Tag: movies

Recommended music: Howard Shore – Night Camp

Going ahead on this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Grishnakh!

In The Two Towers, Grishnákh is an orc captain who sees a little more screen time (and dialogue) in the Extended Edition compared with the theatrical cut. After a day of running with Isengard Orcs, Grishnákh and his fellow Mordor Orcs wish to rest near the Fangorn Forest and make a meal of Merry and Pippin.

Grishnák: “What about their legs? They don’t need those. Ooh! They look tasty!”

Uglúk: “Get back, scum! The prisoners go to Saruman. Alive and unspoiled.”

Grishnakh: “Alive? Why alive? Do they give good sport?”

Grishnakh was included in a 2-pack for The Two Towers line with Merry and also came in a single card release during the fifth wave of TTT figures. Both versions look the same to me, and both look incorrect to me. Most of the Lord of the Rings figures released by ToyBiz looked very accurate to what you see on screen, but the Grishnak figure came with a peachy skin tone. This looked far too bright to me, so a darker-skinned custom has been a part of my display for more than a decade.

The Grishnákh figure comes with a unique sword weapon and the button for his “Sword-Slashing Action,” which is not hidden by the fur draped over his shoulders.

#LordOfTheRings

Recommended music: Howard Shore – Uglúk’s Warriors

Up next this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Ugluk!

For The Fellowship of the Ring, Peter Jackson created the orc character Lurtz to serve as the leader of the Uruk-hai. After Lurtz was killed by Aragorn at Amon Hen, Uglúk took command of the orc troops to match back up with the books. He proves to be well-disciplined and follows Saruman’s instruction to capture and deliver the hobbits, whom he believes carry an Elvish weapon.

On their way to Isengard, the Uruk-hai are cut off by a group of Mordor Orcs who demand that they release the Hobbits to them. The ensuing argument is put on hold due to a report of the smell of “man-flesh.”

Uglúk: “They are not for eating!”

Ugluk was included in a 2-pack for The Two Towers line with Pippin. He also came in a single card release during the fifth wave of TTT figures. I’m not sure there are any paint differences between the two releases, and he can easily serve as an army builder for a generic orc if needed. Ugluk comes with “Sword-Slashing and Whipping Action” and surprisingly blonde hair (not so noticeable in my moonlight picture here).

#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR

Recommended music: Marvin Matyka – Bloody Mary (Remix)

Moving up this #TolkienThursday, we’ve got the ToyBiz Merry!

Like Pippin, Merry is first seen in The Two Towers hanging on the back of an Orc, making their way to Isengard. Pippin is concerned and alerts the Orcs when Merry appears unconscious:

“Pippin: “Merry! Merry! Wake up! My friend is sick! He needs water. Please!”

Mauhúr: “Sick is he? Give him some medicine, boys!”

[Uruks growl, then one pours a sticky red liquid into Merry’s mouth.]

[Merry chokes.]

Pippin: “Stop it!”

Mauhúr: “Can’t take his draught!”

It turns out to all be an act as Merry is trying to keep a low profile on their journey, as he’s already come to the conclusion that if he is questioned and found not to have the Ring of Power, his story may be ending quickly. Also, the “medicine” forced upon Merry in this scene may look like Jägermeister, but it’s actually some sort of grog-like beverage, picture rum and water, that is evil, but helps keep the Uruk-Hai energized for running all day and night.

This version of Merry was included in a 2-pack in the Fellowship of the Ring line with Pippin and a Moria Orc, then repacked again with Pippin for the last wave of FOTR figures.

This first version of Merry does a better job of looking like Dominic Monaghan than the Pippin figure does of looking like Billy Boyd. He features the same action figure as Pippin, with a button hidden under the cloak to move his arm and sword.

#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR

Recommended music: R.E.M. – Shiny Happy People

Popping up this #TolkienThursday morning, it’s Pippin!

Following the capture of Merry and Pippin by the Uruk-Hai in the first film, we first see the hobbits in The Two Towers hanging on the backs of Orcs making their way to Isengard. When Pippin thinks that they are being tracked by Aragorn, he decides to leave a shiny clue behind in the form of his leaf brooch to assist his friends in following the trail. As his hands are bound, Pippin bites the brooch right off his elven cloak for Aragorn to discover. Though the placement of this scene varies a bit from the book, it works perfectly:

“Not idly do the leaves of  Lórien fall,’ said Aragorn.  ‘This did not drop by chance: it was cast away as a token to any that might follow.  I think Pippin ran away from the trail for that purpose.”

This version of Pippin actually came out as a 3-pack in the Fellowship of the Ring Line with Merry and a Moria Orc (technically,this was a 2-pack, but Hobbits are very small). The figure was then repacked in a 2-pack with just Merry for the last wave of FOTR figures, which had red packaging to transition into the upcoming red cards for The Two Towers. I’ve always displayed these two with my TTT figures, which is why I’m just including them now.

In my opinion, this first version of Pippin does not have a great likeness of actor Billy Boyd, and the sculpt is hampered by a button on the back that controls the action feature in the right arm. Thankfully, the button is well hidden when Pippin is wearing his cloak, which was gifted by the elves of Lórien.

#LordOfTheRings
#LOTR

Recommended music: Howard Shore – My Precious

Tonight for #TolkienThursday, we’re moving on to The Two Towers. From the ToyBiz The Two Towers line, it’s Gollum!

During the opening scenes of The Two Towers, we finally get to see who has been lurking in the shadows, following the Fellowship since Moria. Tortured and wrought wretched by the lure of the One Ring, Gollum is a withered, piteous creature. Driven mad and twisted by his loss of the One Ring decades ago, he is compelled to haunt Middle-earth, searching everywhere for the only thing in the world he ever cared for, his “precious”.

This version of Gollum with Electronic Sound Base was the first Gollum figure released by ToyBiz. The figure came out in the fourth wave of figures from the film, as I believe they wanted to make sure the movie was already in wide release before revealing the full design for the character who was just seen in shadow for the past year in The Fellowship of the Ring. While the base was a neat inclusion, being able to play clear sound clips from the film (“My Precious,” etc.) as long as your batteries last.

The downside of this initial version of Gollum is the figure itself. While the sculpt and paint are top-notch like the rest of the line, the articulation is downright lousy. There are no proper joints, and the whole thing feels like a cheap, stiff Bend-Em. Thankfully, ToyBiz had further versions of the character in the works for further down the line.

#LOTR