Odds ‘n Ends (+ Sword of Ages update)

  • As some of you know, Ecrater accidentally oversold the Sword of Ages and the Dread Axe of Darkness during the last sale. I chose to honor those sales and requested replacement ones from SMC (after contacting the individuals to make sure they didn’t mind waiting); the replacements arrived over the weekend, but our apartment got flooded AGAIN (fifth time in five years) on Sunday, so there’s going to be a bit of a delay while all that gets in order. I apologize for the wait.
  • As I mentioned last week, I’m a guest on this week’s OrccaCast. Tune in to hear some more stories from my time at Toy Fair, speculation on the “secret accessories” for Man-E-Faces and Megator, and find out what this is!
  • I didn’t realize that the guy who got picked to direct the next G.I. Joe movie, Jon M. Chu, directed the Justin Bieber movie (as well as two Step Up sequels). Here’s my take on it, though. Of course it could totally suck, but karmically, I’m thinking it might just turn out okay. Plenty of directors got their start directing forgettable movies (or rather music videos, which is really more in line with what Chu was directing).* I guess I’m just saying I’m giving Chu the benefit of the doubt. Of course, I really should see the first G.I. Joe movie at some point.
  • Remember, the Scarabus 10-pack goes up for preorder tonight at 9pm EST. I’d planned to get you guys a review of the Toypocalypse Scarabus, but the aforementioned flooding interfered. Fortunately, I found this review on YouTube for you.

* On the other hand, the two directors who come immediately to mind as having started their careers in music videos are Michael Bay and McG, so I could be very, very wrong about this.

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19 Comments

  1. As far as the secret accessory goes with MEF, I'm hoping it's Fisto's 200x sword that never made it into production. That would be cool, and useful. (Of course, I'd take Keldor's 200x sword any day, just not sure it will ever happen)

  2. 5th time for a flood? What kind of damage (to home and toys)? Thinking of a move?

  3. @Philip Reed: "Old and Grumpy" is a good enough reason not to like a film for me. It’s a matter of taste, a gut reaction, etc.

    That said, its easy to pick apart any movie and point out all its flaws. I don't think anyone has to explain their opinion, but if you're going to bring up specifics be prepared to back yourself up.

    A thinking man's movie, G.I. Joe is not. I went in, turned my brain off (though some could argue its always turned off) and enjoyed myself for 2 hours.

  4. @Mysterious Stranger: I think the simplest answer to "why do you think the movie stinks?" is:

    "I think it sucks because I am old and grumpy."

  5. @Monte: Please explain. Or, better yet, link to video of sinking ice. Because I've never seen ice sink and if it's possible I wanna watch.

  6. Monte

    Ice can and does sink.

  7. toyman2581

    I agree that the GI Joe movie was terrible beyond belief but I really liked Transformers and I thought ROTF was even better. Now I'm not saying they didn't have their problems or stupid parts (dog and robot leg humping comes to mind) but on the whole I thought they were great.

    ROC was unforgivable though. It was like hey let's make this awful movie and then just slap the Joe name onto it even though it bears no resemblance to the toys, comics, or cartoon.

  8. FakeEyes22

    That Chu guy seems pretty enthusiastic about making a proper G.I.Joe film at least. I'll give him that. Dance films and a documentary concert thing are odd credentials. To his credit, that Bieber film is said to be well done for what it is. I find that impressive if only for how quickly they threw together a feature length cash-in.

  9. Mysterious Stranger

    You point to sinking ice in the G.I. Joe movie but I can point to a dozen fan favorite films that all have a similar flaw – sound in space. So if you're gonna take shots at the G.I. Joe movie you're gonna need a bigger gun than that. 🙂

  10. Henry

    @Philip Reed: While the sinking ice is a flaw that can't be written off, it certainly fits in with the giant pile of stupid needed to explain how the corporation was able to build an underwater city without even the top secret military squad knowing.

    Plus the ice is trying to do us all a favour by attempting to kill Channing Tatum.

  11. Barbecue17

    Yeah,even as a hardcore Joe fan, I didn't mind ROC. I enjoyed it. Sure, it wasn't the G.I. Joe movie I would have made, but for the most part it was a fun action movie that could be enjoyed by both adults and kids.

  12. I actually enjoyed ROC, much more than ROTF. I went in with very low expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. The best way I could describe it is to say they brought the cartoon to life. I think fanboys just set their expectations way too high and set themselves up for disappointment.

    @Creature E: You are correct sir!

    I'm trying to keep an open mind about Chu. Everyone's got to get their start somewhere. I highly doubt directors working on those direct-to-video kidlet movies actually WANT to be doing that. I think in this business you're just happy to be working and doing something you enjoy.

  13. Creature E

    Didn't David Fincher get his start by directing music videos?

  14. @Henry: Sinking ice, to me, says all you need to know about the GI Joe movie.

  15. tool486

    I actually enjoyed the GI Joe but then again, I'm basing my interest level on a cartoon which (honestly) had no point other than defeat Cobra each episode. I also read the comic books however I didn't go in expecting the movie to be anything like them. I thought it was a good popcorn movie!

  16. Mark

    @Henry: I agree with you. G.I. Joe was far better than both of the Bayformers movies. ROC had a better story. ROTF was the biggest load crap. I didn't have high hopes for ROC but, for what it was, it was enjoyable….not perfect to the comics and cartoon etc, but enjoyable and thats the mot important thing unlike Transformers 1 and 2. I dread number 3.

  17. Henry

    I feel I must disagree Dead Man waling. While G.I Joe is far far away from being good, I'd certainly rank it ahead of either transformers film. For all his flaws, For all his flaws, Stephen summerca can make some fun B movie schlock. And really, the accelerator suits were such a small part of the film.

    That's bad news about the flooding though. Certinly not a good batting average there.

  18. Hey did you ever check out my dread axe "review"?

  19. Dead Man Walking

    If you never watch GI Joe your life is the better for it.

    Recently, I was discussing which was worse, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or GI Joe: Rise of Cobra, with someone.

    Both were terrible schlock, but RotF was at least made by someone who is an expert at schlock. It was at least slick even if it was awful.

    Think of it this way. You know those awful 3-inch long, fake, acrylic nails that some women like to get? And then they get them painted up, with glitter or fake jewels added.

    Well, RoTF is like a set of those nails done well. They're still god awful and stupid, but at least they were done skillfully. RoC was like a set of those nails done by a 10 year old. Sloppy and amateurish.

    If nothing else, the special effects in RotF were well done, whereas those in RoC were awful. The scene where the Joes are running around in those accelerator suits looked like a scene out of Looney Tunes.

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