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10 Movies That Need Action Figures
The Toy Maniac Calls Out the Toy Makers! By
Robert T. Trate
August 14, 2009
Toy Maniac presents 10 Movies That Need Action Figures
© Bob Trate
This week District 9 will hit theaters and surprisingly enough there are no toys to go with the film. The film is rated R but look at movies like Terminator 2: Judgement Day which spawned action figures and an amusement park ride. Sideshow Collectibles alone makes oodles of “toys” for films that are rated R all the time. There are a few movies on my list that have had models made but that is nothing compared to an action figure. I took a lot of things into consideration. Sure we all want cool creatures but let’s face it what is going to sell? Big names and genre favorite actors will win out. If I could only choose one character from the film who would that be? If there was a two pack set who would be included? Who gets an exclusive figure? Let us not forget a vehicle from the film. The one thing that always gets me is that there is that one figure in the set that nobody buys yet someone somewhere thought it was a good idea. Don’t worry I included them as well.
There is little hope for these films considering some of them are now decades old. Yet let us remember that even John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and Mike Hodges’ Flash Gordon (1980) have had action figures made in this century. With companies like Mezco and NECA always adding to their Movie Maniac, Cinema of Fear and Reel Toys lines there is still a chance. So if Moses from the Bible and the Cloverfield creature can have action figures then why not these guys?
10. Logan’s Run (1976)
Sure there was a TV show that had a few Meco dolls but I am talking likenesses from the actual movie. Free Enterprise (1998) has reintroduced the movie to few new fans but I believe that Sideshow Collectibles could turn out a Michael York as Logan 5. This film is a quintessential sci-fi nut’s dream and an action figure deserves to be made.
The Only Figure That Matters: Logan
The Essential Two-Pack: Logan (battle damaged uniform) and Francis
The Exclusive: Box
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Jessica 6 and Tube Car
The One You Would Never Want: Holly
9. Total Recall (1990)
All right, so a lot of toys made in the early nineties were crap. Just look at any of the Terminator 2 figures. Total Recall had it all, the hero, the mutants and tons of crazy Martian stuff. Arnold Schwarzenegger already has tons of action figures but a Quaid figure is still absent from the collection. The mutated humans would be cool to see if there was a full line, but let’s face that will never happen. NECA you already have some great Arnold figures so where is our Quaid?
The Only Figure That Matters: Douglas Quaid / Hauser
The Essential Two-Pack: Douglas Quaid and Richter
The Exclusive: Douglas Quaid in Woman Disguise (with removable head/ mask)
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Douglass Quaid with Johnny Cab
The One You Would Never Want: Melina
8. Barbarella (1968)
Most people think that Mike Hodges’ Flash Gordon is unique to the realm of science fiction. A film so bad that it becomes good again, making it the perfect guilty pleasure. Well there is one other film like that and it is Barbarella. Jane Fonda was at the height of her hotness and from a toy maker’s point of view you have multiple costumes and a toy for girls. For the guys there are crazy creatures and villains plus a ton of crazy weapons that make great accessories. Why isn’t there a Barbarella Sideshow Collectible? Why?
The Only Figure That Matters: Barbarella (black and white outfit)
The Essential Two-Pack: Barbarella and Durand-Durand
The Exclusive: Barbarella (see through outfit)
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Pygar and Barbarella (red, silver and white outfit)
The One You Would Never Want: Professor Ping
7. Unbreakable (2000)
You either love it or hate it but Unbreakable certainly took the superhero story in a new direction. The legend has it that it was the first part of a trilogy. If only M. Night Shyamalan would tell the rest of the story in trade paper back form. There are really only two figures for this film and both should be based on Alex Ross’ design.
The Only Figure That Matters: David Dunn
The Essential Two-Pack: David Dunn and Elijah Price (with glass cane)
The Exclusive: David Dunn in Raincoat
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Elijah Price with Wheel Chair
The One You Would Never Want: M. Night Shyamalan Cameo Character
6. They Live (1988)
I can see Mezco adding a three figure set to their Cinema of Fear line featuring Nada, Frank and an alien cop. They Live is truly a cult movie yet it is one that screams to be remade. The alien figures would be awesome and should have either two heads or come in black and white renditions. Come on Mezco how many more Freddy Kruegers can you make? It is time for something new.
The Only Figure That Matters: Nada (Roddy Piper)
The Essential Two-Pack: Nada and Frank (back alley brawl likenesses)
The Exclusive: Black and White Alien Politician With Microphone
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Alien Cop with Police Cruiser
The One You Would Never Want: Holly
5. The Time Machine (1960)
George Pal’s The Time Machine is a classic and a film that all film aficionados can agree on. There have been tons of models and even a few busts done of various characters, mostly the Morlocks, but where is the H. George Wells Sideshow Collectible? This classic film surprisingly enough has escaped the action figure tribute it so rightly deserves.
The Only Figure That Matters: The Time Traveler (H. George Wells)
The Essential Two-Pack: Time Traveler (battle damaged) and a Morlock
The Exclusive: Weena with a Decayed Morlock
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Time Traveler and the Machine
The One You Would Never Want: Mrs. Watchett
4. The Last Starfighter (1984)
All right, perhaps it should have a video game first but which one of us doesn’t want a Gunstar sitting on our desk? Alex Rogan and Grig deserve to have action figures and a Gunstar that is proportionate to their size. No little 3.75 figures either. I want six inch figures and the Gunstar to have that cool little elevator as well. Diamond Select Toys this seems right up your alley. Side note for all you The Last Starfighter fans the Blu-ray comes out next week (look for my review).
The Only Figure That Matters: Alex Rogan
The Essential Two-Pack: Alex Rogan and Grig
The Exclusive: Centauri
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Grig with Gunstar
The One You Would Never Want: Friendly Alien Starfighter Pilot
3. The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)
To this day I cannot believe there wasn’t a huge collection of Buckaroo Banzai toys made by Kenner or Mattel. Crazy creatures, futuristic cars and a renaissance man, top neurosurgeon, particle physicist, race car driver, rock star, comic book hero as the lead just screams action figure series. Perhaps it is only a matter of time and a Buckaroo Banzai sequel is already in the work? Why not? Who would have thought that Tron would ever have a sequel.
The Only Figure That Matters: Buckaroo Banzai
The Essential Two-Pack: Buckaroo Banzai and Lord John Whorfin (with interchangeable alien head)
The Exclusive: Hong Kong Cavaliers Multipack
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Buckaroo Banzai and the Jet Car
The One You Would Never Want: Penny Priddy
2. The Fifth Element (1997)
As you can see from the picture The Fifth Element had toys in the works back in 2000 to 2001. Due to some licensing disagreements they never came to fruition. A few bobble heads squeaked their way out but none of them featured the lead cast. There are a lot of iconic characters and incredible actors in the roles. It was hard to pick just a few so I opened up the categories to include one more. Again I have to cite Flash Gordon as the one movie no one ever thought that would, finally, have action figures. The Fifth Element is a far superior film so hopefully one day we will see some Korben and Leeloo figures at Comic Con. After seeing Mattel’s Ghostbusters, The Fifth Element should join their Matty Collector line.
The Only Figure That Matters: Korben Dallas
The Essential Two-Pack: Korben Dallas (in torn tuxedo) and Leeloo
The Exclusive: Ruby Rhod
The Other Exclusive: Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Korben Dallas with Taxi
The One You Would Never Want: President Lindberg
1. Blade Runner (1982)
Harrison Ford probably has more action figures than anyone else on the planet except maybe Mark Hamill, Spider-Man and Wolverine. Yet there are no likenesses of him as Deckard from Blade Runner. WHY?! This whole film screams to Sideshow Collectibles, “please make us!” Personally, a Roy Batty holding a dove would be the first figure I would buy. It just amazes me that there aren’t any action figures from this classic film. Thankfully I do have the Spinner from the Blade Runner box set.
The Only Figure That Matters: Rick Deckard
The Essential Two-Pack: Rick Deckard and Roy Batty (Final Fight Likeness)
The Exclusive: Pris
The Vehicle and Figure Pack: Gaff and Spinner
The One You Would Never Want: Rachael
All right so what film did I miss? I want all of you Maniacs to know that I will be sending this list to all the companies mentioned above. I am interested in seeing their responses, if any. If you have any fan made figures, from the above mentioned films, I would love to see them. Please email me (bobtrate@yahoo.com) your pictures and a little description about each one.
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Why do you think nobody would want a Rachel figure? And where are Leon and Zhora? I want a Zhora figure dressed in her stripper costume, complete with snake.