Original Figure Review - X-Plus DefoReal Series Godzilla (2016) The 4th Form

Written by Arlo Hansen

Continuing on with the Shin-Godzilla trend, today I will be reviewing one of X-Plus's most recent releases, the DefoReal Series Godzilla (2016) 4th Form. Ever since I saw the unpainted prototypes of this and the other Shin Godzilla forms, I knew I just had to have it. DefoReal, also referred to as Default Real, is a brand new series of figures from X-Plus that apply their realistic movie accurate sculpting to super deformed/chibi versions of your favorite giant monsters. Unlike most of X-Plus's other figures, the DefoReal series is much more accessible to the casual figure collector who does not wish to spend $100 and beyond. This figure retails for around $45 USD, and with shipping came out at around $75. Even though it is available at a reasonable cost, is it worth it? Read this brief review to find out!

Original Figure Review - S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla (2016) The 2nd Form & The 3rd Form

Written by Arlo Hansen

WHEW! Has it been a LOOOOOOooooonnnng time since I have last posted a figure review here. Once more, I apologize for the year-long gap in content on this blog. As I have mentioned in my previous post, I was focussed on other things that ultimately did not work out. However, now I am back with a brand new review of the recent S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla (2016) The 2^nd Form and The 3^rd Form from 2016's Shin-Godzilla.

Original Figure Review - Sideshow Collectibles Knifehead Statue

Written by Arlo Hansen

I have had Sideshow Collectibles' Knifehead statue since last September, but I am just now getting around to reviewing it. No, it was not procrastination that has prevented me from sharing my reflections on this piece. I've contemplated for months whether or not to review this and the other Pacific Rim statues I have. I was not keen on doing anymore figure reviews on video, because it was just not my sort of thing. However, since I am going through a little bit of a dry spell, I thought this would be the appropriate time to review them. So far I only have three of the four released statues: Knifehead, Gipsy Danger and Slattern. I will pick up Striker Eureka eventually, but with me currently out of a job, I will just have to be patient for a little while longer.

Knifehead was the first of the Pacific Rim statues that Sideshow Collectibles released. The statues were sculpted with assistance and guidance by designers who actually worked on Pacific Rim (2013) including director, Guillermo Del Toro. In the movie, Knifehead was a Category III Kaiju that was the first to demonstrate intelligence in battle. It successfully killed one of Gipsy Danger's pilots, Yancy Becket, before being killed by a lone Raleigh Becket before he struggles to get the Jaeger back to the Alaskan shore. Since the film came out, Knifehead has become one of the few Kaiju to really stand out. Of all the Kaiju in the film, Knifehead has received the most figure treatments from tiny Gashapon figures from Kaiyodo, deluxe action figures from NECA, and an upcoming Large Monsters Series vinyl figure from X-Plus. However, by far one of the more impressive pieces of Knifehead released so far has to be this Sideshow statue. Let's take a closer look! 

Original Figure Review - Medicom Real Action Heroes NEO Evangelion 13

Written by Arlo Hansen

I have been a huge fan of the Evangelion franchise for at least the past seven or so years. What intrigued me was its complex story, characters and use of religious and psychological symbolism. As soon as I was finished watching the original anime series, I then discovered the Rebuild of Evangelion films, which is a partial retelling of the original story with new characters and elements thrown in. Things remained mostly familiar within the movies Evangelion 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone (2007) and Evangelion 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance. However, by Evangelion 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo (2012) things changed a great deal - SPOILER ALERT - there was a 14 year time skip between the second and third film, new characters, new organizations, new EVAs, and new questions that will hopefully be answered in the fourth/final film whenever it releases. One of the definite highlights of the film was the battle between the upgraded Evangelion Unit 02 and Evangelion 13 in Terminal Dogma, which bears a striking resemblence to Unit 01 (with some notable differences). For a long time I've collected the smaller Revoltech action figures for the EVAs, so I was venturing into brand new territory in regards to the Medicom RAH NEO Evangelion 13 action figure.

Truth be told, this was an impulse purchase. I was feeling rather blue this past Valentines Day as I am alone. I decided to buy myself something I've been eyeing for a while as a means to lift my spirits. That little something was this figure, which costed me a little over $400 USD. So, was it worth the price and my emotional state at the time? Let's take a look! 

Original Figure Review - X-Plus Gigantic Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1999

Written by Arlo Hansen

Whew! How long has it been since my last figure review? A couple months? Well, I am back with an all new original figure review of the X-Plus Gigantic Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 1999 vinyl figure. I intend to do several more reviews over the coming weeks of items I've had for a little while, but not yet have reviewed. That is besides the point right now, because now we are going to take a look at this hunk of soft vinyl. I know I am pretty late with this review since many collectors have already done their reviews on this figure when it first released last year. However, I don't care. Better late than never, right?

So, without any further ado, let us get started!

Fresh Vinyl Reviews: X-Plus Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 1954 Gripping Train [RIC Exclusive]

Original Figure Review - X-Plus Toho 30cm Series Godzilla 2014 Roaring Ver.

"Dog goes woof, cat goes meow.
Bird goes tweet, and mouse goes squeak.
Cow goes moo. Frog goes croak, and the elephant goes toot.
Ducks say quack and fish go blub, and the seal goes OW OW OW.
But there's one sound that no one knows...
WHAT DOES THE GODZILLA SAY?"

...SKREEEEEEEEEEEEOOONNNKK!

X-Plus has hit us once more with their chunky 30cm tall Godzilla 2014 vinyl figure with some notable changes. This figure was a RIC/Bandai Premium Web Shop exclusive, only made available domestically in Japan. If you are lucky to come across one at this time, the best method of acquiring it would be through a middle man. In my case I went through Jamie Davis of ToySPLOSION Japanese Toy and Figure Services on Facebook when I preordered mine back in November 2015. He is a SUPER nice guy, easy to talk to, and provides awesome service. He's the best! 

So, how does this figure stack up on its own and with its predecessor? Let us take a look!

DiegoDoom Reviews the X-Plus Toho 30cm Series Anguirus 1968 Diamond Select Reissue

DiegoDoom Reviews the X-Plus Toho 30cm Series Yuji Sakai Modeling Collection Godzilla 2001

Original Figure Review - NECA Pacific Rim 7" Figure Series Striker Eureka [Ultimate Edition]

Ever since NECA gave us a brand new sculpt for their Knifehead figure [Battle Damaged Knifehead/Deluxe Knifehead] back in early 2014, they have been steadily coming around producing brand new sculpts for their older Series 1 and 2 figures. Gipsy Danger received a brand new sculpt with the Hong Kong Brawl Edition, released late 2014 [with multiple variations following,] and as of this summer it too will receive the "Ultimate Edition" treatment. Right now, however, we are blessed to have got an updated 7-inch Striker Eureka. A couple years ago, I reviewed the original figure and gave it a thumbs up... I take ALL that back! Because, ever since then it has been the most problematic Jaeger figure that I've ever bought from NECA! I've went through three figures since that review and all of them had broke, and I barely handled them roughly. So I am hoping that NECA's second attempt at a 7-inch Striker figure comes out good.

Other than its sculpt and detailing, is this figure an improvement over what came before?

Let us take a look at it now!

Steven Reviews the S.H. MonsterArts King Ghidorah Special Color Ver.

Original Figure Review - Hasbro Signature Series Cloverfield Monster Action Figure

With 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), the long awaited sequel (or "blood relative," whatever the means) to Cloverfield (2008), releasing less than a couple of months from now, I feel that it is appropriate to take a look at the mysterious giant monster from the 2008 film. Hasbro's Cloverfield Monster action figure is not new. It has been around since January 2009 and was severely limited upon its release. Whatever figures are available to buy nowadays are highly priced due to its current rarity. Fortunately I've had this one from the very start. Get ready, and pump out Michael Giacchino's ROAR on the speakers, folks. I am going to finally review this puppy!

Steven's Toy Reviews - S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla 1964 (Emergence of Godzilla Ver.)

Original Figure Review - Funko POP! Godzilla Vinyl Figure

Today you can't walk anywhere without seeing the presence of the highly popular POP! vinyl figures from Funko. These designer-inspired vinyl figures have sprung into popularity in the past several years with over a thousand figures from hundreds of various properties from films, video games, books, TV shows, and more! I have been familiar with POP! for a few years, but I promised myself that I would not buy into them until if/when they'd ever do a Godzilla figure. It took a while, but at long last, Godzilla was confirmed through a leaked preorder list from Gamestop.

Original Figure Review - NECA Classic Godzilla Series - Godzilla 1954

 

"Let us call this creature, Godzilla. Named after the legend of Odo Island."

And we are back with our first written review in MONTHS! I was originally supposed to do this review (in video format) back in September, but I ended up being busy with other things. However, even as time passed on, I was still keen on reviewing this figure. So without further ado, let us take a look at NECA's Classic Godzilla Series Godzilla 1954 action figure!