We return to The LEGO Ninjago Movie universe, a film that does not feature LEGO products but rather people who play with LEGO products (more on that ...), with the set 70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon.

Dragons are like boats, LEGO fans love it. And in this specific case, it is a dragon-robot that it is. It's even Lloyd Garmadon's mount, The Green Ninja, The Chosen One, The Master of Energy, son of Garmadon and Misako.

You will have noticed by watching the trailer for the film, LEGO offers us once again a (very) reduced model of the version of the threatening creature that gracefully slips through the streets of Ninjago City. Here she becomes a big green lizard decorated sparingly so that it looks about the model it was inspired by.

I know that LEGO necessarily calculated the parts (544) / price (49.99 €) / playability ratio of the thing and adapted it accordingly so that young fans have a chance to be offered this set without having to work for it. a whole quarter and play with it with one hand. As an adult fan that I am is a little disappointed with this probably inevitable shrinkage.

Let's get rid of the few details that fans won't fail to note right away: Yes, there's a banana under the dragon's eye. Well done LEGO, Nice Part Usage, etc.... And the language is a pennant.

But this dragon doesn't spit rockets, unlike the one in the movie. Not even a few round pieces, just to be able to reproduce this feature which could have been rather fun. Pity.

The LEGO version has a little less allure than that of the film, it is undeniable but it will be necessary to be satisfied with it. Dressing the skeleton struggles to conceal the joints which allow it to take various and varied poses. If the upper part is almost an illusion, the belly of the creature is very poor in decorative elements.

Another detail that symbolizes this low-cost version of the dragon from the film: The legs of the LEGO version have only two claws against three on the original model.

Significant detail, the tail is completely free to move, you just need to gently shake the dragon for the tail to whip the bad guys in its path.

The movements are cushioned by two rubber elements placed in the center of the abdomen. It's ingenious and it doesn't disfigure the creature. So some will have fun carefully lining up an entire army of bad guys before settling their score with this devastating appendix (I did).

A few thing launchers are placed on the dragon's paws and since it is a dragon-robot that has no wings, it is equipped with reactors. An entire program.

The mechanism used to retract these motors is simple but effective. You will therefore have the choice between a more "organic" appearance of this dragon or a more "look"Transformers"of the thing.

Overall, not enough to cry genius, but at 49.99 € and with four minifigs including Lloyd, his father and Sensei Wu, this set remains an interesting box. And a LEGO dragon, even with the air of a big lizard, you can't refuse.

The villain is named Charlie, we'll see later who this guy is. As a bonus, the box still contains a copy of the ultimate weapon that will be useful against Godzichat: the laser pointer.

In short, this set 70612 Green Ninja Mech Dragon looked more promising to me when I first discovered it. After mounting it, I am left unsatisfied. The youngest will probably find a little fun there. I pass.

Note: We do as usual, you have until August 26, 2017 to manifest yourself in the comments.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.
Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

You were waiting for him, he is here. Lego set 70620 Ninjago City is now available for members of the VIP program at the public price of 299.99 €.

It's without me for now. If the irresistible call of Strength leaves me something to please me, we will possibly see later ...

If you crack in the coming days, you will get the set 5004936 Iconic Cave free from 30 € purchase and the bag 5004916 Kai's Dojo Pod offered with any purchase of a product from the LEGO Ninjago range.

If your city based Modulars desperately needs an Asian neighborhood, this is where it goes depending on your country of residence:

Today we are talking about the set 70617 Temple of The Ultimate Ultimate Weapon, one of only two buildings in The LEGO Ninjago Movie range, somewhat overshadowed by the announcement of the set 70620 Ninjago City which (logically) steals the show.

This big box of 1403 pieces sold for 111.99 € leaves me skeptical. On the one hand, I find it the usual charm of plush playsets and on the other hand, I still have a few big complaints.

The various reviews I have read are filled with fiery statements for the futuristic-medieval look of the thing. Is. Even if the overall appearance of the temple is really very successful, it is however not enough in my eyes to make it an acceptable product, except for those who will choose to exhibit this cinema facade on the chest of drawers in the living room. A good point for the door, which I find very successful.

Seen from the front and back, this temple is a pretty building that has allure. Seen in profile, it unfortunately becomes a simple slice of a temple with no real depth. LEGO, which is usually so generous with diverse and varied visuals of its products, is careful not to present the thing in this less flattering angle on the product sheet.

It's a criticism, but this presentation having almost become a signature at LEGO, we have to live with it. We will remember the other sets using this principle: 71040 The Disney Castle, 10937 Arkham Asylum Breakout, etc ... I always experience a little frustration with these constructions where the available spaces shrink as I go upstairs, but I have also passed the age of playing with them and I am not the main target of these playsets.

Some will find that it is the right size at the right price. I'd rather think this set would have deserved to see its higher retail price to get a temple deeper than a flattened dollhouse. But it is necessary for all budgets and LEGO will have decided that this temple at 111.99 € is well positioned in the range.

The real stars of this box are in my eyes the two stone lions. They are imposing and easily manipulated to make them take more or less aggressive poses. A few pieces float a little at ear level but nothing dramatic. I find them a really successful look, but it's very personal.

Let's talk about playability. I'm talking about real gameplay here, not the one usually touted by LEGO in the description of its products (... pour a coffee, send something to wash the line, put something to sleep ...). What can we do that is really fun in this temple?

A wheel allows you to raise the suspended rock and then drop it, a "blade launcher" ejects the two discs provided in the feet of the ninjas and you can open a trap by pulling the central mechanism.

The other functions based on rocking stuff are more than anecdotal and the rest is just filling spaces with lots of accessories. The fact remains that with a little imagination, this set will allow young fans to have fun, that's for sure.

Another critical point in my eyes: this set is above all a playset, it is in any case presented as such by LEGO, and its finish leaves much to be desired. Many assemblies, especially at the roof, are far too fragile to withstand the onslaught of young fans.

I understand LEGO's desire to give this temple a Japanese look, but the construction techniques used with parts that protrude from the edges of the roof and which only rest on one or two studs are a bit "light". I spent long minutes looking for a lost blue scorpion ... Same observation with the upper part of the roof, which in my opinion lacks solidity, also held in place by the two vertical lances.

On the construction side, nothing exciting. We pile up big gray pieces for the wall, and we only start to have fun with the finishes and accessories.

It is obviously not a modular even if we find here the same desire on the part of the designers to put a maximum of details in a minimum of space.

As if the designer of the set started with both "Guardians of the Temple"and ended up building the building with the remaining parts / budget quota. I'm exaggerating, I know.

The "playable" spaces are too small, at least for my adult hands. It is not uncommon to demolish something by carrying out a manipulation yet planned and documented. A detail to note for the youngest who will quickly get annoyed, the rock mechanism only works counterclockwise. In the other direction, it does not remain blocked in the high position.

Some parts of the temple are so loaded with accessories that there is hardly any room left to house a minifigure and have fun with it. The only solution is to balance the minifig on a stud with one foot on the outside, once again the fault of the overall lack of depth.

A note concerning the instruction booklet: The parts using many blue parts which are superimposed are difficult to read. An effort should be considered on this side so as not to spoil the pleasure of the youngest, such as surrounding the piece to be installed with a red or white line.

I don't even dare talk about the stickers anymore, I have the impression of rambling. Once again, large surfaces like the outline of the door are dressed in stickers that will have a hard time withstanding the ravages of time and dust.

A good point, the whole team of young ninjas is present in this box. So it's a good way to bring the team together without getting too scattered. The only villain of the set is Garmadon in Jungle version and the statue provided will probably have a role to play during the raid of the temple by the ninjas.

In the end, I say no. Even if this temple is aesthetically very successful, I think the playability is penalized by the fragility of some elements and the compactness of the whole. LEGO will have wanted to put too much in a small space and it shows in use.

I would point it out for all intents and purposes: This is not an infomercial, I am giving you my opinion on a product without necessarily taking a pinch of salt. Everyone will have their own opinion, express yourself in the comments, and there's no point insulting me by email because I don't serve the soup to the maker, which in your eyes makes me a fan of the second. zoned...

Note: We do as usual, you have until August 22, 2017 to manifest yourself in the comments.

Update : The winner was drawn and notified by email, his nickname is indicated below.
Without a response from him to my request for contact details within 5 days, a new winner will be drawn.

Here we go, you can now get the mini-set 5004916 Kai's Dojo Pod ( Kai Dojo Capsule) offered with any purchase of products from the LEGO Ninjago range. The whole range is affected, not just The LEGO Ninjago Movie products. No minimum purchase amount.

On the LEGO Shop, the products concerned by the offer are therefore those of the sections NINJAGO et THE LEGO NINJAGO THE MOVIE.

The offer is valid until October 29th.

This offer can be combined with the one that allows you to obtain the small set 5004936 Iconic Cave from 30 € of purchase without restriction of range from 10 to 30 August 2017.

By the way, LEGO intends to boost sales of products derived from The LEGO Ninjago Movie by offering until next October 29 three packs of two rather well thought out boxes, the price of which allows a significant saving on the separate purchase. of the two sets concerned:

Ultimate Mech Kit 5005410 - 70613 Garma Mech Man + 70615 Fire Mech
(111.98 € instead of 139.98 € by purchasing the sets separately) :

Battle Kit 5005411 - 70609 Manta Ray Bomber + 70614 Lightning Jet
(74.98 € instead of 94.98 € by purchasing the sets separately) :

Battle Kit 5005412 - 70610 Flying Jelly Sub + 70611 Water Strider
(54.98 € instead of 69.98 € buying the sets separately) :

You may already know, the movie The LEGO Ninjago Movie arrives with its own alphabet created for the occasion, We therefore logically find this syntax in the products derived from the film and in particular in the sets 70620 Ninjago City et 70617 Temple of The Ultimate Ultimate Weapon.

To simplify your life and keep you busy for a few hours, I have compiled the alphabet in question for you, based on the translator put online by LEGO.

Not sure that this alphabet will become the new language of schoolyards at the start of the school year, but it's fun.

You will be able to easily decipher all the signs and other panels that you will find in your favorite sets. Be careful, some symbols are sometimes very stylized on the different stickers which makes them a little difficult to interpret.