Tag: movies

Treebeard with Electronic Talking Action

Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Last March of the Ents (feat. Ben Del Maestro)

Don’t be hasty this #TolkienThursday. Let’s take our time talking about the ToyBiz The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers Treebeard!

In The Two Towers book, Treebeard is the eldest of the Ents in Middle-Earth. While Ents are not technically trees, Treebeard was a “shepherd of trees.” Treebeard calls out the other remaining Ents for a meet-up known as an Entmoot. They decide to attack Isengard as a result. Also, there is a lot of singing.

For the Peter Jackson films, the Entmoot does not lead the Ents to war. However, the result is the same. A clever Pippin gets the idea for Treebeard to carry him and Merry towards Isengard. This causes Treebeard to see the destruction of the forest. He then calls upon the Ents to march on Isengard anyway.

[The Ents hover, making low voices. Treebeard approaches the hobbits.]

Pippin: “Merry.”

Treebeard: “We have just agreed.”

[He seems to fall asleep.]

Merry: “Yes?”

Treebeard: “I have told your names to the Entmoot and we have agreed: you are not orcs.”

Pippin: “Well, that’s good news.”

Merry: “And what about Saruman? Have you come to a decision about him?”

Treebeard: “Now don’t be hasty, Master Meriadoc.”

Merry: “Hasty?! Our friends are out there. They need our help! They cannot fight this war on their own.”

Treebeard: “War, yes. It affects us all. But you must understand, young hobbit. It takes a long time to say anything in old Entish, and we never say anything unless it is worth taking a long time to say.”

…

This 17″ Treebeard figure was available right away when the first waves of figures for The Two Towers line were hitting stores, and the film was hitting theaters. While the $30 price point seemed high at the time, it’s a steal today considering the scale and electronic features. Not only do the eyes light up, but the mouth moves (well, the mustache anyway). He delivers a handful of lines from the film with the press of a branch, and voice sounds right on for Treebeard voice actor  John Rhys-Davies. The sculpt and paint are stellar, and the articulation is better than you’d expect with a plant based figure of this size. ToyBiz could have made him even taller, but he has a hard enough time fitting in my The Two Towers display, especially with two hobbits in tow.😛

#ActionFigurePhotography
#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR
#ToyPhotography

Playmobil Back to the Future III Hill Valley Courthouse

Recommended music: Alan Silvestri – The Hanging

Come back to 1885 this #WhateverWednesday, as we’re still celebrating this month’s 40th anniversary of Back to the Future. We are also marking 35 years since the release of Back to the Future Part III. Celebrate with this Playmobil Back to the Future Part III set!

NECA Toys has never gotten around to making anything for BTTF Part III in their 1/12 scale action figure line. They’ve also not made anything for Back to the Future depicting 1885. It seems we’re going the Playmobil route again to replicate yet another scene from the third film.

Thankfully, Playmobil released an advent calendar a few years ago that included a cardboard backdrop for the 1885 still under construction Hill Valley Courthouse. For 1885, we get a new version of Dr. Emmett Brown, complete with his cowboy hat and Winchester 1866 rifle. There’s also an 1885 Marty, also known as Clint Eastwood, that comes with a gun and holster, a hat, a steel chestplate, and a poncho.

Finally, we get a new character in the mix with Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen. He comes with a gun, hat, and lasso, as well as his Arabian horse. Additional accessories relating to the scene include an old-timey camera on a tripod, a framed photo of Marty and Doc, and finally, a full-size (think postcard size) photo of the pair in front of the new clock from the film.

“It’ll shoot the fleas off a dog’s back at 500 yards, Tannen, and it’s pointed straight at your head!!” – Doc

Released in US theaters on July 3rd, 1985, this month marks the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future! I figure it’s worth jumping in the DeLorean to revisit some great toys from the film.

#BTTFIII
#BTTF3
#BTTF40
#BackToTheFuture40
#ToyPhotography

From the Archives: Marvel Legends Wolverine

Recommended music: Foo Fighters – My Hero

On this #WhateverWednesday post from the archives, we’re still celebrating 25 years of X-Men with this Marvel Legends Wolverine!

This X-Men 20th anniversary version of Wolverine shows just one of the few upgrades that Hasbro has done from the old ToyBiz X-Men line. Hugh Jackman has been playing this character for a long time. It is rightfully so because “Deadpool & Wolverine” debuted to the sixth-biggest box office opening of all time around this time last year. It also had the largest ever opening weekend for an R-rated film.

While the ToyBiz figures that came out with the first X-Men film back in 2000 were fun at the time, they did have some issues, but I think Hasbro finally got these actors’ likenesses down pretty well.

This week is the 25th anniversary of X-Men hitting theaters in the US!

#ActionFigurePhotography
#ToyPhotography
#Xmen25

X-Men (2000) 25th Anniversary

Recommended music: X-Men Main Theme [Note, this track goes with the X-Men animated series, as Michael Kamen’s film score wasn’t available to cross-post on Instagram – DM]

On this #SomethingElseSunday, we’re celebrating 25 years of X-Men on the big screen!

Yes, the Blade film, a couple of years earlier, technically took a Marvel comic book character and turned him into a box office success with that R-rated vampire flick. Still, X-Men really led the way for the modern superhero comic book film franchise.

The idea for a live-action X-Men film goes all the way back to Orion Pictures in the early 1980s. However, the film was in development hell for a decade, so the movie rights moved to Fox. Fox had seen success with its animated X-Men television series aimed at kids and sought to find the right director, writers, actors, and vision to make the franchise a success with adult audiences.

With a budget of around $100 million and a gross of around $300 million worldwide, the new century was sure to have a comic book film always present for summertime filmgoers for years to come. There have now been 11 X-Men films released in the past two dozen years, as well as crossovers with the three Deadpool films, and future films celebrating these characters and even the original cast with next year’s Avengers: Doomsday.

I thought rather than focus on a single scene from the original film, I’d add in my existing X-Men movie action figures to the original theatrical poster. Since I don’t actually have figures for all 10 characters featured here, you’ll have to read into the film tagline of “trust a few, fear the rest” as a few actor’s faces were not replaced with toys.😄 Hopefully, Hasbro will continue to put out more figures from this film, as many of the characters have not been covered since the original ToyBiz line and are in need of an update.

Tomorrow is the 25th anniversary of X-Men hitting theaters in the US!

#ActionFigurePhotography
#ToyPhotography
#Xmen25

Chewbacca (Escape From Hoth)

Recommended music: Primus – Wynonna’s Big Brown Beaver

Coming at you this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still inside Echo Base during The Empire Strikes Back. Today, from the Original Trilogy Collection, it’s Chewbacca (Escape From Hoth)!

INT. HOTH – REBEL BASE – MAIN HANGAR DECK

HAN
 Chewie!

The Wookiee grumbles a reply.

HAN
 All right, don’t lose your temper.
I’ll come right back and give you
a hand.

Chewbacca puts his mask back on and returns to his welding as Han
leaves.

…

Han would not, in fact, come right back to give Chewie a hand. Yes, I had to go back a full 20 minutes earlier in the film from last week’s picture of Han working on the Falcon to get this shot, but I didn’t want to leave the Wookiee out of it.

Hasbro included this Chewbacca in the short-lived OTC line, which debuted in the fall of 2004 to support the Original Trilogy being released on DVD for the first time, and ended before the Revenge of the Sith line started in the spring of 2005. Unfortunately, this Chewie is a straight-up repack of the Power of the Jedi Chewbacca (Millennium Falcon Mechanic) from four years earlier.

The release had some decent accessories like the welding torch and RW-80 welding goggles (for safety’s sake). However, the sculpt on the figure is a real dud. I don’t mind that the goggles are a tight fit since Chewie is only seen holding them in the film. However, the lack of articulation is annoying when trying to pose the figure on top of the Falcon. There are seven swivel joints; however, Hasbro missed the left elbow joint and completely skipped articulating the knees. Finally, the “Escape From Hoth” moniker is a bit misleading, as it didn’t really feel like Chewie was trying to escape anything, just four minutes into the film.😜

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#ActionFigurePhotography
#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45
#ToyPhotography

Possessed King Theoden

Recommended music: Howard Shore -Théoden King (feat. “The Funeral of Théodred”, performed by Miranda Otto)

The Hour is not Late, Ringers! On this #TolkienThursday, let’s talk about the ToyBiz Possessed King Théoden!

In The Lord of the Rings books, King Théoden ruled Rohan for nearly 40 years. Becoming old and tired, Théoden allowed his chief adviser Gríma to mislead him during Rohan’s invasion by Dunlendings, Uruk-hai, and other Orcs due to the influence of Saruman’s machinations.

For the Peter Jackson films, Théoden is straight up possessed by Saruman and initially appears to be an extremely old man with glazed-over eyes and gray hair who is not willing to send out the Rohirrim to defend their lands against the new invaders.

GRIMA: (whispering to Théoden) He’s not welcome.

THEODEN: Why should I welcome you……Gandalf Stormcrow? (he looks to Grima for agreement)

GRIMA: A just question, my liege. (he gets up and walks towards Gandalf) Late is the hour… in which this conjurer chooses to appear. (The menacing group moves nearer to them.) Lathspell, I name him. Ill news is an ill guest.

Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas arrive in Edoras, and Gandalf exorcises Saruman’s spell right out of Théoden. The king quickly returns to a healthier look and recovers his clarity, booting Grima from Edoras.

This Théoden figure was included in the fifth and final wave of carded figures for The Two Towers line and was not a part of any other releases. This was the third Théoden figure released for TTT, with one more packaged for Return of the King. The figure comes with no accessories, but this version of Théoden King does not have his sword in the film just yet. While it may look like ToyBiz was trying to be cheap with this release, the final look of the figure is excellent with a beautifully painted unique headsculpt and sculpted robe overlay.

#ActionFigurePhotography
#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR
#ToyPhotography

Playmobil Back to the Future Part III Delgado Mine/Boot Hill Cemetery

Recommended music: Alan Silvestri – Hill Valley

On this #WhateverWednesday, we’re still celebrating this month’s 40th anniversary of Back to the Future. We are also marking 35 years of Back to the Future Part III. Celebrate with this Playmobil Back to the Future Part III set!

Once again, NECA Toys never got around to making anything for BTTF Part III in their 1/12 scale action figure line, so we’re going the Playmobil route again to replicate another scene from the third film.

Thankfully, Playmobil released an advent calendar a few years ago that included a cardboard backdrop for the 1955 Delgado Mine/Boot Hill Cemetery. For accessories, we’ve got Copernicus, a dog-sized mining helmet, a lantern, explosives with a corresponding plunger, Doc Brown’s 1885 tombstone, and a desert plant, as apparently Hill Valley used to have a lot more desert around it before the urban sprawl of the past 30-100 years. 😄 Unfortunately, Playmobil did not include another deco of Marty and Doc specific to this scene, but between the 1955 and 1985 parts, you can figure something out that works.

Released in US theaters on July 3rd, 1985, we’re less than a week removed from the 40th anniversary of Back to the Future! I figure it’s worth jumping in the DeLorean to revisit some great toys from the film.

#BTTFIII
#BTTF3
#BTTF40
#BackToTheFuture40
#ToyPhotography

Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit)

Recommended music: Huey Lewis and the News – Workin’ For A Livin’

“All right! That’s it.” For this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re back inside Echo Base on Hoth. Today, from The Vintage Collection, it’s Han Solo (Echo Base Outfit)!

As alarms begin to sound and rebel soldiers rush to their battle stations, Han rushes to do some last-minute repairs to the Millennium Falcon, so he and Chewie can escape Hoth as well, very similar to the last film if you think about it.

Released in the first wave of The Vintage Collection figures back in 2010, I can still remember this beautiful assortment of action figures swinging from the pegs. In fact, I can remember taking a picture of the display at Toys R Us with my (flip?) phone at the time, and staring at the screen while sitting in the best seats of my life behind home plate at Coors Field for a Colorado Rockies baseball game.

Even though I wanted them all, I don’t remember the circumstances of when I actually acquired this Han figure. It must have been a loose purchase, as I have no memory of owning his welding mask. A unique accessory to this release, I had to use a different accessory to stand in for the picture. He also came with a welding torch, but that was a repacked accessory from a previous Chewbacca figure.

The standout item from this figure, however, was not Captain Solo’s welding tools but rather his COAT. You see, Han wears this brown jacket very briefly in the film, and it should not be confused with the heavier brown (but remembered as blue) jackets seen elsewhere on Hoth. The Harrison Ford likeness is decent on this figure, comes with 14 points of articulation, and good gripping hands for working on the Falcon. While Hasbro missed a small detail of putting Solo’s rank badge on his jacket, the rest of the paint applications are great.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old this year! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45
#ToyPhotography

Grima Wormtongue

Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Court of Meduseld

Good morning, Ringers! On this #TolkienThursday, let’s talk about the ToyBiz Grima Wormtongue!

In The Lord of the Rings books, Wormtongue was the main advisor and confidant for King Théoden of Rohan. Gríma served as a mole for Saruman and worked to weaken Théoden and the Rohirrim while creeping after Eowyn. When this was revealed, Grima joined Saruman in Isengard and would later follow him to the Shire before murdering Saruman.

For the Peter Jackson films, a good amount of Grima’s story changed due to simplifying things for the big screen. While Grima has Eomer arrested in the books, he banishes him from Rohan in the film. When Gandalf frees Théoden from Saruman’s spell in the book, the king gives Grima two options: ride into battle or be exiled from Rohan. For the film, the king appears to be ready to take out Grima with his sword until Aragorn steps in.

The biggest differences for Grima from the books are that the “Scouring of the Shire” chapters did not film into the film trilogy, so the deaths of Saruman and Grima were moved to Isengard, and even then were on seen in the Extended Edition of Return of the King.

American actor Brad Dourif plays Grima in the film. While Dourif got his big break in 1975 for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, he is most famous for being the voice of Chucky. Dourif voiced the scary living doll from the original Child’s Play film in 1988. He continued this role through at least 2024.

This Grima Wormtongue figure was included in the second wave of half moon packaged figures for The Two Towers line and was not a part of any other releases. For accessories, Grima comes with a sculpted plastic handkerchief and two different daggers. He also comes with a third weapon that also resembles a dagger but is supposed to be a vial of poison. Toybiz could have made the figure’s flesh even paler. However, the sculpt and paint do a decent job of representing the character in the film. There is also a button on his back to assist with the “knife slashing action.”

#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR

Hoth Battle Playset

Recommended music: John Williams & Vienna Philharmonic – The Imperial March

Marching on this #StarWarsSaturday, we’re still looking in on the ice planet of Hoth. Today, from The Power of the Force 2, it’s the Hoth Battle playset!

After 20 whole minutes into The Empire Strikes Back, we take a break from what is happening with the Rebellion on Hoth, and finally get a full glimpse of the actual. Yes, there was an Imperial Probe Droid seen earlier, but I’m referring to full-on officers of the Empire and their boss, Darth Vader.

This scene is also the first full use of the track “The Imperial March.” While a barely audible version, played on a piccolo, technically accompanies the probe droids sent down to Hoth at the beginning of the film, this is the more familiar rendition of the theme. It’s easy to see why The Imperial March is also considered Darth Vader’s theme, as it recurs frequently when he is on-screen later in the film.

While I unfortunately don’t have the upcoming roster of Imperial officers in action figure form just yet, I wanted to touch on this scene before going into the whole Battle of Hoth. With the Imperial March booming from our speakers, we see Admiral Ozzel and Captain Piett discussing the visual information sent back from a probe droid in hopes of finding the hidden Rebel base. When Vader joins them and sees power generators on the screen, he is instantly convinced:

That’s it. The Rebels are there. – Vader

My lord, there are so many uncharted settlements. It could be smugglers, it could be… – Ozzel

That is the system. And I’m sure Skywalker is with them. Set your course for the Hoth system. General Veers, prepare your men. – Vader

The Hoth Battle playset from the POTF2 line was a callback to the vintage line, and at a bargain price point of just $14.99. It features a scaled-down version of what we see above ground during the Battle of Hoth. The set includes a rotating turret with a top hatch and a side door, a firing laser cannon, and ice bases that can be separated to change the look of your terrain depending on the size of your display or play area (as seen in the picture above).

The playset also features these undersized power generators with a large lever in front that, when pressed, makes the generators “explode.” While it’s a fun take on the scene, I really wish Hasbro would give us more points of view on the action around Echo Base.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old last month! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45

Prince Theodred

Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Banishment of Éomer

On this #TolkienThursday, we’re still in the year 3019 of the Third Age and…haha, I’ll try not to get that nerdy today as we’re taking a look at the ToyBiz Prince Theodred!

The only son of King Théoden and Prince of Rohan, Théodred was also the Second Marshal of the Riddermark. As there simply wasn’t time for any of this character setup in the Lord of the Rings films (even the extended editions), so Theodred’s story in The Two Towers pretty much begins with his death. In the book, his death and hasty burial take place a week before the three hunters show up in Edoras. For the film, Theodred is injured in battle, but he is found by his cousin Eomer, who takes the wounded Theodred back to Edoras on his horse, and later has a funeral there following his death, as seen in the Extended version.

This Prince Theodred was included in the fourth wave of carded figures for The Two Towers line, and was not a part of any other releases. Armed with a sword and a removable helmet, the figure could have made for a decent army builder. However, there is a big gaping wound in his belly from his final injury sustained from a battle against Saruman’s orc army. I think the figure might have been better off having closed eyes, or better yet, just included undamaged armor. That small change would have at least allowed ToyBiz to reuse the body for more riders of Rohan and possibly even make some soldier variants repacked with horses. 😜

In the end, it seems like this was a character ToyBiz really could have skipped, but I’m glad the line went deep enough to include him.

#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR

Chewbacca (Hoth Recon Patrol)

Recommended music: Rush – By-Tor & The Snow Dog

On this blazing hot #StarWarsSaturday, we’re dreaming of chilling on the ice planet of Hoth. Today, from The Legacy Collection, it’s Chewbacca!

During The Empire Strikes Back, Han and Chewbacca head out into the snow to investigate the source of a strange signal. When Chewie’s growl causes them to be discovered by an Imperial probe droid, it immediately fires upon the pair. It only hits snow, but Han briefly returns fire, and the droid self-destructs. Unfortunately, this is just after the droid signals back to the Empire with the location of the Rebellion’s secret base.

This is the version of Chewbacca that was included in the Recon Patrol 5-Pack with Han and three droids. While the figure is a repaint of a great Chewy sculpt that debuted in the VTSC Early Bird Kit in 2005, it included a light amount of snowy deco in this release three years later. Hasbro did release a snow-covered Chewbacca a full decade earlier during the Power of the Force 2 line. That POTF2 release has a bit too much snowy deco and can’t really be used in any other scenes. Also, this TLC version is a superior sculpt with nine more points of articulation. It also features a much more accurate two-piece bowcaster as an accessory.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old last month! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#EmpireStrikesBack45
#ESB45

Eomer

Recommended music: Howard Shore -The Riders of Rohan

Ending up in Rohan this #TolkienThursday? Well, we’ve got you covered tonight with the ToyBiz Eomer!

In The Two Towers film, Éomer is an outcast because of Gríma Wormtongue’s manipulation of King Théoden; the order of events varies a bit from the book. Eomer still shows up fairly early in the film when his cousin Théodred, son of Théoden, is killed in battle, leading to his banishment by way of Grima. Soon after, Eomer is on patrol with other riders of the Rohirrim and comes upon Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. The film character is also later combined with the book character Erkenbrand, who arrives with Gandalf for this return to Helm’s Deep.

This Eomer with Sword Attack Action was included in the second wave of half-moon packaged figures for The Two Towers line, later repacked in the first series of figures on the smaller cards. Both releases are identical, including his sword and a helmet.

While the head sculpt does show a lot of emotion, it unfortunately is not the best likeness of actor Karl Urban in his late twenties. The articulation and pose for this figure are also not the best, as he may look better on a horse than awkwardly crouching his way into battle. 😄 Honestly, I usually keep this figure on a horse and display it with Return of the King figures, not the rest of the Rohirrim.

#LordOfTheRings

FX-7

Recommended music: George Daugherty and the The Sydney Symphony – That’s All Folks! (Merrie Melodies Theme)

Finally, this #StarWarsSaturday, from The Vintage Collection, it’s FX-7!

When Luke is rescued during The Empire Strikes Back and placed in a Bacta Tank to help heal his recently sustained wounds, it is the FX-7 medical assistant droid that monitors Luke’s treatment. You may also recognize them from providing health to an ailing player in the old Star Wars Battlefront video games.

While Hasbro released FX-7 in the Power of the Jedi line to provide a modern update to your 1980 medical droid team, they repacked it nine years later for this Vintage Collection “Hoth Rebels” 3-pack with Han Solo and a Hoth Rebel Trooper. While there are minimal changes to the paint from the previous version, you’ll likely never need an upgrade for the 3.75″ scale. The sculpt and paint application is solid, all 18 arms extend out and have an additional swivel joint, and the body and head rotate 360 degrees with a very satisfying clicking sound.

That’s all I’ve really got to say about FX-7, as I’m on vacation, and this medical droid is a satisfactory piece of my collection.

The Empire Strikes Back turned 45 years old last month! I “figure” there’ll be a new Episode V figure to share here for the rest of the year. Happy 45 years of ESB!

#EmpireStrikesBack45

Snaga

Recommended music: Howard Shore – The Plains of Rohan

Sneaking up this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the Gentle Giant Snaga!

In the books, a “snaga” is a term for lesser breeds of Orcs. In Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers film, Snaga is an orc scout recruited by Grishnákh to help him escort Merry and Pippin to Isengard. Snaga and the other Orcs become hungry after running for days and desire more than bread for sustenance.

Snaga: “Yeah! Why can’t we have some meat?”

Snaga: “What about them? They’re fresh!”

Uglúk: “They are not for eating!”

…

Snaga: “Just a mouthful. A bit off the flank.”

[Uglúk cuts off Snaga’s head.]

Uglúk: “Looks like meat’s back on the menu, boys!”

Snaga was not included in The Two Towers line or any other Lord of the Rings action figure line by Toybiz. I have not yet made a 1/12 scale custom figure of the character in the 20 years since the toy line. However, I found a great stand-in with this resin bust from Gentle Giant. At just over 7″, he is supposed to be 1/6 scale and is limited to 1500 pieces. While he is missing legs and any articulation, the paint and detail are excellent. Sculpted below the character’s upper half is a stone base with a hidden storage compartment that is just large enough to safely keep your One Ring when not in use.

#LordOfTheRings