Showing posts with label The Nightmare Before Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Nightmare Before Christmas. Show all posts

Sunday, 4 December 2016

Special: Top 10 Christmas-Themed Funko Products

10. Metallic Holiday Dancing Groot POP!















This guy was exclusive to Hot Topic and can still be had for about $10 US off eBay. Featuring a Metallic paint job for the snow and a festive bow around the pot. This is a must have for any POP Collector.

9. Holiday Jawa Wacky Wobbler
















Here's one that's harder to find but when it does go up, it's not crazy expensive as one sold on eBay for $14.99 US just last month. I'm not sure how I'd feel if a Jawa showed up on my doorstop with a gift in hand but this is by far the best of the Star Wars Holiday Wacky Wobblers. The Wobblers line was never that popular but with Funko releasing a new line of Wobblers and using Star Wars as the springboard these guys will get snatched up quickly.

8. Heat Miser Plushie



















From the classic TV Special The Year Without A Santa Claus we bring you Heat Miser! If you find this guy grab him. I scoured the Internet and couldn't find a single one for sale or that sold in the last little while which is depressing! Just look at the detail that went into this Plushie (which was widely considered one of Funko's laziest lines - No wonder it was so short lived) the only plushies released were the first few characters in the original POP lines (Television, Heroes, Holidays, etc.) before Funko pulled the plug.

7. Holiday Toothless POP!



















Everyone's favourite dragon is back this time with a festive wreath! Okay so maybe I'm a little biased because Toothless was one of my most sought after POP's when I started collecting but I just think this guy looks so cool and I NEED to have him in my collection. Not easy to see in Canada but online he can be found in the $20 - $25 range so not overly prohibitive.

6. Snowman Jack Mystery Mini














The cheapest thing found on our list! This Mystery Mini from the first Nightmare Before Christmas Mini set can be had for only $2 off eBay. If you're a fan of Glow-in-the-dark variants this guy has one of those as well that was exclusive to Hot Topic but I went with the normal Snowman Jack only because the GITD one was very lazy (what snowman glows?). NBC Mini's had lots of Christmas options to choose from but Snowman Jack was the winner... Now if only we can get a POP of him! (Spoiler alert: It's coming)

5. Christmas Gizmo ReAction Figure
















Tough choice between the two Gizmo Reactions but for the purpose of this list a Santa hat is just much more Christmassy than a Candy Cane. Not a big ReAction fan (don't like them much at all really) but the Gremlins set just feels so right... Maybe it's because of the 80's setting but I've been tempted to grab these myself on a few occasions.

4. Santa Jack Mega POP! Plush













There are so many great Santa Jack Funko products to choose from you'd think it be harder to find the one representative for this list but when it came down to it, it wasn't that tough. This Mega Plush stands out among it's POP, Dorbz, Reaction, Mystery Mini, Plush, Mopeez, etc. counterparts. He cost about $25 in stores so he won't be cheap but he's huge and awesome to look at.

3. Flocked Bunny Suit Ralphie
















I'm really shocked this guy isn't higher as it's one of, if not my most sought after POP! currently but I just don't have the $$$ to throw down over $100 on him currently. The classic scene from A Christmas Story where Ralphie puts on his Bunny Suit is a great POP on it's own. But when Gemini Collectibles released an exclusive Flocked version the game changed! One day he'll be in my collection. Hopefully sooner rather then later.

2. Christmas Stitch Dorbz












This Stitch in a Santa suit is so cute! He was just released like 2 days ago on the Funko Shop but don't worry he's a 10,000 piece edition so he'll be up there for a while. But mine's already on it's way to me ;)

1. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer POP! Line



















I realize this is a little bit of a cop out but how could I just pick one from this excellent line!? One day I'll finish this one off... I'm still short a Hermey and Misfit Elephant which are going for $80 & $185 respectively... Ooof. If you're fortunate enough to have them all just know I'm extremely jealous since these are some of the best products Funko ever produced, let alone Holiday ones.

Sunday, 22 May 2016

Special: Top 10 Movies of All Time!

10. Underworld

So maybe this doesn't deserve to be on this list, but damn through my teenage years this was my favourite film, it wasn't until the #1 movie on this list came around that this was dethroned and my palette became refined. So maybe it's nostalgia, maybe it's Kate Beckinsale in a leather jumpsuit, or maybe it's the Werewolf vs. Vampire action... But I just couldn't bring myself to eliminating this movie from the top 10.

9. Fight Club

Based off the novel by Chuck Palahniuk. Fight Club follows our narrator as he navigates a tough period in his life. Directed bu auteur extraordinaire David Fincher, Fight Club throws everything at you that you can handle, some of it you can't even fathom. This film features no less than five different branches of philosophy which keeps you thinking well after the end credits roll. Originally it crashed and burned at the box office causing critics and audience a like to pan it as a failure. Some 17 years later however, the Norton and Pitt starred drama sits at #10 on the IMDb top movies of all time, and #9 on this list.

8. Sleepy Hollow

Speaking of 1999, this teaming of actor Johnny Depp and Director Tim Burton, their third, following Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood, almost didn't come to fruition. Liam Neeson, Brad Pitt and Daniel Day-Lewis were all considered for Ichabod Crane's role. When Depp's name came up however Burton lobbied hard and eventually got his way, he even wanted to team him up with his Edward Scissorhands co-star Winona Ryder but she ultimately passed on the offer. And good thing too seeing how Christina Ricci brings an innocence to the role I'm not sure Ryder could've pulled off. It's dark, it's amusing, it's full of heart and exciting. What more could you want?

7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

I talked about this one enough last week when doing the MCU countdown so let's just copy what I put down then: The Winter Soldier was old school action at it's finest. The CGI was at a minimum compared to it's counterparts giving us hard-nosed action. All this with a backdrop of a political thriller proved that the Russo brothers knew how to handle a Marvel franchise. The Iron Man franchise had tried to dabble in the political thriller waters and has mostly failed so The Winter Soldier was a breath of fresh air setting up the notorious Hydra agency led by a diabolical and suave Robert Redford. Not to mention our first look at Sam Wilson's Falcon, a role that seems to be turning into the Nick Fury of old since he pops up everywhere.

6. Die Hard

What makes Die Hard so great? I'll tell you it's not the exciting heist aspect that is unfortunately rarely used in today's films. It's definitely not because it's one of the best Christmas (yes I said it) and action films of all time. Probably not because it's one of the most quotable movies of all time either. No, what sets Die Hard apart is it's great characters. There are very few movies that have an equally appealing hero as it does a villain. Usually the director perceives the characters in such a way that they have already decided for the audience who to root for, but John McTiernan lets the audience decide. Do they root for Bruce Willis' John McClane or Alan Ryckman's Hans Gruber. In my opinion you can't go wrong with either, too bad Die Hard misses the top five.

5. How To Train Your Dragon 2

It's about time we get some animation in this list! Anyone that has seen How To Train Your Dragon 2 knows that this movie was well worth the price of admission. The first one had better reviews for it's character building, How To Train Your Dragon 2 took all other aspects to a whole new level. I can't actually remember the last time I felt like I could actually cry watching a movie, let alone an animated one (Toy Story 3 was sad... But not cryworthy) but there I was sitting in the theatre feeling sadness rush over me, I'm pretty sure the only reason I resisted was because I was able to make fun of my friends next to me for actually tearing up. The continuation of the story about a viking boy taming and befriending a dragon is not only one of the best animated films of all time, but one of the best films of all time.
4. Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Can you believe that it took until the #4 spot on our list before getting to a movie that won multiple Academy Awards? Released in 1988, a year before the greatest event in human history, Who Framed Roger Rabbit was released and changed cinema. Maybe not to the scope that The Wizard of Oz or Citizen Kane did but prior to this we rarely had cartoon characters interacting with actors and when it was done it was usually lazy (sorry Mary Poppins) but Who Framed Roger Rabbit was basically the first CGI movie, even though it contained no CGI. Afraid it wouldn't blend in well with their stable of Disney films at the time they released it under the Buena Vista banner and immediately regretted it deciding to take more chances with their upcoming slate, you may have heard of them: The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Best, Aladdin and The Lion King.

3. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

Remember when I said Fight Club bombed? Yeah well that level of bombing would've been better to Scott Pilgrim. Sure the critics actually enjoyed this one but the audience was not there for this adaptation of the graphic novel series by Canadian Bryan Lee O'Malley. Edgar Wright movies tend to be fun and innovative and Scott Pilgrim was no exception. It tells the story of Scott needign to fight off the seven evil ex boyfriends of the love of his life Ramona Flowers. Wright is true to the source material while using eye-popping visuals to go with a cast that truly seemed to be the characters they play. There's a reason this has become a cult classic, those reasons among others show why it belong in the top 3.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas

No. Tim Burton did not direct this stop-motion masterpiece, rather it was helmed by the stop motion master himself, Henry Selick (Coraline, James and the Giant Peach). But that doesn't mean Burton's stamp isn't all over this flick. Years after the initial idea popped in his head Burton finally got the green light to make his dream project. Unfortunately he was under contract to direct Batman Returns so he had to pass the baton over to Selick. The movie remains a favourite for people of all-ages, just head into your local Hot Topic if you don't believe me. Everything from Danny Elfman's voice and score to the underrated Stan Webb's editing is superb. Making this not only a Halloween/Christmas favourtie but a masterpiece of a film that has resonated for years and will continue to do so.

1. The Dark Knight

I can tell you how great this movie is but I'd rather let Mike Miclette tell you:

"Batman Begins is absolutely amazing movie, and to me is a blueprint of how reboots should be done. When this sequel came around... Well, I'll never forget how blown away I was when I saw The Dark Knight in theatres for the first time (and second time for that matter). To paraphrase the Lego Movie: Everything was awesome! The action is pulse pounding, the car/truck chase scene has got to be one of the greatest chases in movies. The suspense is edge of your seat, especially during the attempted rescue of Rachel and Harvey Dent. The acting in this movie is top-notch, I happen to be in the minority when I say I love Christian Bale's performance as Batman, raspy voice and all. Heath Ledger as The Joker... Well, that speaks for itself at this point. Aaron Eckhart was amazing as Harvey Dent, Michael Caine nailed it as Alfred again, and Gary Oldman was perfect for Gordon! The story is just as chaotic as the film's main villain, the cinematography is crisp and breathtaking... Just... Wow! This is an amazing sequel, and it lands at number [one] on this list! Thank you, Nolan!"

Sunday, 2 November 2014

Special: 31 Days of Halloween Movies

If you follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Google+ you may have noticed all October I was doing a 31 days of movie challenge with Halloween movies but in case you missed some I've compiled the list here for your enjoyment.

Day 1 - Movie From Your Childhood You Still Love: Beetlejuice

Day 2 - A Comedy Tailored To Your Sense Of Humour: Tucker And Dale Vs. Evil

Day 3 - Great Remake Of Another Movie: Dawn Of The Dead

Day 4 - Movie You've Seen The Most Times: Nightmare Before Christmas

Day 5 - Favourite Love Story On Film: Corpse Bride

Day 6 - Great Movie Based On A True Story: The Strangers

Day 7 - Great Movie Twist You Never Saw Coming: Scream Franchise

Day 8 - Movie From A Favourite Filmmaker: Frankenweenie (Tim Burton)

Day 9 - Favourite Slasher Movie: My Bloody Valentine 3D

Day 10 - Movie Everyone Hates But You Like: The Covenant

Day 11 - Period Piece That Makes You Long For Time Travel: Sleepy Hollow

Day 12 - Favourite Horror Movie: 30 Days Of Night

Day 13 - Movie That Shows Off A Favourite Actor: 28 Days Later (Cillian Murphy)

Day 14 - Movie That Shows Off A Favourite Character: Zombieland (Tallahassee)

Day 15 - Family Friendly Movie: Halloweentown Franchise

Day 16 - Great Movie For A Rainy Day: Coraline

Day 17 - Gorgeous Looking Movie: Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant

Day 18 - Movie That Totally Blew Your Mind: Disturbia

Day 19 - Movie So Bad, It's Good: Evil Dead Franchise

Day 20 - Movie You Can't Sleep After Watching: Insidious Franchise

Day 21 - Animated Movie That Proves Animation Can Be Awesome: Monster House

Day 22 - Great Movie to Put On In The Background While Doing Other Stuff: Pulse

Day 23 - Movie That Should've Been A Hit, Dammit!: Fright Night

Day 24 - Great Date Movie: Shaun Of The Dead

Day 25 - Movie You Don't Get Bored Of: Red Eye

Day 26 - Favourite Monster Movie: Underworld Franchise

Day 27 - Oldest Movie You Love: The Lost Boys

Day 28 - Movie You Love That You Didn't Expect To Enjoy: From Dusk 'Till Dawn

Day 29 - Movie You Like But You Won't Watch Again For A While: Slither

Day 30 - Movie That Isn't For Everyone, But You Wish They'd Try: Clue

Day 31 - Good Halloween Movie: Casper

Sunday, 1 December 2013

Special: Top 10 Christmas Movies

Happy first of December everyone. Stay stuned for a whole month worth of Christmas themed specials every sunday on the blog. This week i'm counting down my top 10 christmas movies. Now remember this is MY top 10. It's solely opinioned based, so please whine to someone else about my lack of including Christmas Vacation and Home Alone.

10. Die Hard 2 (1990)

It's Christmas eve and John McClane has gotten himself into more trouble on Christmas, this time terrorists are holding the airport hostage, including the planes in the air, in order to rescue a drug lord. It's up to John to take down the terrorists and save his wife Holly who is stuck in a plane above rapidly losing fuel.

Best Christmas moment: When angry airport cop Lorenzo makes nice with John ripping up his parking ticket saying "What the hell, it's Christmas!"

9. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

A scientist dies before able to complete his creation, this creation is left to roam the giant castle alone until an unsuspecting Avon lady come knocking and takes "Edward" home where she gives him a home. Edward learns all about love, friendship, and the darkside of humanity culminating in a big Christmas stand-off.

Best Christmas moment: A young Winona Rider dancing in the back yard with ice shards coming down from Edward sculpting out of a block of ice.It was the first time the suburban town had seen snow, but it wouldn't be the last.

8. The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

Fuzzy felt puppets invade the Dickens classic. Kermit, Piggy and Fozzie team up to show Michael Caine's Scrooge the true meaning of Christmas. All brilliantly narrated by everyone's favourite weirdo Gonzo the great with an assist from Rizzo the rat.

Best Christmas moment: At the end when Robin playing Tiny Tim says that iconic line "God Bless Us Everyone"

7. A Christmas Story (1983)

Bob Clark's classic film based on a novel by Jean Shepherd follows the adventures of 9 year old Ralphie in the 1940's as he desperately tries to get his most wanted Christmas present... A red rider BB gun. All the convincing Ralphie does always evokes the same response though "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out"

Best Christmas moment: A terrified Ralphie just realized he was too terrified to tell Santa what he really wanted and asked for a football. He frantically climbs up the slide to spurt out his gift of choice to be given the same response he had reveived numerous times... And with a boot in the face from Santa and a couple Ho Ho Ho's Ralphie is sent down the slide.

6. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)

A Big budget remake of the classic cartoon. Although it's hard to top the classic. Ron Howard and co. do the best they can, and I find this movie wildly enjoyable. Jim Carrey's take on The Grint rubbed people the wrong way but I liked the zaniness he brought to the character. After all you had to be nuts to try to steal Christmas right?

Best Christmas moment: The Grinch waits to hear the who's wake up and sobbing, but instead he is taken aback with the chorus of voices singing... Which leads to his heart growing 10 fold.

5. Elf (2003)

Buddy The Elf (Will Ferrell) was a human who was raised by elves up at the North Pole. After many years he decides it's time to go find his crotchety father (James Caan) so he can be with his real family. Turns out an elf may have some difficulty adjusting to life outside the north pole.

Best Christmas moment: The unexpected "Baby, It's Cold Outside" duet between Ferrell and Zooey Deschannel... While she showers.

4. Gremlins (1984)

Young Billy Peltzer receives an unusual present from his father, a chinese Mogwai. Unfortunetly Billy mustn't be a Spider-Man fan since he didn't realize with great power comes great responsibility. He had 3 rules to follow and he couldn't do any of them resulting in a horde of maliscious creatures tearing up his picture perfect town.

Best Christmas moment: Every child's wishlist is used as a weapon in the final showdown between Stripe and Gizmo takes place in a Department store ripe with presents.

3. Just Friends (2005)

In 1995 after being humiliated following high school graduation, Chris Brander (Ryan Reynolds) left his hometown never to be seen from again leaving the love of his life, Jamie Palamino (Amy Smart) behind forever. But no big loss right? Seeing as though Jamie had friend zoned Chris and he really had no chance ever... But wait! What happens when fate gives you a 2nd chance with the girl of your dreams?

Best Christmas moment: Chris's current project/girlfriend/menace to society finds out Chris has been spending all his time with Jamie and shows up at the Palamino's residence and destroys their award winning Christmas set up, and the scene would nto be complete without Chris grabbing an old lady's leg to trip her.

2. Die Hard (1988)

The movie that started Bruce Willis's career. A Christmas party is interrupted when Alan Rickman shows up with his gang of terrorists/thieves. Unfortunately for them John McClane is in the building visiting his estranged wife, and he'll do anything to protect her.

Best Christmas moment: "Now I Have A Machine Gun Ho-Ho-Ho"

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown discovers Christmastown and despite not fully understanding the concept of Christmas it intrigues him enough that he wants to handle it himself this year and give Sandy Claws a year off. The movie begins Oct 31 and ends Dec 25 so you really can't go wrong with it this time of year.

Best Christmas moment: Jack wanders into Christmastown and wonders "What's This?"

So that's my list. What is yours? Tweet me @DonnyForTheWin or comment below.