An introduction to action figure collecting
September 28, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
If you’re going to do this as an investment, don’t. Buy some shares of stock as you’ll get more a of a return over the course of a decade compared to actually getting any yields for action figures. People typically collect things because they find an allure to it. So if you’re thinking about starting an action figure collection, you must really love figurines.
I. Beginning your collection:
First off, collect the figures you actually like. If you like marvel comic book heroes, collect it. If you like stars wars characters, purchase it. If you love ken dolls, buy it. The emphasis is, this is about you and what you like. Purchase a model or two to determine if this really interests you. But be warned Collectibles are hard to quit and can really set you back after a while.
II. Care
If you are intending to purchase this figure and you have a child, expect him to make a mess of it. Keeping the action figure in good condition is of utmost importance for a serious collector. You don’t want your awesome “Transformers” model to get ruined.
As a child it would be near impossible to gain satisfaction of a toy just from holding it in his hands. So expect your action figure to be dragged alongside the dirt and gravel. Expect the figure to go on several bathes with your child. You may even expect the child to blow it up with bottled rockets. These will significantly wear down a model. A solution for this would be to buy two copies of the figures, one for yourself and one for your kid.
III. Hardcore
Ok so now that you know you’re obsessed with figurines judging by the way you’ve bought two figurines. You might as well dive into the limited releases. There are a lot of amazing antique toys out there that sparks a memory of an icon you loved as a child. These could be from shows like the classic “Doctor Who” or the “Million Dollar Man”. Because manufacturers no long produce these items, you’ll have to pay a hefty price, and it’ll be worth it.
IV. Care++
You just blew a couple of hundred dollars on a figure you JUST had to have. Now that your wallet has taken a hit, this figure no longer feels as if it can be toyed with. Therefore it would be better for you to keep the figure in its original case. You’d probably put it in a secure place, maybe even behind a glass window if you’ve spent thousands. It would be dry and only to be enjoyed aesthetically through visual perception. Thats the problem with collecting, the more serious you’ve become, the less you’re inclined to play with them.
IV. New developments
Several new toy lines now produce non-movable action figures. They appear more like small statues aimed just for the pleasing aesthetic of sitting on your table. Examples include the new line of “Lost” models from the hit ABC show. These new models appear to be aimed at the older generation who once collected action figures as a child. Its also important to note that many of them are limited releases and may increase in value more quickly. However its also important to note that the popularity depends on the brand of the model.
Introduction to toy collecting
September 22, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
Toy collecting is a fun past-time you can enjoy with your kids. Now keep in mind collecting is not for everyone as the whole idea behind collecting toys is build a collection of value. Toys are only worth money if they are kept in pristine condition basically not played with. Not every child wants to watch their toys collect dust on a shelf. it takes a guiding hand to show an appreciation in value as the collection grows.
Now that you’ve made the choice to collect toys there are a few things you must consider as you spend your hard earned money on toys.
1) Collecting toys is more often than not related to action figures. I suggest you and your child sit down and talk about what shows they like and what types of figures they are interested in. Some popular toys falling into this category are Star Wars, Movie Figures by McFarlane, and Transformers. Both Transformers and Star Wars have been around for decades and offer several options in the way of collecting. There are some other toys that aren’t action figures that people collect such as PEZ and stuffed animals.
2) Next you need to understand the amount of investment your going to make and what the potential return on investment is. Why collect toys that are going to be worth nothing in five years? Check and see how many figures there are in a collection and create a checklist. Then go on ebay and search under the major name such as Star Wars or Transformers. This will give you a good idea how much these figures are fetching currently.
3) You may notice a trend while looking for some of these figures, some figures are fetching much higher prices than others. Something you should know before you begin your collection is that companies rarely produce exact numbers of figures across the board. Toy companies need to sell surplus and can’t have inventory just sitting around. This leads the companies to produce quantities that represent how much the figure should sell based on popularity. This causes a shortage for those figures and drives up the prices on the secondary market (ebay). Welcome to collecting. You will also notice that there are variations of the same figure and these too fetch much higher prices based on production numbers.
4) Use the Internet to locate a few good toy stores that are local to you. These will most likely be the primary places you purchase from. If you are serious about collecting then start asking questions like when new toys are arriving how many boxes they are getting. If you want a complete collection you are going to have to work for it.
5) Finally you have to take good care of your collection. Find some unique way to display your figures out of sunlight and away from potential water damage. Or you can be boring and stow them away in plastic bins safe from all kinds of hazards. In my opinion it is no fun to collect and not to show your collection off.
Now you are armed with your checklist and stores located near you. This is where the fun begins. It’s best to think of this as a large scale scavenger hunt because some figures will be near impossible to find. Collecting toys definitely is challenging but can be a rewarding experience to have with your children as you purchase that rare Luke Skywalker in his Xwing outfit that you just happen to run into at Wal-Mart.
Movie reviews: The Transformers (2007) – Part 59
September 9, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
Finally a movie which I feel is a real BLOCKBUSTER of 2007, so far ! Spidey-3, Pirates-3, Harry Potter,Shrek-3,Rush Hour-3..the so called big movies were all disppointing. Transformers is not, provided you keep your brain back at home and yes, watch it ONLY and ONLY on the big screen.
When I saw the movie, I had no idea about the plot. The movie begins with a narrator hinting an alien invasion on earth (Yes, yet again!).But still for the first 20 mins I was trying to figure out what this movie is all about.Trust me, it was real fun as I just couldn’t guess what is going to happen next. But after some mind boggling action sequences when I got a hold of the script , I felt now I’m not going to enjoy the rest of the movie as I started to predict the proceedings.But thankfully i was wrong!
Script/Plot is not the strength of the movie at all.The outstanding special effects,wonderfully shot action sequences and excellent humor will keep you glued to your seats.Though you will know what will happen but you will be keen to know how that will happen and the final outcome will surely not dissappoint you.There is not much scope for humans to act as the Robots have stolen the show with their action scenes and funny dialogues.I was really amazed by the quality of humor in the movie as you don’t expect people to laugh when the earth is attacked.But mark my words, you will laugh! Funny one-liners, situational comedy,whacky charecters..it has got all.
Though it is a typical good/evil war with we humans unfortunately involved , Spielberg has made sure that the movie has enough to captivate your “visual” senses and entertain you at the end of the day.
Isn’t “getting entertained” the real reason why we visit movie-halls?
What do I need to know to get started collecting action figures?
September 8, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
If you are a fan of action heroes, collecting may be a fun, interesting hobby for you. Imagine, you get to shop in the toy stores for action figures just like you did when you were a kid, only this time you’re all grown up and can buy anything you like! There are a few things you’ll need before you get started and this should be a good guide for you to start building that collection of action figures you wanted as a kid.
Think about which action figures you have a real interest in. Find out the history of the figures and then decide where to start. You may not be interested in finding the entire collection of the original Transformers because that could be heavy on the pocketbook. Instead find out trends about the figures and go from there. Now could be a great time to collect the entire collection that will be released with the upcoming movie. Starting with series of new figures is a great way to begin building your collection.
With the resources available through the internet more collectors have access to the items they’re looking for. The tricky part is deciding which sellers are selling the real deal. Contrary to the collecting day of past where retailers or collector’s shops had an interest to build a solid reputation, there are many scammers online trying to sell you unauthentic or fake products.
This is where researching the items you’re collecting comes in handy. The more you know about the action figures you are collecting, the better. Ask for pictures and detailed specs about the product before selling. Some details such as lip color on an action figure can mean the difference between a great find or a big waste of money. So do your research. The internet is a great way to find out complete histories on the figures and many websites have guides on what to look for and what the common knock offs look like.
Stores are still a great place to find action figure collectables. Many comic book stores have hundreds of collectors items available. The great thing about going to the stores is that you can see the action figures in person. This way you don’t have to go off of a stranger’s description of the item you’re looking for. Instead you can see and touch for yourself before deciding on purchasing.
People have been collecting action figures for years and the value of many action figures does indeed tend to rise. Especially on hard to find or complete collections of action figures. So, find out what you like, do the research and have a great time building your own action figure collection.
Everything Set for Transformers Premiere, Gm’s Stars Ready to Shine
February 25, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
In anticipation of the premier of the new Transformers movie that’s due out July 4th, Pontiac has already begun its promotion of the Solstice GXP roadster which appears in the movie. Aside from everything that’s going on now, the promotion is also holding a campaign through Maxim, a magazine geared towards men. By visiting the Maxim website, visitors can enter contests whose prizes include a Solstice GXP and a chance to accompany Transformers star Megan Fox to the movie’s premier.
And everyone seems to want to have their share of the Transformers craze too as the Piaggio — maker of the Vespa scooter — also has a new promotion running branding the Vespa as a “Transportation Transformer.”
Customers who will test drive a Vespa at a participating dealer during the Vespa National Open House on June 14-24 can get lucky and get a free movie ticket to see Transformers – which also happens to feature a cameo by Vespa. All customers need to do is to simply sign-up for Vespa updates online, print the confirmation email and coupon, then go to a participating dealer during the open house dates to test drive a Vespa and receive your Transformers movie ticket. Dealer hours and test vehicles vary, please contact your participating dealer for details.
Earlier this year, General Motors has introduced the four new movie stars – “Bumblebee,” “Autobot Jazz,” “Autobot Ratchet” and “Ironhide” as it hosted its sixth annual “ten” pre-Oscar fashion event at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood.
All starring in the much awaited DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures (in association with Hasbro) production, GM’s movie stars “Bumblebee” changes from the classic Chevrolet Camaro, and is a central character in the saga of aliens who take mechanical forms when on Earth “Autobot Jazz” converts from a Pontiac Solstice in a hardtop format. A Hummer H2, modified as a rescue vehicle, changes into “Autobot Ratchet” and “Ironhide” changes from a GMC TopKick medium-duty truck.
“Transformers is a compelling project and offers us a global platform for marketing GM products and building our brands,” said Mike Jackson, GM North America vice president, marketing and advertising. “It represents the perfect intersection of entertainment, marketing and design.”
Buzz about the roles that these vehicles play in the movie has been afire since the new Camaro was spotted in the film’s first Transformers trailer, which began appearing in theaters on Dec. 20, 2006.
“The first time I saw the new Camaro, while touring the GM Design Center, I knew immediately that it would be the perfect ‘Bumblebee,’” said Michael Bay, the film’s Director. He continued, “It’s got beautiful lines and a classic, timeless look. There were no other cars that came even close. I have had a great working relationship with GM for many years and am psyched to be working with them on Transformers.”
GM, maker of quality GMC lift kit, is now rolling a fully integrated marketing and promotional effort around the film, including a major Chevrolet promotion.
Images, scenes and clips – all things Transformers – may be found at the official Web site: www.transfomersmovie.com. Images of the four GM vehicles as they appear in Transformers are available online at media.gm.com.
About Transformers:
Our world will be transformed on July 4 when aliens make Earth their final battleground. As the forces of evil seek the key to ultimate power, our last chance for survival rests in the hands of young Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf). DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures present, in association with Hasbro, a di Bonaventura Pictures Production, a Tom DeSanto and Don Murphy production of a Michael Bay Film, Transformers, starring Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Rachael Taylor, Megan Fox, with John Turturro and Jon Voight. Directed by Michael Bay from a story by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman and John Rogers and a screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman, the film is based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.
Transformer Action Figures – Great Christmas Gifts
February 24, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
It’s that time of the year again when you start to think about the gifts that you’re going to give to your spouse, nieces and nephews, and your children. Quite honestly, it seems like every single year, more and more toys come out onto the market — toys for your hubby, who is still young at heart, and toys for the children that are near and dear to your heart. Instead of going out and looking for the latest and greatest of electronic gadgets to hit the marketplace just in time for Black Friday, think about purchasing transformers figures for those that you care the most about.
Sure, it seems like it was ages ago that Transformers were on TV, but it will was only about a year ago that the Transformers movie came out in theaters, and righteously brought back the popularity of the once-hugely popular transformer action figures. While the TV series has all but disappeared from the airwaves, transformers figures are much easier to find. Moreover, with the new Transformers movie coming out next year, you have the opportunity today to make your child, or any child in your family-and-friends circle, super popular next summer when the wave of popularity strikes again.
Transformers played a fairly significant role in the lives of kids growing up in a mid-to-late 1980s and all the way up until the mid 1990s. Chances are, just about anybody between the ages of 25 and 65 either grew up with Transformers on their TV, had Transformers figures in their bedroom, or had kids, or knew of kids in the family, that were hooked on the half human, half machine gadgets that were born during the big hair, glam-rock era. So, there’s a good chance that you know, first hand, how much fun transformer action figures can be, maybe not for yourself — but certainly for a loved one around you.
So, when you’re trying to think of the perfect gift for little Ryan, Joe, or Dominic — think back to what seems to be just a few years ago, but in reality it was closer to a decade ago, and see if you can find some Transformers figures for your little tot here on Christmas day. Quite honestly, now is the perfect time to pick up transformer action figures — with the uber-cool movie that came out here last year, and the new Transformers movie that’s coming out next year, you just might make your kid the most popular kid in school.
More Than Meets The Eye: The Future of Transformers
February 14, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
With their unmistakable electronic changing noise and the tag line “Robots in Disguise” from the 80s cartoon, it’s hard to ignore the Tranformers. As any true child of the 80s can tell you, Transformers were created by the toy company Hasbro after meeting Takara (a Japanese toy company) at the Tokyo Toy Show in 1983. By combining Takara’s toy lines Diaclone and Micro Change, Hasbro created a product line unlike any other. The initial toys were released with the television series, and since then, nine different Transformers toy lines have hit American markets.
What Was. . .
The Transformer’s storyline initially had the Autobots (the story’s heroes) fighting the Decepticons (the ultimate villains) for control of Cybertron, their home planet. The eventually left their home in search of energy, which they found on Earth.
What is . . .
Because of the continued popularity of this story line and these toys, Producer Don Murphy looked into the possibility of creating a live-action film based on the franchise. Slated for release in July of 2007, the film brings together the creative minds of co-producer Adam DeSanto, Steven Spielberg, and screen writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
A Closer Look
The film begins when Captain Archibald Witwicky lands on Decepticon leader Megatron’s hand after he has fallen into an chasm during a voyage through the Arctic circle in the 1800s. Megatron creates a map to Allspark in Witwicky’s glasses, which are handed down to his descendant Sam Witwicky in the present. Sam purchases his first car, the Autobot Bumblebee, which in turn, helps him meet Mikaela, a new love interest. As the Autobots search for Witwicky’s glasses, the Decepticon’s invade Sam’s house, triggering a chain of events that leads Autobot leader Optimus Prime and Megatron to the ultimate battle.
One of the most surprising and refreshing aspects of the film promises to be the effects. Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura wanted to keep things on the realistic side, so instead of going with a standard box like look for the main character Optimus Prime, he turned him into a Peterbuilt truck. Autobot Bumblebee was changed from a Volkswagen Beetle into a Chevrolet Camero, and other Autobots were all shifted to GM vehicles as part of contract negotiations. The transformation sound effect many fans heard as children was reused throughout the movie, and motion capture points were used to create many of the effects movie-goers will see on screen.
Given that the internet trailers received more hits than any other movie trailer online, the new Transfomers movie promises to be a great success and a wonderful addition to the family.
Optimus Prime vs Megatron
February 13, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
Optimus Prime and Megatron’s final showdown in Transformers: The Movie
Note: I did not add the so-called “gay” music, the song (Stan Bush – The Touch) was the actual soundtrack to this scene in the film, and it predates Boogie Nights by over a decade.
P.S. It amazes me how many people think that i’m the one calling the song gay, the speech brackets are there for a reason: I’m quoting other people who have commented who for some bizarre reason a) don’t like the music and b) think that **I** added it to the clip
OPTIMUS PRIME – Speed Painting by Nico Di Mattia
February 10, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
http://nicodimattia.com
Music from The Island OST by Steve Jablonsky
Photoshop with a digital tablet.
Transformers: Less Than Meets the Eye
February 9, 2009 by Optimus Prime
Filed under Transformers News
Transformers nerds feared that the movie would not live up to expectations because of director Michael Bay; however, they should be pleasantly surprised. The movie is based on genuine robots known as the Autobots and the antagonists known as the Decepticons. There were some convoluted scenes in the movie with Shia LaBeouf’s character and his glasses being the key that unlocks a “map.” I know; I am just as confounded as you are because I have no idea what the hell the story was about. Needless to say, the plot is in complete disarray. Megan Fox plays the sexy and immensely attractive woman. Her disastrous acting was more robotic than the actual transformers. No, I don’t know and don’t care who the hell she played in the movie; moreover, I will just refer to her as the designated hot girl. When you look like that, you don’t need name. Transformers attempted to talk about something called Sector 7 (secret branch of the government). Why is there so much incongruous content in this movie regarding Sector 7? The computer generated images are brilliant, and the movie had its fair share of comedic elements. Some of the action sequences were more disappointing that the series finale of the Sopranos because of the velocity. Countless things were transpiring simultaneously, to the point where it was arduous to decipher who was fighting who. These consisted of bullets flying through the air and gratuitous explosions. It may sound amazing, but I would like to know who or what is doing the shooting. At one point, it looked like Optimus Prime and Megatron were groping each other. The actions scenes looked as if they were all intentionally sped up.
Final Verdict: If you are a Transformers fan, then definitely watch it. Otherwise, you can bypass these Robots in Disguise.
http://funnyman-movies.blogspot.com/