Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Dave Van Domelen reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe class Sideways, Sideswipe, Rampage and Breakaway figures. Excerpt: “(Re: Breakaway) It may end up being a pegwarmer, which is a shame, as it’s probably the best overall TOY (i.e. thing for a kid to play with) of the wave.”

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Scout class Ransack figure. Excerpt: “… a mightily impressive effort for the first Transformers biplane.” (See also.)

Darren Cilenti reviews the Hasbro Transformers Universe Classic Series Legends class Jazz figure. Excerpt: “… Jazz’s biggest failing is an injudicious lack of paint in some areas …” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Michael Crawford reviews the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Iron Man Mark II 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Recognizing that certain aspects of this figure cost less because of the re-use, they added in more stuff to give you that additional value.”

Jeff Parker reviews the Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Iron Man Mark II Sideshow exclusive 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “As near to perfection as it is possible to get in this scale …”

yo go re reviews the Jakks Pacific WWE Deluxe Build N’ Brawl Sgt. Slaughter figure. Excerpt: “… the toy would be a bit small if he were a Joe release. Other than that, however, the figure blends perfectly.” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Corey Tincher reviews the Shocker Toys Indie Spotlight ShadowHawk (variant) figure. Excerpt: “You’re … getting a character in plastic form that you would probably otherwise never see, so paying a little extra premium is more reasonable.”

Nathan Newell reviews the Shocker Toys Indie Spotlight Scud (Sol version) figure. Excerpt: “… a pretty solid figure.”

yo go re reviews the Diamond Select Toys Marvel Select Anti-Venom figure. Excerpt: “The Marvel Select figure isn’t as articulated as it could be, of course, but it’s still … more than acceptable …” (more…)

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who The Tenth Doctor (Aged and Ancient) set from Last of the Time Lords. Excerpt: “(Re: Aged version) He sort of eerily looks like my Grandfather.” (See also.)

Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Magnus Greel and Mr. Sin set from The Talons of Weng Chiang. Excerpt: “… I liked them MUCH more than I ever thought I would.” (See also.)

Newton Gimmick reviews the Character Options Doctor Who Captain Jack Harkness (Gelth Phantom Wave version) figure. Excerpt: “I simply love how the clothes are made on these figures.” (more…)

Odds ‘n Ends

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It’s Tuesday, and here in New England we are buried another yet another foot of snow. God, I hate snow right now. Snow is a nice surprise in November, charming in December, and a tolerable nuisance in January. By early March, it’s the thing you hate the most in this world. Yeah, The Waste Land is a great poem, but Eliot’s whole thing about winter keeping us warm, covering us in forgetful snow–sorry, Mr. One of the World’s Greatest Poets, but I’m not buying it.

  • The geek universe is on the edge of its seat for Watchmen, and I’m just not feeling the excitement. I think because of my reservations about Zack Snyder; I thought 300 was overrated, and his Dawn of the Dead, while entertaining, was just a horror-fied action flick compared to the original film. Up to now, I’ve seen Snyder as a somewhat better version of Michael Bay. It’s entirely possible Watchmen will change my mind–I kind of hope it does. I didn’t expect to like the Wachowski Bros’s V for Vendetta (I’m not a fan of The Matrix), but I did. We’ll see about Watchmen soon enough.
  • A lot of geeks piled on Warner Bros last week for floating the idea of a Suicide Squad movie. One prominent blogger who will remain nameless suggested the movie would flop because mass audiences wouldn’t know who the characters were. I told him to go ask any friend of his who doesn’t read comics who Dr. Manhattan was. Lest we forget, Marvel’s recent run of great superhero flicks probably wouldn’t exist without the success of Blade, featuring one of its most obscure characters. I think a Suicide Squad film could be successful as long as it was grounded in the “real world”–like Wanted or Blade–and not the DCU.
  • Had quite a geek weekend of movies–the Mrs. and I watched Flash Gordon, Get Smart and Iron Man. I saw Iron Man in the theater, but the other two were first times for me–yes, I’d never seen Flash Gordon before, I know. I loved Brian Blessed as the Hawkmen’s leader, and I still think he would have made an even better Gimli than John Rhys-Davies. As for Get Smart, it was better than I thought it would be, but it made me wonder–why has Dwayne Johnson apparently given up on being an action hero? The Rundown is one of my favorite action flicks ever.
  • Have you guys heard about this movie The Expendables? Holy crap, check out that cast. This will either be the greatest movie ever, the worst movie ever, or turn out to be a hoax and not made at all. Between this and Inglourious Basterds, are we seeing a return of the balls-out wall-to-wall action film?
  • CSI Miami keeps trying to sell me on the idea of P. Diddy as a big-shot lawyer, and I’m just not buying it. However, I do enjoy watching Caruso’s scenes with him–Caruso can make anyone’s acting seem subtle and nuanced. Also, what happened to the cold open one-liners? It’s like the show became really self-conscious about them. Thanks a lot, The Soup.
  • Anyone catch last week’s Batman: Brave and the Bold? It’s amazing how creatively mismanaged a lot of DC’s comics are these days, yet their cartoons are consistently great. Brave and the Bold has gotten better and better each week.

Toy review roundup (via Fanmode)

fanmode-copy Koh Yong Qiang reviews the Medicom Toy Real Action Heroes Street Fighter Chun-Li 1/6-scale figure. Excerpt: “Medicom had sculpted all-new leg parts for her to recreate the Thunder Thighs’ that the First Lady of Fighting Games is so famous for.” (See also.)

Poe Ghostal reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Classics Faker New York Comic Con and Mattycollector.com exclusive figure. Excerpt: “… he’s just a repaint …”

Michael Crawford reviews the Mezco Toyz Cinema of Fear Leatherface (stylised version) figure from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Excerpt: “There’s something goofy yet gruesome about the design, creating an almost cute look but without losing the basic gory concept.”

Rustin Parr reviews the JUN Planning Nightmare Before Christmas Pumpkin King figure. Excerpt: “… NECA’s really outshone JUN’s … Still, I cannot not love this figure!” (more…)

Toy reviews roundup (via Fanmode), 2/14/09

fanmode-copy Sanjeev reviews the Kridana Epic Ramayana Series Hanuman figure. Excerpt: “This particular toy holds a lot of meaning for me.” (See also.)

Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Iron Man, Punisher, Black Panther and Wolverine figures. Excerpt: “Iron Man is the outstanding figure …”

Michael Crawford reviews the Hasbro Marvel Universe Silver Surfer, Human Torch, Spider-man and Daredevil figures. Excerpt: “The figures themselves, even with the leg articulation limitation, are really fun little toys.” (more…)

Toy news roundup, 1/15/09

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