BLOGPOCALYPSE: May The 4th 2020

Happy Star Wars Day!

I thought I'd re-upload the Star Wars ad I capped 4 years ago. I felt the sound was a little bit boomy and wanted to cut it down a bit. Plus, a better picture too!

So, here's Boba Fett & Slave-1 with some Episode 2 figures shilled from 2002. Enjoy (again).

12 Days of Christmas: Day 10

VIDEO: Star Wars Episode II, Action Figures 2002

One aspect we'd like to do more of here on Figured Out is more video postings.

A small collection of captured toy commercials from yesteryear await to be shared. Most of these are UK edits too!

To start off, here's a commercial (or rather two edited together) from 2002 for the Star Wars: Episode II toy range. This is a taster of things to come.

Better Quality Version, click here.

WEEKEND CAPTION FUN #24

The Elsa exiled on Hoth origin theory? Reply with a Caption.

Happy Life Day 2015

Today, we commemorate Life Day - or rather the day Star Wars: Holiday Special aired on TV for one time only in 1978.

aarrragghuuhw awwgggghhh aguhwwgggghhh (Happy Life Day)
Courtesy of Wookie Translator: http://www.wookietranslator.com/)

"This holiday is yours, but we all share with you the hope that this day brings us closer to freedom, and to harmony, and to peace. No matter how different we appear, we're all the same in our struggle against the powers of evil and darkness. I hope that this day will always be a day of joy in which we can reconfirm our dedication and our courage. And more than anything else, our love for one another. This is the promise of the Tree of Life." ―Princess Leia Organa

Star Wars Force Friday (Non) Countdown

Found in Toys R Us Brislington today, the countdown display for Force Friday this week. Empty space was made anywhere on shelves where Star Wars items were sold. Force Awakens merchandise is set to take over.

The staff at Customer Services caught me taking a snapshot of the Countdown Display and were not happy, but didn't/couldn't do anything about it. One of them ranted about the display malfunctioning and quickly turned it around the opposite way as a gesture of embarrassment. This would not be the first time Toys R Us Brislington Desk Staff have gotten crabby over nothing, and probably not the last...  

There was nothing to hide at this point. The sign was for public view and the wave 1 toys catalog has already hit online (Click Here). As far as I can see, the catalog does not spoil anything for the movie for those concerned and shows stuff that has been shown in the first trailer. I think the real meat in the sandwich as far as toys go will be saved for December. This wave 1 is the appetizer.

Oh yeah, Nerf Gun Chewbacca Crossbow is sure to be a hit! -HERO

Goodfella's Star Wars Pizza

 

Star Wars and Pizza... Let's Do This!!!!

From Goodfella's, the Star Wars: Meteor Meatball Pizza as part of their Little Fella's range.

Sporting a cropped product photo and some Darth Vader stock imagery and modern orange 'Star Wars' logo to make the packaging eye-catching, the job is done well. There are also Frozen and Mickey Mouse: Clubhouse options too, but we'll focus on Star Wars for this entry. With a long-awaited movie sequel out in December and an animated show doing very well, Star Wars is set to be the big and more recent merchandise monster set to take Christmas 2015 by storm. Anything with Darth Vader and co pictured on is guaranteed to do big.

As an added bonus, the pizza box sports inside a Wordsearch puzzle and a couple of color-in and cut-out figures (see bottom of article). The cardboard figures are a random pairing of Boba Fett and Yoda from the original trilogy and are the only two to collect, as all the inside prints are the same (judging from the 3 boxes purchased).
 

These pizzas are a good serving size, but that is down to opinion. The packaging and website both shill the nutritional information of the pizza product, and they pull no punches doing so.

These are also great for kids parties, and at £1.50 a shot there isn't a lot of waste involved. There are arguably more unhealthily engineered kids-licensed foods out there, and small Disney branded pizzas claiming to provide one your '5-a-Day' aren't among them.

Crazy Toys, Storm Trooper 2 pack

I’m not huge on Star Wars, but I passively stop by now and again and enjoy what’s available. With the new Rebels TV show and the upcoming Episode VII, there will be a lot of attention this year on all things Star Wars.

On a random eBay find I came across these knockoff Star Wars Stormtroopers in a 2 pack from a China-based seller.

The first is a regular white trooper with some minor up close differences to the original toy, and the second is a random black alternative repaint (for the sake of it?).

These are pretty good bootlegs that hold together very well. Certainly something I’d buy if I was army building for The Empire.

Last summer I was 'de-yellowing' some vintage Stormtroopers in the greenhouse by leaving them to soak in warm water, sunlight and peroxide. The process works to a good extent. One of those troopers is in the set of photos as a comparison with the crispy ‘Daz’ white clone figure. Compared to the original figures these knockoffs are slightly thinner in build but hold together well. The plastic on these isn’t cheap or nasty either, and that’s good going by knockoff standards.

The black trooper is still a random anomaly. Perhaps the set could have been two standard white troopers instead. Maybe as a serving suggestion these black repaints could go with the old pre-Disney-purge alternate White Darth Vader figure from 2008.

If you like Star Wars and are into the vintage line these are worth a look, even if not the real deal. The set goes for around £5 including shipping from China. A cheaper way to recruit.

Figured-Out 12 Days of Christmas: Day 10

Happy Star Wars Day 2014

May the 4th be with you... 

TOY REVIEW: Clone Wars Yoda

VIDEO: Star Wars Clubhouse Pilot Episode - R2D2 Christmas Musical

FEATURE: UZAY Turkish Star Wars Blue Stars  

Star Wars: Clubhouse, episode 1

Figured Out is proud to present the new toy serial "Star Wars: Clubhouse" . Be sure to check here for new episodes and join the Facebook page .

Ever made a cardboard base for your figures? Clubhouse is basically that concept taken to a different level. This web-serial features toy versions of best loved Star Wars characters in a whole new canon scenario. Its all done for fun and game for a laugh. Happy viewing!

The 2011 R2D2 Christmas Spectacular

This little piece of low-res frolics & fun was introduced last Christmas and is now back with some extras and new clips inserted in.

Also, keep a look out for a teaser preview included of something new I am unveiling in 2012. Enjoy the video and Merry Christmas!

SATURDAY CAPTION FUN #7

The crazy captions are back!

Luke Skywalker seems concerned for a gloomy looking C3P0 with a hand missing. Decide the discourse and insert a caption by adding a comment.  Let the fun commence....

REVIEW: Star Wars, 'The Clone Wars', Yoda

From: Hasbro

Retail: around £4 - £7.99

Accessories: Walking Stick, Green Lightsaber

I came across Yoda on my travels and just had to get this figure. The £4 reduction sticker also lured me in. I must admit that I have not watched much of the CG Clone Wars TV series, but I have enjoyed what I have seen.

I have not owned a Yoda figure (aside from the ‘static’ Galactic Heroes version) since the mid-80’s and even that was a second hand acquisition. What attracted me to buying this Yoda was the amazing detail for such a small figure. This toy kind of reminds me of the original - only more polished up, and with equipped with a Lightsaber! (And brand new!)

Clone Wars Yoda wears a nifty little Jedi cloak. The cloak in itself looks proportioned correctly as if tailor made for the figure itself. Clothes on action-figures are normally a big no-no because they tread into dolls territory, but the accessory of a cape, cloak or weapons belt are an exception. Usually some garments on toys look out of place and disproportioned, but the cloak on this figure works well and a good fit.


The cloak hood also fits over Yoda’s head optionally.

Expression-wise, Yoda isn’t portrayed as the mellow hermit of the Dagobah swamps... Instead, this Yoda is the serious spring-to-action Jedi General Yoda of the Star Wars prequels. The determined and serious expression on this figures design captures that character well and shows how important a head sculpt has to be. Yoda’s hands are also well sculpted and can wield both the walking stick and lightsaber with adequacy. The claws are also a nice little detail too.

As for articulation, Yoda does not require so many points of it being a little guy. However, there is a lot of poseability there with the hands, feet, legs and waist all able to move. All of this is quite impressive for a figure this small in design. Asking for the ears to move would be too much.

I feel almost obligated to buy a sparring partner for this awesome little fellow. Time to search the bargain bins for a Count Dooku I think…

The Force is with me.

Here's me in 1980 with my Christmas Day acquisition of The Millenium Falcon from the old school Kenner Star Wars range.

Before any of my Transformers and MOTU hauls I spent many an afternoon with this awesome craft (I did get a Darth Vader, Han Solo and Luke to ride in it). I remember being allowed to sit up in bed with this before naptime. The gadgets were so cool such as the chess table, the pilot seat and the hidden floor panel. Certainly a toy before its time.

===HERO

Welcome! And Now For eBay Wednesdays

Hi there! Slash coming in from the other side of the pond... I'm introducing "eBay Wednesdays" to our reviews. This weeks winner of the most expensive item in the Action Figures spot is the "Star Wars Uzay Blue Stars Figure" going for "$2,800.01" at the moment.

The description reads as,

"This auction is for a Uzay Blue Stars Action figure. This is a super rare figure that was produced in Turkey for a limited time in the 1980s. This figure has a huge following because it is so different then anything else and is very much the opposite of the Snowtrooper figure since it is blue.

This figure is in amazing shape with a unpunched super clean card and a nice bubble. The card is near perfect with no creases and hardly a hint of wear. On the back in the upper right corner there is a tiny two specs of paper loss. I don't know how this happened but it is minor. Aside from that the card is super sharp.

The bubble is nice especially for an Uzay figure. It is firmly attached to the card and is not cracked. There is one dent in the upper right side corner but it is not bad and barely shows from the front. The bubble is a bit tinted yellow but not too much. The bubble sealed in nice solid and 100% original.

This is a 100% real vintage carded figure and a very hard piece to find.

Because this piece has a fragile bubble it will be double boxed and packed extremely well so please keep this in mind when looking at the shipping costs.

This is a great example of this very popular figure. Don't miss your chance at a great item. "

Yet, according to sources, the Uzay toyline is a counterfeit Star Wars series. Notice how the packaging and licensing information are different? Notice how there was no such thing as the Blue Stars? Interesting indeed.

So, are counterfeits worth more than the originals? That sounds like an interesting question for later. Well, hopefully we will have a real review up and running soon!

Until then, gofigure!
Slash