REVIEW: 70751 Temple of Airjitzu

[Clone OPatra]

I don't purchase many of the big exclusive sets, even if I strongly like them, because I just don't want to spend that much money at one time on a set. But this one, I had to have. The completed thing is just glorious, and I'm so glad LEGO went with the idea of a whole village scene. It would not have been as charming were it just a temple.

That said, even with all of the advanced techniques and huge amount of detail parts I don't particularly find this set any more grand than the Orient Expedition Dragon Fortress. Perhaps that's just nostalgia talking, but to me a set doesn't have to have a ton of different parts to be very impressive. The Temple portion of this set borders on a bit messy for my eye, especially when it comes to those brown, dark brown, and tan columns incorporated into it, which don't completely work aesthetically to me. I also found the build of the temple to be quite tedious, what with all those repetitive columns and stacked windows. I know that that's what it takes to achieve the look, but I'm just sharing my feeling of it.

My favorite part of the build would have to be the blacksmith shop, which uses some great LEGO-part geometry to achieve a very clean and almost simple look, while not being simple at all. The first layer of the blacksmith shop, what with all the SNOT employed, was a true joy to see come together. The use of headlight bricks there was also wonderful. Really I like the two smaller buildings more than I do the large one.

I completely agree with Aanchir that it's a shame not to receive the hairpieces for the Ninja. I don't see why they couldn't have been included in an already-large set. For non-Ninjago fans, some of those hairpieces are not so easily attainable; specifically, Lloyd's and Kai's don't appear in many sets. I've personally substituted the Zombie Businessman hair for Kai's.

The other knock I have on the minifigures is Nya's face. Nya's original face in the Ninjago line was very cool and distinct, yet now they've given her a bland face that looks like every other female minifig. I wish LEGO would've designed a new distinctive face for her, or at least thrown in her latest Samurai X one which is at least a little better on it's non-mask side.

That being said, the minifig lineup is fantastic overall and convinced me to buy this set. Getting all the Ninja, especially in their latest outfits which might be the best yet (though I much liked the Kimonos), really increased the value of this set to me. The exclusive figures are also quite wonderful, with head prints in a style we don't get too often.

[Garmadon]

Excellent review and truly outstanding set here WhiteFang, the overall architecture and layout is really superb, especially for an official set! Plus all those minifigures...

[VintageLegoEra]

got mine today ( Canadian Version ). Noticed some difference in packings. Mine, all the 13 bags are packed with normal transparent polybag and NOT like the one here in this review which has long white stripe. I figured out that, in this Review the set was of Europe Version, So that could be the reason behind the 2 types of Polybags.

Any one has the US/Canadian Version to confirm what i said?

Cheers

[Aanchir]

got mine today ( Canadian Version ). Noticed some difference in packings. Mine, all the 13 bags are packed with normal transparent polybag and NOT like the one here in this review which has long white stripe. I figured out that, in this Review the set was of Europe Version, So that could be the reason behind the 2 types of Polybags.

Any one has the US/Canadian Version to confirm what i said?

Cheers

I got a US copy of the set. I believe mine came with just the old (fully transparent) version of the numbered bags. From what I've read, the LEGO Group is transitioning from one style of numbered bags to another, so for the time being, some sets have the old style, some have the new style, and some have a combination of both.

[gamejutzu]

Getting mine soon.

I noticed the dark red things resembling cones on the first floor railings next to the stairs. Can those be worn as fez hats? And also, I've heard that you can put a minifig in a way where they are on the temple's roofs as if they're running along them. But won't they slide off if you do that?

The only thing here that I don't like is Nya's... Interesting face expression, and the fact that every set with Nya comes with hair for her, yet here there is none to be found for any ninja. But I'm not seriously going to let that make me not get it.

By the way, little note, your cinematic posing needs some work. Sorry.

[WhiteFang]

Thanks guys for all of your input and comments.

Back to the temple, even if we are not into Ninjago, we can find this set very nice, like the Medieval market in its time. It could be seen like an Asian version of the medieval market, targeted Ninjago for the fan of the licence, but not only. This is the advantage of a stand alone set like this one!

Well said, I fully agreed with you.

The MOC is just super but very expensive for one set - it's a large city with lots of interesting details. But for me, ninjas and samurai of 1990-s are the best. which is your favourite set?

My favourite set could definitely be the Emperor Stronghold and the Ninja Flying Fortress, and perhaps the Samurai Stronghold as well.

You suggest to combine this with the temple of classic ninja of 1990-s. Actually I don't remember there was a temple there. Can you write the set number, please? Maybe it just wasn't sold in Russia as pirates 2015.

It is the 3053 Emperor Stronghold and the 6093 Ninja Flying Fortress, which I hope to integrate and merge with. I don't have these sets yet, but I hope to own them one day.

I don't purchase many of the big exclusive sets, even if I strongly like them, because I just don't want to spend that much money at one time on a set. But this one, I had to have. The completed thing is just glorious, and I'm so glad LEGO went with the idea of a whole village scene. It would not have been as charming were it just a temple.

I agree is harder to commit when most of the funds dedicate to one mega set. I had the same dilemma sometimes but this set could have justify it since it is the equivalent of the Medieval Market Village environment.

I noticed the dark red things resembling cones on the first floor railings next to the stairs. Can those be worn as fez hats? And also, I've heard that you can put a minifig in a way where they are on the temple's roofs as if they're running along them. But won't they slide off if you do that?

I am not sure if those can be worn as fez hats. I believe you can put the minifig in a chasing manner along the roof top. Just that you need to be delicate and find the right spot for the legs to be stabilise.

By the way, little note, your cinematic posing needs some work. Sorry.

Sorry, you meant the minifigures posing in the review?

[chump]

gamejutzu, on 29 October 2015 - 12:53 PM, said:

I noticed the dark red things resembling cones on the first floor railings next to the stairs. Can those be worn as fez hats? And also, I've heard that you can put a minifig in a way where they are on the temple's roofs as if they're running along them. But won't they slide off if you do that?

They are indeed the fezs as used and seen in the Indiana Jones Venice Canal Chase

http://alpha.bricklink.com/pages/clone/catalogitem.page?M=iaj041#T=S&O={"ii":1}

[Boromir]

Great review of a magnificent set. In my opinion one of the best, if not the best, sets of 2015 :-)

I was really surprised I like this set so much. It makes a great display piece and was a fun and interesting build.

It's also very big for a 2000-piece set. It dwarfs my parisian restaurant with 2400 pieces.

[WhiteFang]

Just wanted to highlight this awesome LEGO promotion when I happened to see it while I was in the US LEGO Brand Store and it is indeed an incredible promotion.

[gamejutzu]

Just wanted to highlight this awesome LEGO promotion when I happened to see it while I was in the US LEGO Brand Store and it is indeed an incredible promotion.

How long does it last?

[WhiteFang]

How long does it last?

Not exactly sure, it did not state.

[DarthPotato]

Huh, that's really strange. They just recently had it where if you bought the Temple of Airjitzu you'd get a free Enter the Serpent set (which I took advantage of ). It's weird how they're doing this again with a different $50 set. What does everyone think the reasoning for it is? Could the Temple of Airjitzu not be selling well? I'd assume that's not the case since it's such a beautiful set, but I've never seen LEGO have such a good bargain like this twice in a row before.

[Lyichir]

Huh, that's really strange. They just recently had it where if you bought the Temple of Airjitzu you'd get a free Enter the Serpent set (which I took advantage of ). It's weird how they're doing this again with a different $50 set. What does everyone think the reasoning for it is? Could the Temple of Airjitzu not be selling well? I'd assume that's not the case since it's such a beautiful set, but I've never seen LEGO have such a good bargain like this twice in a row before.

I think it might have more to do with the sales of the Ronin R.E.X. and Enter the Serpent than with the Temple itself... the latter in particular I've seen discounted at a fair number of places.

[horizon]

Daughter got this set and I must say: no pictures do this justice, the set is grand!

[azog]

Daughter got this set and I must say: no pictures do this justice, the set is grand!

It is definitely an amazing play set and shelf piece!

[VintageLegoEra]

5]Daughter got this set and I must say: no pictures do this justice, the set is grand!

Mine still in box. need to figure a space to build it as i am so eager to do that! :)

[kyreii]

I picked one of these up and I have to say my only regret was not getting two! (Paid market price for a tower of orthanc instead, which I ended up trading for the sea cow (no figs). While building the set, I actually felt that the highlight of the build were the smuggler's den and blacksmith's shop.

[DComics Shop]

Its like a Crouching tiger hidden dragon 2 movie...