that's not their names (although, I have to say it's kinda fun) that's just how their built. Well, that and full of awesome. These stout little hard suits are from Mechanekton, and they're wonderful. 

Welcome To Brickimedia

Yesterday marked the official launch of a new LEGO fan community website, Brickimedia. Brickimedia is an open network of fan communities that brings together a Wiki, a place to share stories, customs and even a Cuusoo Wiki. Click through and check it out.

Tiny Transformers

What has less than 50 pieces, transforms and is adorable? These guys. M<0><0>DSWIM decided to take a break from bigger MOCs and do a little micro building, and these are the results. These could be an entire series of cool little polybags, if only LEGO had this license.

Sponsors Be Sponsorin'

On a day like today, when all Americans bathe in the glory of corporate sponsorship (it's Super Bowl Sunday) It seems fitting that this MOC should pop up in my Flickr feed. Builder toms_h@rt shows us just how enterprising GARC racers fund their sport, and catch the spectator's eyes.

"No One Back Home Is Going To Believe This"

While I've always thought that the name oliphaunt was just silly, these four-tusked behemoths were quite impressive in Lord Of The Rings. And this mini fig scale version by Simply Complex is every bit as impressive, and huge. This was built for the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics over on MOCpages, and will be certainly turn some heads.

UNSC Spirit of Fire

After four years of planning and building, Mark Kelso has finally unveiled his monster reproduction of the Halo ship Spirit of Fire. And the results are spectacular. At a massive 7 feet long, no detail is too small to include in this masterpiece. Mark took every effort to hide as many studs as possible and successfully pulled off some great angles to model this ship as close to the original as possible. In fact, if you weren't reading a LEGO blog you might think this ship is an actual 3D model.

Now if only someone could convince him to bring it to Brickworld Chicago 2014 so we can all see it in person...

Blacktron Brood Stalker

Blacktron MOCs are rare anymore, especially ones as cool as this offering from -=Steebles=-. The mechanical linkages look real enough to make this thing walk. And all black or mostly black models are notoriously hard to photograph (no really, don't do it to yourself!) especially in such a way they can be seen against a black background, this is well done.

Beautiful Abandonment

Here at BrickNerd we like to look back from time to time, like that time some guy no one had heard of came out of his dark ages and BOOM, we get this. I believe my original response to this jaw-dropping MOC was "whhaaaaaaaaaa?". Mike Doyle has since established himself as a brick artist of the first calibre, and his book Beautiful LEGO has been a big hit. I'm honored to have been included in it.