Another unique addition to the Predator collection
343576
So, I do collect action figures, but costs being what they are today never had a notion to get into the Predator series, though, it is a classic film and one of my favorites.  What changed my tone?  The announcement of two figures.  "Jungle Disguise Dutch" and "Thermal Vision Dutch."  I've never been into variants of figures except, maybe a modest amount of Spider-man, and a slew of Hal Jordan in various Lantern Corps colors, but when I saw the pics of these two, my mouth dropped and my eyes popped.  What a cool idea!  There have been "battle damage" variants for years, but mud?  I have since collected what I consider an almost complete mini collection which includes 3 Predator and 3 Dutch figures, and like the SDCC exclusive "Cloaked City Hunter," this guy really stands out on the shelf.

It also didn't hurt that these are the best face sculpts of movie/'80s icon Schwarzenegger to date, and the new hidden articulation NECA has implemented with these figures is ideal for someone like me. The big divider amongst collectors is sculpt vs. articulation.  I lean toward sculpt, which is fabulous on this figure.  No, I don't want "statues" with moveable joints, but I also don't see the point in having a marionette that moves inhumanly if it takes away from the overall look.  This figure being a variant uses the same body sculpt as "Jungle Encounter Dutch" and possibly "Jungle Patrol Dutch."  The latter I don't own, so I don't know if his shirt is painted or sculpted.  It has very good articulation in the lower appendages and head, and good trunk/waist upper appendage movement.

I didn't realize until I found the figure in a store that it is actually made of green translucent plastic (don't know how I missed that) with very nice red and yellow paint applications, which looks best with light source not directly behind the figure, but offset about 45 degrees.  His gear and weapons are also translucent green.  Of course, you don't need to light this guy to enjoy it, it just adds "effect."  The color shades are very nice and work in concert, but the biggest complaint any film fan is likely to have is the lack of blue that was more prominent then green on the characters as well as their surroundings throughout the film.  True, the whole spectrum and even white was utilized in transitioning blobs representing thermal signature, but that particular shade of blue is probably more associated with the film than any other color.  Another factor is the paint apps are only on the front, so you are limited as far as displaying or taking pictures.

The weapons -- knife, hand gun and automatic rifle -- are the same sculpts as released with other Dutch figures, just in the already mentioned translucent green.  I'm no expert, but the rifle looks too small for the figure so I just have it over his shoulder.

All in all, as a figure I probably rate this between 4 and 4.5, but as movie memorabilia I give it a solid 5.  Amazon will have people besides toy collectors reading about it, that's why I went with the 5 star.

Now I just have to wait a few more months for Neca to start releasing the original Planet of the Apes figures!
218810
This may not be the Poison that everyone knows, but it's a variant that suits the character well. Being a statue with no poseability and so little clothing, the main focus is of course the sculpt of the body and the detail. S/he scores way above average in both departments and makes this a figure worth picking up for fans of Final Fight and Street Fighter, or anyone that's just looking to add some eye-candy to their collection.

 Besides the expertly crafted and lifelike figure of the sculpture with it's luscious hair and noticeable but not overblown curves, the detail is really what sells this. From the tears in her jeans, loose chains, creases in her shirt, gloss on the straps and shoes, to the popped open shorts and intricate torso detail - it's obvious that a lot of planning and care was put into this figure. As mentioned above s/he comes with (partially) metal handcuffs that easily hang from the "belt" or hands and a nice but admittedly easy to scratch and smudge mirror-finished base (which she can stand easily enough without, but I wouldn't recommend it). The paintjob is also very well done with no smudging or caking although there is a hardly noticeable error with the eyeliner under one of the eyes on mine, but this may very. I do have some other minor gripes like the seemingly unnecessary cut in top right corner of the shirt and upper right arm, but neither really detract from the figure and can be ignored if you pose her at the right angle.

 I don't own any of the others from the Capcom Girls collection so I can't make any comparisons, but this figure certainly does well enough on it's own merit thanks to the exquisite body sculpt and attention to detail and is sure to look great with figures of a similar size or as a standalone piece. All in all this is a fantastic figure for the price, especially when taking into consideration how hard to find and significantly more expensive the original is now.
1938415
Predator 2 is a misunderstood and crimnally underrated sequel to Predator. It not only equals it's predesscessor, but also surpasses it in a few categories. Alan Silvestri's mind-blowing score from Predator 1 is improved on the 0-10 scale by 11. Stephen Hopkins' direction is excellent and gives P2 a very special and hard-worked feel to it. The Cinematography is awesome and makes the film scary and unpredictable. The action sequences are also Grade A+. The breath-taking shootout at the beginning, the Train confrontation, and the final Battle. Wow! P2 combines the intense action of P1 and amps it up to eleven. The action sequences are even more though-out and better than those of P1. The acting is brilliant too. Danny Glover makes a great Hero as Harrigan and has one of his best roles ever. He makes Harrigan a likeable character that you'll root for all the way too the end. The level of violence and gore is also a LOT higher than the original's and any gore-hound will be in Heaven with this. I also must say that P2's settings and story are brilliant to the max. A crime- infested Los Angeles was the perfect spot for him to continue his Rampage and all of the sets, from the Meat Factory, Predator Ship and "shot-out" Buildings are mind-blowing. Predator 2 is all in all an excellent Grade A+ sequel that pretty much improves over the original Predator. I REALLY hope this review will give this underrated masterpiece a much better reputation. Give Predator 2 a chance and ignore everyone who shamefully panned it.
2645472
Being a huge fan of snake eyes, when I spotted this version in the store, I had to pick it up. Though I am not a huge fan of the Renegades cartoon series, or that familiar with it, I think this snake eyes has some cool things to offer.

Good.

This figure is a pretty good looking figure. The paint apps are sharp, with the Snake Eye's shiny silver visor, and knee pads. He has cool Arashikage stamps on both of his arms, and overall I think his color scheme is quite visually appealing ( a kinda nice break from the solid black we are used to see him in.

This version comes with some pretty cool accessories: 1xLaser UZI, 2x Katanas, 2x daggers, and a backpack. What I like the most about the accessories, is that Hasbro has included a way to store all of these cool weapons,on Snake Eyes himself. Snake Eyes has a holster strap for his uzi, a belt holster for his two katanas, and a backpack you can stick his knives in.

Bad.

This figure is a kit-bash, of Rise of Cobra: City-Strike Snake Eyes (Torso and legs), Pursuit of Cobra: Desert Battle Snake Eyes (Head), and I think his arms come from Wet-Suit or someone. This might piss some people off, but it doesn't really bug me.

The "cartoony" feel of this figure might turn some people off, especially if they are not fans of the cartoon.

The playability of this figure is a bit lacking, which is suprising for a figure marketed for kids. Snake Eye's accessories are cool, but pretty easy for a kid to lose in my opinion.

Overall.

This figure is nothing to hoot at. For a Snake Eyes fan, it is another fun addition to the collection. Or for a fan of the show, it's a cool piece to pick up.
4953914
South China Sea is my new favorite predator related book by far. The avp books that follow Machiko Naguchi were pretty sweet and Dachande used to be what I considered the epitome of the alpha hunter. This guy sets the bar a spear length higher. Everything this hunter does is incredibly brutal, strategic, and just plain badass.

With the exception of one charecter (mr comic releif of the story), everyone on that island is ten types of tough with death on their speed dial. This pred doesnt settle for one spec ops team in south america. I don't wanna spoil anything but the amount of destruction this thing pulls off makes Mortal Kombat look like a saturday morning cartoon.

Another thing I really like about this book is it shows things from everyone's perspective. In Cold War or Turnabout (both decent books), the author only shows what the humans are thinking. South China Sea takes you into the hunter's den. One of my top ten moments in the story is when he's kinda just taking a break and watching other predators through the ship screens while remembering some of his.
It's just really cool anytime you see more of the yautja culture.

Add all that to a killer story, nonstop action, and a freakin awesome ending, South China Sea gets five stars.
2342794
Found this guy at Toys R Us (really tough to find, and the box I found mine in was slightly bent, but the figure was otherwise fine). Funny enough, this is my first RID 2015 toy, so I don't really have anything to match him up against like the apparently made-of-explodium shoulders Grimlock or the slightly simplified Optimus.

The look of Megatronus is kinda like a combination of the blockiness of the "War Within" Fallen figure (especially in the shoulders and lower legs) matched with the sharp angles of the ROTF Fallen like the arm kibble and Decepticon-shaped head (he even comes with the telekinesis in the show). Add a dash of purple, and you have yourself a relatively show-accurate Megatronus, or The Fallen, whatever you like to call him. His tank mode was also inspired by the "War Within" figure, and the H-tank really reminds me of Transformers Animated Shockwave.

If there was anything holding this figure back, it's two things: scale and paint. While the paint job is pretty spot-on and nicely applied, I wish they could've gone with a deeper color scheme for the Clash of the Transformers version of Megatronus (compare the figure to his show appearance; the light grey parts should be darker). The staff/scepter/scalpel-thing he comes with is also accurate to the show sculpt-wise, but it should've been darker. His robot mode should also have more purple highlights and glowing blue parts. As for the scale aspect, this Deluxe/Warrior figure would've been better if RID came with a Voyager-class replacement, since despite the simplicity of the transformation, he easily towers over other characters in the show.

Despite this, the scale and paint can be balanced out by the absolute fun factor that Megatronus delivers. You can change the way you pose his weapon (arm-mounted or handheld), and his ball-joints are pretty secure and don't feel like they're gonna come loose and get all wiggly-wiggly. I'm not worried about Megatronus's arms exploding because of the ratchet joints, since the part of the elbow that brushes up against the ratchet is sculpted into the figure unlike Grimlock's, which are separately attached. The battle mask gives him a knightly appearance and it IS how he appeared for the better part of the first season before he got down and dirty. One funny thing about the sculpt is that the tank has those infamous drills; in robot mode, they end up on his butt. Butt drills in robot mode. The 360 waist swivel comes in handy since the torso becomes the lower part of the turret in tank mode, allowing for a 360 turret rotation only blocked by the missile launchers but even then you can still tilt the turret up a bit to get him to do a true 360. The staff can act like a bayonet in tank mode and it's a unique feature to Megatronus as far as I know. Last but not least, the transformation is fun to do and you'll probably find yourself turning him back-and-forth from robot to tank and back for a couple minutes. Or is that just me?

Comparing this figure to the production pics of the mass-retail version of Megatronus, this version is virtually identical except for the fact that his knight mask is flipped up and he has a few paint differences. Personally, I think this version is superior since even though it missed a few minor highlights in terms of paint, it definitely got the major parts down (the chest detail in particular is painted accurately despite the Decepticon sticker). All in all, highly recommended on my end.
4487991
We were very excited to see this action figure as part of the Turtle collection. Casey has some pretty small pieces (his mask is a separate piece, - his face is still painted under it).  The back-strap carrying case for the hockey stick or bat is a pretty cool feature. This is one of my son's favorite figurines in his collection.
4254630
I bought this action figure mostly because it had a different look from other Wonder Woman figures. This was crafted based on the look from JLA Classified, which portrays a MUCH bulkier and more muscular Wonder Woman. Not necessarily a bad thing, just different. This was one of the few where I didn't buy two, one to open and one to leave in the packaging. I just got the one for my collection, and like I said, it is a very unique look. All my other Wonder Woman statues and action figures look a certain way, and then there's this lady. I'd have used this sculpt more for Big Barda. LOL But hey, she's still a nice addition to any collection.
  Thanks for your time folks.
  Sincerely, R.A. McDowell
652363
From the Sentinel Series, (or Series 10), is the Cyclops action figure.  He is a pretty nice figure.  It's the same body sculpt as the Spiderman Classics Kraven the Hunter and Nick Fury from Marvel Legends 5, so the articulation is good.  The joints were tight and nicely concealed on this figure.  The paint job is very good, but I think they went a little too far on the yellow areas of his costume.  They put so much dark paint on the recessed, shadowy areas that his gloves, trunks, and boots look just plain dirty.  As if he just got done changing the oil on the Blackbird or something.  I was real excited to see this figure, but was disappointed to find out that the picture ON the package has the figure looking better than what you actually get IN the package. More specifically, his legs from the shin on down to his feet.  They are just too short and stubby looking.  The top folds of his boot almost reach down to the top of his foot.  His feet seem really big, too.  He comes with a copy of the classic X-Men #201 comic book.  My son enjoyed reading it.  There is also a variant version of this figure floating around that has Cyclops in his X-Factor costume.  It's a lighter colored blue with white instead of yellow accents.  I've seen it and think the white bands that form the "X" on the front and back of the costume need to be broader.  And, again, his white gloves, trunks, and boots look "dirty white" instead of white.  Despite my personal complaints, this figure is really worth owning.  As I mentioned, he is part of the Sentinel Series.  Which means 2 things this time-you get a wall mountable display base AND you get a piece of the Sentinel's huge 16-inch body.  The display base is simply a pedestal-style base of clear plastic to make the character seem as if they are flying or in the middle of a jump.  But, it can be placed on the wall or on a sturdy, flat surface for displaying.  It is basically the same base that came with the Vision and Deadpool figures.  When you get 6 of the 7 figures in this series (Mystique and Omega Red have the same body piece), the pieces can be joined together to make the 8th figure in the series-the Sentinel!!  The massive, mechanical menace that hunts down the X-Men and other mutants and eliminates them.  Everyone will surely buy all the figures they will need in order to get the Sentinel.  It truly looks awesome when it is assembled.  Then again, the character selection in this series is so exciting; you'll want to buy them regardless of the Sentinel.  This figure is not that well stocked, so finding another may not be easy.  ToyBiz is trying to make sure there is enough of every character so that everyone has a chance to build the Sentinel.  Get him before he's gone.
297721
Great action super well made hopefully they will make the rest of the predator s that would be awesome.
3219953
Been wanting this figure for several years now and snatched him up for a pretty good price, and am very pleased. This is an awesome figure, a little on the creepy side haha. I personally think the slightly translucent hair is an interesting choice(not a bad one though). The paint apps are pretty solid, grimy in all the right spots. The clothes look great,  the snakes and the handbook all look great. I was a little shocked at how big his gut is haha, but it doesn't bother me personally.
 If your figure doesn't stand well, Neca (the company that makes this figure) makes nice and simple clear stands that work well with the majority of their 7" figures for relatively cheap.
4027618
This is a really neat mask! It actually comes with two masks; the predator himself, and the silver mask he wears over his face. You can wear them separately or together. It's also a very detailed mask, and fits well. It is hot under there, but not just horribly. Oh, and when not in use, it looks really neat sitting on a wig holder or over a lampshade. Overall, I'm very satisfied with this order and would recommend to a friend or family member.
1852173
sorry, bad pun.

This is a large (voyager class) transformer. It looks just like it is in the pictures - the beast mode is absolutely awesome and very poseable. The tail is the weapon and not all that poseable, but the wings, legs, and head have quite a few points of articulation. The hands and feet are rubber, so they do a good job keeping him up in multiple poses. The hydra guns look kind of weird as extra heads, but are pretty detalied for what they are. The mouths actually open up a little when you put the missiles in. The lever is easy to use to 'shoot' them. You have to push the lever down and head down in order to 'shoot it'. If you're afraid of misfires, you don't have to put the missile all the way in and the mouths will 'hold on' to them so they don't fall out/get lost.

The back legs are not quite even b/c one is attached a little higher than the either, but not a big problem/detail to worry about.

The robot mode is pretty good, but not as impressive. The wings, based on the instructions, are supposed to go in some weird waist position, but you can really put it anywhere you want like in the amazon picture. The guns are actually mounted on the wrist, but look better/more natural here. The sword is actually too heavy/unwieldy to hold in the rubber hands so I just leave it mounted on the tail. The feet are quite..large? and proportions are different from the other predaking toys (for beast hunters) out there, but I think this is the best version of him that's released (the other one is less detailed, smaller, etc.).

The transformation for the upper torso is pretty straightforward. Robot ead folds into chest, dragon head rotates out, move wings back, arms become front legs. The legs > tail transformation is pretty cool as the rear legs are hidden in the back of the robot legs and fold out while the legs fold in to become part of the back torso and extends into the tail. Not too hard for a child and complex enough that it doesn't feel like a cheap mcdonald's toy to me.

The one gripe I have is that the tail is based off the sword weapon, so for a child, that's something easy to lose and a dragon with no tail is a sad thing. The hydra guns are basically fluff and 'fun' to shoot, they also just stand out.

I got this action figure on sale for ~$16, which is an absolute steal for the size and quality. In stores, it's usually ~$25. Compared to the other voyager class transformers I've handled, this is definitely one of the best in the line.

For those that are into 'modeling' and touching up the factory paint job, there's plenty of options highlights and color to the molded plastic.
3971774
as a long time Aliens and Predator fan (not so much the first AVP movie), this collection is a great place to start.  this is my first non-Star Wars DH title and i'm very pleased.

the ryushi storyline takes up a good portion of the TPB and well worth it.  it has a couple different parts to the story and is broken up by some great short takes on AVP.

there's a great look into Predator culture with the concluding chapters of Ryushi.

the art and coloring are great, given the time period (mid 90s).  it still looks very fresh.

this is a definate must for AVP and Predator fans...im not sure how the Aliens story arcs stack up to other Alien titles though...we see the inspiration for the last AVP movie and get a good look at the Hybrid in the upcoming movie.
387255
Introducing the "dogs/ companion helper animals" was a good idea. No hyper camera movements... New info from the predator world/ environment.  The minority males were allowed to stay alive longer than usual. The film stayed within a tolerable amount of action... Which gives way for some compelling dialog and plot delivery.  My only gripe is my own sensitivity to the loudness of the orchestra, except the part where the multi-planetary horizon is observed.
2268220
Can not really hold a candle up to the first movie but still enjoyable at times!
What I liked was:
1. The blue-ray quality of the film was great!
2. The action was hardcore!
3. The new Predator had a lot of cool new weapons and devices!
4. Most of the actors were good, especially Danny Glover!
5. We got to see more than one Predator in the movie!
6. The nine Predators that came out at the end on the ship each had their
own unique design to them!
7. Most of the special features on the disc were cool!

What I didn't like was:
1. The movie had too much senseless killing in it!
2. The movie's plot didn't really hold the movie together some of the time!

Overall, I liked the movie! But not as good as the first one (like many sequels are)!
The movie's grade in my book: B- or three stars!
The blue-ray's grade in my book: B+ or four stars!
678305
Great price from Amazon on a "todays deals" for all 5 movies couldn't be happier.

Great set for any predator fan or someone who might be new to the franchise.

Want a movie review go to IMDB Amazon is great!