Captain America
Toy Launch!
From our friends at Cybertron Philippines
Captain America Toy Launch:
Date: May 21-22, 2011
Venue: Toy Kingdom, Basement, SM Megamall
It’ll be the same day as the second leg of the Philippine Launch of Transformers: Dark of the Moon Toy Line so save your lunch money!
Take a look at what will be available at the event!
EDIT 5/12/2011
3.75 INCH FIGURES
Series 1 (Each sold seperately)
Series 2 (Each sold seperately)
3.75 INCH DELUXE FIGURES
Series 1 (Each sold seperately)
3.75 INCH INTERNATIONAL PATRIOTS SET (KMART EXCLUSIVE - 1,799.75)
Includes Captain America , Captain Britain, Red Guardian
8″ CAPTAIN AMERICA HERO FIGURE
MARVEL UNIVERSE SERIES 3 WAVE 2 - SET OF 5 (2,499.75)
Includes Cable, Wolverine (1st appearance costume), Apocalypse, Cyclops (Jim Lee costume), Gladiator
MVL UNIVERSE SUPER HERO TEAM 101 (1,349.75)
(Each sold seperately)
MVL X-MEN FIRST CLASS 3.75 COMIC 2PK W1 (TOYS ‘R’ US EXCLUSIVE)
(Each sold seperately)
2 INCH ACTION FIGURES
STAR WARS 3.75 THE VINTAGE COLLECTION FIG ASST - SET OF 6
Includes Vc50 Han Solo ( Bespin Outfit), Vc51 Barriss Offee ( Jedi Padawan ), Vc52 Rebel Fleet Trooper, Vc53 Bom Vimdin (Cantina Patron), Vc54 Arc Trooper Commander, Vc55 Logray ( Ewok Medicine Man )
(TO BE CONFIRMED!) STAR WARS CLONE WARS SET
Set of 4 figures
STAR WARS TRANSFORMERS
(May be released before the event)
STAR WARS 3.75″ DELUXE REPUBLIC ATTACK SHIP
(there’s a chance that this will be released before the event)
(TO BE CONFIRMED!) G.I. JOE PURSUIT OF COBRA WAVE 5 - SET OF 6 (2,999.75)
Blowtorch, General Hawk, Steel Brigade, Cobra Trooper, Cobra Commander, Jungle B.A.T.
G.I. JOE PURSUIT OF COBRA WAVE 6 - SET OF 6 (2,999.75)
Includes Snake Eyes, Crazy Legs, Croc Master, Rock Viper, Cobra Viper, Iron Grenadier
GIJOE ALPHA VEH ASST. W1′11 - 999.75
(Each sold seperately)
Here are some of solicitation photos of a few of the items listed above:
Transformers: Generations Blurr
Ok, ok. So this is months overdue. But I took the pictures, so I’m gonna finish this review.
To be honest, I was on the fence about Blurr. Though I loved the character in the 1986 film, the Generations version wasn’t based on that design. It was more of an adaptation of his look in recent comic issues, while the BFG he comes with is a nod to his role in the Armada continuity where he plays the part of the Autobot sniper. Why ROBOTS who should have perfect aim programmed into them would need a designated sniper is not something I can fathom. But then again, neither Autobots nor Decepticons could ever hit anything during the cartoon, so maybe it’s not that flaky.
One reason I wasn’t so keen on getting him was the fact that his car mode is nothing like you’d expect. Generation 1 Blurr was a fast-talking, fast-walking speed machine. He was shaped to LOOK fast. The 2008 Transformers Animated Blurr took that into account. That toy looked like it could out run the Mach 5. Even the Armada Blurr had a slick looking car mode, despite it’s many problems.
This, on the other hand, doesn’t really look all that flash.
Generations Blurr is really just a re-tooled Generations Drift with a new head, new weapons, and a new head, so naturally, his car mode looks exactly the same as Drift’s. While the form looks ok for Drift, the bulky, heavy look of it is all kinds of wrong for Blurr.
The car mode is also where the paint problems become the most apparent. The toy is mostly cast in a light sky blue, but his roof and hood get a coat of a lighter powder blue, and then a wide stripe of white down the middle. The paint for both applications is not tampographed, so there are some ragged edges that make the toy look incomplete. Coupled with the matte nature of the paint, you get something that looks unfinished.
There is some good news, though. The toy is among the new Transformers that can store all his accessories while in vehicle form. His sidearms slide into the inside panels of his doors, while the rifle tucks up underneath, the end of the barrel doubling as a tailpipe.
The transformation from car to robot is relatively easy, once you’ve done it the first time. The bulk of him is in his shoulders and feet, and the process is mostly done once you’ve flipped out his legs (the trunk of the car form) and swung out his arms (under the front tire wells). His hood forms giant shoulder pads which you can pose depending on the look you want. Personally, I like them swept backwards.
Blurr’s head is completely different from Drift’s, which is a welcome change of pace from Hasbro’s simple redecos. Personally, I dont’ really like this new look, which has an oddly high forehead. It makes him seem like his face is tiny.
It’s not helped by the way his body looks either. The design worked great for Drift since he’s supposed to be the Cybertronian equivalent of a samurai. The various parts hanging off him looked kind of like a samurai’s armor. On Blurr, they only serve to make it look even less likely that he’ll be winning any races. He’s far to bulky too move fast.
The one saving grace of Blurr is really his weaponry. Transformers is not G.I. Joe. We’re lucky if we get even ONE gun with a figure and this one comes with three.
First off are a pair of long barreled pistols that are holstered inside his door panels. When he turns into a robot, the doors hang off pegs at his waist with a ball joint at the end. It’s an innovative, if rather awkward-looking, idea.
The pistols on the other hand are full of win. Dual wield is the shit. They’re sized nicely for his scale, and fit perfectly in his cube-with-a-tube fists, which means if you want to give them to say, Classics Cliffjumper, it’ll work.
His long sniper rifle is just as sweet. It can be held in either hand and has a secondary handle that swings out from the middle for added stability. Because of his excellent arm articulation and small torso, he can hold the gun in a variety of positions, including lying prone on the ground.
The fact that he can use his primary weapon in that classic sniper pose is Blurr’s trump card in my opinion, and more than makes up for any points his overall bulked out look may have lost him. And lest I forget, you can plug the two pistols into the end of the rifle’s barrel (face the barrels of the pistols toward the but of the rifle and fit the raised slats in to the slots in the rifle barrel) to act as a bi-pod of sorts.
Awesomeness.
Articulation is kind of schizo. His upper body is excellent, with great elbow and wrist action. His shoulders are a bit blocked by his humungotastic shoulder pads, but since they’re also articulated to a degree, you can work around it. His head has also got an excellent ball joint that lets him look up a bit, and he’s got some nice hip movement thanks to two more ball joints.
Sadly, his knees are pretty bad thanks to the terrifically chunkgantic books. You basically take the entire book end of that chunky car and split it in half. His feet are easily half the mass of the toy, so naturally, you can’t get much range out of them.
It doesn’t help that he’s got no ankle movement to speak of.
Still, the big feet do provide a certain amount of stability (not to mention points when you’re macking on fembots). And hey, I just remembered I LIKE chunky robots, so thumbs up all around.
Both Blurr and Drift are easily gettable in Metro Manila at most any SM Department store or Toy Kingdom thanks to a recent restock of the more popular Generations figures from recent waves, and word is the newer figures have much better paint then that first batch. At Php700, he’s a relatively good deal; a great toy with good articulation and a fair amount of accessories counts as a win for this collector.
And he’s another character to go along with your Movie robots like Hot Rod, Kup, Ultra Magnus and Springer.
Star Wars 2011 CW51
Eeth Koth
Continuing my quest to defeat my inate laziness and end the backlog hanging over my head, here’s another late review of a Star Wars figure. I’ve done the Snow Bunny Padme, Cad Bane, and Mace Windu. Now here’s number 51 in the 2011 Clone Wars series, Eeth Koth.
Eeth Koth was a Zabrak Jedi Master, and appeared in last year’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode, “Grievous Intrigue”. It wasn’t really one of the most remarkable episodes, but none of them are really bad so it’s worth watching. Plus, this one has a lightsaber duel between Grevious and Obiwan Kenobi, and those are always fun. Here’s a synopsis:
“Eeth Koth is captured by General Grievous. The Jedi Master’s cruiser is attacked and boarded by the Separatist general. As a member of Zabrak species, Koth has a remarkable endurance for pain, a trait that may help him withstand the cruel treatment he undergoes as Grievous’ hostage.”
A Zabrak is an alien that is close to “baseline humanoid”, but with vestigial horns and varying skin tones. Because they evolved in a harsh environment, they tend to be hardy, independent, and single-minded. The males of the species also tend to get facial tattoos once they reach adulthood. Apparently, Darth Maul is a Zabrak, as is Maris Brood from the Force Unleashed video game. Both of those characters look much better than Eeth Koth, here.
Koth has got the normal assortment of gear that comes with a Jedi figure; lightsaber, stand, dice and the requisite Galactic Battles card. It’s all neatly packaged in a carded blister pack, yadda yadda yadda.
The figure is close enough to the cartoon to satisfy, but nothing in the design really strikes me as great. He’s sort of like a stock Jedi that you’d have in the background, an extra that you could kill of randomly to up the tension.
“We’ve lost contact with General Koth’s battalion, sir! But it’s ok! This way we can bring some more of the important people in! I’ll radio General Yoda!”
This, funnily enough, is exactly what his role was in the movies. He bought the farm when his gunship went down during the Battle of Geonosis in “Attack of the Clones,” but he apparently got a 1up from Lord Lucas and narrowly escaped death through some amazingly unlikely turn of events. It’s right out of a comic book. Or a soap opera. Brain transplant, anyone?
His articulation is par for course for the Star Wars line, meaning that while he has acceptable arm articulation (swivel-hinges for shoulders and elbows, swivel wrists), he sucks ass below the waist. He’s basically just 4 swivels down there, meaning he’s no match for Mace Windu in a duel. ‘Cause you know, footwork is everything when you’re lightsabering through those slick spaceship corridors.
Still, I would recommend getting him (if you have Php 500.00 to spare), if only because universe building with Star Wars figures is so fun. There’s a tiny thrill in having an army of Jedi running across your desk, clashing with an army of droids. Sadly, I sold this sucker before I realized this fact. Now if I want to complete the series, I’ll have to find another one.
Insert facepalm here.
Philippine Launch of
TF: Dark of the Moon Toys
Main Toy Launch:
Date: May 14 and 15, 2011
Venue: SM Makati Concourse Area
Follow-up Launches:
Date: May 21-22, 2011
Venue: SM Megamall
Date: June 4-5, 2011
Venue: SM City The Block
Date: June 11-12, 2011
Venue: SM Pampanga
Date: June 18-19, 2011
Venue: South Mall
Date: June 25-26, 2011
Venue: Robinsons Ermita
Date: July 2-3, 2011
Venue: SM MOA
Date: July 9-10, 2011
Venue: Robinsons Galleria
Of course, the new DotM toys will make a showing. It looks like the new Marvel Universe figures (Apocalypse, Cyclops, Gladiator, Wolverine, Cable, and World War Hulk) will be sold as a set of 6. I’m still waiting to hear what else is going to be avaialable and their corresponding price, but let’s hope there are new Thor figures!
You can check for yourselves at Cybertron Philippines.
EDIT: 5/3/2011
Here is the list of the possible gifts with purchase:
Normally you get one for a certain peso value (per receipt). No word yet on if this is still the same scheme this time. Honestly. I always end up getting the keychains anyway.
EDIT 5/5/2011
The new Marvel Universe figures will be available! However, they’ll be sold as a set of 5 at P2,499.75.
007 Cable
008 Wolverine (1st appearance costume)
009 Apocalypse
010 Cyclops
011 Gladiator
EDIT 5/10/2011
Here’s what you can buy during the launch.
Leader Class Wave 1- 2,999.75
Voyager Class Wave 1- 1,499.75
Deluxe Class Wave 1- 699.75
Human Alliance Series 1- 699.75
Cyberverse COMMANDER Wave 1
LEGION Wave 1- 369.75
ACTION SET Wave 1 - 1,199.75
STEALTH FORCE MOTORCYCLE - 449.75
EDIT 5/13/2011
MECHANICS FOR FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE!*
*Single receipt purchase - Toy Kingdom will not allow us to add multiple receipts.
Here’s a look a the newer gifts:
EDIT 5/16/2011
Looks as if the DotM Roadbuster Deluxe toy has sold out at the first leg of the launch according to news on the boards. Sorry, folks. Early bird gets the worm and all.
Thor
When I first heard they were making a Thor movie, my first reaction was “meh”. I’ve never really been a fan of Marvel’s Mighty God of Thunder. He was Stan Lee’s answer to Superman, sharing the same invulnerability, and to me that just felt boring. I was always more into science fiction than I was into sword and sorcery, so Iron Man with his industrial roots or the X-men and their evolutionary apocalypse of the week always seemed so much more compelling to me.
Then I heard that the movie was getting great reviews. Now, I don’t put too much stock in reviews since I tend to disagree with them when it comes to genre films (as I did with Watchmen and Sucker Punch), but Rotten Tomatoes has the film at 95% (as of this writing)! That meant that out of 56 reviews available on the Net, 53 of them were positive.
You can’t argue with that kind of word of mouth.
After seeing the film, I’ve got to say that it lives up to the hype, but not for the reasons I’ve been hearing, which are mostly raves about the fight scenes and the special effects. The reason it works so well is that at its core, this film is as much a drama as any Shakespeare play.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, since Kenneth Branagh, who has directed quite a few Shakespearean films, is at the helm of this one as well. Apparently, Branagh is as much a fan of the Thor comics as he is of the Bard and it shows in his treatment of the material. It’s less about a god with fantastic powers frolicking with mortals than it is about relationships between fathers and sons and between brothers.
The best moments of the movie aren’t the huge fight scenes, but rather the human moments between Anthony Hopkins (Odin, Thor’s father) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor), or between Tom Hiddleston (Loki) and his onscreen sibling. Branagh is able to bring out an amazing sincerity out of his actors because he understands Thor’s arrogance and Loki’s envy and Odin’s struggle between love for his sons and duty to his country. Branagh is able to bring out that ordinary, relatable story from the strange tale of a fallen god.
[SPOILER!!!]
Hemsworth and Hiddleston carry the movie exceptionally well. There is a scene between them where Loki tells Thor that Odin is dead and that he cannot undo Thor’s banishment to Earth. It’s a great scene, with no fighting, no braggadocio; just two actors with some dialogue. Yet it works. The next scene has Loki trying to lift Thor’s hammer, which Odin has enchanted so that only someone worthy of Thor’s former power can pick it up. He fails, but the scene doesn’t because Hiddleston is able to convey the jealousy that fuels Loki’s hate. My favorite scene is where Thor tells his father off, calling him an old fool. The conviction in Hemsworth face and the pain in Anthony Hopkins’ as he banishes him are extraordinary.
[END SPOILER]
And it’s that conviction that really sells the film to me. Like I believed Jackie Earle Haley was Rorschach or that Gerard Butler was Leonidas, I can believe that Chris Hemsworth IS the god of thunder and Hiddleston the god of lies. That belief carries you through the movie like no amount of computer generated imagery could.
Not to put down the CGI work here. It’s pretty damned good. The fight scenes are a little blah, but the work done on Asgard was really great. There are a lot of comparisons to Krypton’s crystalline architecture online, and there’s no denying that it must have had an influence, but it’s still very much its own thing. I still can’t help but think about the 80’s when I Bifrost, though; synthesizer music, laser shows, and Robot Unicorn Attack.
The weakest parts I thought were the fight scenes. The battles didn’t seem to be cut together properly, so characters would jump from one place on screen to another. Also, the choreography didn’t seem to flow from one move to the next and I found myself losing track of the action (EDIT: upon a second viewing at a cinema with a better print, the scenes looked much better). What made it worse was that the print we saw was extra dark (we watched a 2D version of the film) so the fight in Jotunheim was especially hard to follow. Hopefully, Branagh will be able to study with a few of the better action directors before part 2 arrives.
All things considered, I’d rate Thor a little behind my other favorite comic book movies, Hellboy and Iron Man. The uninspired fight scenes and the slow moving New Mexico parts do bring the entertainment value down a bit. However, it’s definitely worth the price of a ticket to watch it on the big screen and probably one or two more times after that.
If you're looking for biased, one-sided views of toys and other assorted geekery, then you're in the right place. If you want objective, you'll need a blog written by someone who isn't an obsessive geek.
These are my views on various toys, movies, places, and things, along with assorted pictures and the the occasional link to stuff I find sufficiently geeky.
Enjoy your stay and leave a comment.
Slangards
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