LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		3.5
Audio		2.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		2.0

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie Review

LEGO should work on building a stronger series...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown April 5, 2013

"What? A 2.5!? Dad, you don't understand. It's one of the greatest shows ever. Ever! Of all time. It has ninjas and Legos and dragons... and monster trucks and swords and magic... skeletons... ninja battles... you can't give it a bad grade! It's soooooo good!" That little plea bumped my grumpy-old-man score for Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season Two up half a point. But as I'm sure you've already gathered, my eight-year-old son would throw our scoring scale right out the window and award Masters of Spinjitzu a solid billion-point-oh if given the chance. And, really, my review of the series' second season could end right there and still have told you everything you need to know. Ninjago isn't one of the greatest shows ever, though. It isn't very clever or inventive, it carelessly tosses any and every little-boy trope at the screen it possibly can, and stands as a key player in LEGO's long-delayed foray into television. There isn't an episode that meanders by that isn't an extended toy commercial, even though the show never bothers to give the toys it's advertising the sort of character depth or mythos richness of the classic toy commercials of the He-Mans, Transformers and G.I. Joes of the '80s and '90s.

I'm ready for Lovecraft LEGOs. How 'bout you?

Oh, there's fun to be had, particularly for Lego-addled elementary schoolers with dreams of being a ninja when they grow up. Giant creatures, rocket-powered race-tanks, evil robotic clones, Ninjaball championships, pirates with airships, sinister warlords, lightsabers, groan-inducing all-ages pop culture jokes, building block gags, super weapons, flying machines, lumbering dragons... what more could a young boy ask for? There's no harm in Ninjago's decidedly G-rated block-on-block violence either, unless the thought of your son or daughter whipping around the house, foam sword in hand, spinning themselves dizzy, poses some sort of hyper-reactive moral dilemma.

It's simply a bland, forgettable action-adventure series designed to give kids a quick glimpse at all the possibilities and imagination-fueled excursions that await them in the LEGO aisle at Toys R' Us. The moment LEGO stops producing new episodes and releasing new building-block sets for Ninjago, the series and everything in it will vanish from your children's memories, replaced by LEGO: Legends of Chima or whatever line happens to be making the rounds at the time. So pop open those wallets; your purchase doesn't end with Masters of Spinjitzu Season Two. There's a 600-piece Ultra Sonic Racer, a 650-piece Lightning Dragon Battle set, a 1200-piece Fire Temple, a 225-piece Turbo Shredder, a 500-piece Skull Truck and more, more, more. Always more, and with exclusive figures to sweeten the pot each time. It never ends, moms and dads. It just gets more expensive.

Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season Two episodes:

1. Darkness Shall Rise
2. Pirates vs. Ninjas
3. Double Trouble
4. Ninjaball Run
5. Child's Play
6. Wrong Place, Wrong Time
7. The Stone Army
8. The Day Ninjago Stood Still
9. The Last Voyage
10. Island of Darkness
11. The Last Hope
12. Return of the Overlord
13. Rise of the Spinjitzu Master

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Warner's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation is true enough to its source, but lacks the crispness, clarity and punch you'd expect from a CG-animated all-digital production. Colors are bright and playful, with enough primary power to earn a full pass, and black levels are deep and inky. Contrast is a bit on the dull side, and detail is a touch soft overall, but neither adequacy devolves into disappointment. More importantly, there isn't much in the way of significant artifacting, aliasing or shimmering (although some still slips through), and banding is really the only issue that appears with any frequency. Otherwise, Ninjago's presentation is decent enough to warrant a shrug of the shoulders, a slow nod and an "it's pretty good."

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The second season's lossy Dolby Digital stereo track is a letdown. Voices are clean and clear, as is just about everything else, but that's it. No LFE power, no rear speaker presence, no dynamic action. Just feeble-bodied LEGO battles spread thinly across two channels. Even with a bevy of action-backed sound effects, a crowded roster of chatty characters, plenty of high-soaring adventure and enough music to keep things clipping along, very little makes an impact. Not that will kids will care...

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu Season Two doesn't include any special features.

LEGO Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu: Season Two Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu won't win over many adults, but kids in the room won't be able to get enough. It's a toy commercial, sure. It's an effective toy commercial, though, and as long as you don't mind the inevitable trip to the toy aisle at Target, they'll have a blast with it. Warner's Blu-ray release of Season Two isn't so effective. With an average video presentation, a mediocre Dolby Digital 2.0 mix and zero special features, it doesn't have a lot to offer.