Here to Finish the Job: James Franco as New Goblin from Spiderman 3

Hot Toys Movie Masterpieces represent the crème de la crème of movie action figures - 12 inch replicas that are authentic to the smallest detail, always with multiple accessories and change-out parts for nearly endless posing combinations. The James Franco New Goblin is no exception. In fact, he's one of the best yet. Now in stock and shipping from ToyWiz.com.

The details:

· Authentic, detailed and hand-painted likeness of James Franco as New Goblin in Spider-Man 3
· Realistic facial expression with detailed skin texture and expression
· Additional switch-out head with green mask and protective eye glasses
· Stands approximately 30 cm tall
· TrueType body with 30 points of articulation
· Two (2) pairs of interchangeable gloved palms including:
· One (1) pair of relaxed palms with right palm for holding sword and left palm for holding pumpkin bomb
· One (1) pair of fists
· One (1) black and green jacket with elbow pads, belt and sword sheath on the back
· One (1) pair of black pants
· One (1) pair of black snow boots
· Three (3) swords with different lengths
· One (1) set of pumpkin bomb
· One (1) pair of forearm armor weapons (right side can be interchanged to fighting mode)
· One (1) sword pocket with straps
· One (1) sword sheath
· One (1) sky stick with light-up function and transparent stand
· Figurine stand with New Goblin nameplate and the movie logo

Take a look at some of the promo photos released from Hot Toys:

What Everyone Should Know about the Upcoming G.I. Joe Sequel

G.I. Joe 2: Cobra Strikes, is getting ready to begin filming in late summer (I hear), and surprise announcements have been coming one after another. I know some G.I. Joe fans are skeptical - reviews for Rise of Cobra were mixed, at best. And while it is far too soon to judge what this next effort will bring, this one has a new director and a great preliminary cast is already being assembled.

• Ray Stevenson (Thor) as Firefly


• Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) as Roadblock


• Adrianne Palicki as Lady Jaye


• D.J. Corona as Flint


• Elodie Yung as Jinx


• RZA as Blind Master


• Lee Byung-hun (reprised) as Storm Shadow


• Channing Tatum (reprised) as Duke


• Ray Park (reprised) as Snake-Eyes

And while things in Hollywood can always change, this looks like a great lineup so far. Mostly I'm excited to see The Rock in there! I actually got to talk with him once several years ago, and he made a fan out of me. He was very friendly and down-to-earth, with a great sense of humor. Most though, he was really engaged with everyone around him. He made every person he talked to feel important, even us non-famous ones! But all personal preferences aside, I still think he has the perfect look and image to really work well with the G.I. Joe movie franchise.

What do you think of the cast so far? Anyone you'll be missing from the last movie, or suggestions for the current project?

Captain America + Harley Davidson

In just a couple of weeks, Captain America will roar into theaters on an amazing, custom Harley-Davidson® WLA motorcycle. What could be more definitively American than that? A hero in red, white and blue, riding one of the USA's most iconic machines to fight crime. I absolutely love this tie-in!

"Captain America makes the perfect marketing partner for Harley-Davidson as he truly embodies the iconic, heroic and American aspects of our brand," said Dino Bernacchi, Harley-Davidson's director of Marketing Communications. "Both Captain America and our motorcycles are great symbols of freedom."

True to history, about 90,000 of Harley-Davidson's "Liberator" motorcycles were sent overseas to support the troops in World War II.

All in all, I cannot wait to see this movie! The more we hear about the details, the more I want to see it! I'll be in line opening night...and then I will need a replica of this bike, at least in miniature. Though I think I'd seriously sell my car and take to the road for this! How about you?

*Disclaimer: I have never actually ridden a motorcycle, but I'd totally ride this one everywhere!

Harley-Davidson Press Release.

Captain America: The First Avenger Movie Merchandise.

Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece: Thor

Sometimes people get carried away with superlatives - everything these days is "ultimate" or "extreme" it seems. But when it comes to Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece figures, what other adjectives are there? These things are insanely detailed, down to the tiniest hair! I think the skin might even have pores!

This week brought us the new Hot Toys figure from the Marvel Thor movie, and it is pretty amazing. It's so realistic, the photos can almost trick you into thinking it's actually Chris Hemsworth. A 12" Chris Hemsworth, like the tiny lap-giraffe in the commercials maybe...

And yes, I can definitely say that I'd like the tiny giraffe and the 12-inch Thor myself...though they keep insisting that the giraffe isn't real. So Thor it is.



At $224.99, quality doesn't come cheap, but it's a lot less than a tiny giraffe would be. And it actually exists, in all it's awesome, amazing, superlative coolness.

Too many adjectives? Probably. But the details are below, see for yourself.

The 1/6th scale Thor Limited Edition Collectible Figurine specially features:
- Authentic and detailed fully realized likeness of Chris Hemsworth as Thor in the Thor movie
- Approximately 30 cm tall
- Muscular body with over 30 points of articulations
- Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles, skin texture and beard
- Hair sculpture can be detached for wearing helmet
- Three (3) pairs of interchangeable palms including:
- One (1) pair of fists (right fist is gloved)
- One (1) pair of relaxed palms (right palm is gloved)
- One (1) pair for holding hammer (right palm is gloved)
- Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted

Costume:
- One (1) detachable red-colored cape
- One (1) black-colored upper outfit with silver-colored patterned long sleeves
- One (1) black-colored mixed with dark blue-colored upper body armor with silver-colored circle plates on the front part
- One (1) pair of black-colored pants
- One (1) pair of black-colored boots with red stripes at the back

Weapon:
- One (1) authentic metal hammer with patterned holder and leather-like strap at the end

Accessories:
- One (1) movie-accurate helmet
- One (1) pair of forearm armors with red cloth inside
- Figure stand with Thor nameplate and the movie logo

Monster Monday: Leatherface

Today's monster takes me back - way back - to the first time I watched The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I had a fresh new driver's license and permission to spend the night with a couple of friends, so we laid in with classic horror films and junk food  for the night. Three girls, three scary movies, and trouble on the horizon.

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Why did we think this was a good idea?"][/caption]

I'll admit is was late and I was already spooked when we got started with this one, but it scared the daylights out of me. The super-creepiness of the meat hooks, Old Monty in the wheelchair, and of course...Leatherface himself had me thinking I heard noises outside the window and being too afraid to leave the room alone. I was completely and totally freaked out. Then things got real.

The other two girls got into a huge fight. I don't remember the point of it, only that it turned into a horrible screaming-and-slapping thing and I couldn't break it up. A few minutes later, the parents were awake and stomping into the basement, telling us all to leave. To leave! At 2:00AM, with TSM still in the player!

A few important details: my house was far out in the country and I'd never driven at night. And I was rightfully terrified on many, many levels. But out I went.

I made it home just fine, of course, though my hands were shaking and I was sure I saw movement in the woods the whole way down every country road. In fact, I was nearly in tears by the time I parked to make a mad dash from the driveway to the door. All logic failed me though: I was afraid that a chainsaw-wielding cannibal would grab me before I got inside. I should have been more afraid of waking my parents...because that happened! Thanks to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I didn't get permission to take the car overnight again for years!

[caption id="attachment_1070" align="alignnone" width="171" caption="Yep, you get the chainsaw, the pulley and the severed arm too. Don't blame me if you can't sleep tonight though."][/caption]

So why did I choose Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre for Monster Monday anyway? Well, honestly it's because we have this completely creepy McFarlane Toys Movie Maniacs 12 Inch Deluxe Action Figure on our huge BLOWOUT SALE - down to $29.99 from $49.99. He's a great deal...if you're brave enough to sleep with him in the house.

If you stopped by looking for today's 10% off discount code, just enter SAMSON at checkout to save on your total order!

Monster Monday Continues with CLOVERFIELD!

So you didn't get a good enough look at this guy in the movie, right? A lot of frustrated movie-goers complained about it, but I loved the way he was obscured til the big reveal.



The action figure, of course, will let you get that close-up any time! This is a big roaring 14"  monster with interchangeable heads, parasites and the severed head of Lady Liberty to recreate an unforgettable Cloverfield scene on your shelf!



This is the only collectible from the series, so there aren't many left for sale.



Edited to add: After making this post, my co-worker JD mentioned that the monster's name is Clover, which reminded me that my great-uncle once had a mule named Clover. Clover wasn't a good mule, either. But since there's no Clover-the-Mule action figure, I'm sticking with this sweet Clover-the-Cloverfield-monster figure.

Attention: Marvel Fans in Ohio!

The Plain Dealer reported today that Marvel Studios has issued an open casting call for extras in The Avengers movie, which will be filming in Cleveland in August and September. And whether you're a fan or not, I have to encourage anyone with the spare time and a little sense of adventure to go try to get in the cast! If you've never been an extra in a film before, it's definitely an experience to write home about!

This looks like a great one too: the celebrity lineup has Robert Downey, Jr. as Iron Man; Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury; Chris Hemsworth as Thor; Chris Evans as Captain America; Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow; Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Mark Ruffalo as Hulk.

Personally, I was only a movie extra once. The pay was mediocre and the days were long, but overall it was a lot of fun and I came away with some great stories and memories. I was offered other film work after that, but sadly, I couldn't make the time commitment to do it again, though I badly wanted to.

The Plain Dealer article has the details for this casting call, and every movie is looking for something different. But from my own experience, I can tell you a few things you can probably expect if you go:

1. Don't worry about your age, height, weight, or other features. This isn't a beauty contest - directors are often looking for a wide range of types to represent a crowd.


2. Don't try to stand out! It isn't the time for experimental hair colors or distracting makeup, unless the call is for a specific  type. Ultimately, the hair, makeup and costume people will change your appearance to suit the scene anyway. The call for The Avengers specifies your "best business executive outfit" and may expect you to wear the same clothing on set.


3. Leave the colored contacts out! We were warned time and again that colored lenses were forbidden because they appear strange on film.

When you're hired and hit the set, that's when the experience gets real!

1. Listen. Listen to everything your director or anyone in charge of production tells you. Not only must you know where to go and what to do, but they'll also probably instruct you that there will be no photos or autographs, not to approach actors and actresses, and tell you when to be absolutely silent. Breaking the rules will end your fun, so pay attention.


2. Expect to be told that you can't have your cell phone with you at all on the set. Not only does no one want an inadvertent ringtone interruption, but most would rather not have random images of the filming or the stars leaking out to the internet.


3. You'll do a lot of standing around and waiting. You'll be amazed at how long it can take to create a few minutes of film and how many times you'll do the same thing over and over before you're done. Don't worry about being too bored though, there were lots of fascinating people on my set, and we all got to know each other during the downtime. Oh, and the food and snacks they provided were excellent!


4. Don't expect to meet or hangout with celebrities. It might happen, but probably not. The star of the film I was in was fantastic for working out comedy routines for all of us during lulls in the action, but didn't approach or meet anyone one-on-one.

So if you're in Cleveland, or if there's a casting call for another film near you, I highly recommend checking it out. And remember, forever more, whenever that film is mentioned or comes on television, you get to point and tell everyone "Hey! I'm in this movie!"

Friday Roundup: Lots of new arrivals!

What a week, guys - we've got new arrivals shipping out fast the day they come in! Some of the highlights and best sellers:

• Gears of War Action Figures (Series 6) from NECA arrived!  Were you all waiting for these or what? These came in and started going back out the door before they even hit the ground, and they look fantastic. I hope all of you with pre-orders are thrilled to see them!


• YuGiOh 5D's Duelist Pack: Crow, the first 5D’s Duelist Pack to focus on a character other than Yusei Fudo! Individual packs and Booster Boxes (36 packs)


• Naruto Shippuden Card Game Shattered Truth Theme Decks:  Pain and Itachi Uchiha.


• Mario Kart Pull Back Racers are awesome!


• And let's not forget Green Lantern as we continue to stock up for the movie release. DC Direct has some amazing GL collectibles, but be sure to check out the Limited Edition Hal Jordan and Sinestro Busts!


• We have new Marvel Minimates in stock, plus pre-orders too! These are HOT!


• New Japanese Beyblades have been so popular, even some pre-orders have sold out. But don't worry - we have many new arrivals in stock.

Of course, that's not all. Up for pre-order there's still time to reserve these:

• We're right on the brink the of the Redakai release! If you've never started a trading card game from Day 1, now is your chance to get in on a great one!


• Mattel WWE Wrestling Basic Series 12 Action Figures are shipping in late summer: Alberto del Rio, Evan Bourne, Wade Barrett, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton & John Morrison.


• We're also taking orders for Round 5 Bruce Lee 5 Inch Action Figures - no collection would be complete without the master!

I can't quite put everything in one release, so please check our complete list of New Arrivals and Pre-Orders to see what I missed! And as always, we welcome your questions and comments here, or on Twitter @ToyWizdotcom!

Action Figure Museum

No, I'm not talking about my living room here...there's an actual Action Figure Museum you can visit in Oklahoma!

According to their website, you'll find over 13,000 action figures, plus drawings from local artists. It is the devoted to the art and sculpting of action figures, so if you take the video tour, you'll see not only complete figures, but original sculpts as well.

So the next time someone gives you a hard time about how many action figures you collect...remind them, it's art!

[caption id="attachment_955" align="alignnone" width="225" caption="If you're looking for high-end collectibles, search our site for items made by Hot Toys, like this Iron Man 2 action figure, now up for pre-order. When you see the features, articulation and level of detail, there will be no doubt that these are art! "][/caption]

Monster Monday: Zombie Survival, Part 1

I've decided that for the next several weeks, "Zombie Monday" is in order. Consider it a public service from ToyWiz.com and Bebette...we're here to help you live through the zombie invasion with tips and tricks for being among the handful of living people left on earth after the uprising. I hope you'll follow along because I've put a lot of thought into this, and I'd really like for you to be alive to join my band of survivors when the time comes. Especially those of you with skills.

I have a pretty wide variety of unusual skills myself. Balloon animals? I can do that. Nunchuck skills? Sadly, no. But I promise to be impressed by yours. But back to my skills - what's the point in being able to deal 3-card Monte or put together a wicked Halloween costume on the fly? It's all probably a lot less advantageous than you'd think. So I've been rating my various abilities in terms of how useful they'll be during the inevitable zombie invasion, because that's just how my mind works. And because really, when they come (oh, and they will come), it isn't just about being able to wield random weapons scavenged from a sporting goods store, it's also about being essential to your group of survivors so that when they have to decide whether to leave you behind or come back for a daring rescue, you'll be worth saving.

[caption id="attachment_916" align="alignnone" width="219" caption="TCG Skills are also important for this particular survival group."][/caption]

MONSTER MONDAY: Godzilla!

This week in 1956, American audiences caught their first glimpse of Godzilla in Godzilla, King of the Monsters! The towering mutant dinosaur stormed onto the screen, quickly becoming a pop culture icon that has lasted through nearly 30 films, comic books, a television series and is even in production for a new 2012 movie release from Legendary Pictures.

You can find this monster not only on screen, but also in books, video games, and comics from both Marvel and Dark Horse. With so many outlets for the franchise, it's no wonder Godzilla is one of Japan's most recognizable creations, spawning some incredible action figures and collectibles over the decades. He's so popular, we gave Godzilla his own category on ToyWiz.com! (Click here to take a look - Godzilla is always in demand)

From the cute & cuddly...

[caption id="attachment_894" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Awwww!"][/caption]

To the ultra-realistic...

[caption id="attachment_895" align="alignnone" width="229" caption="A masterpiece, right down to the operator inside!"][/caption]

To the classics...

[caption id="attachment_898" align="alignnone" width="232" caption="They just don't make mutant monster lizards like they did back in the 1960's."][/caption]

We've even got some extraordinarily rare Godzilla items for serious collectors, in stock and in mint condition. These items are sure to be in demand next year when the new movie comes out, generating a new wave of Godzilla merchandise and captivating audiences yet again. The "augmented reality" production of the new film promises some amazing special effects, and we can't wait to see what Legendary Pictures (Inception, The Dark Knight) has in store for us this time around.

A little Godzilla trivia for your Monday morning:

• There is a dinosaur named for Godzilla: The Gojirasaurus quayi is a Triassic ceratosaur over five meters in length, making it one of the larger predators of it's period. (Gojira is the name for Godzilla in Japan)


• Blue Öyster Cult had a minor hit, "Godzilla," in 1977


• Godzilla starred in a Nike ad by playing basketball with Charles Barkley in 1992


• The original American release was significantly different from the Japanese original, but became a hit in both countries.


• Godzilla has been portrayed as both a hero and a villain/destroyer

In brightest day, in blackest night...

Wow! The newly released footage from the Green Lantern movie looks amazing!

 

Avatar

Although Avatar is hitting theatres in December, the first toys are starting to ship.

We have gotten the first wave of toys in, and they look pretty solid. While the movie itself doesn't look like anything special, the toys themselves look good.

Right now, we have the first deluxe figures and more are sure to come. Come Christmas time, when the movie has been released and rumor mills are in full swing, they will be hard to come by.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is a TV show on Nickelodeon that has been tearing up the airwaves since debuting in February.

Ni Hao, Kai-lan is being called the Chinese version of Dora the Explorer, the very successful and popular show here in America.

It has spawned movies, many toys, costumes and all the trappings that come with popular shows. There has been talk of a movie recently, and it's sure to be out by the end of the year.

We have started to carry a lot of the new toys, and they are very popular. They are sure to be one of the hottest toys around come Christmastime.

The great thing about this show is that in addition to being a fun show, it's a learning experience, allowing children to learn Mandarin Chinese in addition to being amused.

The 9 Hits Theatres Tomorrow!

Tim Burton's 9 hits theatres tomorrow. I've been looking forward to this movie for a while and think it will be a good one.

Although Tim Burton is only a producer, it definitely looks like it has his flair and a lot of his time honored tricks.

It's also got a great cast, featuring Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly & Martin Landau.

All things considered, this should be one of the stronger movies of the fall season.

The Transformers Hype

With each new summer brings us "The Summer Blockbuster."
Consumers are heckled with advertisement after advertisement for the next "hottest" movie, which is usually based purely on special effects or star power.
Recently, Hollywood's newest craze has been comic book heroes. In the last couple years almost all of the major DC & Marvel comic book characters have been brought to life on the silver screen.
And those that haven't yet found their way into the multiplex, are slated for release in the future. These characters are very rarely given just a one-shot deal, such as Iron Man being slated for a sequel, Spider-Man up to "sequel" number 4 and of course, our topic of discussion, Transformers:Revenge of the Fallen.
Whether the new treatment of Transformers is a failure or success, the amount of promotion & hype around this film astonishes me.
Of course, the film will do huge numbers at the box office, but does that mean it measures up as a film of substance? A film worth watching more than once?
If you have seen the new movie, let us know what you thought of it!

New Rise of Cobra Figures

New G.I. Joe Rise of Cobra figures will be going on the website tomorrow!
So after you check out those Bakugan episodes, make sure to check out the new figures from Rise of Cobra, which hits theatres in early August!

New Moon

A big treat for all you Twilight fans...
Starting tomorrow the poster for New Moon, the brand new Twilight flick, opening in October, will be up!
It's a great addition to any room, so don't hesitate.

Up!

Disney/Pixar's Up is in theatres now.
Disney/Pixar has a great reputation for fun family movies, especially during the summer and this looks like it is no exception. It's already made close to $75 Million in it's first weekend.
Partially based on the famous actor Spencer Tracy, the main character Carl Fredrickson is your typical grumpy old man.
He attaches thousands of balloons to his house, in order to fly, which is where the title of the movie comes from.
There are some funny characters and the previews for the movie look pretty solid.
With all the blockbusters coming out this summer, watch for Up to be the one that is most talked about.

New Cars

With each passing day, we get more and more Cars are in at Toywiz.
Besides being an awesome movie, who doesn't like Cars?
We're getting new Launchers, as well as the old favorites. We even have Cars with Lenticular eyes! How cool is that?
And with news of a sequel coming up in a few years, now is the time to get your Cars, before they can't be found!