LEGO® Disney™ review: 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell

The LEGO Group are showering a plethora of products upon us in 2023 to celebrate 100 years of Disney™, and there's also a live-action version of the classic animation The Little Mermaid which was  released in May. 

Satisfying both these events, set 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell is a large display piece featuring three of the movie's underwater scenes, all ensconced in a giant shell. Let's take a look at the minifigures, interesting parts and techniques it has to offer, with some additional insight from two LEGO® employees who worked on the set: design master Marcos Bessa and senior graphic designer Niken "Nikki" Ayumurti Hartomo.

LEGO® ICONS™ review: 10320 Eldorado Fortress

Pirates beware! The legendary Eldorado Fortress from 1989 returns on 4 July 2023 as a LEGO® ICONS™ set, so we got our telescope out to scan for new elements on the horizon. What has changed since the original LEGO® Pirates version came out 24 years ago, and how does the set look placed next to the Blackseas Barracuda from 2020?

LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review: 80047 Mei's Guardian Dragon

Monkie Kid and his bold companions charged into our collections a little over 3 years ago. I'm tempted to do one of those "how it started vs. how it's going" memes but that's perhaps redundant, as it's clear to see that the sets are still doing really well and continue to offer something a bit different. I'd appreciate wider availability but if the way to maintain a theme is by having it exclusive to LEGO.com in some regions, then so be it!

LEGO® ICONS™ review: 10317 Land Rover Classic Defender 90

Renowned for its aid in off-road adventures, scientific expeditions, or even just pulling stumps from farmers' estates, the Land Rover Defender is one of the world's most iconic four-wheel-drive vehicles. For the off-roader's 75th birthday, The LEGO Group and Land Rover are celebrating with a new  LEGO® ICONS™ vehicle: 10317 Land Rover Classic Defender 90.

This Classic Defender built with Sand Green LEGO® System bricks contrasts 2020's modern Olive Green LEGO® Technic Defender, but that hasn't stopped designer Kurt Kristiansen from incorporating numerous Technic functions and customization options. With its 2336 pieces and $240 price tag tying it with 10274 Ghostbusters ECTO-1 for the most massive LEGO Icons vehicle, the Land Rover has a lot to prove. Read on to see how the Rover does that, including insights from the designer.

LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review: 80048 The Mighty Azure Lion

The next set we are going to look at from the June 2023 wave of LEGO® Monkie Kid releases is 80048 The Mighty Azure Lion. As you will see, that's a bit of a misnomer, since a lot of the interesting new pieces are actually Dark Turquoise, but I'm splitting lion hairs here and really ought to get on with the review!

LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review: 80046 Monkie Kid's Cloud Airship

The June 2023 wave of the LEGO® Monkie Kid theme includes four sets. In this review, I will be taking a look at the smallest of them, 80046 Monkie Kid's Cloud Airship. 

LEGO® NINJAGO® Spinjitzu review: Rise of the Tri-Baller

Spinjitzu has been practiced from the very start of the LEGO® NINJAGO® theme. Over the years, many different iterations have been released in sets, and the June 2023 wave adds a new version: Dragon Power Spinjitzu. Three ninja each get their own set: 71777 Kai’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Flip with 72 parts, 71778 Nya's Dragon Power Spinjitzu Drift with 57 parts and 71779 Lloyd's Dragon Power Spinjitzu Spin with 56 parts. 

These small sets include a nice new mould. But before we take a look at that, I’ll have a quick look at the sets themselves and the other elements found in them. 

LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review: 80049 Dragon of the East Palace

Coming on 1 June, 80049 Dragon of the East Palace is the largest LEGO® Monkie Kid™ set of 2023, although exceeded in element quantity by The Heavenly Realms – see Caz's review here. Based once again upon the book Journey to the West, this set depicts what occurred when the Monkey King got his magical staff from the Dragon King of the East.

LEGO® Review: 71795 NINJAGO® Temple of the Dragon Energy Cores

After publishing our overview of all new elements in the Summer 2023 wave of LEGO® NINJAGO® sets, the most commented on elements were the new balls. At the time of writing, the new series hadn't officially started yet, so it was unclear what the spheres represent. 

The best clue comes from the name of one particular set: 71795 Temple of the Dragon Energy Cores, so let's kick off our series of reviews of the Ninjago Dragons Rising wave with this set. 

LEGO® Star Wars Diorama review: 75352 Emperor's Throne Room & 75353 Endor Speeder Chase

The Star Wars movie Return of the Jedi, also known as “How The Care Bears Kicked the Emperor’s Behind”, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023. Wait, that makes the movie the same age as me, and the movie is considered to be classic...

Sorry, I had to recover from that. Back to the bricks: to commemorate the occasion, LEGO Star Wars has released several sets, and UniekeBricks has kindly sent us 2 of them to have a closer look.

LEGO® Technic review: 42156 Peugeot 9X8 Le Mans Hybrid Hypercar

LEGO® are releasing their first Peugeot vehicle, so get ready for some petrol-fueled fun.  There's a good chance sparks will fly as well, as the car we’re looking at features the first ever electric engine in a Technic set.

LEGO® Technic reviews: 42153, 42154 & 42155

Released in March, the latest LEGO® Technic wave touts American motorsports heritage and a whole lotta black that covers a bike fit for a vigilante. Read on for a detailed look at the builds and features of two blistering fast US-made cars and one sleek movie motorcycle.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43212 Celebration Train

As part of the Disney™ 100th anniversary celebrations, LEGO® has released two main sets plus an upcoming series of collectible LEGO Minifigures.  We have already reviewed 43217 'Up' House and now it's time to take a look at 43212 LEGO Disney Celebration Train.

LEGO® Technic review & MOC: 42152 Firefighter Aircraft

The largest and loftiest of the LEGO® Technic sets launched in March 2023 has taken to the skies, but New Elementary is calling it into to the hangar for inspection. Before we clear this airplane for takeoff, why not refit it into something a little more whimsical? Keep reading to see the features of 42152 Firefighter Aircraft; one of which inspired me to repurpose its parts into a giant dragonfly.

LEGO® ICONS™ set review: 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell

In a previous article, I took a careful look at the numerous new element designs, decorations, and recolours that appear in the forthcoming 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell set from the LEGO® ICONS™ theme. Today, I'll be expanding upon that by taking a look at the building process and finished model, with additional insight from Senior Graphic Designer, Ashwin Visser, who New Elementary spoke to at Recognized LEGO Fan Media Days in September 2022.

LEGO® NINJAGO® review: 71783 Kai's Mech Rider EVO

I like bikes, I like mechs and I like models that can be configured in different ways, so this LEGO® NINJAGO® set has a few of my boxes ticked. I don't think I've seen a mech on a motorbike in a LEGO set before and I like the quirkiness of that fun idea. 

 

Hop on for a pillion ride; we'll take this beast for a spin and see if it takes the corners well.

LEGO® Disney™ review: 43217 'Up' House

The Disney·Pixar animated movie Up was released back in 2009 and won a couple of Oscars that year as well as a Best Picture nomination. Nearly 14 years have passed since its release,  but recently LEGO® Disney 43217 'Up' House was revealed as part the Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary this year.

LEGO® Friends 41711 Emma's Art School

After all of our recent LEGO® Friends 2023 set reviews, today we are going "old skool" and looking back at one from 2022. 41711 Emma's Art School was one of five sets released last year which told the story of where the original five Friends characters would be furthering their education; the others being 41713 Olivia's Space Academy, 41714 Andrea's Theatre School, 41716 Stephanie's Sailing Adventure and 41717 Mia's Wildlife Rescue.

 

LEGO® NINJAGO® review and MOD: 71785 Jay's Titan Mech

Gundam! Jay’s Titan Mech looks great. This Beautiful Blue Bot is the second largest of January’s LEGO® NINJAGO® releases. Let's take a look at what this set has to offer, and see whether my idea for a modified version is successful. 

LEGO® Friends review: 41728 & 41733: Thought for Food

I’ve reviewed so many sets from the January 2023 wave of LEGO® Friends, I’m in need of some food and a drink... which these two sets will provide.

41728 Heartlake Downtown Diner has some great sandwiches for me, and 41733 Mobile Bubble Tea Shop serves a refreshing beverage which, according to my children, is made of a combination of milk, tea, flavored syrup and tapioca pearls for a chewy texture. I’ll have a coffee, black.