I've been a fan of Jim Henson's Labyrinth for as long as I can remember. Initially, it scared me (but I still liked it), then my high school art teacher's obsession with the artistry of the film was contagious (he played in constantly in class) and I became a superfan. There were two scenes that always bugged me: the Firey scene (because of rough green screen effects) and the Masquerade Ballroom scene (because it slowed the pace and seemed romantically inappropriate/creepy to me). But over time my criticisms have softened significantly. I even danced to As The World Falls Down by David Bowie at my wedding. So I really appreciate this figure now. I knew a line of Labyrinth toys would eventually have multiple releases of the same characters in their different iconic outfits. Unfortunately for Sarah, she only really has two costumes, so this is it. Jareth has at least two more good ones to anchor future waves (finger crossed!). We need more goblins, and Fireys, and a million others. Let's check out Sarah below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Film. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
Labyrinth - SARAH (MASQUERADE)!
Monday, April 27, 2026
Masters of the Universe - TEELA!
I'm pretty excited to see the Masters of the Universe movie in June. I admit I have had extremely low expectations for the long-rumored cinematic return of MOTU, but the trailers legitimately have me feeling optimistic. They seem to have a great mix of modern and nostalgic vibes. Of course, I will be at an out-of-town wedding the weekend it comes out with no movie theatre for miles, so I will be avoiding spoilers and reviews until I can make time to see it. I'm happy to see that the main four females from Eternia: Teela, Evil-Lyn, Sorceress, and Queen Marlena are all featured in the film. Camila Mendes plays Teela. I first noticed her as the iconic Veronica Lodge on Riverdale, but she's stayed in my media rotation in her movies Upgraded, Do Revenge, and The Perfect Date... plus her role as the dancing hotel maid in the Side-Effects music video which has been on my YouTube gym playlist for years. It goes without saying that I'm a fan. In fact, I'm a fan of everyone cast in the movie (which is a rarity these days).
Thursday, March 12, 2026
Super Mario Galaxy Movie - ROSALINA!
I might be the only person in the world who didn't enjoy the first Super Mario Bros Movie back in 2023. All my friends were singing its praises, but I was just bored by it. There's something about the super-popular CGI-centric movies in recent years like Minecraft, Pokemon, and all the Sonic movies that I just don't relate to. I always eagerly watch them with an open mind, but I usually am left unmoved. That said, I'm super appreciative of these same movies because they typically give us a nice merchandising blitz and I get to add some great pieces to my collection. The upcoming Super Mario Galaxy Movie stars the most neglected of the Mario "princesses", Rosalina. I've always really liked her design so it's very exciting to get a new figure of her (even if it's in this bizarre movie scale with the creepy glass eyes). I only hope she gets the same treatment as Peach from the first movie and we get some additional figures in different scales. Only time will tell though. Let's check out Rosalina below!
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Transformers One - ELITA-1!
In a relatively short 18 months, I we have gotten 9 Elita-1 figures from Transformers One. I think that has got to be a record for any female character in film-related merchandising blitz. Even a major character like Black Widow in the MCU would be lucky to get maybe five figures for a movie. But for some reason Elita-1 hit the jackpot. It's especially surprising considering she was excluded from the first few waves of movie merchandising. I honestly thought the main figure would be a Burger King toy. Boy was I wrong. I was unaware that toy company ThreeZero made 1:12 scale figure. I thought their product was solely in the high-end 1:6 scale market. And while this figure was at a much higher price point than I would typically pay for a 5" non-transforming Transformer, I was super curious and I wasn't disappointed in the quality at all. She is perfectly sculpted, features 46 points of articulation (according to the promotional material... I didn't count), and heavy die-cast parts. Let's check out Elita-1 below!
Thursday, February 26, 2026
Jurassic World Rebirth - ZORA BENNETT!
In 2025's Jurassic World Rebirth, the traditional gender roles of the two main characters swapped. In every movie so far, the lead "hero" was male with a secondary female character being a brainy sidekick (who is also consistently shown as a formidable adventurer, but that's never the primary characteristic). In Rebirth, Scarlett Johansson plays a secret ops agent tasked with leading a dangerous clandestine mission into an abandoned island overrun with dinosaurs. And her sidekick is the brainy paleontologist Dr. Henry Loomis played by Jonathan Bailey. The best part about this swap is that I didn't even bat an eye - I only really acknowledged it when I was distributing the accessories in set and assumed all the weapons belonged to the female character - not a subconscious thought I often have. I love how prolific the modern Mattel Jurassic line has been. The actor likenesses are never the best, but the sheer quantity of female figures is amazing. Let's check out Zora Bennett below!
Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Jurassic World Rebirth - ZORA BENNETT!
I thought Jurassic World Rebirth was a refreshing return to what I love about the Jurassic franchise. After years of movies in atypical settings and with casting choices I've grown weary of (not you, Bryce), it was nice to have a stand-alone movie largely taking place in a tropical jungle and with a fantastic cast. From the trailers, I expected there to be a little more of an added Indiana Jones vibe with ancient temples and ruins, but that was unfortunately only one small scene. Scarlett Johansson plays Zora Bennett, a freelance former government operative who is tasked with safely escorting some scientists and civilians on an expedition to an off-limits South American island where the dinosaurs from a former inGen facility have taken over. It's a simple plot and small cast of characters - so the environment and the dinosaurs get their time in the limelight. I just watched it for the second time yesterday as a refresher from this Summer and, although much more enjoyable on a big screen, I still highly enjoy it.
Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom - CLAIRE DEARING!
I have a pattern where I stockpile figures in my basement - essentially ignoring that I own them - until I realize I've assembled a small group from the same line and feel the urge to open and review them asap. I pretty much buy every female figure in the modern Mattel Jurassic line. That's no small feat considering how many there have been in the 7 years and how many have come in large expensive playsets. As a reference, it took the G.I.Joe line 21 years to produce as many female figures as the Jurassic line did in 7, and a large portion of the G.I.Joes were repaints. Claire Dearing has been a great character in the Jurassic World movies. Of all the main characters, she has shown the most growth; from a (somewhat) heartless businesswoman in a white skirt-suit to a geared-up survivalist and outlaw. The Hammond Collection offers deluxe versions of their 3.75" figures. Claire features swappable parts to give us two of her iconic looks from Fallen Kingdom. Let's check out Claire below!
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Batman Returns - CATWOMAN!
I have been begging for a 6-8" scale Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman for as long as I've been collecting action figures. We've seen 3.75" figures, block figures like Kubricks and Mini-Mates, vinyl figures, and a glorious 18" figure from NECA. But all I wanted was something that could stand alongside all my superhero toys. It took a long time, but my wish was finally granted in the form of this near-perfect McFarlane figure. I managed to snag mine a few weeks before Christmas but was a little intimidated to open her until recently. It was actually the reveal of upcoming 8" NECA figure that lit a fire under me and inspired me to finally post this. She's as good as I've always hoped. She has the typical elongated body that all McFarlane DC figures are plagued with, but I'd always rather have a figure be too tall than too short. The placement of her mask can also vary figure-to-figure and greatly change her appearance, but I'm really happy with mine. Let's check out the Batman Returns Michelle Pfeiffer Catwoman below!
Friday, February 13, 2026
How to Train Your Dragon - RUFFNUT THORSTON!
Of all the main characters in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2025) movie, I think Ruffnut is the most changed. When I watched the movie a few weeks ago, I can admit she and her brother didn't really stand out the way they did in the numerous animated incarnations preceding this film. The characters were always portrayed physically odd... super tall and hunched over with long dopey faces and limbs that seemed weighed down by fatigue or boredom. Then was their personalities... they were mischievous and conniving. They just looked like they were up to no good. I didn't get that vibe from this movie, but hopefully in the the sequel (currently filming) they'll get fleshed out more. (Full confession, I was full-out sick for all of mid-January when I watched this, so take my interpretation/memories with a huge grain of salt). The actress Bronwyn James is having a moment right now having starred in both Wicked movies and now the Dragons franchise. I'm looking forward to seeing her again.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
How to Train Your Dragon - ASTRID HOFFERSON!
I recently watched the live-action How to Train Your Dragon (2025) and kind of loved it. When the movie was announced, I had one of those reactions like "Why remake a CGI animated movie into live-action? Won't the dragons just be CGI again? And the original still holds up as a great movie." But when I started watching it a few weeks ago, I was instantly drawn in. A huge part of the success goes to the casting. Mason Thames as Hiccup was especially great (I've seen him in Incoming and other movies and quite like him). A lot of the other characters are great too, but they all seem pretty altered from the original. I was a big fan of America Ferrera's animated portrayal of Astrid, so I was planning to be critical of this lanky brunette imposter in the role, but I was impressed. Nico Parker played the part well and put her own stamp on the character. During the movie I kept thinking I had seen her before (I hadn't) and just now I discovered that she is Thandie Newton's daughter (and is the spitting image of her).
Sunday, November 23, 2025
Superman (1978) - LOIS LANE!
Two cinematic scenes from my childhood scarred me for years. The first was an episode of Benson where Haley's Comet flew overhead and all the humans were reduced to gravel (or dried beans?). For a lighthearted sitcom this caught me off-guard and terrified me. The second trauma was the earthquake scene from Superman (1978) when Lois Lane's car slipped into a wide fissure and she died while suffocating under the weight of the crushing gravel and dirt. It was horrible. And I swear this played on TV every few months throughout my childhood. Lois wears several very similar outfits throughout the movie, but the 3-piece pantsuit with blue collar is unique to this horrible scene. If you've seen the movie, you know it ends happily (in the most illogical way possible), but I'm still a bit triggered. Spin Master is making some pretty great DC retro cinematic figures. I only hope they're able to sneak out the rumored Helen Slater Supergirl before the licenses shift. Let's check out Lois Lane below!
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
The Golden Compass - MRS. COULTER!
I remember when The Golden Compass film came out back in 2007, it was a very buzzworthy film. Between its intriguing trailers, strong cast (Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, among others), conservative group boycotts, and general appetite for YA fantasy at the time (Harry Potter and Narnia franchises were in full swing), this movie seemed like a slam dunk. But I remember watching it and being unimpressed. There were details I loved, like the cold arctic setting, the armored intelligent polar bears, and the characters' souls being represented by dæmons with the appearance of animals. But something about the movie just didn't capture the magic of the books (the His Dark Materials HBO series from 2019 did a better job). But still, I remember my 2007 anticipation well and when I stumbled across this Mrs. Coulter action figure in a collectible toy shop this Summer, I had to get her. This line is made by Cards, Inc (a subsidiary of Corgi - makers of car replicas and figurines), and distributed by PopCo
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
NECA Ultimates - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!
I don't know why I waited two years to open this figure. I was very excited to get her back in 2023 and faked an appointment to leave work midday when my local toy shop posted that they got her in. But then time got away from me and I never circled back to her until I picked up the SDCC GITD version of her this Summer. She is really a great action figure. I especially love a Bride figure when there is an alternate mummy look to display, I think the last mummy head included was way back with the 1998 Sideshow figure. When I first saw this NECA Ultimates Bride, I was confused by her brown hair. I always assumed her hair was black in the (black and white) movie and every piece of Bride of Frankenstein merchandise I own sports raven hair with a shock of white hair. But I've come to terms with the fact that the true color is auburn (Elsa Lanchester's natural hair). Plus I really like how it pairs with the off-white color of her robes and her brown-hued makeup. She looks great. Let's check out the Bride below!
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Hocus Pocus - THE SANDERSON SISTERS!
Hocus Pocus is a movie that was almost completely off my radar until very recently. It was released in 1993, when I was in high school, but I was only vaguely aware of it. I gather that it flopped at the box office but gained a massive cult following through continual airing on the Disney Channel and Freeform in the three decades since (neither of which channels I has access to until the last 5 years or so). I even worked at video rental stores for many years and we just didn't stock it. I was forced to watch it a few years ago for the first time. This was by friends who had a deep nostalgia for it from their childhood. Without that wistful slant, I honestly wasn't a huge fan. It was very over-the-top and silly with caricatures I found too childish (and I am very immature). But that said, I was glad to finally see this cult hit. I loved the colorful design of the Sanderson Sisters as well as the actors playing them. I've wanted to add them to my collection in some way, but none of the product so far felt quite right.
Monday, October 27, 2025
POP Funko - MELANIE DANIELS!
The Birds had a powerful impact on me as a child. My Dad loved Alfred Hitchcock and we would always tune in to his (often wildly inappropriate for kids) films when they aired on TV. The Birds was always my favorite. But ironically. this was because I loved birds so much. You might think that a bird lover would hate a movie where all the birds are portrayed as violent unpredictable antagonists, but I was fascinated. I also loved the open-ended mystery of the attacks (fun fact: years later they discovered that the real-life incidents that inspired the film were caused by toxic algae). But when I was a kid, I was left wondering if my birds might suddenly attack me, too. The star of the film was Tippi Hedren (mother of Melanie Griffith and grandmother of Dakota Johnson). Her character, Melanie Daniels, was beautiful, smart, and mysterious and really made the movie great. In 2008, I missed out on a Barbie of The Birds. This Funko Pop 17 years later finally let's me add a piece memorabilia to my collection. Let's check her out below!
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Toony Terrors - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!
I'm pretty obsessed with the Toony Terrors line from NECA. I can admit that most of the male figures are not to my liking. True to the line's name, they looks a bit too cartoonish and silly for me. But there is something about the way that NECA treats the female characters that really appeals to me. The first figures I picked up, the Grady Twins, don't even look "toony." I thought that was a fluke, but then the next figures I bought, Elvira and Vampira, were also pretty great. I tend to focus on retro characters so I skipped M3GAN, Ghouliana, Wednesday & Enid (Netflix), Hocus Pocus, Nadja (WWDITS), and Lydia, Astrid, & Dolores (Beetlejuice). That is a lot of female representation in a relatively short time. I feared I wouldn't ever get another classic lady to add to my collection. But eventually they announced this amazing Bride of Frankenstein. Now I just need Morticia Addams and Lily Munster to complete my classic spooky Femme Fatales. Fingers crossed for both of them. Let's check out the Bride below!
Friday, October 10, 2025
World's Smallest - BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN!
I have a huge backlog of Bride of Frankenstein figures to open and review and I'm finally going to try and get through a lot of them this month. I've had this World's Smallest figure for a few years and thought "Oh, this will make for a quick and easy post" (I've been really busy with work and travel lately so easy is good). I thought the size and lack of poseability would equate to speedy work. But alas, the photos were all blurry and it took several sessions to get them halfway decent (and I'm still not satisfied). But at least I finally got the ball rolling. Now I only have to find the rest. The NECA Ultimates is not exactly small so it can't be too hard to unearth in my basement, but the other Reactions and smaller figures may be quite a challenge. In that sense, it's really surprising I was able to find this microscopic figure first. I'm actually pretty much a completist with the Super Impulse action figures. But it's rare to have a female in these assortments. So I'm glad the include the Bride in the first Universal Monster set.
Friday, September 26, 2025
Epic Hero Series - INVISIBLE WOMAN!
I'm not surprised that Fantastic Four: First Steps was such a hit. From the very first teasers and trailers I knew they finally got Marvel's First Family right. The retro vibe, the shiny space age aesthetic, and the strong family dynamic in the forefront was the perfect recipe. What was surprising was how off-the-mark the previous three movies were. I saw each of them once and just felt they were each lacking the heart that makes this team so great. It's a little odd that there is a belated rush of merchandising months after the movie left theatres, but suddenly we have Titan Hero Series and Epic Hero Series. I quite enjoy these 1:18 scale Epic Hero Series figures (now called Epic World of Action). Their production planning is pretty bizarre with only a few select movies and properties getting figures. But I'm glad First Steps made the cut. Now of course I would love a few more figures, namely a powered-down Sue and a Silver Surfer (but my hopes aren't very high). Let's check out Sue Storm and the First Family Collection below!
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Tron Kubrick - YORI!
I've had this set for ages but finally got around to opening it last week. I frankly don't remember purchasing this, but when I was moving house four years ago, I found it buried in a closet encased up in bubble wrap with zero recollection of how I got it. I probably paid a fortune and blocked out the memory over guilt. It was funny to mark it off my "must have" checklist by accidentally discovering that I already owned it. I also found multiple Planet of the Apes Kubrick sets in the same box so it was a thrilling discovery. This figure is notable for being the first toy of Yori ever. As the token female of Tron (1982), and a pretty significant character, she was criminally neglected in the merchandise department. So far I have three Yori items, but hopefully there will be momentum for more in the future, but I definitely would love to see more. I think a company like NECA should take the reigns and give us a full vintage line (hopefully with characters unmade in the DST line). Let's check out Yori below!
Thursday, August 28, 2025
POP Funko - TRON'S YORI!
When most people hear about modern movie sequels or reboots of classic pop culture films, there is a mixed bag of reactions. There is always an initial pang of nostalgic excitement, usually followed by the creeping dread that these things very rarely turn out well. But a third reaction I always have is speculative excitement about the potential classic product to ride the wave of renewed media interest in the property. When I first heard about Tron: Ares a couple years ago, my overriding reaction was that we might finally get more Yori products. Tron is a classic movie from my youth. It was one of the only VHS rentals my siblings and I could agree on. We frankly didn't understand the plot too well, but the visuals were mesmerizing and we loved it. The token female character, Yori, has been criminally under-merchandised. While the male characters got multiple vintage (and modern) toylines, Yori didn't appear in plastic for 20 years with a small Kubrick figure, and then another 20 until the next (Super7 ReAction).
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