Lego

Ninjagopalooza23 Part I: EVO/Core sets: Hands-On Reviews: 71781,71783,71787

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I hinted a couple of weeks ago about my fondness for the intrinsic ‘spirit’ of series such as Ninjago and Monkie Kid – they are both sci-fi fantasy themes and, as such, bring us the closest thing to Classic Space and Castle themes that we are likely to see on an ongoing basis for the time being.

We have seen the first half year present a ‘Core’ Range for Ninjago, while the second half of last year tied in closely with the animated series.

Earlier in the year, I joined several other Fan Media in a conversation with Niek van Slagmaat and Markus Rollbühler, both part of the Ninjago team, about the ‘Core’ Series – the sets we saw released in January, with seemingly no connection to the series, beyond the presence of those Core Ninjago values: Mechs, Vehicles, Dragons, Dojos and of course, Ninja.

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Single Use Plastic Stickers To Be Phased Out From LEGO Sets By 2025! [April Fools]

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Last year, we revealed the look and sound of paper bags being introduced to replace the single-use plastic bags found containing our elements within LEGO Sets. Today, we hear that the Sustainability Juggernaut drives on, with the LEGO Group announcing that single-use plastic stickers will be discontinued in the coming months. 

Speaking at a late night sustainability forum in Copenhagen, Project Lead Just Stikkarssen explained, “We have been listening to our fans, both young and old, and they told us that they don’t like single-use stickers.”

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The Old and the New: 7314 Recon Mech RD vs 71785 Jay’s Titan Mech [Face to Face Review]

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This article is the result of a recent unexpected convergence: I’ve had this year’s first drop of Ninjago sets on my desk for a little while. I’ve put a couple together, but I have been trying to work out how to stretch it from ‘Just Another Review’ – something I used to do back in the early days of the blog, but less so in recent times.

I have found myself developing an increasingly soft spot for Ninjago and Monkie Kid: It has become apparent to me that they serve as the natural creative extensions of both Classic Space and Castle Themes: Fantasy, and Science Fiction, with their emphasis shifting in either direction from season to season.

In the past, I have predominantly observed the builds in Ninjago from a distance without feeling the need to understand them in the show’s context. As time passed, it became apparent that I was unlikely to fully catch up and appreciate the lore any time soon. As such, I was actually immensely grateful last year when we saw our first round of Ninjago CORE sets: These sets provide us with the opportunity to engage with the traditional subjects of Ninjago sets: Mechs, Dragons, Vehicles and Temples, without needing to be concerned with the 10 or more years of established Lore and Back Catalogue: just get in there and play, with models aimed at a variety of ages.

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GO ANYWHERE, BUILD AND REBUILD THE NEW LEGO®ICONS LAND ROVER CLASSIC DEFENDER 90

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LAND ROVER have been in the business of producing automobiles for 75 years. Today the LEGO Group have officially revealed the latest ICONs set, the LAND ROVER CLASSIC DEFENDER Ninety.

In the Beginning, there was the Land Rover, first appearing in 1948, it was the go-to vehicle for the British Army, amongst others. Back in those days, there was the Land Rover 90, 110 and later 130, with a 90-inch, 110-inch and… 127-inch long wheel base respectively. The need to create Defender as a brand came after the introduction of the Land Rover Discovery in 1983. The Defender 90/ninety was introduced the following year. The car remained in production until 2016, when it was discontinued after 67 years and over 2.016 million units produced. In fact, the 2 millionth unit was auctioned off to raise funds for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Born Free Foundation.

Set 10317 LEGO ICONS Land Rover Classic Defender Ninety has 2336 pieces, and will be released on April 1st 2023. It will have a retail price of £209.99 / €239.99 / $239.99 / 369.99 AUD / 329.99 CAD, joining other classic cars in the Creator Expert/ Icons range. The model is around 16cm high and 32 cm long.

Click to read more:

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40587 Easter Basket: Gift With Purchase [Hands On Review]

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There have been some really interesting and desirable Gifts With Purchase (GWP) available with your LEGO Purchases this year. Some have, unfortunately, had required you pay a high price in order to ‘score the prize,’ as it were. Therefore, as we come into the late March purchasing period, it is quite a relief to see a fairly cute Easter-themed GWP available, with a buy-in price of $70USD/70€/£65. The promotion will run from 16th March to 9th April 2023, while stocks last.

I am fortunate to have been sent a pre-release copy of this set by the LEGO Group: Let’s take a look to see if it is worth the effort to make another online purchase this year? Or should you wait?

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Indiana Jones and the Resurrected Franchise [3 New LEGO® Indiana Jones Sets: Official Reveal and Ponderings]

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It was over 40 years ago. Wednesday, during the September school holidays. Probably the Croydon twin cinema. I remember it was raining. After Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back (sure… they call it a New Hope these days, but that’s another franchise), I couldn’t wait to see the next film made by George Lucas, along with one of his mates who made that shark film. (I was 12… give me a break)

From the opening scene, as the Paramount logo cut to an actual mountain – sure, it feels like a cliche now, but this was early in my cinema appreciation career- through to the final scene, I was taken on a roller coaster ride through Peru, Nepal, Egypt and even the middle of the Mediterranean. Once I got my head around the fact that the Lost Ark featured in the title didn’t belong to Noah, I was fine.

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MAR10 Day: 71413 Super Mario Buildable Characters Series 6

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I seem to be slipping behind with my LEGO Super Mario Reviews: I have a few sets from the current wave remaining to look at (as well as some more from last year); sometime soon, we will see what the LEGO Group have in store for us later in the year.

The figures were released earlier in 2023, and cost USD6.99/AUD9.99 each. I picked up an unopened box at Toybricks. Read on to see who’s inside, and how they score:

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The LEGO Group Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Jurassic Park with Five New LEGO ® Jurassic Park Sets 

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This year, we see the 30th anniversary of the release of Jurassic Park: the original, and in my opinion, the best offering from the 6 movies in the franchise.

Last year, I brought you an overview of LEGO Dinosaur sets over the years. The sets are due for release in June, but 5 sets in the series have been revealed today, with one, 75961 Jurassic Park Visitor Centre, available to preorder from March 8, 2023. Scroll down for more details and pricing:

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The LEGO Group X Disney 100: New Sets Revealed

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This year, the Disney Company celebrate their 100th anniversary and, as part of that celebration, there are a few LEGO Sets to go with it…. Today, offical images are reveals of some (others have already arrived on the shelves.

Today, the LEGO Group is kicking off its celebration of Disney’s 100 anniversary by recreating some of the most beloved Disney movie moments in iconic LEGO® brick form as part of its new #SharetheWonder video series.

The three-part series will feature scenes from timeless Disney and Pixar movies, and will encourage fans to share their own favorite LEGO built Disney moments on social media using #SharetheWonder. Watch the teaser here. The #SharetheWonder series will debut throughout the next month on LEGO.com, LEGO social channels and Disney’s YouTube.  

Disney100 is a celebration of timeless storytelling and unforgettable characters that have entertained and inspired people of all ages for a century. To commemorate 100 years of Disney, the LEGO Group is inviting families to share the wonder of storytelling, imagination, and creative play that LEGO® Disney has inspired over the 24 years since it launched. 

The LEGO Group has also revealed its first collection of Disney100 products to help fans of all ages experience the magic of LEGO Disney storytelling: 

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