What do you do when you lack the funds to properly arm your GI Joe team? Go pick up some knock-off equipment! It may not actually say "GI JOE" on the side, but it's better than nothing.
Today's knock-off is the "Corps Mission Vehicle" tank. They have also made a helicopter, and a 4x4 jeep, but I sadly do not have them. Here's the tank in it's package.
Out of the box, this tank can look REALLY good with your joes, as seen here with my vintage and comic book pack figures.
and this shot from the side. As you can see, the tank offers many places for your soldiers. Even a couple of pegs on the side for three more figures to stand on.
It also provides some missles that sadly do not actually shoot (but do slid off far too easily)
And a nice big cannon to blow up whatever terror threat comes your way.
But, as with most cheap knock-offs, there ARE some things wrong with this. One, there are no actual seats in this tank so your joes either stand in the holes, or hang onto one of the machine guns attached. Otherwise, they slip into the tank and you're trying to pry them out. Not fun. Two, the turrent with the cannon makes a HORRIBLE and I mean HORRIBLE clicking sound when turned. But, if you can't buy the vintage tanks, and/or don't have a Toys R Us nearby where the little joes are now the only place you can buy them, you can waltz over to your local Wal-Mart and see if they still have any of these. At only 10 bucks, it makes a nice alternative.
There's a game that I had been wanting since I first saw ads foir it on TV. It's called Vampire Hunter! In it, you play of course, Vampire Hunter and have to slay the evil Count Dracus before he gets away on his ship. I had seen it several times at Toys 'R' Us, but it was out of my budget. Recently, I found it at KB for 5 bucks! Any game for 5 bucks is a good price, but one with a light up tower makes it a steal.
Here it is in it's box. Cool box. Just look at those kids as they place this game of darkness and sin. As much as I like this game, I can't help but notice how much this box makes the effect so much better than it actually is. Oh well, I guess that's their job.
Here are the characters you play. Two guys, and two girls. The guys kinda look like a cross between Van Helsing and Indiana Jones.
Here's the board and the tower. Looks scary, doesn't it? The basic gimmick of this game is that you turn off all the lights, and then turn on the tower. When the light is red, it's day, when it's blue, it's night.
Different things come at night. Like these tiles for instance. During the day, they're tombstones, a villager, and fog. But at night, they're a zombie, a werewolf, and a vampire! the board changes too. Spaces that are perfectly safe during the day, become traps at night. Sorry, I tried to take pictures, but it didn't work.
As you fight off monsters, you also have to find these three weapons. Then find Count Dracus at the end of the board and stake him good!
Oh, by the way, you gotta do all this before the boat reaches Count Dracus, or the count escapes and you're titled as the guy who let Count Dracus escape and taunted and insulted for the rest of your life! Okay, maybe not, but you do lose the game. Looks like a cool game, doesn't it? Sadly though, I don't think it did very well if KB was selling it for five bucks but i'm not complaining. I proboly wouldn't have it right now if it wasn't. I recommend it for anyone into vampires or like to play games in the dark. No, not those games.
Doomsday, the ultimate being, and the one that was too much for even the Man of Steel, Mattel makes an action figure for him in the new DC Superheros line, but in typical Mattel fashion, he can be a real tough one to find. It's always the few figures I REALLY want from a Mattel line that they make so damn hard to get, but I found him at Wal-Mart last week, put him on Layaway, and a week later, took him home with me.
There he is in his package. He comes with a comic book like Marvel Legends. A pretty plain package. The only thing really making it stand out is the comic in the back. Now to get him out of the box.
Out of the box, he doesn't seem QUITE as impressive as the DC Direct figure, but he is still one mean lookin' MOTHER! Ironiclly, his DC Direct figure is hard to find too. What is it about Doomsday here that says "Make him a bitch to find?" Maybe it's because few people want the monster that got Superman killed in their living room.
Speaking of Superman, here he is with the one that came with Batman. I don't have the Superman from this line quite yet. As far as poseability goes, he's not bad. He's not Marvel Legends articulated, but he seems to have at least a little more articulation than your average DC Direct figure. His arms move, his legs move, even his stomach moves.
DOOMSDAY SMASH!! Superman's in trouble now, and so will yours because if you se him and don't already own the DC Direct Doomsday, he makes a good addition to your collection. The DC Superheros line has the potential of being DC's answer to Marvel Legends, and at being a poor man's DC Direct. Here's hoping they manage to break from their Batman/Superman box and branch out a bit. There's a lot of potential here, and I don't think we want it to see it go the way of Masters of the Universe, or Batman.
Walt Disney through his entire career was known for reshaping the world of entertainment through new and inovating technology. One of the best examples is of the 3 dementional camera first used in Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Another is in 1964 when his still young but emensly popular Disneyland theme park wowed the world again with the world's first fully audio animatronic attraction, "The Enchanted Tiki Room." the Magic Kingdom edition of this attraction arrived around the same time as the Magic Kingdom in Orlando opened in 1971. Magic Kingdom's is at least over 30 years old and Disneyland's is at least 40. It was showing it's age, and was appearing to be awfully dated. While the Dinsyeland one remained unchanged, (You can't change that, it's THE Tiki room. The one Walt supervised himself and one of the last attractions he supervised.) But the one in the Magic Kingdom, well, that's not so historical. It's pretty much just a copy. So, if any version could be changed, the best iea would be to use MK's version and thus those crazy Imagineers did it again with...
As you can see, a couple of known characters have been added.
Located in the Magic Kingdom's senic Adventureland, Zazu and Iago are the new owners of the Tiki Room and they have plans for it. Before you are allowed in however, you are treated to a pre-show.
These two birds appear from behind a small waterfall. they bicker at each other. Aprantly, THEY were the ones who got the Tiki room sold to Iago and Zazu. The one on the right sounds suspicously like the voice of Mr. Potato Head in Toy Story *Aspecially since he calls the bird a "Hockey Puck" and the one on the left sounds alot like the sleezy starship captain on Futurama.
They continue to bicker over dumb things, even after the chamber is closed and the Waterfall returns. then we go in.
The hallway to the Tiki Room is done up with a jungle decor that would make the GI Joe Adventure team feel right at home.
Tghe crowd takes their seats, and the show begins. So far it's pretty much the same. Same birds, same introduction, even the same song at first.
But soon there's trouble in paradise. As they sing the classic Tiki room song, a familar voice is heard. Down comes another perch and on it sits Iago,
and boy did he let himself GO! I saw this show for myself and got a perfect view of Iago's ass and let me tell you, it was ALOT OF PARROT ASS! Anyway, enough about his big back side, Iago comes down shouting at them that they're not "hip" enough for today's crowd and need to get "with it" or their audience with disappear.
Down comes the second owner, Zazu of The Lion King reveals himself to warn Iago not to tamper with the Enchanted Tiki Room, and that the Tiki gods won't like it. Even with the orignal birds on Zazu's side, Iago ignores this and with an extra spotlight on him, he begins his own version of the Genie's "Friend like me" song telling them about how they need to update themselves and get with it. Zazu tries to warn him again abuout how bad an idea this is, but Iafo won't have it. He tells them "If I have to hear about those tiki tacky gods one more time..." suddenly, the lights darken, clouds from the window from...
and there came, the tiki goddess.
I'm gonna take a guess here and say that's Kali, Goddess of destruction. She's not too pleased with Iago's ideas, and with a wave of her hand, Iago is gone in a puff of smoke. The lights get darker, Iago AND Kali vanish, and there is only silence.
Zazu decides to let the tiki god have their say with Iago and continue the show. He introduces "the one, the only, the Tiki gods" and the carvings on the walls begin to sing. As they sing, even the plants in the room get in on it.
And behold, from anothre part of the room, reutns Iago and obviously...
The Tiki gods definetly had "their say" Iago has decided that they've got a hit show on thier hands (well, wings) and decide to PARTAY!
Girl birds come and start singing, Zazu starts singing, and in the end, one of the original birds performs a magic trick. He "makes you all disapear" as the original ended. As the crowd leaves, Iago makes cracks and observations. Such as people moving too slowly.
There you have it. The Tiki Room updated. Is it better? Well, that's best for you to decide. It's definetly different and funny. Many complain that the show is "un-Disney." Personally, I feel there's only one person who can truly decide what's truly "un-disney" and he's sadly been dead since 1966 so the Imagineers have to do it for themselves and considering what they COULD'VE done, this is a very enjoyable show. Besides, can't Disney drop character for ten minutes and make fun of themselves? Everyone ELSE makes fun of them.
Do I ahve any problems with it? Just two.
1. THYE LET IAGO SING AGAIN! Oh Disney, when are you going to learn?
2.There's no original music. Walttook the trouble of having it's own music written for the attraction, here it's just parodies of already existing songs which in my opinion seemed kind of cheap.
If you would really like to see this show but are unable to get to Disney World, fear not, for you can enjoy a video of this attraction courtesy of RU42.
While you're at it, check out his other work. He's really good at this stuff. http://tinyurl.com/6shvw http://www.youtube.com/user/ru42
Now, i'm gonna go to the hall of Presidents and take a nap
I've rather recently become a major Sally fan. I'd even go so far to say that I've got mondo crush on Sally. (It wouldn't be my FIRST furry crush) To those who don't know, Sally Acorn is a character in an early Sonic the Hedgehog cartoon series most known as "SATAM" (SAT meaning Saturday and AM meaning morning. Get it?) She also currently appears in Archies's "Sonic the Hedgehog" comic series. As a Sally fan, I've discovered it's hard being a Sally fan because whenever you look up anything for her, you find FAAAAARR too many sites and clubs dedicated to hating her and doing all sorts of horrible things to her. Now, I'm not saying everyone's entitled to MY opinion. You have the right to hate a character if you want. But if you're going to hate a character, I'd be nice to have a vital reason to, but all there reasons for hating her are S.T.U.P.I.D STUPID! I decided to actually look at these sites and point out... THE TOP TEN REASONS TO HATE SALLY ACORN
10. "Sally is naked, unlike any of the other females in the Sonic series. Because of this, all females are SUPPOSED to wear clothing and any female who doesn't is a naked slut, since that's indecent"
apparently, there's an unwritten law stating that male furries can wear as little as they wish, (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, ect.) but if a FEMALE furry wants to run around in nothing but shoes, suddenly she's labeled as a "Slut." PS. Rouge wears clothes and SHE looks more like WAY a slut then Sally Does. I don't think she IS a slut, just that she's dressed more like one than Sally. This make sense to anyone else? Plus, Sally's got no nipples, and no "girly parts" either. She's JUST as "partless" as Sonic so she has just as much no reason to wear clothes than him. I found one person on a DA club who said "She wears nothing when she has a bigger bust then everyone" I always thought Bunny had the bigger bust, and SHE'S got 'em covered. Plus, in the cartoon, Sally barely has a bust at all. I think it's just an unwritten law that comic book women must have "D" cup breasts. Frankly, I think most of the people who complain about this are women jealous that Sally can get away in nothing but boots and a vest, and they can't. ;)
9. "Sally isn't THAT smart! She needed Nicole to figure everything out for her!"
Name me ONE person in today's day and age that could last five minutes without their computer, PDA, or Cell phone? I know I couldn't.
8. she believes everyone loves her
Um, no. THAT would be Sonic
7. she is VERY selfish. She wants Sonic to be with her and ONLY with her.She can't understand why Sonic doesn't want to be locked up.
I know someone else like that. She's pink, she's a hedgehog, and she carries a mallet. That's right. It's AMY! I don't hate Amy, but Sally never cornered Sonic and said "There's no way out of marrying me!" *Sonic hero's* There's only one time I'm aware of that Sally wanted Sonic "locked up." In the comic, she DID make Sonic choose between her, or his job. She gave Sonic more choice than Amy ever does, who's basic approach is it corner Sonic and force him to marry her.
6. "Sally is a two-timing whore"
apparently, even while Sally and Sonic were dating in the comic, she flirted with other men. GASP! Let's not forget who stole his best friend's love from him, KNOWING that his best friend was in love with her. That's right. It was Sonic. He got together with Fiona. The girl Tails was in love with and Sonic KNEW Tails was in love with. Now who's the two-timing whore?
5. "Sally is mean, rude, and sarcastic. Therefore she is a stupid bitch and deserves to die"
Heaven forbid there be a woman in a super hero series that ISN'T the mindless "Damsel in distress" and actually have a personality and Heaven forbid there actually ISN'T a female character that doesn't treat Sonic like he's made of glass. He's big-headed enough without another girl practically worshipping him.
4. >"Sally can't be with sonic because sonicxsomeone rulz!!!!!1111one I hate sally because she ish wrong for sonikku!!!! someone and Sonic 4evar!!!"
There's a difference between hating someone and thinking they don't belong with someone else.
3. "Sally has the most annoying voice ever! She should still be killed so we never have to listen to it again!"
You kidding? She's the only one in that entire show that sounds NORMAL! Her voice actress Kath Soucie played her without changing her voice. Unlike the rest of the cast.
2. "Sally is the colour of poo! Therefore she is the worst character created in the history of EVER!"
Um, she's the same color as MOST animals in the world. How's this a reason to hate her? Can't stand the idea of a fur character not in some bright, unnatural color? "Amy is the colour of genital warts, Mina is the colour of pee, Rouge is the colour of a KKK member, Sonic is the colour of a frostbitten nipple, and Shadow is the colour of a severed penis! Take that!" ~Shakeityousexything
and the number one reason to hate Sally... *drum roll" 1. My friend hates Sally, and I've never had any reason to EVER doubt them! So Sally MUST suck! THERE'S a good reason. Hate someone you've never even seen just because your friend hates them. I suppose next if your friend turned out to REALLY hate black people, you'd have to hate them too, right?
REASONS THAT DIDN'T MAKE THE LIST
"Yuji Naka didnÂ’t make Sally! So that means sheÂ’s unofficial, and doesnÂ’t even count!"
Amy isn't either. She was taken from a weird Manga. In fact, NONE of the characters are "official". He just made the games themselves. Not in charge of the actual characters.
Sally slapped Sonic This is actually a major reason people hate her and frankly, it's also one of the lamest. She doesn't actually have many people she truly loves. Sonic is one of the few and she's nearly lost him quite a few times. So when he chose to fight Robotnik instead of being with her, she got got short with him. I'll admit, slapping him and calling him "Selfish" was a little short, but she almost lost him to being "reckless?" and there he went being "reckless" again. Wouldn't YOU be a little short with him? Plus, sometimes, he needs to be slapped.
My thoughts on Sally and how she actTheyhey say you can't truly judge a person until you walk a mile in their shoes. Such is true about Sally as well. Let's take a look at her life.
Her world collapsed at the tender age of five. She held the responsibilities of being rebel leader on top of the usuresponsibilitiestes of being a princess. LOTS of baggage there. This doesn't even count the number of times she's kicked herself and cried over people in her team getting Robotocized due to her planning. I've seen her cry over this and people have tGaulaul to say she's "selfish?" Sally obviously carria lotlot of mental baggage on her shoulders. Something that's bound to make a person do things she proboly shouldn't, such as slap Sonic, get really bitchy and mean, and frankly, it's a poor judge of character to think someone that's been through what SHE has should still be your image of a perfect person. We're lucky she hasn't climbed a tower and started sniper shooting everyone.
My rant is done. My last thought of the day, "Think before you hate"
With great superhero movies, come great movie tie-ins. Well, not great as in good, great as in large size. Superman is no exception. Though unlike The Hulk, Supes had the decency to wait to release his hordes of toys on at least the same month as his movie arrived. Sadly though, many of these toys arn't very good. They're very gimmicky, and are most likely to really intrest a kid for about, 30 minutes until he/she gets bored with them. But there are a few exceptions. There ARE some diamonds in the rocks. And this is one of them. Ultimate powers Superman.
There he is in his box. They promise 15 phrases, and sound effects and even motion senses. Like this, he's only useful to those that intend to sell him some time later. Since I have no intention of doing this, let's rip 'im out!
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Unfortunatly, because Mattel decided he should have spring loaded features. full poseability is not an option here. Recognize the quote? Yeah, his action features and size remind me of Timmy Turner's talking Crimson Chin figure with his "Chintastic phrases"
His phrases include such riviting words as "I'm Superman." "I'm the man of steel." "Kryptonite" "I'm needed in Metropolis" "The Daily Planet's in trouble." "Trouble" "Lex Luthor is behind this" "Got ya" and "To the Daily Planet" Superman has three switches on his back. When first open, he is set to "Try me" mode which by pressing his big red "S", gives you a phrase, some sound effects, his eyes lighting up, and a demonstration of his motion sensory by telling you that he's "turning left" or "turning right." If you turn him the right way, he'll say "Good Job." Turn him the wrong way or do nothing, he'll just say "Crime doesn't pay." Because the last thing we need is children crying because Superman said "ASSHOLE! I SAID LEFT!" fliping the switch to the center turns him off and gives parents a chance for some peace and quiet. Flipping the switch to the top puts us in "play" mode. This is where the REAL fun begins. First, the moment you flip the switch, you are greeted with his classic "up, up, and away!" follwed by some wooshing air sounds. Thus being in "flight mode" now. Swinging him around will make the wooshes change as if he's changing direction. When he lands on the ground, he'll actually make a landing sound and the wooshing will stop. By pushing the "S" on his belt, will put him into "battle mode" This is the REALLY fun mode. Here, you press the button on his side and swing him just a bit. Then you get various punching sounds and an occasonially one of his phrases. He has a button on his back which lights up his eyes and makes heat vision sounds. But don't take my word for all this. Take a look at this video.
Finally, the toy is well sculpted. I don't think my camera could show it, but when you look closely, you can see Superman's suit has stich like things, his boots have zippers, and has little sheild shapes in the "S".
As you can see from this titanic battle with Cobra's Battle Android trooper, Superman stands well with other 12" scale figures.
Now he's gonna open some whoopass on Dr. X. I guess ONE bald evil genius isn't enough for him.
Do I have any gripes about the toy? A few. One, it's not very poseable. He's always in that flying positions. The sensor thing doesn't ALWAYS activate in fighting mode, and finally, this isn't a gripe. More like an observation. Superman looks AWFULLY skinny on the box art.
It's a good toy though. Worth thee 25 bucks at Wal-Mart. Or even the 30-35 I think it was at KB. It's kept ME occupied for quite a while, and if it can do THAT than i'm sure YOUR child will be amused by it.
HI! Action man must be search for my posts. Well, there arn't any yet, but there will be. From toys, to Disney parks, comics, and whatever I feel like mentioning, it'll be here. Until then, enjoy this shameless selfpromotion of my other sites.
