Bionicle: The Legend Reborn
Encyclopedia
Bionicle: The Legend Reborn, also known as Bionicle 4: The Legend Reborn, is a direct-to-DVD sequel
to the 3 previous Bionicle films, based on the Bionicle
toys. It was released on September 15, 2009 in the United States and Canada, October 5, 2009 in the United Kingdom and September 2, 2009 in Australia. It is the last Bionicle movie to be released. The end of the story was posted on BIONICLE.com in web format, titled the "Mata Nui Saga".
The film stars Michael Dorn
as the voice of Mata Nui.
),the Great Spirit of the Matoran universe on Aqua Magna, has been exiled from his home by his "brother," the evil Makuta Teridax. Teridax took over his gigantic robot body and placed Mata Nui's spirit inside the legendary Mask of Life. Teridax then banished the mask into orbit, in order to prevent Mata Nui from interfering with his takeover of the Matoran Universe.
The mask crash lands on a planet called Bara Magna, a remote, decaying wasteland of scrap parts and burnished metals. A Scarabax beetle watches as the Mask of Life creates a body for Mata Nui, who almost steps on the Scarabax. He picks up the Scarabax, who touches his mask. Upon doing so, the beetle changes into a living weapon. Just then, a being called a Vorox attacks Mata Nui and after a struggle, flees without its stinger, which has fallen off. Mata Nui picks up the stinger as a vehicle carrying a villager named Metus (David Leisure
) speeds towards him.
The fast-talking Agori recruiter takes Mata Nui to Vulcanus as he tells the once ruler about life on Bara Magna. Local villages scavenge for what remains, building shelters, survival gear and ultimately arenas where they can settle their disputes. Putting the best Glatorian from each village against one another, tribes can quickly end quarrels based on the outcome of the fight. Metus introduces Mata Nui to Raanu (Armin Shimerman
), the Agori leader of Vulcanus, who is too interested in the fight between veteran fighter Strakk (Jeff Glen Bennett) and Vulcanus' prime Glatorian, Ackar (Jim Cummings
), to talk. Strakk eventually falls in battle, but gets up and fells Ackar after conceding, a move that gets him banned from the fights. Mata Nui intervenes and gets beaten down by the angry Strakk. As Mata Nui tries to use the stinger to defend himself, the mask transforms it into a sword. Mata Nui quickly defeated Strakk, gaining Ackar as a friend in the process.
Metus later attempts to recruit Mata Nui, who refuses. Ackar introduces the hero to Kiina (Marla Sokoloff
), a feisty Glatorian from the village of Tajun. In exchange for showing the two Glatorians a secret cavern underneath Tajun, Kiina would like to leave Bara Magna with Mata Nui, believing that anywhere is better than her native planet. On their way to Tajun, the three Glatorians are ambushed by a Skopio beast, along with a group of Bone Hunters, who were told the Glatorians location by an Agori traitor. After trapping both beneath a rockslide, they discover that Tajun had been raided by the combined efforts of the formidable Skrall army and the Bone Hunters, despite the fact that the two forces were rival tribes. A Glatorian rookie, Gresh (Mark Famiglietti
), had been trying to defend the village and was badly injured. The heroes follow Kiina to the caverns, where they encounter Berix (James Arnold Taylor
), a thief. While Berix tends to Gresh, the other three discover a hidden chamber containing a picture of the robot that was once Mata Nui's body.
As the Glatorians leave, Gresh complains about his weapon being damaged, then Ackar wonders if what Mata Nui did with Click (the beetle Mata Nui befriended) and the Vorox tail would work with the Glatorian weapons (Mata Nui had explained that his mask worked on things that are/were alive, to which Berix reveals that most Glatorian weapons were made from bone or claw). Mata Nui successfully repairs and transforms the weapons. In addition, these weapons grant the Glatorian elemental abilities of fire, water, and air for Ackar, Kiina, and Gresh, respectively. The three practice their newfound powers as they travel to Gresh's village, Tesara, while Ackar teaches Mata Nui to stay alert in battle and to study and find his opponent's weakness. To the protests of Raanu and Metus, the four Glatorian stop a fight between Vastus (James Arnold Taylor
) and Tarix (Jeff Glen Bennett), telling the crowd of Agori that they must unite their villages against the threat of the Skrall—Bone Hunter alliance. Mata Nui proves his worth to the crowd by transforming Tarix's and Vastus' weapons.
In the hot springs not far from Tesara, Kiina follows a mysterious figure. It turns out to be Berix. Kiina is now convinced that Berix is the traitor. But then, the actual traitor corrects Kiina. The two are then captured by the Bone Hunters and the true traitor. Back in Tesara, Raanu and Metus alert the Glatorian about Kiina and Berix's kidnapping. Mata Nui ignores Ackar's and Gresh's offers for assistance and sets off for the Skrall camp on his own.
Kiina and Berix are held in a suspended cage near the mouth of a cave at the Skrall camp. Mata Nui confronts Tuma, the Skrall leader and challenges him to a one-on-one fight, and eventually defeats him. As he claims Tuma's shield in victory and frees Kiina and Berix, the traitor, now revealed to be Metus, appears. He explains how he got the nomads and the Skrall to unite under him. Now in control of the army, he orders the Skrall and Bone Hunters to kill off the three. Just then, the Skrall and Bone Hunters are attacked by an immense being composed of Scarabax beetles.
Mata Nui sees Metus fleeing in his vehicle and follows him. A couple of unchained and vengeful Vorox overturn Metus' chariot, sending him tumbling to the feet of Mata Nui. Mata Nui picks him up and, despite Metus' attempt to bargain with him (Mata Nui had what he wanted: Metus), presses the traitor to his mask, transforming Metus into a snake as a representation of what he truly is. As he slithered away, he claims that his united army cannot be defeated. Realizing this to be the key to winning, Mata Nui has the Glatorians combine their powers against the waves of Skrall and Bone Hunters. As the defeated army flees, the Glatorian rejoice, except for Kiina, who believes Berix to be killed in battle. She quickly finds him under a pile of rocks holding a Skrall shield.
As the Glatorian and Berix watch the combined efforts of the Agori and the Scarabax beetles pulling the villages together, they notice that the combined villages formed a large robotic body, similar to the one Mata Nui's spirit once inhabited. To further this, Berix pulls out a coin with the Unity-Duty-Destiny symbol, the Bara Magna symbol, and the Mask of Life symbol on one side, and the Skrall symbol on the other. Berix shows them the Skrall shield and acknowledges that they are both similar to each other and that the mazelike symbol forms a map. With this information in hand, Ackar, Kiina, Gresh, and Berix prepare to set off for their next adventure with a legend... reborn.
After reading the script the director, Mark Baldo thought of casting Michael Dorn of Star Trek
for the voice of Mata Nui.
The idea to make Click, Mata Nui's companion Scarabax beetle, have the ability to turn into a shield for his master at will was the idea of director Mark Baldo. It was not originally in the script, Farshtey thought it was a cute idea so he approved it.
The film was to be the beginning of a new Bionicle trilogy, and the writers were working on a draft for a sequel, but the Lego company canceled the toyline and hence the movies.
, the film was given mostly mixed to positive reactions.
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to the 3 previous Bionicle films, based on the Bionicle
Bionicle
Bionicle is a line of toys by the LEGO Group marketed primarily for 5- to 16-year-olds. The line was launched on December 30, 2000 in Europe and June/July 2001 in Canada and the United States. "Bionicle" is a portmanteau constructed from the words "biological" and "chronicle"...
toys. It was released on September 15, 2009 in the United States and Canada, October 5, 2009 in the United Kingdom and September 2, 2009 in Australia. It is the last Bionicle movie to be released. The end of the story was posted on BIONICLE.com in web format, titled the "Mata Nui Saga".
The film stars Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn
Michael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
as the voice of Mata Nui.
Plot
Mata Nui (Michael DornMichael Dorn
Michael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
),the Great Spirit of the Matoran universe on Aqua Magna, has been exiled from his home by his "brother," the evil Makuta Teridax. Teridax took over his gigantic robot body and placed Mata Nui's spirit inside the legendary Mask of Life. Teridax then banished the mask into orbit, in order to prevent Mata Nui from interfering with his takeover of the Matoran Universe.
The mask crash lands on a planet called Bara Magna, a remote, decaying wasteland of scrap parts and burnished metals. A Scarabax beetle watches as the Mask of Life creates a body for Mata Nui, who almost steps on the Scarabax. He picks up the Scarabax, who touches his mask. Upon doing so, the beetle changes into a living weapon. Just then, a being called a Vorox attacks Mata Nui and after a struggle, flees without its stinger, which has fallen off. Mata Nui picks up the stinger as a vehicle carrying a villager named Metus (David Leisure
David Leisure
David Russell Leisure is an American actor best known for his role as Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995 and fictional automotive "pitch man" Joe Isuzu in a series of North American television commercials for Isuzu from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001.Additional...
) speeds towards him.
The fast-talking Agori recruiter takes Mata Nui to Vulcanus as he tells the once ruler about life on Bara Magna. Local villages scavenge for what remains, building shelters, survival gear and ultimately arenas where they can settle their disputes. Putting the best Glatorian from each village against one another, tribes can quickly end quarrels based on the outcome of the fight. Metus introduces Mata Nui to Raanu (Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman
Armin Shimerman is an American actor. Shimerman is best known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew...
), the Agori leader of Vulcanus, who is too interested in the fight between veteran fighter Strakk (Jeff Glen Bennett) and Vulcanus' prime Glatorian, Ackar (Jim Cummings
Jim Cummings
James Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
), to talk. Strakk eventually falls in battle, but gets up and fells Ackar after conceding, a move that gets him banned from the fights. Mata Nui intervenes and gets beaten down by the angry Strakk. As Mata Nui tries to use the stinger to defend himself, the mask transforms it into a sword. Mata Nui quickly defeated Strakk, gaining Ackar as a friend in the process.
Metus later attempts to recruit Mata Nui, who refuses. Ackar introduces the hero to Kiina (Marla Sokoloff
Marla Sokoloff
Marla Lynne Sokoloff is an American actress and musician, known for playing the part of Lucy Hatcher on the TV show The Practice, and Gia Mahan on the ABC sitcom, Full House.- Personal life :...
), a feisty Glatorian from the village of Tajun. In exchange for showing the two Glatorians a secret cavern underneath Tajun, Kiina would like to leave Bara Magna with Mata Nui, believing that anywhere is better than her native planet. On their way to Tajun, the three Glatorians are ambushed by a Skopio beast, along with a group of Bone Hunters, who were told the Glatorians location by an Agori traitor. After trapping both beneath a rockslide, they discover that Tajun had been raided by the combined efforts of the formidable Skrall army and the Bone Hunters, despite the fact that the two forces were rival tribes. A Glatorian rookie, Gresh (Mark Famiglietti
Mark Famiglietti
-Early life:Famiglietti was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He was raised in Clinton, Connecticut, where frequent family trips to the Goodspeed Opera House sparked his interest in performing...
), had been trying to defend the village and was badly injured. The heroes follow Kiina to the caverns, where they encounter Berix (James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor is an American voice actor, Impressionist, and Announcer. He is the current voice provider for Fred Flintstone as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and also the movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Johnny Test in Johnny Test...
), a thief. While Berix tends to Gresh, the other three discover a hidden chamber containing a picture of the robot that was once Mata Nui's body.
As the Glatorians leave, Gresh complains about his weapon being damaged, then Ackar wonders if what Mata Nui did with Click (the beetle Mata Nui befriended) and the Vorox tail would work with the Glatorian weapons (Mata Nui had explained that his mask worked on things that are/were alive, to which Berix reveals that most Glatorian weapons were made from bone or claw). Mata Nui successfully repairs and transforms the weapons. In addition, these weapons grant the Glatorian elemental abilities of fire, water, and air for Ackar, Kiina, and Gresh, respectively. The three practice their newfound powers as they travel to Gresh's village, Tesara, while Ackar teaches Mata Nui to stay alert in battle and to study and find his opponent's weakness. To the protests of Raanu and Metus, the four Glatorian stop a fight between Vastus (James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor
James Arnold Taylor is an American voice actor, Impressionist, and Announcer. He is the current voice provider for Fred Flintstone as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and also the movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Johnny Test in Johnny Test...
) and Tarix (Jeff Glen Bennett), telling the crowd of Agori that they must unite their villages against the threat of the Skrall—Bone Hunter alliance. Mata Nui proves his worth to the crowd by transforming Tarix's and Vastus' weapons.
In the hot springs not far from Tesara, Kiina follows a mysterious figure. It turns out to be Berix. Kiina is now convinced that Berix is the traitor. But then, the actual traitor corrects Kiina. The two are then captured by the Bone Hunters and the true traitor. Back in Tesara, Raanu and Metus alert the Glatorian about Kiina and Berix's kidnapping. Mata Nui ignores Ackar's and Gresh's offers for assistance and sets off for the Skrall camp on his own.
Kiina and Berix are held in a suspended cage near the mouth of a cave at the Skrall camp. Mata Nui confronts Tuma, the Skrall leader and challenges him to a one-on-one fight, and eventually defeats him. As he claims Tuma's shield in victory and frees Kiina and Berix, the traitor, now revealed to be Metus, appears. He explains how he got the nomads and the Skrall to unite under him. Now in control of the army, he orders the Skrall and Bone Hunters to kill off the three. Just then, the Skrall and Bone Hunters are attacked by an immense being composed of Scarabax beetles.
Mata Nui sees Metus fleeing in his vehicle and follows him. A couple of unchained and vengeful Vorox overturn Metus' chariot, sending him tumbling to the feet of Mata Nui. Mata Nui picks him up and, despite Metus' attempt to bargain with him (Mata Nui had what he wanted: Metus), presses the traitor to his mask, transforming Metus into a snake as a representation of what he truly is. As he slithered away, he claims that his united army cannot be defeated. Realizing this to be the key to winning, Mata Nui has the Glatorians combine their powers against the waves of Skrall and Bone Hunters. As the defeated army flees, the Glatorian rejoice, except for Kiina, who believes Berix to be killed in battle. She quickly finds him under a pile of rocks holding a Skrall shield.
As the Glatorian and Berix watch the combined efforts of the Agori and the Scarabax beetles pulling the villages together, they notice that the combined villages formed a large robotic body, similar to the one Mata Nui's spirit once inhabited. To further this, Berix pulls out a coin with the Unity-Duty-Destiny symbol, the Bara Magna symbol, and the Mask of Life symbol on one side, and the Skrall symbol on the other. Berix shows them the Skrall shield and acknowledges that they are both similar to each other and that the mazelike symbol forms a map. With this information in hand, Ackar, Kiina, Gresh, and Berix prepare to set off for their next adventure with a legend... reborn.
Bonus features
- Extended ending
- Deleted scenes
- Bye Bye Babylon music video by Cryoshell
- Character gallery
- Commercials
Music
There are two licensed songs used in the ending credits of the movie. They are:- Ride by PresencePresence (band)Presence was a short-lived British new wave band started by Gary Biddles, Lol Tolhurst, and Michael Dempsey. Dempsey and Tolhurst were founding members of The Cure, and Biddles was a former Cure roadie who previously played in Fools Dance with Simon Gallup...
- Bye Bye Babylon by CryoshellCryoshell (band)Cryoshell is a Danish rock band from Copenhagen, Denmark, formed in 2006. The line-up currently consists of lead vocalist Christine Lorentzen - who goes by her stagename/ nickname "Lore", lead guitarist Kasper Søderlund, keyboardist/ bassist/ backing vocalist Mikkel Maltha and unofficial drummer...
Cast
- Michael DornMichael DornMichael Dorn is an American actor, and voice artist who is best known for his role as the Klingon Worf from the Star Trek franchise.-Early life and career:...
as Mata Nui, the protagonist and narrator. He is very easy-going but powerful, and will do anything for his friends. - Jim CummingsJim CummingsJames Jonah "Jim" Cummings is an American voice actor who has appeared in almost 100 roles. He has appeared in classic animated movies such as Aladdin and The Lion King, as well as taking on roles in more current films, such as Bee Movie, Princess and the Frog, and Winnie the Pooh.-Personal...
as Ackar, a veteran Glatorian and Mata Nui's soon-to-be best friend. He is the rival of the ice Glatorian Strakk. - Marla SokoloffMarla SokoloffMarla Lynne Sokoloff is an American actress and musician, known for playing the part of Lucy Hatcher on the TV show The Practice, and Gia Mahan on the ABC sitcom, Full House.- Personal life :...
as Kiina, a self-absorbed but loyal Glatorian and friend of Ackar, Gresh and later Mata Nui. She is also friends with Berix, but her accusations of him being a thief are common. - James Arnold TaylorJames Arnold TaylorJames Arnold Taylor is an American voice actor, Impressionist, and Announcer. He is the current voice provider for Fred Flintstone as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and also the movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Johnny Test in Johnny Test...
as Berix, a greedy but likable Agori. He can be a thief sometimes, but he calls it "collecting", much to Kiina's annoyance. Taylor also provides the voice of Vastus, a swift veteran Glatorian. - Mark FamigliettiMark Famiglietti-Early life:Famiglietti was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He was raised in Clinton, Connecticut, where frequent family trips to the Goodspeed Opera House sparked his interest in performing...
as Gresh, a young but agile rookie Glatorian and good friend of Kiina, Ackar, Berix and later Mata Nui. Famiglietti also provided additional voices. - David LeisureDavid LeisureDavid Russell Leisure is an American actor best known for his role as Charley Dietz in the sitcom Empty Nest from 1988 to 1995 and fictional automotive "pitch man" Joe Isuzu in a series of North American television commercials for Isuzu from 1986 to 1990, and again from 1999 to 2001.Additional...
as Metus, a fast-talking Agori and the main antagonist of the film. He once worked as a Glatorian recruiter, but he felt he didn't get enough respect from the Agori (saying "What have the Agori ever done for me?"), so he decided to get the Skrall and Bone Hunters to combine forces and cause havoc. At the end of the movie, Mata Nui turns Metus into a snake so that "everyone will see him for what he truly is". - Armin ShimermanArmin ShimermanArmin Shimerman is an American actor. Shimerman is best known for playing the Ferengi bartender Quark in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Principal Snyder in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kramer's caddy Stan on Seinfeld, voicing Dr. Nefarious in the Ratchet & Clank series, and Andrew...
as Raanu, the brave and loyal leader of the Agori. He seems to be very absorbed in Glatorian combat and can barely talk to someone with a straight face when watching a battle. Shimerman also provided additional voices. - Fred TatascioreFred TatascioreFrederick "Fred" Tatasciore is an American voice actor who portrays secondary characters as well as monstrous-looking types...
as Tuma, leader of the Skrall and the secondary antagonist of the film. He is cocky and arrogant, but ruthless and powerful. He is defeated by Mata Nui just before Metus reveals himself as the Agori traitor. His fate is left uncertain in the film, but supplementary material reveals he's alive. - Jeff Glen Bennett as Strakk, a veteran Glatorian and Ackar's rival. He sports a Russian accent. Bennett also portrayed Tarix, a strong veteran Glatorian.
- Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
as Bone Hunters, Skrall, Vorox (vocal effects). - Mark Baldo as Villagers and Village Leaders
Production
Unlike the first three films, The Legend Reborn was produced by Threshold Animation Studios and distributed by Universal Home Entertainment, while the original trilogy was produced by Miramax.After reading the script the director, Mark Baldo thought of casting Michael Dorn of Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
for the voice of Mata Nui.
The idea to make Click, Mata Nui's companion Scarabax beetle, have the ability to turn into a shield for his master at will was the idea of director Mark Baldo. It was not originally in the script, Farshtey thought it was a cute idea so he approved it.
The film was to be the beginning of a new Bionicle trilogy, and the writers were working on a draft for a sequel, but the Lego company canceled the toyline and hence the movies.
Reception
Amongst fans of BionicleBionicle
Bionicle is a line of toys by the LEGO Group marketed primarily for 5- to 16-year-olds. The line was launched on December 30, 2000 in Europe and June/July 2001 in Canada and the United States. "Bionicle" is a portmanteau constructed from the words "biological" and "chronicle"...
, the film was given mostly mixed to positive reactions.