G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra Toys

With the upcoming release of the G.I. Joe movie (which, to me, does not look all that great), we get the release of the toyline in advance to drum up interest and support. Initially, upon seeing the figures being discussed on the internet, I was reluctant to buy into the toys because I am a fervent supporter of the 25th Anniversary/Modern Era line and would rather see more updates of classic figures. The movie line of toys effectively killed or put that notion on hold (with the exception of the incredible online exclusive Cobra Island 7-packs coming soon).

And so I was not looking forward to the movie toys and was actually glad that perhaps I could save money this Summer. Boy, was I wrong!

I think my desire for anything new from G.I. Joe was channeled into getting the toys; that and the constant updates and sightings on forums such as Hisstank and The Terrordrome fuelled my excitement.

Overall, I think the figures are successful. The Joes suffer from some bland looks and the Cobra forces look great. They come with many accessories, the most notable (and most unfortunate) are the spring-loaded weapons that are HUGE and ungainly. They DO NOT belong in any toyline! They do provide playability and when I was a kid, I loved spring-loaded weapons. So kids may love ‘em. I do not.

The following gallery is not a complete collection, but they are the ones I bought that I thought looked pretty cool. Enjoy!

G.I. Joe: RoC — Baroness [Attack on the G.I. Joe Pit]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Baroness [Attack on the G.I. Joe Pit] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Cobra Viper Commando

G.I. Joe: RoC — Cobra Viper Commando (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Courtney “Covergirl” Krieger

G.I. Joe: RoC — Courtney “Covergirl” Krieger (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Destro

G.I. Joe: RoC — Destro (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Duke [Desert Ambush]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Duke [Desert Ambush] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Heavy Duty

G.I. Joe: RoC — Heavy Duty (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Neo-Viper [Attack on the G.I. Joe Pit]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Neo-Viper [Attack on the G.I. Joe Pit] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Sgt. Stone

G.I. Joe: RoC — Sgt. Stone (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara [Covert Ops]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara [Covert Ops] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Shipwreck

G.I. Joe: RoC — Shipwreck (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Snake Eyes [Ninja Commando]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Snake Eyes [Ninja Commando] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Storm Shadow [Ninja Mercenary]

G.I. Joe: RoC — Storm Shadow [Ninja Mercenary] (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Night Raven (front)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Air-Viper (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Night Raven (character art)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Night Raven (back)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Snake Trax ATV (front)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Scrap-Iron (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Snake Trax ATV (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Snake Trax ATV (back)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Steel Crusher APV (front)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Nitro-Viper (CU)

G.I. Joe: RoC — Steel Crusher APV (back)

G.I. Joe Hall of Heroes (Update)

Finally, the Storm Shadow I ordered has arrived. Thus my Hall of Heroes collection is complete.

Storm Shadow (HoH:4) uses the same body construction as Storm Shadow (CBP#3); he doesn’t come with his bow, but does come with a grappling hook. 

Hall of Heroes (Complete Set)

HoH:4 — Storm Shadow v2

HoH:4 — Storm Shadow v2 (CU)

G.I. Joe Hall of Heroes

Oh yeah. I resisted these guys when the news 1st broke that these repacks would be coming out. But once again, packaging wins out!

These figures are worth it for the display quality alone, but in addition to the gold foil goodness, each figure has subtle paint improvements and comes with many accessories. I’m glad I gave in to my weakness and ordered this set. Though at this time I am still awaiting the arrival of Storm Shadow (HoH:4).

Hall of Heroes Set

Hall of Heroes — Boxed Back

HoH:1 — Snake Eyes v1 w/Timber

HoH:1 — Snake Eyes v1 (CU)

HoH:1 — Timber (CU)

HoH:2 — Firefly

HoH:2 — Firefly (CU)

HoH:2 — Firefly Accessories (CU)

HoH:3 — Cobra B.A.T.

HoH:3 — Cobra B.A.T. (CU)

HoH:3 — Cobra B.A.T. Accessories (CU)

HoH:5 — Beachhead

HoH:5 — Beachhead (CU)

HoH:6 — Cobra Viper

HoH:6 — Cobra Viper (CU)

HoH:7 — Crimson Guard

HoH:7 — Crimson Guard (CU)

HoH:8 — Flint v1

HoH:8 — Flint v1 (CU)

HoH:9 — Zartan v2

HoH:9 — Zartan v2 (CU)

HoH:10 — Snake Eyes v2

HoH:10 — Snake Eyes v2 (CU)

Me Grimlock, Am Arrive (pt.2: Review)

MP-08 GRIMLOCK — Dinobot Commander

What can I say? The folks at Takara have really outdone themselves this time. The Masterpiece edition of Grimlock impresses on many fronts, looking faithful to the G1 robot and dino-modes with added detailing, employing a satisfying transformation scheme and including several gimmicks and accessories that make this toy fun to play with.

Me Grimlock, Am Arrive! (pt. 1)

Just received my MP-08 Grimlock from bigbadtoystore.com today. Can’t wait to rip it open (carefully without damaging the box!) and get you good folk a review and some pictures of this mighty mighty toy.

MP-08 Grimlock — Dinobot Commander

Target Exclusive Python Conquest X-30 & Tiger Rat

The latest Target exclusives have hit the shelves. This time they are repaints/redecos of the Conquest X-30 and the Cobra Rattler, but instead of being packaged in a window box, they are boxed with art showing off the vehicles in action.

The Python Conquest X-30 comes with the Python Patrol Viper and the Tiger Rat comes with the Tiger Force version of Wild Bill.

Enjoy the gallery!

G.I. Joe 5-Packs (2009) — G.I. Joe #2 & Cobra #3

Just this month the the G.I. Joe and Cobra 5-Packs for 2009 have been released. This marks the 3rd Cobra set and the 2nd G.I. Joe set.

The Cobra set includes Storm Shadow (5-Pack v3), Baroness (5-Pack v2), Cobra Commander (5-Pack v3), Zartan (5-Pack v1) and a Cobra Viper (5-Pack v1). There is some subtle retooling on these figures to improve their overall look and articulation.

1) Storm Shadow (v3) has new sleeveless arms where the wrist articulation is actually at the wrist instead of halfway up the arm wrap. He also comes with some new accessories: a pair of nunchucks and a grappling hook.

2) Baroness (v2) is an all new sculpt with her new head sculpt and the detail of her heeled boots quite exceptional.

3) Cobra Commander (v3) uses the Pyramid of Darkness mold but adds the Comic Pack cape.

4) Zartan is the same mold as Wave 11, but some nice paint apps on the shoulder armor, a clear plastic chest plate painted magenta (as in the cartoon whenever he gets upset), and a paint scheme on the boots that reverses the black and the greys makes this version a must have.

5) Cobra Viper uses the same mold as the Wave 7 version, but with new hands to avoid the “bent wrists” syndrome and a chromed helmet (taken from Cobra Commander (DVDw5)). His rifle is also a metallic grey.

The G.I. Joe set includes Snake Eyes (5-Pack v3) and Timber, Lady Jaye (5-Pack v1), G.I. Joe Hawk (5-Pack v1), Flint (5-Pack v1) and Shipwreck w/Polly (5-Pack v1).

1) Snake Eyes (v3) uses the same mold as the Arise, Serpentor Arise! figure, but with black instead of purple hues. Timber is an all new mold.

2) Lady Jaye sports a new body with the head coming from the Revenge of Cobra DVD set; she also has a new javelin that is easier to hold. The details of the collar and the dagger on her chest are pretty cool.

3) G.I. Joe Hawk is the same figure from Wave 9 but with a lighter brown jacket. Nothing too exciting, but still an excellent figure. He even looks like Dennis Quaid. Hmmm…

4) Flint uses the Wave 8 Tiger Force mold, but in the classic colors. His webgear is all new so that it buckles at the side instead of the front, and his head sculpt is new as well. He also has a new shotgun.

5) Shipwreck has a new head, new right hand (so he can hold things now) and new pants. He also has a harpoon gun instead of the classic pistol. Polly is an all new sculpt.

Eagle Eye Has Tunnel Vision

EAGLE EYE (2008)
d. D.J. Caruso 

Executive Producer Steven Spielberg and director DJ Caruso muscle in on Jerry Bruckheimer and Tony Scott territory with this techno-thriller involving a Kafka-esque persecution of Copy Cabana boy Shia LaBeouf and single-mother Michelle Monaghan as they are “activated” in scenes reminiscent of The Matrix into Jason Bourne-style American homeland security terrorists. It’s Disturbia taken out of the next door neighbor’s yard and moved to the entire country.

The conceit here that American privacy has been handed over to the government and that we are subject to the whims of technology and identity theft feeds our paranoia and distrust of power out of control that would make many conspiracy theorists and Luddites feel justified in their beliefs.

After a somewhat surprisingly slack first act where the world of hi-tech “smart” warfare is introduced and we get to know our leads, the film takes off on a thrilling cross-country chase from Chicago to our nation’s capitol where the plot threads lead our hapless protagonists to confront Aria (voiced by an uncredited Julianne Moore), a super smart self-aware computer that seems to be the love child of HAL and Mother, and the progenitor of VICKI and SkyNet, who has taken it upon herself to act in the nation’s best interests and decides to assassinate the President and others in top Cabinet positions.

Shia proves to be capable and charismatic in the lead, and Michelle is adequate and able to keep up. Less convincing is the hyperreal use of technology in this world and Aria’s reach — from remote control cranes gone amok to the ability to down power lines (though being able to listen in on a conversation by analyzing the sound waves vibrating the coffee in a mug is pretty cool). And even less convincing is how Shia and Michelle are able to survive and avoid capture.

Other name actors fill out the rest of the cast — Rosario Dawson, hot and convincing as an Air Force officer who is investigating Shia’s twin brother’s connections to Aria; Billy Bob Thornton, ornery as ever as the Fed hot on the trail of the two victims; and Michael Chiklis as the Secretary of Defense who barely registers a presence.

Overall, the action sequences are well-staged and provide a modicum of thrills, but the main conceit of omnipresent and omniscient technology collapses under its own weight as it escalates from plausible to ridiculous. If not for the presence of Shia and Michelle to ground some of the high concepts, this film would have been less watchable.

**1/2 stars.

High Wire Act Highly Entertaining — Man On Wire

MAN ON WIRE (2008)
d.  James Marsh

Phillipe Petit, the charismatic subject of this documentary, recounts his wirewalking stunt and enters the history books as the only person to ever traverse a wire strung between the Twin Towers a scant several months after the building was first erected.

It is a story he tells with relish and flair, filled with dramatic beats and tense moments. Speaking of wirewalking as his art, Phillipe turns the iconic image into a metaphoric symbol of ambition and dreams realized.

His accomplices and girlfriend of the time are on hand as well to fill out the details and provide context, and it is obvious that they too are moved by Phillipe’s grand gesture.

What amazed me about this documentary, other than the behind-the-scenes account of their strategy to infiltrate the WTC, was the vintage footage of the young schemers showing us their plans (especially the scale model of the roofs of the Twin Towers).

Man On Wire is a touching and entertaining recounting of an amazing one-of-a-kind stunt and is well worth the watch.

***1/2 stars.

When Bad Times Get Worse — The Strangers

THE STRANGERS (2008)
d. Bryan Bertino

A very effective thriller/horror movie in the vein of Straw Dogs about a couple terrorized by three masked individuals in an isolated summer home that starts really strong, but a number of missteps on the way and the film goes off the rails that by the conclusion I was left feeling empty and sour.

The One On The Right Is The Cutest