Tag: #TolkienThursday

From the Archives: Saruman

Recommended music: Howard Shore – The Voice of Saruman [Yes, I know this is from The Two Towers, but I like it here anyway]

On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got this ToyBiz Saruman!

This was the first version of Saruman released, and was included in the second wave of Fellowship of the Ring figures in the “half moon” packaging. Not only does the figure sport a great likeness of the late, great Christopher Lee, but he comes with this cool magnetic palantir.

The palantir “magically floats” above the intricate pedestal base, but I feel like ToyBiz could have designed the magnetic mechanism a bit more subtly. A re-release of the Saruman figure saw the palantir get a red and black redeco, but the solid black here looks best, in my opinion.

#LOTR

Mirkwood Legolas

Recommended music: They‘re taking the Hobbits to Isengard [Yes, I’m looking ahead to TTT]

Finally, on this #TolkienThursday, we’re just beyond the western shore of Nen Hithoel. From the ToyBiz Fellowship of the Ring line, it’s Mirkwood Legolas!

LEGOLAS
 If we are quick, we will catch Frodo and
Sam before nightfall.

Aragorn looks towards the far shore; Frodo and Sam’s small
Boat can be seen lying on the distant Riverbank as Frodo and
Sam make off into the forest beyond. He doesn’t react.
Legolas turns and looks at Aragorn.

LEGOLAS (CONT’D)
 You mean not to follow them…

ARAGORN
 Frodo’s fate is no longer in our hands.

GIMLI
 Then it has all been in vain…the
fellowship has failed.

ARAGORN
 Not if we hold true to each other. We
will not abandon Merry and Pippin to
torment and death, not while we have
strength left.

Aragorn pulls a HUNTING KNIFE out of his pack and straps it
on.

ARAGORN (CONT’D)
 Leave all that can be spared behind…
CLOSE ON: ARAGORN..a steely light in his
eye.

ARAGORN (CONT’D)
 (grimly)
We travel light. Let’s hunt some Orc.

GIMLI
 Yes! Ha!

Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli disappear into the Woods,
following the URUK-HAI trail…

This version of Legolas is the last one I collected. For years, I thought I had every loose figure in the various ToyBiz Lord of the Rings lines. After careful examination, I realized this one was slightly different than the other dozen variations of the character. Not only in sculpt and paint apps (the hair is way too dark), but his arrows are painted a unique shade of tan/brown that I haven’t noticed elsewhere in the line. Anyways, that also concludes The Fellowship of the Ring. I think we’ll pick up with The Two Towers next week.

#LOTR

From the Archives: Super Poseable Strider

Recommended music: Harry Massoud – Strider

Here’s another post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Super Poseable Strider!

This figure from the Trilogy Collection is based on Aragorn’s look from Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring. Yes, he also comes with a torch accessory. However, if you’re trying to be a dark & mysterious ranger, not drawing any attention to yourself like a hobbit, a torch is certainly out of the question. 😛

#LOTR

From the Archives: Samwise Gamgee

Recommended music: Dee Dee Sharp – Mashed Potato Time

On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got this ToyBiz  Samwise Gamgee!

This version of Sam was included in the second wave of Fellowship of the Ring figures in the “half moon” packaging. He seems to have misplaced his frying pan accessory at the moment, which he’ll need to cook up some poh-tay-toes.

#LOTR

Frodo & Samwise Gamgee with Elven Boat 2

Recommended music: Merril Bainbridge – Under The Water

On this #TolkienThursday, we’re still here for the breaking of the Fellowship. From the ToyBiz Fellowship of the Ring line, we have Frodo & Samwise Gamgee!

If this one seems familiar, well, it was a 2-pack, and I wanted to give each character a moment in the sun. Sam especially needs a moment in the sun after going underwater in pursuit of the Elven boat when he can’t swim. Thankfully, Mr. Frodo came back to pick him up.

I’m not quite sure how to make a “soggy” version of Samwise, or a boat that will fit Boromir, but I’m happy with this set as it is for now.

#LOTR

From the Archives: Frodo with Ringwraith Reveal Base

Recommended music: Howard Shore – My Dear Frodo

One more post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Today, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Frodo with Ringwraith Reveal Base!

This version of Frodo from the first wave of Fellowship of the Ring figures features a fun diorama/base where you can insert the One Ring into a knob which rotates the displayed figure and reveals Ringwraiths in the background. The figure itself bears a strong resemblance to Elijah Wood… or maybe Eminem with a wig. 😄

Thrilling adventures ahead!

#LOTR

From the Archives: Super Posable Frodo with Journal

Recommended music: Vyper – Concerning Hobbits [Lo-fi]

On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got this ToyBiz Super Posable Frodo!

I’m not sure this specific version of Mr. Frodo was added to the Epic Trilogy line, or why he needed 30 points of articulation to basically sit under a tree and write in his journal. I do appreciate the figure, and I’m sure he’s bound to be dancing on an inn table at some point.

#LOTR

Frodo & Samwise Gamgee with Elven Boat

Recommended music: Howard Shore – The Breaking of the Fellowship

On this #TolkienThursday, we’re here for the breaking of the Fellowship. From the ToyBiz Fellowship of the Ring line, we have Frodo & Samwise Gamgee with Elven Boat Accessory!

When the Fellowship of the Ring leaves Lothlorien, Lord Celeborn provided them with three elven boats stocked with food and supplies to ease their journey down the Anduin River. As always, Samwise Gamgee joins his friend and master, Frodo Baggins, in their own boat.

While the Sam and Frodo figures in this 2-pack appear to be repacks of the single-carded figures, they also come with new oars, an elven boat, and a water sculpture base. The base does conceal wheels on the bottom, so you can push these two along for some “Elven Boat Action.” While it would have been nice to get a “soggy” version of Samwise, I’m glad ToyBiz at least made the boat (but it doesn’t work as well for Boromir).

#LOTR

From the Archives: Super Posable Smeagol Stoor Fisherman

Recommended music: The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra – Gollum’s Song

One more post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Super Posable Smeagol Stoor Fisherman!

This version of Smeagol is just in a homemade cave. Unfortunately for this guy, he didn’t get to Hawaii like the other version of the character. I think this figure does a good job of capturing Andy Serkis’s look from the beginning of Return of the King before losing his mind to the One Ring.

#LOTR

From the Archives: Super Posable Smeagol

Recommended music: Mulbers – Smeagol

On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got a ToyBiz Super Posable Smeagol!

Also pictured here in the depths of a Hawaiian cave, this version of Gollum is the best as it’s easier to pose and comes with a much better facial expression than the typical scowl seen on other Gollum figures.

I’ll have an additional video of Smeagol in the cave at some point.🤙

#LOTR

From the Archives: Peter Jackson The Trilogy Director as a Hobbit

Recommended music: The Beatles – Get Back

One more post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Peter Jackson The Trilogy Director as a Hobbit!

This figure does a great job of portraying the Lord of the Rings director as a bare-footed hobbit. While the long character name barely fit on the label when released in the fourth wave of the FOTR carded series, the figure was also crammed into select deluxe gift packs with the original nine members of the Fellowship.

Though it would have been fun to get Jackson’s likeness as one of the characters he portrayed in cameos during the trilogy (which were actually planned), this design works as he was frequently barefoot during the production of the trilogy.

#LOTR

Burger King Uruk-Hai

Recommended music: Sean McClure – Blood Bath at Burger King

For this #TolkienThursday, we’re still under attack by Orcs. Not just any orc, it’s the ToyBiz Burger King Uruk-Hai!

This Uruk-Hai orc was unfortunately never available at retail, but only as a part of mail-away offers. The first promotion was through Burger King restaurants (hence the nickname), and second through a DVD offer limited to 5,000 pieces. The flyer found in the Fellowship of the Ring DVD said the limited-edition figure would be free with the purchase of any three FOTR figures (when the UPCs were sent in).

Due to the popularity of the figure, ToyBiz and Burger King were not able to produce sufficient quantities for the demand and had a running change where collectors received a Lurtz figure in the mail instead of the intended figure. Why was this orc so popular? Well, he came with an exclusive head and leather helmet, and none of the orcs released in the line so far even came with a helmet.

I was eventually able to pick up the figure second-hand, and while he is missing the helmet, he does have the unique head sculpt (on a Lurtz body). I also let mine carry this torch in the Fellowship display so he can impress his orc friends by leading them to flame-broiled goodness until he finds a new helmet.

#LOTR

From the Archives: 111th Birthday Celebration Bilbo

Recommended music: Nicostrauss – Bilbo Baggins’ Birthday Background

On this #TolkienThursday from the archives, we’ve got this ToyBiz 111th Birthday Celebration Bilbo!

This Bilbo Baggins not only looks like Bilbo actor Ian Holm but also came with a cool wooden barrel for Bilbo to stand on while giving his big speech. This is accurate to the scene in the film (but not the book where he simply stands on a chair). Thankfully my Bilbo didn’t care about accuracy and decided to pose for a selfie with his birthday party guests before the big speech.

There is a variant of this figure (both were in the Trilogy line) that has Bilbo in his darker vest and jacket as seen on the Traveling Bilbo figure.

#LOTR

From the Archives: Traveling Bilbo

Recommended music: Leonard Nimoy – The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins

One more post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’ve also got this ToyBiz Traveling Bilbo!

This is the version that included a neat Bag End backdrop when it was initially released in the Fellowship of the Ring toy line. The diorama piece was not carried forward for the Trilogy line repack due to the smaller carded bubble. The figure also does a fine job of looking like Bilbo actor Ian Holm.

#LOTR

From the Archives: Prologue Bilbo (Translucent)

Recommended music: Clamavi De Profundis – The Greatest Adventure

We’ve also got a post from the archives on this #TolkienThursday. Tonight, we’ve got this ToyBiz Translucent Prologue Bilbo!

This Bilbo Baggins (that is still not Martin Freeman) also discovers the One Ring sculpted into his hand. While this translucent version allows you to see that detail in the sculpt, it ultimately doesn’t look as good as the painted version.

Nearly a decade later, when The Bridge Direct got the license to make figures for The Hobbit films, their line started with a translucent Bilbo (that was based on Martin Freeman), but even that version still didn’t look all that great sans paint.

#LOTR