BIONICLE: Mask of Light

BIONICLE: Mask of Light
Director	David Molina, Terry Shakespeare
Producer	Conny Kalcher
Writer	Henry Gilroy, Tracy Berna, Bob Thompson
Starring	Christopher Gaze, Michael Dobson, Paul Dobson
Distributor	Miramax Films, Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Released	2003
Runtime	72 Minutes
IMDb Page

Mask of Light is the first of the BIONICLE movies as well as the first LEGO movie overall. It tells the second-half of the 2003 story.

Plot

The movie starts with Turaga Vakama telling the Legend of Mata Nui. Then it shows Jaller in Ta-Wahi, searching for Takua, who has disappeared shortly before the upcoming Kolhii game. He finds Takua crossing a river of lava, along with Pewku. While Jaller waits impatiently, Takua finds a totem on the other side of the river, and removes it from its pedestal. This triggers a trap, the ground begins to shake, and Takua drops the totem into the lava. A Great Kanohi then rises to the surface of the lava. Before Takua could go back across to meet Jaller, however, a huge wave of lava appears. Thankfully, Tahu soon arrives and saves Takua from certain death. After briefly studying the golden Mask, Tahu rushes the Matoran to the Championship of the Kolhii Tournament.

After a tough game, which ended with the Ga-Matoran, Hahli and Macku gaining victory, the Mask is revealed to the whole stadium, which the Turaga looked at with awe and amazement.

Using her Kanohi Rau, Turaga Nokama translated the inscription behind the Mask. It was the Mask of Light, the Kanohi Avohkii. It was destined to be worn by only the Seventh Toa, Toa of Light, who was said to free the island of Teridax’s shadow once and for all. Unlike the other Six Toa, this Toa would not just wash ashore, he would have to be found. Since the Kanohi Avohkii had shone all its light on one Matoran, Jaller, he was designated as the Herald of the Seventh Toa, charged with the duty of searching for the Toa of Light. After the announcement, three of the Toa who went to Ta-Koro to watch the Championship, Tahu, Gali and Pohatu, parted ways. Gali went to the Great Temple, Kini-Nui, and spotted a seventh Spirit Star in the sky, representing the coming of the Seventh Toa.

While Gali observed the magnificent discovery, Teridax, hidden in the shadows of his lair, watched the star with fear. With the coming of the Toa of Light, his reign over Mata Nui was soon to be ended. In fear of this, he released the best of his minions, his very essence, the Rahkshi for one last stand for control over the Island. Guurahk, Lerahk and Panrahk were the first to be released, Teridax hoping that they would destroy the Matoran’s values and retrieve the Herald of the Seventh Toa, stopping the arrival of the powerful Toa of Light.

After a word of farewell to Jaller and Takua, Vakama warned them of the dangers of Teridax, to stay in the light. As the Herald of the Seventh Toa left Ta-Koro with the Mask of Light, the three Rahkshi first saw the light of Mata Nui, bursting abruptly out of Mangaia through Kini Nui. After a short fight, both Gali and the Rahkshi made their way to Ta-Koro, in their search for the Mask of Light. Fortunately, Gali had arrived before the Rahkshi, warning the Koro about the danger to come. After easily defeating the Toa and their villagers, Ta Koro was completely destroyed and sank beneath the lake of fire. Thankfully, all the villagers were evacuated, and the Toa left only with Tahu having a scar from the Poison of Lerahk’s Staff, whose poison was slowly progressing and spreading…

The two Matoran made their way to Le-Koro in search of the Seventh Toa. As they wandered into the Jungle of Le-Wahi, they encountered Graalok the Ash Bear, who tried to fend them away, thinking of them as intruders. In the nick of time, Lewa appeared, entangling the Ash Bear in vines. To aid them in their journey, Lewa provided the two Matoran with a Gukko bird, leading them in flight towards Ko-Koro, where the Mask’s light shone towards. Pewku was left behind, unable to board the Gukko.

On the top of a high glacier above Le-Koro, Jaller and Takua landed and was forced to separate from Lewa, who decided that it was his duty to go back to Ta-Koro, which was invaded, and aid his brothers. The two Matoran fought against the icy winds of Ko-Wahi, bumping into frozen Bohrok. Apparently, Kopaka had frozen them, and the two Matoran had been following him. With Kopaka leading the way, the Matoran traveled towards Ko-Koro.

On the other side of the island, Lewa had just arrived in Ta-Wahi, too late to help fend against the invasion of the Rahkshi. When Gali attempted to encourage them to stay together, Tahu promptly walked away, ignoring the infecting scar on his Mask.

Upon reaching Ko-Koro, Kopaka used his Akaku Nuva to probe the village, spotting the three Rahkshi that originally attacked Ta-Koro. Passing the Matoran his Ice Shield, he told them to leave, while he stayed to fight against the Rahkshi. After blocking a hit from Panrahk, Kopaka jumped down a cliff, using his Ice Blade as power skates, and caught up with Takua and Jaller. After receiving another hit, Kopaka was knocked out, and the two Matoran fell off the shield. Takua attempted to escape with the Mask across the river. Just as the Rahkshi were about to take the mask, Kopaka came to and shot a dart of ice, causing the Sons of Teridax to plunge into the river, and promptly froze the entire lake. Kopaka retrieved his tools, spoke to the Matoran for a short while, and left without saying. Climbing onto Pewku, the Matoran continued their journey.

After reaching Onu-Koro Highway, Takua and Jaller went into the darkness, following the Mask wherever it leads. After toying about with some plants, Takua was separated from Jaller and Pewku, and came face to face with Teridax. Teridax attempted to persuade Takua to hand over the Mask, offering to spare the Matoran and the other villages, taunting him, saying that he will never find the Seventh Toa. Takua refused to betray his fellow villagers, but he refused following Jaller to search for the Seventh Toa, leaving Jaller to search alone.

In the shadows of Mangaia, Teridax released three more Rahkshi: Vorahk, whose Hunger he hoped would consume the Matoran’s Duty, Kurahk, whose Anger he hoped would destroy their Unity, and Turahk, whose Fear he hoped would keep them from their Destiny.

Parting ways, Takua found his own way to Onu-Koro, meeting Onua and Pohatu, who was currently announcing the discovery of the Kanohi Avohkii and the Herald of the Seventh Toa being on a journey to find the Toa of Light. After seeing Takua, and questioning why he wasn’t with Jaller, Takua explained that they were separated by Rahkshi. Having received no news from Ta-Koro, they had no idea what Rahkshi were. Just then, the three Rahkshi arrived, bursting out of the walls of Onu-Koro. Takua noticing them to be different from the original ones he faced in Ko-Koro. Onua promptly unleashed an earthquake, burying the Rahkshi under piles of earth. The beings escaped their prison of earth quickly, and Vorahk jumped towards Onua, challenging his strength. Onua was quickly overpowered; his energy lost to the Rahkshi, and Pohatu was struck with fear when trying to aid his brother.

Takua bravely rode forward, attacking Kurahk with his Kolhii Stick. He was easily beaten, and Tahu, who arrived to help, stepped forward to defend the Chronicler. Tahu was struck with anger from Kurahk, and began fighting against Gali when she tried to help him. Lewa, amidst all the chaos, rode Takua out of the battle scene, dismissing him and telling him to warn Jaller. Tahu, being washed with water from Gali, was frozen by Kopaka, and brought out of Onu-Koro. As all this happened, Pohatu hurled his Climbing Claws at Turahk while it climbed a wall searching for Takua, and Onua brought the entire ceiling down on both the two Toa and the remaining Rahkshi. Onu-Koro was destroyed.

At another part of the island, Tahu was laid on a stone, anger and poison destroying him. Gali instructed Lewa and Kopaka to cross their blades, in an effort to heal Tahu. To complete the healing process, Gali created a bubble of water, which surrounded Tahu and sank beneath his armor, cleansing him of the poison that was infecting him. After exhausting so much power, Gali fainted, and Kopaka brought her to a lake to rejuvenate. There, Gali pondered upon whether the Turaga were right, and the Toa were losing their unity. Kopaka had left as Gali asked the question…

Takua, having picked up Jaller from a cliff, followed the Mask’s direction to Kini Nui. There, all six Rahkshi ambushed them. After retreating towards the Amaja Circle, they were pleasantly surprised by the arrival of the six united Toa Nuva. (Kopaka, apparently, saved Onua and Pohatu, from the collapsed ceiling.) United, the Toa were protected under a shield from Tahu’s Hau Nuva, unharmed by the Rahkshi’s combined power. After a short battle, the Toa seemingly defeated all the Rahkshi: Lewa and Tahu trapped Guurahk, Panrahk and Lerahk in glass; Vohrahk and Kuurahk were frozen after being showered with Lava.

However, one Rahkshi remained. Turahk walked to Jaller and Takua, attempting to complete their mission. Striking Takua, the true herald, with fear, Turahk nearly killed him with one swing of its Staff. Jaller had grabbed onto Turahk’s staff in an attempt to stop the Rahkshi from killing Takua. He was continuously stricken with fear, far too much to handle. Turahk merely swung the weakened Jaller off its Staff. The Toa Nuva then subdued the Rahkshi.

Takua hurried to aid his best friend, who was already dying. With his last breath, Jaller passed the Mask to Takua, and told him, “You know who you are”.

Takua, burning with determination and vengeance for his friend, donned the Kanohi Avohkii, and transformed into much more powerful form. He was no longer Takua, but Takanuva, Toa of Light. With an amazing display of power, Takanuva shot a beam of light that stunned Turahk and defeated him, and fired a laser, which revealed a carving of Takua’s mask under a stone statue in Kini Nui.

After a short talk with Vakama, Takanuva and the other Toa assembled the Ussanui, which would lead Takanuva to Teridax. After telling the Toa Nuva that it is not their destiny to destroy Teridax but his, he left on the Ussanui for Mangaia. Hahli stowed away in the Ussanui, offering to be Takanuva’s chronicler.

As Takanuva entered Teridax’s lair, he told Hahli to summon all the Turaga, Toa and Matoran, stating that Mata Nui would be awakened that day. (The Turaga pondered for a while, thinking that they may not return, but went to Mangaia in the end after being convinced by an inspiring speech by Hahli)

Led to Teridax by Kraata, Takanuva was challenged by Teridax to a “simple game of Kolhii”, taunted by the death of Jaller. If he won, he could “try to open the gate”. If not, Teridax would keep the Mask of Light. The game begun, with the two sides hurling spheres of Light and Shadow energy against each other. In the middle of the game, the inhabitants of Mata Nui arrived, to “see Takanuva fail”, as Teridax put it. Teridax then brought down the ceiling behind the Matoran, Turaga and Toa Nuva, preventing them from ever returning to the surface. Angered, Takanuva jumped towards Teridax, towards the shadow sphere Teridax hurled. In a stunning move, Takanuva hurled the sphere right back at Teridax, hitting him head-on at a great speed.

Takanuva walked towards Teridax, only to find that he received little damage from the “game”. Takanuva again attempted to defeat Teridax, this time by removing his Kanohi Kraahkan. As a result, both entities fell into a Protodermis pool, and were fused together by its energies, creating Takutanuva.

Takutanuva, the merged being of Teridax and Takanuva.

As Light and Shadow merged, the massive stone door which blocked the way to Metru Nui was lifted in an amazing show of strength by Takutanuva, and Jaller was revived with part of Teridax’s life force. With so much energy lost, Takutanuva was unable to keep the door open, and it crashed down on him. The Mask of light slid out from the door, signifying that Takanuva had died.

As Vakama tried to awaken Mata Nui, Jaller was placed onto a portion of the stone floor with the symbol representing Duty, Hahli on Unity, and the Mask of Light on Destiny. Takanuva was somehow revived when that happened, suddenly reappearing.

At the end, Takanuva used his power of light and revealed the long-forgotten island of Metru Nui.

Bonus Features

The movie also contained several bonus features. They included the Mata Nui Explorer, along with deleted scenes, commentaries, interviews, and advertisements of the movie.

Characters

• Takua/Takanuva
• Jaller
• Toa Nuva
• Teridax
• Takutanuva
• Rahkshi: Turahk, Kurahk, Lerahk, Panrahk, Vorahk, Guurahk
• Hahli
• Hewkii
• Vakama
• Nokama
• Onewa
• Pewku
• Bohrok
• Hafu
• Macku
• Ka
• Graalok

Trivia

• All the background Matoran seen in the movie only wear five types of masks: Komau, Kakama, Ruru, Rau, and Huna. The Hau, Kaukau, and Pakari are exclusive to only Hahli, Jaller, and Takua.
• A special version of the movie was broadcasted in Australia on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television and Cartoon Network prior to the release of BIONICLE 2: Legends of Metru Nui. The version featured an extended ending in which Vakama described the city of Metru Nui and clips from the second movie were shown.

See Also

• Gallery:BIONICLE: Mask of Light
• Comic 14: At Last -- Takanuva!
• BIONICLE: Mask of Light Novel
• BIONICLE: Unmasked
• The Legend Continues
• Mask of Light Promo Animation
• Mask of Light Production Journal
• Saga Guides/The Mask of Light
• Timeline/The Mask of Light

External Links

• BIONICLE: Mask of Light website

Parent Page: Expanded Universe