tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13502173055434975022024-03-12T15:45:25.817-07:00On the ShelfMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-25289359934672013072015-08-29T13:13:00.000-07:002015-08-29T13:13:30.872-07:00World of Nintendo: Fox McCloud ReviewThe World of Nintendo line has been a mixed bag. While it's great to see a well-known property finally getting some figures, the character selection and actual quality of the figures has left a bit to be desired. Nevertheless, I can't turn down the chance of finally owning a Fox McCloud figure, so here we are.<br />
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Fox is packaged in the standard 4 inch packaging but has a distinct, navy blue color. This causes the figure to stand out on the store shelf among the many other Mario figures.<br />
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Out of the package, Fox looks good. He is based off the N64 appearance of Fox, and the figure itself is very close to the 3DS model of Fox in the N64 remake (the original model has the same features, but the blockiness clearly would not translate to a well-sculpted action figure). In fact, if you compare the promotional art for the game to the figure, Fox looks like he jumped out of the screen.<br />
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The sculpting is also very good where it needs to be. Most of the figure is smooth, replicating the simplistic nature of Nintendo models. The most detail is found in the robot legs (or metal boots) and the headset, and the lines are sculpted in very well.<br />
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The figure falls short in the articulation department, however. On paper, it sounds decent. Fox has:<br />
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<li>A swivel head</li>
<li>Swivel/hinge shoulders</li>
<li>Swivel/hinge elbows</li>
<li>A swivel waist</li>
<li>Ball-jointed hips</li>
<li>Single-jointed kneese and ankles</li>
<li>and a tail hinge</li>
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However, most of his articulation below the waist is limited. The farthest he can get his hips outward is this:<br />
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and the knee joints don't bend very far either. Additionally, the lack of ankle pivots, combined with Fox's large head, makes it very hard for him to balance in any dynamic poses. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the best running pose I could get out of him</td></tr>
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The paint detail is fine for a $10 figure. While there is some smudging in the jacket area and the lining of the boots, most of the figure's paint is clean. Fox also has his name printed on his chest, a detail I didn't recognize was on his character model.<br />
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Fox comes with one "mystery accessory" in a Star Fox-themed box.<br />
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If you didn't already know, it's a mini Arwing. It's nicely sculpted and only has a few paint details. </div>
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The underside is completely unpainted, despite having some nice sculpted details. </div>
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While the Arwing is a nice accessory to have, it's much too small to actually do anything with. Fox can't hold it because he's sculpted with two fists, and I'll probably lose it by the end of the day. </div>
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I would have much preferred for Fox to be sculpted with one open hand and to have him come with the blaster he uses in Smash Bros. instead. The Arwing doesn't do much for me, but if the upcoming Falco and Slippy come with a mini Landmaster and a mini Arwing-with-legs (featured in Star Fox Zero), then I could see a small ship collection being nice for display. I'd still prefer a blaster, though. </div>
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Scale is weird when we're talking about the World of Nintendo line. Fox doesn't seem to be in scale with the Mario figures, but he's in decent scale with Link and Samus, who are also done in a similar 4 inch scale. Looking at screenshots from Smash 4, Link should be taller, but Fox and Samus are in the correct scale. </div>
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Minor scale errors aside though, they look fantastic fighting each other.<br />
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So, for $10, it's nice to finally have a Fox figure on the shelf. Because of his shortcomings in articulation, I wouldn't recommend buying him for aftermarket prices, but he's definitely worth having for the character alone.<br />
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-50390791552487110952015-08-28T14:37:00.000-07:002015-08-28T19:04:13.768-07:00Mother Russia by Jeff McComsey Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"I can't imagine anything closer to true Hell on Earth than the city of Stalingrad in 1943 with an army of countless flesh-eating monsters thrown in" </i></div>
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-Introduction by Chuck Dixon</div>
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<i>Mother Russia</i> is a mini-series of comics by Jeff McComsey and the first standalone graphic novel by FUBAR Press. It was initially funded by Kickstarter, released in individual issues, and will be available in a completed edition (which is the one I will be reviewing). </div>
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As part of the FUBAR universe,<i> Mother Russia </i>continues the premise of the undead being involved at various points in our history. This time, it's the Battle of Stalingrad, a battle usually not focused on in America-centric retellings of history. Nevertheless, the premise complements a strong story, mixing elements of desperate survival and war. McComsey is able to convey a sense of hopelessness, combined with the confusion that would naturally occur when zombies appear suddenly on the battlefield.</div>
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The plotline of<i> Mother Russia</i> is fairly simplistic, which was beneficial to the graphic novel as a whole. The book never slows down to accommodate convoluted aspects of the plot, as some science-driven zombie stories have done, instead focusing on the situation at hand. Character-building moments are selective flashbacks that give enough to create a vibrant characters but not enough to detract from the driving force of the main story. </div>
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Speaking of the characters, <i>Mother Russia</i> has only a few, but they are all developed and memorable. The main protagonist is a female Communist, a background that is rarely (if ever) used in media. The book does a fantastic job of implementing various aspects of her character, from her inherent compassion to her hardened survival instinct. She finds a fellow survivor in an old military leader, who is both a clever device to introduce the political atmosphere that created the undead and a vivid character showcasing the harsh trials of war. These two characters form the main cast of <i>Mother Russia</i>, though the inclusion of a child and a dog are welcome as well, adding a much-needed brightness to an otherwise dark story. </div>
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The art in <i>Mother Russia</i> is wonderful (and gruesome), conveying the bloody battles that inevitably take place between soldiers and hordes of zombies. The art style was befitting of the novel, properly conveying the desperate expressions of the characters as well as the vast landscape of battle. </div>
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In addition to the main story, the completed edition of <i>Mother Russia </i>includes a few spin-off comics using the same characters, but from different comic book creators. "The Sniper" was a well-done additions of character background that enhanced the main story. "The Child" was a heartfelt tale of love in the midst of a horrific world, emphasizing the emotional bonds between humans despite the need for survival. "Kindern" was a completely horrific look at the world of war and zombies, not unlike those featured in<i> FUBAR: Declassified</i>. These were all welcome additions to the main story, and if you haven't already bought the individual issues, it's worth getting the completed edition for these extras. If you're a fan of the FUBAR series, these extras might even be worth buying <i>Mother Russia</i> twice. </div>
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However, in terms of the main comic alone,<i> Mother Russia </i>is fantastic. A great, engaging story built on a fascinating premise involving vivid, unusual characters creates an enjoyable graphic novel. </div>
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<i>Mother Russia</i> is available (in its completed edition and as a special blank cover variant) in the September Previews. Thanks to Alterna Comics for sending this review copy out early!</div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-14878895451565737852015-08-23T17:08:00.001-07:002015-08-23T17:11:04.018-07:00Funko Legacy Evolve: Goliath Figure ReviewI have never played Evolve. However, when I saw that this figure's huge box and $19.99 price tag, I knew I had to bite. Even if I had no idea what a "Goliath" was, there's always room for a cool monster figure, and that's what this is.<br />
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Goliath comes in a huge box for the packaging, reminiscent of NECA's new deluxe kaiju boxes. The other figures in the series come in smaller, Black Series-size boxes, but somehow Goliath, in his giant box, has the same price tag.<br />
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Right out of the packaging, Goliath looks like a very good representation of the in-game model (judging from pictures online). Though some liberties were taken in order to add joints, particularly in the head area, any fan of Evolve should be able to recognize on-sight what this is supposed to be. </div>
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The sculpt and paint on the figure is much, much better than you'd expect from a mass-market figure. Goliath has some dark grey shading throughout his body, while his claws and spikes are also given some paint detail to highlight the sculpt. My favorite area definitely has to be the face though, with the eyes given some very good red and yellow paintwork. The inside of the mouth is bright pink, but it also has some darker red shades to simulate the inside of a mouth, and it's fantastic. </div>
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While most of the sculpt is very well-done, some areas seem a bit soft, as if Gentle Giant stretched some areas of the digital sculpt without adding in any sharper details. However, this is hardly noticeable, and it is still miles ahead of any Marvel Legend, reaching NECA territory. </div>
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Goliath's articulation is also surprisingly good. He has:</div>
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<li>a limited balljointed neck (making it more of a swivel)</li>
<li>an articulated jaw</li>
<li>swivel/hinge shoulders</li>
<li>single-jointed elbows</li>
<li>swivel/hinge wrists</li>
<li>a functional ab joint, allowing for forwards and backgrounds tilting as well as rotation</li>
<li>ball-jointed hips</li>
<li>a thigh swivel</li>
<li>two bends in the leg to accomplish a "chicken-leg" stance</li>
<li>and Hasbro-style ankle rockers</li>
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While his size may prevent some extreme poses, all the joints are there, making Goliath one of the more poseable monster figures I've handled in a while. The articulated jaw in particular is quite fun, though there isn't THAT drastic of a difference between his open/closed mouth. </div>
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Goliath has no accessories besides his spiked tail, which attaches to a hole in his back. This is where the gripes with this figure begin. Firstly, the tail doesn't like to attach all the way, leaving an unsightly gap. The tail on my figure tends to fall off as well. </div>
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In fact, the quality control issues are what prevent this figure from going from great to perfect. He uses the clear peg joints that are widely feared by buyers of Funko Legacy, for these will break incredibly easily. I haven't had any issues of breakage, but it's definitely something to watch out for. </div>
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Also, on my figure and some other samples, the thigh joint has been stuck out of the package. A fix can be found <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ActionFigures/comments/3i0450/funko_evolve_goliath_figure_psa/" target="_blank">here</a>, and it would be helpful to boil and pop before proceeding with the figure. </div>
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The final quality control issue is in the shoulders. These are incredibly stiff, metal joints, so it would be wise to boil/use a hair dryer to loose them up before using them. Also, after I tried to loosen them up, the paint started wearing off, as seen in the picture above. </div>
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Once you fix all the issues and take the proper precautions though, Goliath is a wonderful figure. Although I don't have any of the other Evolve figures, Goliath is right at home with Gipsy Danger. </div>
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Another thing to consider is also the value of this figure. He stands taller than a standard 6-inch figure, and is much heavier than any others at his price point. If Goliath had been a "deluxe" figure at $30, he would've been a harder pill to swallow, but at the same price as a Black Series figure, it's a no-brainer. </div>
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In fact, this is one of the best offerings of the Legacy line I've seen so far. With stellar sculpt, paint, articulation, and value, the only thing holding this figure back is the quality control, and even that is manageable if you're willing to work for it. </div>
Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-71767970197415030572015-08-22T17:59:00.005-07:002015-08-22T19:36:55.637-07:00FUBAR: Declassified Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Zombie stories are everywhere. Movies, TV shows, books, and more, the idea of the undead has always been a popular trope to draw from for interesting horror stories. Today, I'll be looking at <i>FUBAR: Declassified</i>, an anthology of stories written by Chuck Dixon, Jeff McClelland, and Jeff McComsey and the follow-up to<i> FUBAR: Mother Russia</i>.<br />
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The stories contained within <i>FUBAR: Declassified</i> all center around zombies existing in political conflicts throughout America's history. From the Cold War to the War on Terror, this universe establishes that zombies exist and have played a role in various historical events.<br />
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The premise sounds oddly specific, and at times, it is restrictive. The first 2-3 stories within the anthology are repetitive, focusing on the military taking on zombies in combat. By the third story, the elements (zombies, soldiers dying, the desire of the government to keep everything under wraps) are told over and over again through the exact same structure. However, these stories are far from boring, containing gruesome battle scenes and the tragedy that occurs when a comrade falls to the undead. Props to the writers for their portrayal of a warzone as well, making sure that the dialogue between the soldiers felt authentic. The characterization is also expertly done, the writing able to convey the commitment to the mission and the adaptability of soldiers in the battlefield. When you add in the gritty art style of the first few chapters,<i> FUBAR: Declassified</i> becomes a very engaging war story, despite the repetitive elements. Nevertheless, for those who aren't into horror or war stories, the first couple of stories in this anthology will seem like a drag.<br />
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The highlight of <i>FUBAR: Declassified</i> to me was (surprisingly) in the politics. When you add the incredibly powerful "biological weapon" (zombies) into a divisive global conflict, the story cannot help but become more and more interesting. <i>FUBAR: Declassified</i> recognizes this, and it does a stellar job in exploring all aspects of the politics behind the involvement of zombies. One story focuses on border control and how ordinary civilians' lives are affected by the involvement of the higher-ups. Another brings to light the underhanded techniques political officials dirty their hands with in order to gain leverage. My favorite story involving the assassination of Kennedy cleverly implemented zombies into a story of government cover-ups, questioning what should and shouldn't be kept from the public eye. Though the first part of the anthology was a fairly enjoyable war story, it was the political tension and thought-provoking themes that kept me engaged.<br />
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In terms of the artwork, I have already spoken about the grittiness of the first part of the anthology. However, the rest of the novel is characterized by various art styles from the different artists who worked on this project. There are some instances of iffy panels, but most of the artwork can be described as very fitting. Although I am not usually a fan of hyperrealistic artwork in comic books, that particular style fit very well into the drama and tensions of the story it was used. Similarly, another story has a Pixar-esque vibe in its artwork, conveying the tranquility of civilian life. The thoughtfulness behind the stylistic choices should be applauded, despite the minor imperfections in some of the artwork.<br />
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As a whole, <i>FUBAR: Declassified</i> was a well-made anthology, as expected of any Alterna Comics release. While I enjoyed this collection, and would recommend it to any horror-loving friends, it did not exactly fit my personal tastes as <i>Metaphase</i> or the recent <i>IF Anthology</i> have. This particular one seems targeted towards a specific audience, so it would be wise to take a look at the preview pages before picking this title up.<br />
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<i>FUBAR:Declassified</i> is available on <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/FUBAR-Declassified-Chuck-Dixon/dp/1934985449/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440291620&sr=8-1&keywords=fubar+declassified&pebp=1440291622892&perid=13WV5VGWW40GEV77E3H2" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </b>and wherever books are sold.<br />
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*<i>Thanks to Peter Simeti for providing the copy used in this review</i>*Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-92155866969457792472015-08-19T17:50:00.002-07:002015-08-19T17:50:32.970-07:00Metaphase Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing this week of comic book reviews is <i>Metaphase</i>, a graphic novel with a story by Chip Reece, art by Kelly Williams, and letters by Peter Simeti. Unlike the past two graphic novels I've reviewed, <i>Metaphase</i> takes on the superhero genre. However, to remain distinct from the flashy, popular comics of Marvel and DC, this Kickstarter-funded Alterna Comics release features a main character with a disability thrust into a world of superpowered beings.<br />
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I absolutely adored this novel. From the very first page I was hooked (of course, it helps that the first page features a heroic depiction of the Sentinel). The character Ollie, a child with Down Syndrome, was instantly likable, and the book evoked a surprising amount of emotion in his attempts to become as strong as his father. Although I have never had any experience with disabilities, the way the comic portrays the tragic situation of Ollie and the pursuit of his dreams was incredibly heartwarming, an unexpected turn from what is labeled a "superhero" comic. Moreover, the novel does spend some of these emotional moments on the father, reflecting the sorrows of a superpowered parent with a child with Down Syndrome. Ultimately, the comic's strength lies in the portrayal of Ollie's relationship with his father. </div>
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The plot centers around a very standard superhero story, with most of the distinguishing attributes left to the characters themselves. However, the comic does a fantastic job in establishing this new world for the characters to exist in. Yes, we've all seen supervillains terrorizing the city before, and we've all seen the evil corporate businessman trope, but the characters that occupy these roles are at least unique and memorable, driving what is essentially an origin story for a different kind of superhero. </div>
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I do have some slight issues with the artwork. Though the colors and the visual presentation of the novel is fantastic, some of the stylistic choices in the facial expressions are a little strange to me. However, once you are immersed in the novel's story, you hardly notice it, and it's a very minor fault to an incredibly story. Besides these instances, the novel's art is done well, with the action scenes throughout being the standout moments of fantastic art. </div>
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Honestly, I don't know what else to say about this novel that wouldn't be repetitive. It's a very hopeful novel, one that tugs at the heartstrings while balancing the pure enjoyment of a superhero comic. I have hardly any complaints, other than I wish there were more adventures to be told beyond the 80-page volume. If you're a fan of comics, great stories, superheroes, or anything that is great art, I would definitely recommend spending some time with <i>Metaphase</i>. </div>
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<i>Metaphase</i> is available on <b><a href="https://www.comixology.com/Metaphase/comics-series/10554?ref=c2l0ZS9saXN0L2Rlc2t0b3AvbGlzdC9zZXJpZXNMaXN0" target="_blank">Comixology</a></b>, and my copy was provided by Peter Simeti for review purposes. </div>
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-84741436997605718152015-08-18T21:07:00.001-07:002015-08-18T21:16:29.291-07:00All My Ghosts by Jeremy Massie Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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With a title like <i>All My Ghosts</i>, you'd expect this graphic novel to be a creepy horror featuring some sketchy dude in a broken-down office building. What you get from Jeremy Massie's 106-page comic is a surprisingly engaging story involving some heartwarming elements and a strong, overarching theme.<br />
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The graphic novel is characterized as Slice of Life, a genre that I wasn't aware spanned beyond the generic Japanese manga adored by the otaku fanbase.<i> All My Ghosts </i>features a middle-aged man working as chief of his family's cherished newspaper company, a job that he has become less and less enamored with by the beginning of the novel. The novel explores various aspects of his life, including his personal relationships and the rumors of supernatural activity in the workplace. </div>
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As a Slice of Life comic, <i>All My Ghosts</i> has a fairly simple plot structure, having no need for any dramatic twists or turns. Instead, the comic focuses on the various problems of the main protagonist, Joe, as if they were the realistic problems people pile on themselves on a daily basis. In fact, the novel's central conflict isn't necessarily a huge battle but an issue that weighs down on the main character, lurking in the background as he tries to make his life functional again. </div>
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Despite the main character having a routine job, the elements of the story are visually interesting. When the reader follows him through his day to day activities, the comic never slows down, maintaining a comfortable pace so that the ride is still enjoyable. If I had any complaints with this novel, it'd be that the tone shifts can be quite jarring at some points as the setting shifts from one place to the next. However, this is consistent with the common perception of life, a chain of events that don't necessarily have to "fit" next to each other. (This may also have been because the comic was told in separate issues before it became a complete graphic novel). </div>
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The graphic novel's other strengths lie in the world that Massie creates, one that we explore from Joe's perspective. Each character and aspect of the small town is memorable, making the reader feel as if he's been living in this Appalachian town for as long as Joe. </div>
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At first glance, the story may seem to have a generic "Carpe Diem" message about freedom and the release from the boredom of daily life. However, one of my favorite aspects of <i>All My Ghosts </i>was the way the theme was manipulated. For example, when Joe begins pursuing escape from his routine lifestyle through a "fuck it all" attitude, he is slapped across the face with the consequences of freedom, an aspect that isn't usually brought up in motivational posters. The progression of the story is partly driven by this question of freedom, and it made <i>All My Ghosts</i> a thought-provoking read. The novel also incorporates the conflict between tradition and individual freedom, though it does so with an emphasis on reverence for the past, which I personally enjoyed seeing. </div>
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Finally, a couple words about the art style. Massie's style is not overly complex, but it definitely works as part of the novel and was visually engaging. Moreover, the comic has some fantastic moments where Massie somehow incorporates movement and feeling, evoking different senses through unique choices in the comic's art. These creative choices ultimately contribute to the wonderfully immersive experience of reading <i>All My Ghosts</i>. </div>
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If you are looking for the awe of action and adventure, this graphic novel may not be for you. However, the focused emotions and the portrayal of real life, as well as the incorporation of an intriguing theme, make <i>All My Ghosts</i> worthy of a pick up. </div>
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Speaking of which, <i>All My Ghosts</i> goes on sale August 19 on <b><a href="https://www.comixology.com/All-My-Ghosts/comics-series/12188?ref=cHVibGlzaGVyL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9saXN0L3Nlcmllc0xpc3Q" target="_blank">Comixology</a>.</b></div>
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<i>*Special thanks to Peter Simeti for the review copy, making this review possible!*</i></div>
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-69546397287219966872015-08-04T20:33:00.001-07:002015-08-04T23:46:48.407-07:00DEADPOOL Trailer Review/ReactionsToday, Fox decided to release their Deadpool trailer for everyone, even those who didn't attend Comic Con, to see. Even though there isn't much new footage from the trailer that debuted at SDCC, it's very nice to see the trailer in HD and not phone quality. Check it out:<br />
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A couple notes. First, there is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONHBaC-pfsk" target="_blank">green band version</a> of this trailer, most likely made to play with Fantastic Four this weekend. If you were a good little nerd and didn't watch any of the leaked SDCC footage, then you were probably blown away. Did Ryan Reynolds just take a jab at Green Lantern? Yes, he did. Is that COLOSSUS? Yes.<br />
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If you've been following the project since the original leaked test footage, then you'll probably recognize the "red suit, brown pants" joke. While I think the comedic timing and delivery was a bit better in the original footage, I'm glad to see it return nonetheless. The rest of the humor is great, including the exchange with T.J. Miller's character that is just comedic gold.<br />
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<i>"You look like an avocado had sex with an older avocado" </i></div>
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It's also nice to see that Deadpool is fully asserting its hard R rating, with tons of F-bombs and big boy words. The action is still over-the-top and very fitting of Deadpool, because seeing three dudes having holes blown through their brains is just what every comic book fan wanted.<br />
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<i>"Oooooh...I'm touching myself tonight"</i></div>
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In terms of changes from the SDCC footage, there was an extra scene in this trailer featuring an old lady informing Deadpool of the presence of a male reproductive organ in his oral cavity. However, I'm sad to see that they cut Deadpool's exchange with Negasonic Teenage Warhead, one of the more memorable parts from the fuzzy SDCC footage.<br />
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Nevertheless, this trailer did its job very well, showing us a perfect film adaptation of Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds' voice!) and generating all the buzz. Props to the marketing department at Fox for knowing how to sell Deadpool, correcting all their mistakes for the completely botched release of Fantastic Four.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-69056405288393692942015-08-03T00:48:00.001-07:002015-08-03T00:49:13.215-07:00A MOC 5 Years in the Making...If you know me, you know that I'm a huge fan of Wong Fu Productions on YouTube. Well, a couple years ago, they ran a special Wong Fu Weekends episode (5 years ago...yikes!) where each of them competed to build MOCs out of the Freeco Speeder set. I happened to own that set, and today I attempted to replicate Wesley Chan's <a href="http://wongfuproductions.com/2010/03/my-lego-creation-wes/" target="_blank">creation</a>.<br />
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The only problem is, he used parts from TWO sets, while I was limited to one and my own collection of parts. What follows is less of a replica and more of a revision of his speeder. My version is bulkier, is equipped with dual cannons in the front, and has two extra engines added for even more power. Even if it's not an exact copy, I'm very happy with it. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-68931915453584951592015-07-28T21:07:00.000-07:002015-08-18T21:11:48.051-07:002015 IF Anthology (Science Fiction) Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>...in IF there are no questions...</i></div>
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<i>only <b>answers</b></i></div>
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The IF Anthology is a new project by Peter Simeti and Alterna Comics, an independent graphic book novel publisher that focuses on black and white comics with unconventional artwork. The anthology compiles the work of 36 different comic book creators who are all told to stick to a single theme. The 2015 edition, which I am reviewing today, has the theme science fiction. Though I had never read an indie comic before (Usually sticking with Marvel/DC), I love the science fiction genre and was curious as to what Simeti was trying to accomplish with this bold project. So, when Peter Simeti offered to send out review copies, I snatched one up to see what the book (and successful Kickstarter campaign) was all about. </div>
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As an anthology, IF includes fifteen different short stories that are each about 10 pages in length. The stories are supposedly unified under a single theme, but the incredible amount of variety in the artwork, storytelling, tone, and influences of each story make the set theme seem more like a flexible suggestion. One story may call to mind the bright, superhero tale. Another is a completely creepy horror tale, while the thirteen other short stories pull fantasy elements, monster movies, creation myths, dystopian futures, utopian futures, and sentient robots all into one, 160-page volume. The sheer variety of the comics ensures that no matter where your tastes lie, there is something for you in the IF Anthology. I applaud Peter Simeti for the clear amount of work that went into selecting these stories and making sure that no two comics ever felt alike. </div>
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Despite the different flavors to each story, IF also keeps alive many of the science fiction elements that its theme demands. If you're a huge science fiction fan, you'll be sure to recognize the common elements, from time travel to distant planets to wars with sentient robots. However, despite the common science fiction tropes all being present, the comics in IF shine with individuality from each of its creators. Many of the stories in IF have creative twists or refreshing looks at common situations, and me describing them any further risks spoiling the experience. However, if you do pick up a copy, look out for the interesting storytelling devices, my favorite of which gave exposition through a two-page spread of newspaper clippings. </div>
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The art style of the fifteen stories in IF is just as distinctive as the story elements, with all of it being of exceptional quality. Although some of the strange art is jarring for those used to ripped superheroes (like myself), the quality of the art is unquestionable. In some ways, the unconventional nature of the artwork adds to the experience, making IF that much more unique.</div>
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IF (ha) there is anything weak about the works in the anthology, it would be that the worlds within the short stories can never be expanded. It was disappointing to turn the pages of a fascinating premise only to find that the next story had already begun. And yet, the next story would be just as exciting, and the cycle would repeat fifteen times throughout the course of the book. Part of me wishes that there could have been a longer, overarching story, but that would have surely taken away from the variety and the appeal of an anthology in the first place. </div>
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So, for concluding remarks, it is clear that the IF Anthology was a true passion project for Peter Simeti, an avid comic lover, with love and care poured into the book so that it would show the true potential of indie comics. I would highly recommend picking up a copy through Simeti's <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/petersimeti/if-a-science-fiction-anthology-from-36-comic-book" target="_blank"><b>Kickstarter</b></a>, and I am personally excited for what surprises next year's IF has in store. </div>
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*<i>The early copy of the IF Anthology was graciously provided by Peter Simeti for review purposes</i>*</div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-62258000075277561592014-12-31T22:09:00.001-08:002015-08-04T23:51:31.733-07:00MY Top Ten Movies of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah...the year has gone by so quickly. For some of you, it might already be gone. It's still 2014 over here though, so I should still have time to make this list of my favorite movies from 2014.<br />
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2014 was a great year for movies. There were some amazing films that will likely never be forgotten. However, please remember that, as a casual viewer, I haven't seen every movie that came out this year, and I missed out on a couple of good ones (<i>Whiplash</i>, <i>Birdman</i>, just to name a few). During 2014's final moments, let's begin with:<br />
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10. <i>Chef</i><br />
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This film...my God did it make me hungry. Jon Favreau's passion piece was an excellent feel-good movie with a chef who, after a caustic review, decides to start a food truck. This film showed the beautiful formation of a bond between Carl Casper and his son, and some moments of the film would make any viewer's heart melt. Couple the family themes with camera shots that are basically foodporn and a wonderful performance by Jon Favreau himself and you've got yourself a well done (ha ha) movie. Seriously man, I want to try those cubanos.<br />
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9. <i>Boyhood</i><br />
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So, this movie was shot over the course of 12 years. A grand experiment in filmmaking, but that's not the reason why this movie is on this list. Yes, Ethan Hawke and the rest of the cast deliver splendid performances, but more importantly, this movie was the most realistic portrayal of life I have ever seen in film. By the end of this movie, Richard Linklater made me feel as if I had just absorbed memories of another person's life, and I was motivated to just start living. If you're a younger viewer, this movie was a glimpse into the future. If you're an adult, I'm sure this movie felt like reliving a life gone by, and that is the beauty of this film. </div>
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8. <i>How to Train Your Dragon 2</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Short disclaimer: </span><i style="text-align: left;">Big Hero 6</i><span style="text-align: left;"> is not on this list. I saw </span><i style="text-align: left;">Big Hero 6</i><span style="text-align: left;">, loved it, but didn't think it should be in the Top Ten. This movie, though? Holy crap. The visuals were simply stunning (Dude, that dragon totally just spun into a flaming wheel of death!) and the characters were as engaging as ever. The comedy in the film was also well placed, and the movie had its fair share of touching moments. All in all, this movie was bold, and enjoyable to boot. </span></div>
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7. <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></div>
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In the words of Rocket Raccoon, "Oooooooh yeah". I was incredibly excited for this movie, and it did not disappoint. Great performances by entire cast, good action, and the most hilarious talking raccoon/tree duo to date. Sure, I wish Ronan could've been a more interesting villain, but that probably would've taken away from the time with the rest of the Guardians. How much did I love this movie? Well, I'm still listening to Awesome Mix, Vol. 1, so there. </div>
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6. <i>The Imitation Game</i></div>
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I went into this movie expecting a great performance by Benedict Cumberbatch and a decently interesting biopic. What I got was the fascinating tale of Alan Turing, a person who I knew nothing about previously, and his struggle to crack a German code, but also to form relationships and survive in a society that made him an outcast in different ways. Keira Knightley had wonderful chemistry with Cumberbatch, and the rest of the codebreakers were all intriguing characters, especially Hugh. I had no idea what direction this film would go in, and boy was this movie a ride. Tense at some parts, clever at others, and sprinkled with emotion, this film is one that will have everyone Googling "Alan Turing". </div>
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5.<i> Interstellar</i></div>
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Here's a film that caused quite a bit of controversy (especially over the ending). However, in my personal opinion, this film was fantastic. It might not have been as intriguing as The Prestige or The Dark Knight, but Christopher Nolan's bold steps and reverence for science are obvious. The visuals were simply astounding, as were the performances by McConaughey and Hathaway. The film had some incredibly emotional moments with regards to family, and the rest of the narrative is filled with tension. This movie worked for me on so many levels, combining my love for family themes and my curiosity towards astronomy and black holes. A great science fiction film with a lot of emphasis on the science, in my opinion. </div>
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4. <i>X-Men: Days of Future Past</i></div>
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After watching this movie the first time, I actually went back and watched the first three X-Men movies and <i>First Class</i>. Of course, even though I hadn't seen any of the previous films, this movie by itself was simply astounding. What started off as an interesting premise also gave birth to a dramatic sequences with Xavier and Magneto, focused action scenes, and the unforgettable scene with Quicksilver. You know which one I'm talking about. <i>Days of Future Past</i> finally made me excited about the "other" MCU, and with a great film like this under its belt, I can only be that much more excited for <i>Apocalypse</i>. </div>
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3. <i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i></div>
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APES. TOGETHER. STRONG. That quote may not have actually been in the movie (if it was, I think Koba said it), but it accurately sums up just how I felt about it. The CGI was incredibly realistic, and Matt Reeves definitely had some wonderfully creative action scenes (Dude, is that an ape, with machine guns, on a TANK?). More than that though, Andy Serkis gave an amazing performance as Caesar, and the entire movie was so tense and well constructed that I was on the edge of my seat, my spine electrified, the entire movie. This is, for sure, the <i>Empire Strikes Back</i> of the <i>Apes</i> franchise, and it's just as good. </div>
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2. <i>Captain America; The Winter Soldier</i></div>
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Holy. Crap. Not only did this film flip the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe upside-down, but it had some of the greatest fight choreography I have ever seen. The scenes with Bucky and Cap were just so focused and well shot that I could not help but gasp. The film also had some great characters, including the new Anthony Mackie as Falcon, making it one of the best Marvel movies ever made. The plot had so much tension, likened to a political thriller, which made the film incredibly fun to watch. Also, me being a nerd, I couldn't help but love the introduction of Arnim Zola and THAT AFTER CREDITS SCENE. </div>
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Wait, there's a movie that topped Cap 2? Say what, you may ask. Well, this last one is more of a personal choice, and it has become my favorite movie of all time. The next one is: </div>
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1. <i>The LEGO Movie</i></div>
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There are three things I absolutely love: smart humor, nerdy references, and LEGOs. I've played with LEGOs since I was a little kid and have never stopped since. Phil Lord and Chris Miller had so much reverence for the little plastic bricks (evident in the numbering used when the Master Builders build, or even when that one guy yelled "cheese slopes!"), and they brought with them a witty sense of humor. The movie also had a stellar cast, with Chris Pratt nailing the voice of Emmet and Will Arnett possibly being the greatest Batman in film history. Beyond the characters, visuals, and bricks though, this movie also had a very powerful message that everyone is truly special, a theme that resonated with me as I watched the unremarkable builder dude become the greatest Master Builder in history. Oh, and there's a spaceship. SPACESHIP!</div>
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That's my list, and right before 2014 ends, too. There are some highly anticipated films coming out next year, especially a little AWAKENING. J.J. Abrams, don't let me down now, buddy. Regardless, see you in the new year!</div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-89287153884136296132014-12-04T21:42:00.004-08:002014-12-04T21:52:53.019-08:00Terminator: Genisys (GENESIS) Trailer Thoughts!Look, I get that this movie is trying to be a "reimagining" of the first two Terminator movies, but the "reimagining" of the word GENESIS still rubs me the wrong way.<br />
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In case you didn't know, the new trailer for Terminator: Genisys was released today after the poster a couple days ago and those god-awful promotional pictures.<br />
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The trailer can be found <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hLRtchRPE0" target="_blank">here</a>, and here are my thoughts:<br />
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<li>GOOD: They're really trying to emulate the originals, ignoring anything that may have come by since then (Salvation? I have no idea what you're talking about). This, like <i>Jurassic World</i>, is a smart move to try to save the dying franchise. </li>
<li>BAD: They're REALLY trying to be the originals, shoehorning in iconic lines from the Terminator movies as cheap one-liners that just come off as desperate. </li>
<li>GOOD: The future! Endoskeletons are as cool as ever, and there is some Droideka looking thing, making the future look quite awesome. John Connor is great as well, with dude-from-<i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i> (Jason Clarke) no longer having to compete with Andy Serkis for screentime. </li>
<li>GOOD: Arnold is back as the T-800! There was some controversy over the fact that old Arnold would be coming back after a lot of years off, but he's great as the T-800, both young and old. Plus, the movie promises a showdown between the "old" T-800 and the young T-800! How cool is that!</li>
<li>BAD: Some dude named Kyle is sent back as a quasi T-800! Seriously, this protagonist does absolutely nothing for me, judging from the trailer. He's kinda bland, but hopefully he's better in the actual movie than the trailer. </li>
<li>Not particularly good or bad, but the scene from the trailer marks the millionth time the Golden Gate Bridge has been featured in an action movie. From being traveled on by apes to being attacked by kaiju, what hasn't happened on Golden Gate Bridge lately?</li>
<li>Arnold's hair is really white, almost unnaturally white in the last helicopter scene of the trailer. This is line with pictures, but it was striking nonetheless. </li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The years have not been kind to the T-800</td></tr>
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Overall, a decent trailer. It definitely has me excited (Arnold vs. Arnold! The T-1000!), but with some reservations as well. Could this be the movie to save the franchise? It has the potential to. But first, it doesn't matter how many times you spell it Genisys. It's genesis. GENESIS.<br />
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-2996026418552344442014-08-13T22:09:00.000-07:002014-08-13T22:10:24.767-07:00NECA Portal 2 Atlas and P-Body ReviewIt's somehow fitting that it took so long for this review to come out, just like these figures.<br />
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A while back NECA revealed prototypes for the duo of portal gun wielding robots that would follow after their great Chell figure. It took a couple years, but eventually they released them as part of a limited shipment. Were they worth the wait? Read on and find out!<br />
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The packaging for both these figures is long gone. They come in standard NECA clamshells with the Portal 2 logo. Boring. To the figures!</div>
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<b><u>Atlas</u></b></div>
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Atlas was the one I bought first, as he is the one I like playing as. The sculpt on this figure is simply fantastic. There are black pistons throughout the figure that actually work (as in, go in and out), and the paint brings out the details in the sculpt. While there is no shading, Atlas doesn't need it for the clean, white look of the Portal bots. Everything looks just as it did in the game, and NECA even said that they used 3D renders from Valve for both these figures.<br />
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Atlas also features two LEDs: one in his body and one in the Portal gun. The only complaint I can find about them is that the LEDs probably hiked up the price a little ($24.99 each at TRU for these guys), which was the reason for my disappointment when I discovered:</div>
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THE ARTICULATION. Or lack thereof. Maybe it's just the design of these guys but Atlas is severely lacking in the articulation department. His shoulders seem like they are on a balljoint, but the central piston is actually glued in place, resulting in mine snapping off when I tried to move it. The legs, like the shoulders, are also on a series of pistons that renders the hips useless. He has a hinge at the elbows and knees, and his head rotates 360 degrees. Atlas's wrists and thumbs are on balljoints, however, meaning he can hold his Portal gun relatively well (it is a little tough to get under the fingers though). </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need a hand? </td></tr>
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All in all, Atlas is a pretty good display piece, but the horrid articulation won't satisfy anyone looking for an "action" figure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"So why can't you move again?"</td></tr>
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So after buying the rather disappointing Atlas, why did I buy P-Body, especially at that premium? Well, I had to complete the duo, and Atlas looked nice on the shelf...</div>
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<b><u>P-Body</u></b></div>
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Sculpt and paintwise, P-Body is just as good as Atlas. Mine as a couple scratches from the factory, but that's a QC issue. He looks like he just jumped out of Portal 2, and that's not a bad thing. At all.<br />
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He also has nice LEDs in the Portal gun and his eye. Props to NECA for actually getting the colors of the lights right!<br />
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"But how's the articulation?" you ask, "Is P-Body a shiny, nonarticulated turd like Atlas?" Well, P-Body's anthropomorphic design lends itself better to articulation than Atlas, resulting in a slightly better figure. P-Body has swivels at the shoulders, hinged knees, elbows, ankles, and torso and balljoints in the wrists and thumbs. This results in more posing options, but the lack of hips still seriously limits these figures. It might be the design of the character, but I'd forgive some inaccuracies if they were able to work more articulation in somewhere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can pose!</td></tr>
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Side note, the molds for the three Portal guns (Atlas's, P-Body's, and Chell's) are the same, and the only differences between the three are the paint and the LEDs. Nevertheless, the ASHPD still looks great.<br />
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So, Atlas and P-Body are both rather mediocre figures. Great sculpt, paint, and light-up feature, but sorely lacking articulation. They look very good together on the shelf as display pieces though, so if you're a hardcore Portal fan, I'd say go for it. Sadly, if you've been spoiled by NECA's recent offerings or superarticulated Japanese figures, you're in for a disappointment.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Portal guns are still fun to mess with, though. </td></tr>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-65910695153694214122014-04-26T21:04:00.001-07:002014-04-26T21:04:54.001-07:00NECA 1979 Alien "Big Chap" ReviewNECA has been one of the best toy companies as of late, with its interaction with the fans, great figures, and even some cool licenses. I haven't picked up many of their figures, but when I saw the classic 1979 Alien I just had to pick it up.<br />
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I don't have a picture of the packaging, but it's just a standard NECA clamshell with a new "Alien" logo. But enough about that, on to the figure!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONly0eCgHFk/U01622anD5I/AAAAAAAAAhA/GsDkqkK1muA/s1600/IMG_4840%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONly0eCgHFk/U01622anD5I/AAAAAAAAAhA/GsDkqkK1muA/s1600/IMG_4840%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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While NECA has released an Alien Warrior in Series 1, this figure is an all-new sculpt and apparently shares no parts with the <i>Aliens</i> version (I don't actually own the figure, so take NECA's word for it). The sculpt is fantastic, with great little details all throughout the body and especially the head, which has some great detail in the neck area. Moreover, the hands have six fingers (unlike the Aliens versions, which have talonlike fingers) and the feet are more humanlike as well. </div>
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The paint work is simple, but it works very well. The fingertips and toes are painted silver, but there is a little bleeding on my sample. Throughout the figure there is a light grey/brown shading that brings out all the sculpted detail nicely. </div>
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One thing of note is the dome. I've seen various samples ranging from a clear dome to a completely opaque dome for the head. I prefer it a little translucent so you can see the creepy skull underneath, but I'm sure you can find a head based on your preferred look. While we're talking about the head, you can also pull out the inner mouth, which has some sculpted detail and is painted in a cream color. Mine was stuck out of the packaging, but it's just a QC issue and it eventually worked with enough pulling. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1g62ldRtVkE/U019vf_iXSI/AAAAAAAAAhg/jkWOXKHtO18/s1600/IMG_4835%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1g62ldRtVkE/U019vf_iXSI/AAAAAAAAAhg/jkWOXKHtO18/s1600/IMG_4835%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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The articulation is good, but there are a couple flaws. First, the joints: there is a balljoint in the head, balljoints and swivels in the shoulders, hinges at the elbows, and a wrist swivel/hinge. The Alien has a great diaphragm joint with a good range of motion, balljointed and swivel thighs, double jointed knees, toe hinges, ankle swivels, and a bendy tail. Yes, ankle swivels, not rockers. This makes the figure harder to pose in wide stances and also creates balancing issues. Additionally, I wish there had been double jointed elbows. The Alien Warrior has double jointed elbows, but sadly this classic one does not. Another minor gripe is that the left knee on my sample has gotten more and more loose, but again, QC issue. You can also remove one of the back spines so that head can move farther back, but this creates a gaping hole in his upper back and you can usually just move the head around it anyway.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6CbU6m6tJU/U1yBKfNEZ1I/AAAAAAAAAhw/1FBijyc8lZE/s1600/IMG_4845%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o6CbU6m6tJU/U1yBKfNEZ1I/AAAAAAAAAhw/1FBijyc8lZE/s1600/IMG_4845%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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NECA's figures are in a 7 inch scale, so the Alien will look good next to NECA's other figures (such as the Predator), but it won't work as well with Marvel Legends. It's also worth noting that when straightened out, the Alien stands around 9 inches tall.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne4AyZ_fHew/U1yBkQy5DbI/AAAAAAAAAh4/80f8HbRw8Vw/s1600/IMG_4848%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ne4AyZ_fHew/U1yBkQy5DbI/AAAAAAAAAh4/80f8HbRw8Vw/s1600/IMG_4848%5B1%5D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic battle with classic figures</td></tr>
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All in all, this is a good figure. The sculpt and paint are all top notch and accurate, but the few articulation and QC issues bring down what could have otherwise been a perfect Alien figure. As is though, it is definitely worth buying at the $17-20 pricepoint, and shouldn't be that hard to find. </div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-85611688968717083002014-03-02T12:40:00.004-08:002014-07-06T20:22:07.708-07:00LEGO Polybag 30300: The Batman Tumbler Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrHIze9eM_o/UxOTT0H5n8I/AAAAAAAAAds/UrHWVt9KtSQ/s1600/IMG_4472%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lrHIze9eM_o/UxOTT0H5n8I/AAAAAAAAAds/UrHWVt9KtSQ/s1600/IMG_4472%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was going to review more Marvel Legends today, but I stumbled upon this polybag at my local Target. I'm a sucker for mini-Batmobiles, and this Tumbler was no exception.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvbcLhnUs20/UxOTV4yyWJI/AAAAAAAAAd4/3RVdJNXx01k/s1600/IMG_4473%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PvbcLhnUs20/UxOTV4yyWJI/AAAAAAAAAd4/3RVdJNXx01k/s1600/IMG_4473%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
The pieces included (which I forgot to photograph) are nothing special. Black pieces, four wheels, and some cheese slopes. The set did include an extra black cheese slope, which I attached to the front.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmCAY8OpmNs/UxOTVirvBaI/AAAAAAAAAd0/6WpYYVjq8XM/s1600/IMG_4474%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fmCAY8OpmNs/UxOTVirvBaI/AAAAAAAAAd0/6WpYYVjq8XM/s1600/IMG_4474%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
This polybag is a decent representation of the Tumbler, but it definitely has its flaws. For some reason, Lego decided to include a grey bar on the back of the car (tank?) that really breaks up the black color scheme of the vehicle.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izf-R8tGKu8/UxOTk4W6X2I/AAAAAAAAAeI/tLy_IfDX3z8/s1600/IMG_4475%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-izf-R8tGKu8/UxOTk4W6X2I/AAAAAAAAAeI/tLy_IfDX3z8/s1600/IMG_4475%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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From the side, you can see there's an ugly gap between the back wheel and the side. There's not much Lego could have done at this scale, but it's still not a pretty sight.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mg7X8mteFZU/UxOT1hvr03I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/PdwXwXxhtuI/s1600/IMG_4476%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mg7X8mteFZU/UxOT1hvr03I/AAAAAAAAAeQ/PdwXwXxhtuI/s1600/IMG_4476%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The back has the rocket boosters that Batman used to jump over buildings in Batman Begins. It's one of the distinctive features of this Batmobile, and I'm glad it's represented accurately here.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTq3akvYBaU/UxOT5H5iVkI/AAAAAAAAAeY/8vkJ8AB5Sfo/s1600/IMG_4477%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iTq3akvYBaU/UxOT5H5iVkI/AAAAAAAAAeY/8vkJ8AB5Sfo/s1600/IMG_4477%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's the Lego Tumbler next to Mattel's Hotwheels Tumbler. Lego's is missing a lot of details in my opinion, but I guess it's not the worst. Lego did attempt to put the gold highlights present on the Mattel Tumbler by using a 2x1 piece, but it doesn't really work.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4MVUW2cDiY/UxOT-b9KzRI/AAAAAAAAAeg/HNXoQhixiVM/s1600/IMG_4478%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U4MVUW2cDiY/UxOT-b9KzRI/AAAAAAAAAeg/HNXoQhixiVM/s1600/IMG_4478%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Compared to last year's Batmobile, this polybag falls short. The one on the right is instantly recognizable, looks good, and had a decent build. The Tumbler, on the other hand, doesn't scream "Tumbler".<br />
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Overall, this is a nice little polybag, but not the best. For $3.99 you can't go wrong, and I'm a big enough fan of Nolan's Batman to like the little build. However, in terms of polybag builds this one is really restricted by the piece count and scale, and the end result isn't as good as it could be.<br />
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Click <a href="http://amazoncodesnetwork.com/?ref=a79576" target="_blank">here</a>!Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-38260920086355120452014-02-23T19:54:00.001-08:002014-02-23T19:56:35.152-08:00Marvel Legends Infinite Series: Amazing Spider-Man Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
With great power comes great responsibility. Although this movie Spider-Man might not be familiar with those words, it still deserves a new suit (and figure). Today we'll be looking at the first entry in the Spider-Man Marvel Legends Infinite Series: Peter Parker himself!</div>
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<i>No matter what evil rises, the Amazing Spider-Man will summon the courage to defeat it; for with great power comes great responsibility.</i></div>
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This new Spidey comes in the same Marvel Legends packaging as the Captain America Marvel Legends Infinite Series (That's a mouthful). It's very nice packaging and is becoming the new standard for ML (the next Guardians of the Galaxy wave also uses it as well). Because this is a movie figure the top of the box has the movie's title instead of the generic "Spider-Man" we get on the comic figures. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zru_pZHPh1I/UwVeNebUZxI/AAAAAAAAAcM/y4wKi5rckac/s1600/IMG_4350%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zru_pZHPh1I/UwVeNebUZxI/AAAAAAAAAcM/y4wKi5rckac/s1600/IMG_4350%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you look closely, you can see the plastic case is upside-down. My mistake. </td></tr>
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But who cares about the (soon to be overused) packaging? Is the figure inside any good?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy7LqtP1sQU/UwVecLbAtZI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_kpvhNCWJNw/s1600/IMG_4353%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zy7LqtP1sQU/UwVecLbAtZI/AAAAAAAAAcc/_kpvhNCWJNw/s1600/IMG_4353%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Short answer: Yes. When the Amazing Spider-Man 2 suit was first revealed, fans were ecstatic at the comic-inspired design in favor of the weird, yellow-eyed suit of the original. Because the suit is very comic-based, it is easy to fudge this movie figure as a classic Spider-Man. This is great news for newer ML fans who don't want to pay ridiculous prices for the old McFarlane Spider-Man from Toybiz. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmkvN4AZEIg/UwVe7SAPdsI/AAAAAAAAAc0/R4c5E2k7JEU/s1600/IMG_4357%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZmkvN4AZEIg/UwVe7SAPdsI/AAAAAAAAAc0/R4c5E2k7JEU/s1600/IMG_4357%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Furthermore, this is an all-new sculpt from Hasbro. It has very nice details included sculpted lines for the suit and sculpted musculature in the legs (not very present in the arms, however). The figure also features paint shading in the red areas that complements the sculpt very well, even though some of it is misapplied on the eyes. Another gripe with the paint is that the elbow joints (which are molded in red) are not painted blue to match the arms. This isn't a big deal for me, but it is sure to bug some people, especially at a $20 price point. </div>
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The real flaws with this figure are in the articulation. In print it sounds great: Spidey features balljointed shoulders, hips, and head as well as swivel hinge wrists, double jointed elbows/knees, swivels at the waist, thighs, and calves as well as rocker ankles and new shoulder joints. Oh, the shoulder joints...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-361YnKcDt-s/UwVeaZxz46I/AAAAAAAAAcU/k1zm0j14jAU/s1600/IMG_4352%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-361YnKcDt-s/UwVeaZxz46I/AAAAAAAAAcU/k1zm0j14jAU/s1600/IMG_4352%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blegh. </td></tr>
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This is the main flaw with this figure. Hasbro decided to experiment with a new shoulder joint (for forward and backwards movement), and while it works fine, it looks very strange when pulled all the way forward (or backward) as seen in the picture above. Additionally, while the inside of the joint has sculpted detail, it's still red and breaks up the blue on Spidey's back. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peter needs to fatten up</td></tr>
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The figure continues to sacrifice sculpt for articulation in the hips, which come out looking too bulky for the skinny Spider-Man body. Speaking of skinny Spider-Man bodies, this figure's torso is very flat and thin. I wouldn't mind very much, but it prevents the ab crunch from going down very far, resulting in "crouching" poses that look like this: </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dMeqhXx4XoA/UwVetQxxvtI/AAAAAAAAAcs/9MMcX62uuT8/s1600/IMG_4356%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dMeqhXx4XoA/UwVetQxxvtI/AAAAAAAAAcs/9MMcX62uuT8/s1600/IMG_4356%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't touch my toes...</td></tr>
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In the accessories department, Spidey comes with two different sets of hands (thwipping and fisted) for various poses. These are great and allow for some variety, since Hasbro generally doesn't put finger articulation on their ML figures. The figure also comes packed with the BAF piece of Green Goblin. While I have no intention of completing this BAF, the flame effect should prove useful for some displays. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LB8_05cZ3Gk/UwVff_VOTFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/w-kAIdAC7Mo/s1600/IMG_4360%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LB8_05cZ3Gk/UwVff_VOTFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/w-kAIdAC7Mo/s1600/IMG_4360%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Need a hand?</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsTr9l68kRg/UwVfbVS1LtI/AAAAAAAAAdE/1CWStzEKn6E/s1600/IMG_4361%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xsTr9l68kRg/UwVfbVS1LtI/AAAAAAAAAdE/1CWStzEKn6E/s1600/IMG_4361%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Spidey is on the shorter side at about 6 inches tall. That's a good height if you keep in mind Peter is only a teenager and shouldn't tower over full grown-men (or cyborgs). </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBQ5XCFFsm4/UwVfz74YpxI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6OcqBjnkHVk/s1600/IMG_4362%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yBQ5XCFFsm4/UwVfz74YpxI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6OcqBjnkHVk/s1600/IMG_4362%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Karate Spider</td></tr>
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Overall, this figure is a good addition to any ML collection. This is a great classic Spider-Man, despite it being a movie figure and a great alternative to the McFarlane Spidey. While it has its flaws, I haven't been able to put it down for the past week, the sign of any good figure. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IS2h4M6dhlM/UwVfDRpCIeI/AAAAAAAAAc8/UDqB5sGV_EM/s1600/IMG_4359%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IS2h4M6dhlM/UwVfDRpCIeI/AAAAAAAAAc8/UDqB5sGV_EM/s1600/IMG_4359%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guess who's next up to be reviewed...</td></tr>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-68746343275559482552014-02-02T12:46:00.001-08:002014-02-02T12:50:06.231-08:00The LEGO Movie Collectible Minifigures: Bad Cop and Larry the Barista ReviewWhile Marvel Legends have been scarce, I saw the new LEGO Movie CMF's at Target the other day and couldn't help but pick up a few.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqkOT9yuqRY/Uu6klGleE7I/AAAAAAAAAZk/t9hgWmseLoU/s1600/IMG_4279%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QqkOT9yuqRY/Uu6klGleE7I/AAAAAAAAAZk/t9hgWmseLoU/s1600/IMG_4279%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the closest to "Mint in Box" I could get</td></tr>
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The new LEGO Movie figures come in very nice blue bags that show off some of the figures in the series. Interestingly, this is the second time a LEGO Collectible Minifigures series has been themed (the first was the Olympic-themed CMF's) and supposedly LEGO is planning a Simpsons-themed series of minifigures as well.<br />
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Out of the two packs I bought, I was able to get Larry the Barista and the Scribble Faced Bad Cop. I did use the "bag feeling" technique for these, but I never intended to get the Bad Cop (more on that later).<br />
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<b><u>Larry the Barista</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14Qzp8biok4/Uu6k143x6vI/AAAAAAAAAZs/AZjRUnyrmUQ/s1600/IMG_4280%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-14Qzp8biok4/Uu6k143x6vI/AAAAAAAAAZs/AZjRUnyrmUQ/s1600/IMG_4280%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Clearly the star of The LEGO Movie, Larry the Barista was featured in the first trailer giving overpriced AWESOME overpriced coffee to everyone. Larry has a new hairpiece which I like a lot, and he has a printed apron with his nametag saying "LARRY".<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK2UsmppQbg/Uu6lC5-cxmI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/fyOJElAha6M/s1600/IMG_4281%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cK2UsmppQbg/Uu6lC5-cxmI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/fyOJElAha6M/s1600/IMG_4281%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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One annoying thing about the printing is that the torso print doesn't extend all the way so there's a white line between the bottom of the apron and the top. Another flaw that Larry has is that his crotch piece is lighter than the actual brown of the apron, so it stands out. However, these are just nitpicks and don't bother me TOO much, and I still love the figure. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKJHbRPYQI/Uu6qx5aYg-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/qGy3HkD2nVk/s1600/IMG_4289%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9iKJHbRPYQI/Uu6qx5aYg-I/AAAAAAAAAa4/qGy3HkD2nVk/s1600/IMG_4289%5B1%5D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
My favorite part about Larry is his lone accessory: the new coffee cup! It's a new mold that has a printed coffee mug on it. This is a great little piece, and I can see people buying multiple Larry's to fill their LEGO cities with Baristas selling these neat coffee cups.<br />
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<b><u>Scribble-Faced Bad Cop</u></b><br />
*I'm not actually sure if this figure is called "Scribble-Faced", but I'll call it that to distinguish it from the other Bad Cop figure.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRRz1fUmxdM/Uu6lTbRE0iI/AAAAAAAAAaM/C8KcK_9_DNA/s1600/IMG_4285%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRRz1fUmxdM/Uu6lTbRE0iI/AAAAAAAAAaM/C8KcK_9_DNA/s1600/IMG_4285%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bad Cop is the Liam Neeson-voiced character that apparently has split personalities. I never intended to get this figure; in fact, I wanted the Hardhat Emmet. Since both figures have helmets and come with 1x2 flat bricks, it's easy to get them mixed up when feeling packs, and that's how I ended up with Bad Cop instead of a happy Emmet. And I have to say, I'm not disappointed at all!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpIRGwzHw8I/Uu6lae65A_I/AAAAAAAAAaU/VFw515f5egk/s1600/IMG_4286%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cpIRGwzHw8I/Uu6lae65A_I/AAAAAAAAAaU/VFw515f5egk/s1600/IMG_4286%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bad Cop doesn't have the most interesting torso printing (he has no leg printing!), but he does come with a very cool alternate face. Unlike the minifigure in the Bad Cop's Pursuit set (which has a smiling, "Good Cop" face), this CMF version has a creepy scribbled face. I haven't seen the movie yet, so I don't know how relevant this is but it's a very interesting print, to say the least.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ACsynWccKQo/Uu6lq3f0r6I/AAAAAAAAAac/mbzm2uFoslQ/s1600/IMG_4287%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ACsynWccKQo/Uu6lq3f0r6I/AAAAAAAAAac/mbzm2uFoslQ/s1600/IMG_4287%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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While Bad Cop has no back printing, he does have a new helmet piece that is unique to his minifigure. It's a nice piece, but if you have a lot of LEGO cops lying around you won't necessarily NEED this one. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rh3KbZkZbJ0/Uu6l2JtV5kI/AAAAAAAAAas/HJLeVzhi5vk/s1600/IMG_4288%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rh3KbZkZbJ0/Uu6l2JtV5kI/AAAAAAAAAas/HJLeVzhi5vk/s1600/IMG_4288%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The figure has two accessories: a printed smartphone piece and a pair of handcuffs. The handcuffs are nothing special, just standard LEGO handcuffs, but the smartphone piece is very nice. Maybe Bad Cop has Flappy Bird installed (it would explain his bad mood).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Take him to the Melting Chamber!"</td></tr>
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Overall, Bad Cop is a nice figure of a relatively important character in the LEGO Movie, but if you aren't a fan of the movie then he's a generic cop with a new helmet and a smartphone.<br />
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Overall, these figures are pretty good. They continue the LEGO Collectible Minifigure trend of having good printing and sweet new parts. Even if you aren't a fan of the movie, these are worth picking up. Just be careful when you're feeling for the ones you want!</div>
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-25832549513724775932014-01-12T16:19:00.001-08:002014-01-12T20:32:25.301-08:00Marvel Legends Infinite Series: Marvel NOW! Captain America ReviewThe new Marvel Legends Infinite series has finally hit stores around my area, and the first of the two that I found is this modern, Marvel NOW! Cap. Is it a good representation of good ol' Steve? Read on to find out!<br />
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<i>No matter how often Arnim Zola's twisted creations beat him down, Steve Rogers will <b>always stand up!</b></i></div>
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The new Marvel Legends from Hasbro come in very nice packaging reminiscent of the Star Wars Black Series. There is no tape involved, so it is collector-friendly and is also good for storing accessories.<br />
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On the side of the package there is a nice sketch of movie Cap throwing his shield. </div>
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When you open Marvel Legends NOW! Cap, you'll notice that there is no paint shading. This is an ongoing trend with Hasbro's recent Marvel Legends, but Steve's sculpt is so nice that it really begs for a light blackwash to bring out the details. His headsculpt is similar to the Commander Rogers figure in ML1, but the NOW! Cap's head is smaller. The shade of red used on the suit is a smidge too bright, but not enough to make the figure look terrible.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZftZfGcLhxA/UtMtpq5O2pI/AAAAAAAAAWI/fyKvHzpb3wQ/s1600/IMG_4154%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZftZfGcLhxA/UtMtpq5O2pI/AAAAAAAAAWI/fyKvHzpb3wQ/s1600/IMG_4154%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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What does bring the figure down is the quality control. There are numerous accounts of the eyes being misaligned or the arms missing grey detail, so look before you buy. The worst of these paint issues is in the abdomen area. The type of paint used is glossy, and it scratches off VERY easily. Moving the ab crunch and posing the figure left an unattractive blue gap in the middle of Cap's torso, so be very careful when handling this figure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Be careful with your figures!</td></tr>
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Paint issues aside, this figure's articulation is wonderful. Cap has a balljointed head on a hinge, balljointed shoulders, a bicep swivel, double jointed elbows (but only the bottom hinge is really functional, the top one barely moves), swivel-hinge wrists, the aforementioned ab crunch, a waist swivel (which was stuck when I got the figure out of the package), T-jointed hips, an upper thigh swivel, double-jointed knees, a calf swivel, and ankle rockers. All in all, an amazing articulation scheme that really makes the figure fun to pose (and makes the paint issues that much worse).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYmXo8hGY1E/UtMt_ysWpaI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/62LAJuHflR4/s1600/IMG_4156%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYmXo8hGY1E/UtMt_ysWpaI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/62LAJuHflR4/s1600/IMG_4156%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cap stands about 6 inches tall and works in scale with other Marvel Legends. He is a little too tall for SWB and too short to fight NECA's Predator.<br />
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Captain America comes with two accessories: his mighty shield and the BAF piece. The shield is the same shield from all other Hasbro Cap figures (which I don't have) and has a clip so it can attach onto his arm.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UmdI33mKYZ8/UtMuEzZE5vI/AAAAAAAAAWg/uofEVY2P8TQ/s1600/IMG_4157%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UmdI33mKYZ8/UtMuEzZE5vI/AAAAAAAAAWg/uofEVY2P8TQ/s1600/IMG_4157%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The shield can also peg into Cap's back, but it sits a little too high for my liking.<br />
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The Mandroid head is an all-new sculpt made of the "swirly" plastic like Iron Monger. I didn't intend on building Mandroid, but the great lineup of figures definitely has me tempted.<br />
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All in all, Cap is a good figure. His articulation makes him very fun to play around with and pose, but watch out for that ab crunch!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve and Tony</td></tr>
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The Marvel Legends Infinite Series is hitting stores right now. At Target, these figures are $14.99, but they are $20 at TRU and Wal-Mart. NOW! Cap is packed two per case, so he probably won't be hard to find. For $15 I'd say this figure is a definite buy, but it's questionable at $20 if you already have a good Cap. Leave your thoughts in the comments below!<br />
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<br />Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-90709050150422331062014-01-02T15:46:00.000-08:002014-01-03T15:29:16.368-08:00The LEGO Movie 70801: The Melting Room ReviewWhat better way to start off a new year than with new sets from the LEGO Movie? Today we'll be looking at one of the two smallest sets in the line:<br />
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<b>Melting Room (70801)</b><br />
122 pieces<br />
SRP: $12.99 USD<br />
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This set comes in a fairly small box. On the front we see a photoshopped picture of the set with Wyldstyle kicking over a poor Robot SWAT guard. The box's back is adorned with another picture of the set and showcases some of the play features.<br />
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When we open the set, we get a 35-page instruction manual and 122 pieces. I won't go over the booklet, but some interesting pieces (excluding minifigures) include:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TVGi30rf2g/UsXyon1wwqI/AAAAAAAAAPM/UE6sZHxdm9I/s1600/IMG_4067%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1TVGi30rf2g/UsXyon1wwqI/AAAAAAAAAPM/UE6sZHxdm9I/s1600/IMG_4067%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<li>Two shorter chain pieces</li>
<li>A black triangular piece from the Cars line</li>
<li>A clear disk piece</li>
<li>A new "pipe" piece</li>
<li>Two printed plates</li>
<li>A white piece that holds a minifigures' legs without studs. This originated in the Friends line. </li>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Now, the main draw of the set: the minifigures! We get Emmet, Wyldstyle, and a Robo SWAT.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Special has arisen.</td></tr>
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Emmet is the exact same minifigure as you'll get in most of the LEGO Movie sets. He has a new hairpiece with two tufts of hair in the back. He has nice printing on his torso and legs as well as decent back printing.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ikAqPAxk5U/UsXzvDOKXWI/AAAAAAAAAQM/J47g0Gpfky0/s1600/IMG_4075%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_ikAqPAxk5U/UsXzvDOKXWI/AAAAAAAAAQM/J47g0Gpfky0/s1600/IMG_4075%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Emmet has two expressions: a scared print and a determined one. However, if you want to use the determined side, be aware that the hair piece does not cover the scared face on the back completely. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RseQ92GTbjs/UsXzJu1VfuI/AAAAAAAAAPs/lN5jJ60cFhg/s1600/IMG_4071%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RseQ92GTbjs/UsXzJu1VfuI/AAAAAAAAAPs/lN5jJ60cFhg/s1600/IMG_4071%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Emmet also comes with the Piece of Resistance, which is a new piece in red that can attach to his back. I'm not a fan the neck piece, and it makes his neck seem too long. In fact, the trailers show Emmet without the grey piece and the Piece of Resistance glued to his back. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gF2IMtVvow/UsXz8fwoBiI/AAAAAAAAAQU/w7s2KfXv3IY/s1600/IMG_4076%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1gF2IMtVvow/UsXz8fwoBiI/AAAAAAAAAQU/w7s2KfXv3IY/s1600/IMG_4076%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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This version of Wyldstyle is exclusive to this set because of the new hood piece. It is slightly rubbery and comes in a separate little baggy.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4KA0DjL-Eo/UsX05-7s0zI/AAAAAAAAARM/cYVfhMAOu-g/s1600/IMG_4083%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L4KA0DjL-Eo/UsX05-7s0zI/AAAAAAAAARM/cYVfhMAOu-g/s1600/IMG_4083%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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There isn't much reuse potential with the hood because Wyldstyle's hair is painted on and it features side printing that is pretty much exclusive to Wyldstyle. Wyldstyle has some nice printing as well, and even has arm and foot printing! </div>
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She has two expressions, one normal and one slightly more determined. </div>
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The final figure is the Robo SWAT. He has a nice cap with a printed logo on it, which may be exclusive to this set. </div>
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His head is shared with some of the other Robo SWAT figures, but he has cool torso printing that can be reused for police minifigures if desired. He has a gun with a clip from the Dino line, but it looks empty without anything in the clip. All in all, the minifigures are great, but may be redundant if you plan to buy some of the larger sets in the line. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mybJQaCMtdY/UsX2scJOsjI/AAAAAAAAASQ/MxUFZ5n6Vcg/s1600/IMG_4091%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mybJQaCMtdY/UsX2scJOsjI/AAAAAAAAASQ/MxUFZ5n6Vcg/s1600/IMG_4091%255B1%255D.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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While some may buy the set solely for the minifigures, it also has a small playset build of the Melting Room (or Chamber). The build didn't take very long, but it had some interesting techniques for the table that Emmet is chained to. The set consists of three main parts: The weapons rack with handcuffs and an axe, the rotating table, and the Melting Laser. The play set has some pretty cool features for a small set.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This play feature is GEARED towards kids. I'm terrible, I know. </td></tr>
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If you turn the gear on the bottom, you can move the table up and down. Emmet will stay securely thanks to the chains and the leg-holding piece. </div>
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The laser (which I assume is to melt off the Piece of Resistance) is on a pin, so it can swivel back and forth. It can also hinge forward and backwards due to its construction. While the playset is drab in its colorscheme, it is very versatile. It can be an Extremis testing facility, Oscorp's lab, or even Lex Luthor's Krytonite laser (if you replace the red bar with a green one). The possibilities are endless!</div>
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In conclusion, the Melting Room is a good set. If you plan on buying the other sets in the line, then you can probably pass. But if you want hooded Wylstyle or simply a taste of the new LEGO Movie line, you won't be disappointed by this little one. </div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-89169486209986963112013-12-15T20:09:00.000-08:002013-12-31T13:29:03.436-08:00Generations RHINOX ReviewLet me just say that I haven't seen Beast Wars. At the time I wasn't a Transformers fan and I never really got around to watching it. But come on, this is a rhino that turns into a robot wielding twin Gatling Guns of Doom, and that's enough for me.<br />
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<i style="text-align: left;">RHINOX is rare among robots. He has a brilliant scientific mind, as well as a deep philosophical curiosity about the nature of the universe around him. He is astoundingly strong - able to hold his own against even the most powerful opponents. He is friendly, good-natured, and charismatic, with a fine strategic mind that would make him an ideal leader for the MAXIMALS forces if they didn't already have one. What's more, he carries one of the most powerful weapons of any MAXIMALS in the form of the twin Gatling Guns of Doom, which pump out a PREDACON-shredding storm of hot lead. </i></div>
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Rhinox is a Voyager figure in Hasbro's Generations line, and he and Waspinator are the first two "Classic"-ized versions of Beast Wars characters. I haven't found Waspinator yet, but I have to say, Rhinox is a great figure. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJYkMzSbunU/Uq52N5VF3EI/AAAAAAAAAMY/55KB45MtRCc/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PJYkMzSbunU/Uq52N5VF3EI/AAAAAAAAAMY/55KB45MtRCc/s1600/IMG_3879.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rhinox's robot mode is very bulky and rather short. From what I can tell, he is accurate to the cartoon (I haven't watched it, but I haven't heard any major complaints). While other beast formers tend to wear a huge shell of animal on their backs, Rhinox has only a decent backpack and he doesn't look like a robot wearing a rhino carcass. I especially like how the lower jaw becomes his chest armor. Paint, while limited to gold accents, is okay. It's a bit misaligned on my Rhinox's head, but I can live with it. </div>
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Rhinox's articulation is great. He has ball jointed heads, shoulders, and hips. He has hinged elbows and knees and swivels as the thigh and elbow. He also has pseudo "rocker" ankles, which tilt inward for wider stances. While it may not sound like much on paper, it's enough for Rhinox to take any pose you'd want him in. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXYm63PjBak/Uq51TCrgQOI/AAAAAAAAAL4/TpoNIr1MdMU/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RXYm63PjBak/Uq51TCrgQOI/AAAAAAAAAL4/TpoNIr1MdMU/s1600/IMG_3875.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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As mentioned in the bio, Rhinox wields the Twin Gatling Guns of Doom (Best. Weapon. Name. Ever.). The packaging shows silver paint on the blades on the gun, but the Hasbro version doesn't have that and opts for rhino-flesh colored blades of Doom. By pushing the trigger, you can make the blades spin. For rhino mode, the guns attach together and can be stored in the belly of the beast.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ8Ku4AKIpM/Uq51qUL2B1I/AAAAAAAAAMA/EocbLAUXEro/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQ8Ku4AKIpM/Uq51qUL2B1I/AAAAAAAAAMA/EocbLAUXEro/s1600/IMG_3876.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Speaking of the rhino mode, Rhinox's transformation isn't complex, but it is finnicky. There are many tabs that you'll have to align and panels that stick out. Once you're done, however, it's all worth it because this rhino is AWESOME. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tdFIhWGcnAI/Uq5zmemkAvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/jcHa1pD5yRA/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tdFIhWGcnAI/Uq5zmemkAvI/AAAAAAAAAKg/jcHa1pD5yRA/s1600/IMG_3864.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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A small quality control issue is that one of the rhino's legs doesn't like to stay down, but otherwise it's a great beast mode. It is also articulated, if you use the joints from robot mode, but this leaves unattractive gaps and isn't very practical.<br />
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One of the great things about having a rhino is that he is a good size for other figures to ride. The scale isn't perfect, but it works.<br />
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Overall, Rhinox is a great figure. He has some flaws here and there, but he's well made and both modes are AWESOME. He is trickling into stores right now, so get him if you see him!</div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-80619037149981532732013-12-08T20:35:00.000-08:002013-12-08T21:30:50.190-08:00Amazing Spider-Man 2 Trailer and ThoughtsI was one of the few people who thoroughly enjoyed the <i>Amazing Spider-Man</i>. Andrew Garfield's portrayal of Peter Parker was better than Tobey Macguire's, with the newer Spider-Man having the funny comments I always loved. So when Sony released their trailer for <i>The Amazing Spider-Man 2 </i>this week, I was not disappointed. If you haven't seen it yet, here it is:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/nbp3Ra3Yp74?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Like any other superhero trailer release, there's quite a bit of talk surrounding this new trailer, so here are my two cents.<br />
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The new Spidey suit is great. The only complaint I had with the first <i>Amazing Spider-Man</i> suit were the orange "eyes" in the mask, and that's been fixed here with nice classic white. There's not much more to be said except that the costume makes for some <a href="http://marvelousnews.com/index.php?catid=252&itemid=16723" target="_blank">great-looking figures</a>.<br />
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Electro, on the other hand, not so much. There was a lot of controversy surrounding Jamie Foxx being cast as Electro, and I have to say his appearance leaves much to be desired. However, that AWESOME action sequence at the end of the trailer makes up for his mediocre costume.<br />
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New to this trailer was Dane Dehaan's Harry Osborn, and I have to say he's a really good Harry. The movie seems to portray Harry more as Norman's vessel rather than Peter's shy friend, but it's great portrayal of Harry nonetheless. The trailer also has a few frames of Harry as the Green Goblin, who looks a lot better here than he did in Raimi's Spider-Man. Whether or not he's a good villain remains to be seen. </div>
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There is a third villain in the trailer, and that is Rhino. Three villains is always a stretch for superhero movies, and it makes me a bit nervous. Anyways, Rhino is no longer <span style="background-color: white;">Aleksei Sytsevich transformed by science, but Systevich (probably) in a robot suit that is vaguely rhino-shaped. </span></div>
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My guess is that Rhino will be the first villain Spidey fights in the film, and the <strike>mini-Jaeger</strike> robot rhino suit (as if that's any better) won't last very long. The new design isn't great, and hopefully it doesn't ruin the movie. While the looks at the new villains are definitely cool, what's been generating a lot of buzz are the hints at future Spidey movies. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fkGR2TRa5ok/UqVHdA_n1BI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CiwD-tWqHa8/s1600/amazing-spider-man-2-vulture-doctor-octopus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="162" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fkGR2TRa5ok/UqVHdA_n1BI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CiwD-tWqHa8/s1600/amazing-spider-man-2-vulture-doctor-octopus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sequels, sequels, and more sequels!</td></tr>
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Yep. That's Doc Ock and Vulture (who was already a rumored villain) being hinted at through this shot of Oscorp's labs. There have been theories of a Sinister Six movies in the works, and inevitably more sequels. I think it'd be interesting to see a movie with six villains, but it would be a huge risk (Three villains is already pushing it). Like any other fan, however, I did freak out when I saw this in the trailer, and it only fueled my excitement even more. All in all, this trailer has done its job well. Let's just hope the movie lives up to it. </div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-29128855111707071782013-12-04T22:18:00.001-08:002013-12-04T22:20:06.532-08:00Soundtracks in Movies: Are They Important?Soundtracks. Every movie has one, but how important are they to your viewing experience? Well, here are my thoughts.<br />
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Recently I saw both <i>Thor: The Dark World</i> and <i>The Hunger Games: Catching Fire</i>. While I enjoyed both, I have to say that I liked Thor more than Hunger Games sequel (and not just because I'm a Marvel fan).<br />
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One of the greatest things about Thor 2 was the soundtrack, composed by one of my favorite musicians, Brian Tyler (He's also made the Transformers: Prime theme, as well as the Iron Man 3 soundtrack). Without the music, some of the scenes in Thor 2 would not have been nearly as powerful as they were (I will try not to spoil the movie, but there was one scene in particular). Meanwhile, Catching Fire barely had a soundtrack, and not even a memorable one at that. By soundtrack, of course, I mean the actual music played during the scenes of a movie.<br />
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My enjoyment of movies has been partly because of some of the great music that makes up their soundtracks. (<i>Man of Steel</i>, for instance, had an amazing Hans Zimmer composition). However, several people I have talked to hardly pay attention to the music playing during a movie, and their enjoyment is unaffected by it. So does the music makes the movie? It depends on the person, but movie soundtracks should at least gather more appreciation for what they do.Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1350217305543497502.post-79266955179923032652013-11-18T16:58:00.000-08:002013-11-20T18:53:53.229-08:00Hero Factory 2014 = LEGO PACIFIC RIM?The new LEGO 2014 Hero Factory <a href="http://brickset.com/browse/themes/?theme=HERO%20Factory&year=2014" target="_blank">set pictures</a> have finally surfaced and it looks like LEGO is taking an AWESOME new direction: heroes in MECHSUITS fighting GIANT MONSTERS. With <i>Pacific Rim</i> (and pretty much any mech anime), this isn't the most original concept but it doesn't detract from the awesomeness that is MECHAS.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yayVjz3936c/Uoq0Z4zBuHI/AAAAAAAAAI0/CX_CuITCYM8/s1600/Stormer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yayVjz3936c/Uoq0Z4zBuHI/AAAAAAAAAI0/CX_CuITCYM8/s400/Stormer.jpg" height="400" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stormer, my favorite hero in his "Freeze Machine"</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: left;">The new sets (branded "Invasion from Below") also feature the heroes in minifigure scale to pilot the </span><strike style="text-align: left;">EVA </strike><span style="text-align: left;"> machines. This is a concept LEGO tried before in BIONICLE, and it's interesting seeing that many LEGO collectors buy sets solely for the minifigures and the size of the villains if the minifig heroes are not "shrunken down". This is the most excitement I've ever felt about Hero Factory, and I'm definitely picking some of these sets up! </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Share your thoughts about these new sets below!</span></div>
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Markhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09715053310897376982noreply@blogger.com0