The Lego Movie: Links to The Matrix

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the intertextual relationships between the Matrix and The Lego Movie (10)
The disadvantages of the intertextual relationships between The Matrix and The Lego Movie are that the majority of the plot, characters and setting in The Lego Movie have been copied from the popular movie The Matrix. For example, The Lego Movie is first of all set in a world of Lego, and later on in the movie, it is revealed to the audience and one of the characters that they are all being controlled by a little boy playing with Lego. In The Matrix, it begins in a large city, and Neo is living a normal life, but it is later on revealed to him and the audience that he, and the rest of the human race had been living in a computer programme which had been built by computers called the Matrix. This links the two movies, because both them are set in built worlds, being controlled by others. The Lego Movie copied The Matrix again, with the characters, as the main characters in both movies, Emmet and Neo, are just normal people, going about their daily lives, when all of a sudden, things change, and it is revealed to them that they are 'The special' or 'The one' this part of the story in the lego movie is completely copied from the matrix.

The advantages of the intertextual relationships between the matrix and The Lego Movie are that the matrix is a popular movie, which many people enjoyed, so by copying this storyline in The Lego Movie, they ensured that it would be interesting to the younger target audience, because of all the adventure and action, and would also appeal to the older target audience, because they would be able to identify the links to The Matrix, because they would have seen the matrix, and would also enjoy The Lego Movie. Another advantage of the intertextual links between the two movies is that The Lego Movie could interest the younger audience, who probably don't know what The Matrix is, so would introduce them to the same sort of storyline, and possibly interest them in the movie, The Matrix.

The Lego Movie: Poster Analysis 2

The Lego Movie has a primary target audience of children who play with Lego, and a secondary target audience of parents, who would be taking their children to see it, or who played with Lego when they where young. Also, it is aimed at teens, who liked Lego when they were young, and would go and see it with their friends, to feel like a little kid again...

The Main star vehicles in the shot are Emmet (the hero), Wyldestyle (The helper and the princess), Lord Business (The villain), Batman (the false hero), and Vitruvius (The dispatcher). They are all running towards 'you', from the 'bad guy' to make the audience feel more involved in the movie. Emmet, the main character, and hero, is in the centre, showing that he is important in the movie, and at the top of the poster, it says "The story of a nobody who saved everybody" in a bold white, attracting the audience, because it may make them feel that they could be just like him, a nobody, who does something heroic, especially to young viewers, who would see Emmet as their hero.
Emmet is wearing his usual work clothes, to show the audience that he is a normal guy, which helps the audience relate to him more than she of the other characters in the movie.
The poster reveals to the audience the genre of adventure, making them want to see the movie even more than they did before, because they want to see and adventure movie full of their favourite toys.
The setting of the movie is shown in the back of the poster, showing all the tall buildings of the city, and the crane from the building site which the main character works. This would also attract the audience, because they can relate to the character, living in the busy city. The main characters are all running, looking scared from an explosion, this attracts the target audience, because they would be intrigued to see what is happening.

The colours on the poster are all bright and colourful, attracting the young target audience, because they would like the colours, and they represent the audience, because most young children like the bright colours of the Lego. The main colours used in the poster are blue (for the sky), black (for the floor), and orange (for the huge explosion) this shows the audience that shows the audience that it is an adventure film, making them want to watch it.

Th layout of the poster is quite similar to other adventure films, as it shows most of the main characters, and shows some of the things the target audience can expect to see in the movie. This would attract the audience, because they would be interested by the way the poster is laid out, and would want to see all these characters, saving the wold.

Th title of the film is shaped like Lego blocks, being lifted by a crane, which shows the theme of Lego to the audience, as everything in the movie is made out of Lego. The simple title 'The Lego Movie' is at the top of the page, in the centre, to attract the audience to the poster, as they see it, and makes them want to see the movie. The colours used in all the writing is white and red, these colours are quite bright, and would easily catch the audiences eye, and represents the younger audience, as they like bright colours, and Lego. The slogan of the movie is "The story of a nobody who saved everybody", this attracts the audience, because they feel that they could relate to it, because they are just ordinary people, who go to work, drink coffee and listen to popular music, just like the main character in the movie.

In the credits, it shows the production company (Warner Bros.), cast, crew, directors (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller ), age rating (PG), producer (Dan Lin and Roy Lee) and what the movie is based on (Lego construction toys). This would attract the older audience, as they may see some characters, who are played by their favourite actors, such as Will Ferrel and Morgan Freeman. This would make them want to see the movie. Also, the target audience might see the production company, and like their older movies, so may be attracted to it, because they think it would be crated well.

The marketing for the movie was very successful, as the total profit it grossed is $257,760,692. Also, the toys, and other merchandise for the film would have also helped show the movie to the world, and attracting the target audience, and it will be watched by many young children in the years to come!