Why The LEGO Movie is the new Nineteen Eighty-Four

There are surprising parallels between George Orwell's dystopian novel and the new children's comedy

An omnipotent dictator controls the whereabouts and movements of the citizenry. Surveillance cameras constantly monitor the public. Words and songs chosen by the government keep the masses pacified.

Yes, I'm describing George Orwell's classic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four — but I'm also describing The LEGO Movie, which hits theaters today. You probably wouldn't expect to see much in common between a dark, dystopian vision of the future and a children's movie based on a popular toy line. But let me lay out the evidence, and see if you agree (minor spoilers for both Orwell's novel and The LEGO Movie to follow):

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John Hanlon is a contributing editor at Townhall Magazine and a freelance film critic. He has written for CNN.com, USAToday.com, Big Hollywood, the Daily Caller, and Townhall.com as well as numerous other outlets. His movie reviews appear on Big Hollywood, RottenTomatoes.com, and JohnHanlonReviews.com. Hanlon has also appeared on "The Dennis Miller Show," "The Hugh Hewitt Show," and the Reelz television program "Mark at the Movies." A native of Massachusetts, Hanlon now lives in the D.C. suburbs.