this second movie in the "Bionicle" series of movies is as good as the 1st one.the story is better,and there is more going on.also,the action is more intense and their is some humour here,which the 1st one didn't have.the animation is maybe a bit better,and the villain is a stronger,more developed character,at least i thought so.however,there are a few too many wise proverbs for my taste.after awhile it gets preachy and repetitive.the message of believing in yourself and "the journey of discovery" mantra,though a good message,is a bit heavy handed.this movie has not much to do with the 1st one.the characters are new,but similar to the previous movie.this movie is intended for a slightly older audience than the original,and there's nothing wrong with that.anyway,as i said,despite some problems,this movie is as good as the 1st one.to that end,i give "Bionicle 2:Legends of Metru-Nui" a 7/10
11 Reviews
If you felt Mask of Light was made for 3 year olds, this will fix you.
RIOTFLEA4 November 2004
Let's face it. The first Bionicle movie was insultingly "kiddy". Even toddlers watching it had to rethink if they were too old to be included inside the intended target audience. Not this sequel. Where violence occurred off-screen in the first movie, this has it right out in the open. You have projectile and physical attacks. You have kidnapping, scary moments, hopeless moments, brave moments. You have drama that's adequate enough for an adult, but not way over the head of a child. My main gripe with the movie is not even with the movie itself. It's that the character designers went WAY too far outside merely updating the toys to work as CGI objects. Their redesign of Nivawk for example resulted in a character who has no toy counterpart. So if your kid is jumping up and down for you to buy "the cool, purple bat guy with blue wings", good luck. You will NOT find it in the toy store. Not looking anything like the one in the movie anyway.
Back on subject: Great effects, great story, well executed. Not too scary for nightmares, but not so kiddy it's embarrassing. WORTH YOUR MONEY. -JINZONINGEN 73
Back on subject: Great effects, great story, well executed. Not too scary for nightmares, but not so kiddy it's embarrassing. WORTH YOUR MONEY. -JINZONINGEN 73
This movie summed up in one word 'Puzzling'
yoshi-whitby24 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, where to begin?
From childhood, I had loved 'Bionacle: The Mask Of Light', despite my parents' strong hatred of the movie, and complaining every time I watched it. So when I saw The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movie going cheap in the local store, needless to say I was somewhat excited.
My excitement was short-lived however, when the movie began. It was not until the very last 5 seconds of the movie that I went 'Oh, its a prequel!', and even then I had to look it up on wikipedia to make sure.
The lore was totally baffling, and had no relevance to anything that happened in the first movie. This left me outright confused, and scratching my head. Since when did Toa have these weird stars that appeared in the sky? Where are the Toa from the first movie? but the questions I asked most were 'what?' and 'huh?'. The main confusing part was that the film began from showing the main character from the first movie, transfigured into a half-villain/half-goodie, saving the day. It turned out that this was somebody totally different, but since it was not explained that this was a prequel, i simply thought they were one and the same.
This placed the movie for me as a direct sequel, so when the villain turned up, I was more confused than ever. 'I thought he got fused into that half-and-half bionacle? how is he back here?'. Another thing I found myself asking was 'Where is Metru-Nui? this place was never referenced once in the first movie? but it acts like they live here forever!'. If only It had told you it was a prequel on the box, I could have taken a moment out of my utter bafflement to actually enjoy the movie.
Even without the confusion factor however, the plot still doesn't make much sense, and if it does, the sheer amount of lore-detail put out is enough to leave one's head spinning. The story was poorly written. Clearly an an ensemble movie, like 'Avengers', the plot focuses on six matorun, who somehow turn into Toa. It is meant to be a story of friendship and bonding, but the movie was so short at 72 minutes, there wasn't enough time to get to know the characters. The first movie had lovable personalities and great interactions, this felt stale and by the book. Nothing felt like a real interaction, just like a list of klee-shays from the first movie minus all the heart. The story is too confusing to get any moral out of.
Very reminiscent of the phantom menace, in the way that it is a confusing, lore-bending prequel that came out the blue. Very odd, and pretty insulting to the original movie.
No kids movie should be so complex that I have to go to Reddit just to see if anybody can explain the plot to me. Your children will probably enjoy the action, and maybe grasp the plot IF you show them 2&3 before the original, but not follow an epic story and learn a lesson like they can with the first movie.
The animation looked about half as good as the original movie did, seems like it was rushed. Will watch the others out of obligation, but only 'the mask of light' will have a place in my heart so far. If you loved 'mask of light' and wonder if this is a worth getting for nostalgia; it is not.
From childhood, I had loved 'Bionacle: The Mask Of Light', despite my parents' strong hatred of the movie, and complaining every time I watched it. So when I saw The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th movie going cheap in the local store, needless to say I was somewhat excited.
My excitement was short-lived however, when the movie began. It was not until the very last 5 seconds of the movie that I went 'Oh, its a prequel!', and even then I had to look it up on wikipedia to make sure.
The lore was totally baffling, and had no relevance to anything that happened in the first movie. This left me outright confused, and scratching my head. Since when did Toa have these weird stars that appeared in the sky? Where are the Toa from the first movie? but the questions I asked most were 'what?' and 'huh?'. The main confusing part was that the film began from showing the main character from the first movie, transfigured into a half-villain/half-goodie, saving the day. It turned out that this was somebody totally different, but since it was not explained that this was a prequel, i simply thought they were one and the same.
This placed the movie for me as a direct sequel, so when the villain turned up, I was more confused than ever. 'I thought he got fused into that half-and-half bionacle? how is he back here?'. Another thing I found myself asking was 'Where is Metru-Nui? this place was never referenced once in the first movie? but it acts like they live here forever!'. If only It had told you it was a prequel on the box, I could have taken a moment out of my utter bafflement to actually enjoy the movie.
Even without the confusion factor however, the plot still doesn't make much sense, and if it does, the sheer amount of lore-detail put out is enough to leave one's head spinning. The story was poorly written. Clearly an an ensemble movie, like 'Avengers', the plot focuses on six matorun, who somehow turn into Toa. It is meant to be a story of friendship and bonding, but the movie was so short at 72 minutes, there wasn't enough time to get to know the characters. The first movie had lovable personalities and great interactions, this felt stale and by the book. Nothing felt like a real interaction, just like a list of klee-shays from the first movie minus all the heart. The story is too confusing to get any moral out of.
Very reminiscent of the phantom menace, in the way that it is a confusing, lore-bending prequel that came out the blue. Very odd, and pretty insulting to the original movie.
No kids movie should be so complex that I have to go to Reddit just to see if anybody can explain the plot to me. Your children will probably enjoy the action, and maybe grasp the plot IF you show them 2&3 before the original, but not follow an epic story and learn a lesson like they can with the first movie.
The animation looked about half as good as the original movie did, seems like it was rushed. Will watch the others out of obligation, but only 'the mask of light' will have a place in my heart so far. If you loved 'mask of light' and wonder if this is a worth getting for nostalgia; it is not.
This movie is excellent; it should have been longer so that it could be released in theaters!!!!
inviolet_now20 November 2004
When I first saw Bionicle 2: Legends of Metru Nui, it was the best CGI movie that I have seen in a very long time. I never thought that there were even Toa before the Toa we know, and also I found out that they later turn into Turaga when they lose their power, such as when Lhikan turned into a Turaga and the Toa Metru turned into Turaga after they gave up their power. Also, I found out the answer to a mystery that has been one of my Lego goals to solve; where did the Kanohi Vahi, the Great Mask of Time come from and who created the mask?; and finally, the major villain, which I have decided to reveal, is quite possibly the greatest mystery in the movie; Makuta. How is Makuta involved in Metru Nui, why is he in this time period, and finally, how did he get involved with Turaga Dume in the first place as "sworn to protect the Matoran"? Anyways, it was a great movie in my opinion. I give it a 100 on my scale of 1 to 10.(I have heard that they are to release a third Bionicle movie in 2005.)
Best of The Bionicle Of The Films and A Surprise for Direct To Video.
KalKenobi8330 October 2017
Watched One Of My Favorite Direct to Video Animated Films Bionicle 2:Legends Of Metru Nui amazing voice Performances from Alessandro Juilani(Battlestar Galactica) as Vakama, Tabitha St.Germain(Transformers:Energon) as Nokama also starring Brian Drummond(G.I. Joe:Ninja Battles) as Matau/Onewa, Paul Dobson(Inuyasha) as Whenua/Nidhiki , Trevor Devall(Mobile Suit Gundam) as Nuju, Gerard Plunkett(RoboCop:Alpha Commando) as Turaga Dume, Michael Dobson(Dreamcatcher) as Lhikan/Krekka and Lee Tockar(G.I. Joe:Valor Vs Venom) as Makuta The films main villain.
The film is surprisingly great for being direct to Video also the characters had great Motivation and Layers despite it being 75 Minutes Great Characterization of Vakama we follow his journey with him to find his destiny also Matau provides brevity when needed and Nokama also providing the Voice of Reason Also Nathan Furst Rivals John Williams in terms of allowing the Music tell the characters story as well also Makuta proves he is no push over and is a returning Antagonists also despite being Direct to Video it doesn't shy away from pulling punches characters die and its much Darker than Mask Of Light .
Amazing score by Nathan Furst(StageGhost), Screenplay By Henry Gilroy(Atlantis:Milos Return) Direction by Terry Shakespeare(Bionicle:Mask Of Light)& David Molina(Goofys Fun House) Best of The Bionicle Of The Films and A Surprise for Direct To Video. 9/10
The film is surprisingly great for being direct to Video also the characters had great Motivation and Layers despite it being 75 Minutes Great Characterization of Vakama we follow his journey with him to find his destiny also Matau provides brevity when needed and Nokama also providing the Voice of Reason Also Nathan Furst Rivals John Williams in terms of allowing the Music tell the characters story as well also Makuta proves he is no push over and is a returning Antagonists also despite being Direct to Video it doesn't shy away from pulling punches characters die and its much Darker than Mask Of Light .
Amazing score by Nathan Furst(StageGhost), Screenplay By Henry Gilroy(Atlantis:Milos Return) Direction by Terry Shakespeare(Bionicle:Mask Of Light)& David Molina(Goofys Fun House) Best of The Bionicle Of The Films and A Surprise for Direct To Video. 9/10
Better
ericsbionicles8 December 2004
OK, because the movies are made to promote the recent bionicle products
before them. This one had an excuse to put the Toa at the center of things.
There's a lot more action in this one but disappointingly. None of the characters use their elemental powers because the story focuses on the masks.
It's still a bit cheesy, but at least this one as some decent humour. If this is the first bionicle movie you've seen, and you're not fan, it'll look stupid. If you are a bionicle fan and understand how little time the movie makers are given to make these. You'll take it a lot more lightly, despite the cheesy dialogue, and the "Sit down Whenua scene".
Then, if you're Maori. You'll either hate the fact that Bionicle uses Maori
language. Or you'll laugh, because the words are used differently. (There was a cyber terrorist attack on Bionicle's biggest fan site "BZPower" by two angry Maori representatives, who as it turned out, weren't even legal representatives.)
It's also constructed better. but I'm hoping to see a better quality of direct to video releases from the Bionicle team. there are going to be more sequels. If you think outside the box, the Bionicle movies are just one big promotion, like the ad ons they sometimes give the sets (US only).
So, a warning if you're going to watch it. You (a) have to excuse the
cheesieness. (b) be warned that the story is going to be fast paced (they had a heck of a lot of stuff to pack in) and (c) Take time to understand the storyline. It is complex and designed for Bionicle fans. So, a big note would be that they have to save the "Heart of Metru nui" only they don't know what that is, so when they find out that the matoran (people of the city) are in danger, they quickly assume that the matoran are the heart. But ther's a twist there.
So to sum it up. You don't need to have watched the first one to get this. They are set in two different story lines, quite distant form each other. Plus, it's a prequel, so there shouldn't be much trouble.
Out of ten, as a bionicle fan, I'd give it 7 (one mark lost for cheesieness. One mark lost for fast pacing. And one mark lost for getting some of the timeline wrong, but's a fan thing so don't worry about it.)
Prett good movie
before them. This one had an excuse to put the Toa at the center of things.
There's a lot more action in this one but disappointingly. None of the characters use their elemental powers because the story focuses on the masks.
It's still a bit cheesy, but at least this one as some decent humour. If this is the first bionicle movie you've seen, and you're not fan, it'll look stupid. If you are a bionicle fan and understand how little time the movie makers are given to make these. You'll take it a lot more lightly, despite the cheesy dialogue, and the "Sit down Whenua scene".
Then, if you're Maori. You'll either hate the fact that Bionicle uses Maori
language. Or you'll laugh, because the words are used differently. (There was a cyber terrorist attack on Bionicle's biggest fan site "BZPower" by two angry Maori representatives, who as it turned out, weren't even legal representatives.)
It's also constructed better. but I'm hoping to see a better quality of direct to video releases from the Bionicle team. there are going to be more sequels. If you think outside the box, the Bionicle movies are just one big promotion, like the ad ons they sometimes give the sets (US only).
So, a warning if you're going to watch it. You (a) have to excuse the
cheesieness. (b) be warned that the story is going to be fast paced (they had a heck of a lot of stuff to pack in) and (c) Take time to understand the storyline. It is complex and designed for Bionicle fans. So, a big note would be that they have to save the "Heart of Metru nui" only they don't know what that is, so when they find out that the matoran (people of the city) are in danger, they quickly assume that the matoran are the heart. But ther's a twist there.
So to sum it up. You don't need to have watched the first one to get this. They are set in two different story lines, quite distant form each other. Plus, it's a prequel, so there shouldn't be much trouble.
Out of ten, as a bionicle fan, I'd give it 7 (one mark lost for cheesieness. One mark lost for fast pacing. And one mark lost for getting some of the timeline wrong, but's a fan thing so don't worry about it.)
Prett good movie
Excellent movie!
bioniclefreak0116 October 2004
Warning: Spoilers
The first Bionicle movie, Mask of Light, released in 2003, was a very good film, but lacked action and intensity, and was a bit too simple and junorized. Thankfully, this problem has been solved in the prequel, Legends of Metru Nui. The storyline, which revolves around the six new Toa Metru trying to save the Matoran and rescue Toa Lhikan from the Dark Hunters, whilst trying to discover Metru Nui's darkest, deepest secret, is a lot darker and more complex than before, and it all really pulls together in the end, which is excellent. The villains are far more powerful and creepy than the Rahkshi in Mask of Light, and the final villain, which I won't name for spoilers sake, is the best of them all. The only weak points are in the complexity of the story, which might confuse some casual viewers, and there are only a few bonus features, despite the fact that they're very cool, with several sneak peeks that are great for Bionicle fans. Overall, this movie is really worth it!
Great Bionicle Movie
jeffreyfreeze19 August 2006
It is a great Bionicle movie. With the advanced graphic and strong storyline, this movie give the message of responsibility, friendship , love and hope.
For example, the relationship between Vakama and Lhikan, the leadership and courage of Lhikan attracts me a lot.
But the battle of Makuta and Vakama and the training of using mask power are boring and weak, this is what I was disappointed.
And it should add some battle in the city, like Ko-metru and Ga-metru. You know, Metru Nui is a great city, but the battle always happened at subrub...
For example, the relationship between Vakama and Lhikan, the leadership and courage of Lhikan attracts me a lot.
But the battle of Makuta and Vakama and the training of using mask power are boring and weak, this is what I was disappointed.
And it should add some battle in the city, like Ko-metru and Ga-metru. You know, Metru Nui is a great city, but the battle always happened at subrub...
Recommended for young kids to watch this animation
seyeto-769-58556027 March 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I really enjoyed this movie, even More's than the first. This story has great role models for kids and shows the importance of believing in oneself and standing up against evil. Vakama, the main character, is especially interesting because he's just this normal Matoran thrown into a position in which he has to save his homeland. One of the morals of this movie is that there is a hero in all of us. This movie is about doing what's right, even when everyone doesn't support you or think it's possible.
I also admire the fantasy world that the creators created. There are six different villages (one Toa or hero is from each one), and each have their own culture. Another topic that the film touches on is that of racial prejudice and how in spite of each group's differences, they can still form friendships and overcome problems together. There is some interesting interplay between the three Toa that are in prison and a wise elder tells them, "Your duty is to ALL Matoran, regardless of village."
The movie is actually kind of deep after you watch it a few times and get the characters and plot straightened out. The movie is also funny. Matau is probably the funniest character in the film.
I highly recommend this movie.
I also admire the fantasy world that the creators created. There are six different villages (one Toa or hero is from each one), and each have their own culture. Another topic that the film touches on is that of racial prejudice and how in spite of each group's differences, they can still form friendships and overcome problems together. There is some interesting interplay between the three Toa that are in prison and a wise elder tells them, "Your duty is to ALL Matoran, regardless of village."
The movie is actually kind of deep after you watch it a few times and get the characters and plot straightened out. The movie is also funny. Matau is probably the funniest character in the film.
I highly recommend this movie.
Futuristic prequel
briancham19943 June 2020
Bionicle fans either loved or hated the Metru Nui saga. It did away with the small fantasy island setting of the original Mata Nui saga in favour of a bustling futuristic metropolis. I think this was handled very well and opens up many new opportunities for storytelling. The new sights and the backstory of Mata Nui's turaga were very welcome. My only complaint is that Makuta Teridax is too similar to his Mata Nui incarnation and we don't get the feeling that there are a thousand years separating these portrayals.
The Legend Lives On
moviecyborg17 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This second installment to a successful movie Bionicle 2 is no coffee coaster. This movie is the best in the series of 4 parts. The plot is amazing and the voice-overs are great but the lipsyching is a little cheesy. There is an okay amount of action and could use more. The scenes that use action go by fast. At the end when Vakama is fighting Makuta all Vakama does is run away from Makuta. Although this does damage to Makuta, it would be better if they actually fought. The end is pretty lame but cool in a way. The ending would have been better if Makuta was knocked off a cliff and trapped down there instead of sealed in protodermis. I know we have seen the cliff scene in many movies but it works better for this movie. Although this movie has a few minor faults it still is worth watching and overall it has an eight out of ten so it is definitely not bad.
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