Hot Toys Disney+ Figures "The Mando" + "Cassian" + "Kenobi" + "The Book of Boba Fett"

[greygoose]

Forums are my favourite format, then Facebook mainly for retailers and figure news.

Facebook feels a little less ephemeral now that most pages have a search function. In the past you could be scrolling for ten minutes trying to find something you saw previously!

Yeah forums are top for me too. Spawn was the first forum I joined (mid 00's). When that shut down I lurked on here for over a year before finally joining.

 

[ScoutingForToys]

Forums are my favourite format, then Facebook mainly for retailers and figure news.

Facebook feels a little less ephemeral now that most pages have a search function. In the past you could be scrolling for ten minutes trying to find something you saw previously!

I pretty much abandoned the collector pages on FB (especially OSR). I can find figure news on this forum or just vist Hot Toys site or YouTubers.
Got sick of the FB groups.
A figure would be announced. People would be critical. I know that can be annoying but the dog piling on anyone with any critical feedback at all by the Hot Toys cultists was ridiculous.
When they revealed Boba with repainted armour, someone posted a pic they'd photoshopped to give Boba smoother armour (as the proto armour has too many rough patches). Guy got mauled and dog piled by the cultists.
That was enough for me.
This forum is a far nicer place to discuss figures.

 

[Ramatuelle]

There's a LOT of immaturity on OSR, fo' reals.

 

[Jaycepticon]

I still come to these forums as I think it’s the lowest evil S far as collecting on “social media” goes. And while this is my favorite forum, I do still miss the days of the Spawn forums.

Having only a General, Sports, and McFarlane sections made it so much easier to consume content and it was fairly in order there. But then again, I’m sure 99% of people there migrated here since I remember 1/6 was the next evolution from collecting 1/12

 

[Asta]

I pretty much abandoned the collector pages on FB (especially OSR). I can find figure news on this forum or just vist Hot Toys site or YouTubers.
Got sick of the FB groups.
A figure would be announced. People would be critical. I know that can be annoying but the dog piling on anyone with any critical feedback at all by the Hot Toys cultists was ridiculous.
When they revealed Boba with repainted armour, someone posted a pic they'd photoshopped to give Boba smoother armour (as the proto armour has too many rough patches). Guy got mauled and dog piled by the cultists.
That was enough for me.
This forum is a far nicer place to discuss figures.

For early news I find the best place is often the BBICN forum, but the Google translation of the Chinese text often leaves a lot to be desired!

I used to follow OSR and OSS. I gave up on OSS, and only skim through OSR to see if anything grabs my attention.

Forums are generally more civilised, with all the threads filed in an orderly fashion, unlike all the other forms of social media that exist in the moment only.

 

[Hoody999]

Yeah, I just like the simplistic nature of forums. Each figure or topic that interests me is bookmarked and I can access them quickly and easily and keep up with what's going on.

Since the latest change, things are so much easier to navigate or search on here now too. Best thing they ever did !

Let me quote Obi Wan. "Not as clumsy or random as a FB page; an elegant forum for a more civilized age" !

 

[FlyAndFight]

Facebook is garbage as far as following or tracking a specific figure or discussion. Actually, Facebook is garbage, period.

 

[Hoody999]

Nail on the head with the creative stuff. In the early years of Disney SW it certainly seemed she was the one making those creative decisions, with little input from those she should've been receiving input from (i.e. Favreau, Filoni). It definitely shows in the ST. The terrible reception of those movies and the bombing at the box-office of Solo (a movie I've often championed) seemed to change things. Then Disney+ came along and we all know the rest. Maybe she realised at that stage it was right to take a step back from the creative side. Or other powerful figures at Disney realised it and forced her hand. However, the upcoming movies certainly have a feel of ''Kathy in full creative control'' about them.

There's no doubt above her credentials outside of Star Wars however, as both a producer and executive producer: Gremlins, Back to the Future, The Goonies, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, The Sixth Sense, Munich etc. I can see why George handed the reins to her.

I've never liked her political agenda. Star Wars is as much a place for inclusivity and diversity as anywhere, but it's done incredibly clumsily at times (see the High Republic as a perfect example). It borders on being offensive to those it's trying to champion (e.g. the a-sexual guy and his rock in the HR). Then again Disney is such an overtly woke company that whatever they put out, be it Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar etc., will always be agenda-driven. I doubt even if you put Favreau in charge of Star Wars much would change in that regard.

I did hear an angle (I think it was the guys on Rebel Force Radio) after reading the Bob Iger autobiography. That potentially George wanted to sell Lucasfilm to Disney, but still have his hand in the creative stuff. One way of doing this would be to hand over the leadership role to Kathleen, who he presumably knew was a good producer etc etc, but not good creatively. That way he could have his cake and eat it too.

However Disney didn't want George involved, or they fell out or whatever.

This may or may not be true. However I could certainly believe it.

 

[user 67922]

I did hear an angle (I think it was the guys on Rebel Force Radio) after reading the Bob Iger autobiography. That potentially George wanted to sell Lucasfilm to Disney, but still have his hand in the creative stuff. One way of doing this would be to hand over the leadership role to Kathleen, who he presumably knew was a good producer etc etc, but not good creatively. That way he could have his cake and eat it too.

However Disney didn't want George involved, or they fell out or whatever.

This may or may not be true. However I could certainly believe it.

I think perhaps the idea was for JJ to be that creative force, and we all know how that ended. I seem to remember hearing somewhere that JJ was George's pick. Not sure about that. Kathleen was guilty of allowing Abrams, and then to an even bigger extent Rian Johnson, too much creative licence. Let's face it if you could go back and replace JJ with Favreau and RJ with Filoni those films would probably have been a success. Kennedy's main responsibility in the situation was hiring the wrong creative ''talents'' in the first place.

 

[Asta]

I think perhaps the idea was for JJ to be that creative force, and we all know how that ended. I seem to remember hearing somewhere that JJ was George's pick. Not sure about that. Kathleen was guilty of allowing Abrams, and then to an even bigger extent Rian Johnson, too much creative licence. Let's face it if you could go back and replace JJ with Favreau and RJ with Filoni those films would probably have been a success. Kennedy's main responsibility in the situation was hiring the wrong creative ''talents'' in the first place.

Some creatives need somebody strong enough to rein them in, to give them another perspective.

Imagine if Lucas had worked on Raiders of the Lost Ark alone? If it weren't for Spielberg Indy would've had an affair with Marion when she was only eleven years old.

A Favreau and Filoni Sequel Trilogy... ah, what might have been.

 

[DakRen]

Sigh. SW fans I guess will justify anything. Even seen Justin on his YT stream complain about you are not writing it, they are. What? I like Justin's reviews, but to just swallow anything given to you is dumb. Pander to certain groups that isn't in the purview of SW and literally not accomplishing anything in storylines perhaps isn't serving SW. People say they like TLJ but can't justify it. PT was bad directing and dialogue, ST was bad everything.

Oh cmon I avoid ST debates because they are pointless but to say the ST was bad everything that is beyond ridiculous. That’s a disservice to the actors, the cinematography and the special effects. Sure the ST has shortcomings like PT but it was not bad at everything. You can dislike something without intentionally misrepresenting what it was able to accomplish.

Edit: You know what no, that’s not enough.

Are you going to tell Adam Driver he was bad in acting? Are you going to tell Lucasfilm special and practical effects artists they are bad at effects? Are you going to tell the concept artists they are bad at drawing?

You say people can’t justify they like TLJ. Yes they can, that’s why it was so divisive because approximately half of Star Wars fans enjoyed it. Just because you fail to even acknowledge a basic facet of the film as positive doesn’t mean you suddenly get a catch all magic key to rewrite history and tell people what they can and can’t enjoy.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

Oh cmon I avoid ST debates because they are pointless but to say the ST was bad everything that is beyond ridiculous. That’s a disservice to the actors, the cinematography and the special effects. Sure the ST has shortcomings like PT but it was not bad at everything. You can dislike something without intentionally misrepresenting what it was able to accomplish.

The only thing it accomplished was to nearly burn the Star Wars franchise to ashes. Good thing Jon Favreau was around with his fire hose.

 

[DakRen]

The only thing it accomplished was to nearly burn the Star Wars franchise to ashes. Good thing Jon Favreau was around with his fire hose.

Agreed and Filoni of course who learned from Lucas thankfully about storytelling. It still doesn’t mean that everything about the ST is bad. Disappointing yes but you and matticus and all the gatekeepers are wrong to trash everything about the ST and especially wrong to say no one likes any of it or it requires justification. Some of the very issues criticized are found in PT and even OT but they are ignored because of those who enjoy it. That’s the definition of bias.

 

[TurdFurgusonsHat]

Agreed and Filoni of course who learned from Lucas thankfully about storytelling. It still doesn’t mean that everything about the ST is bad. Disappointing yes but you and matticus and all the gatekeepers are wrong to trash everything about the ST and especially wrong to say no one likes any of it or it requires justification. Some of the very issues criticized are found in PT and even OT but they are ignored because of those who enjoy it. That’s the definition of bias.

There are people who commit atrocities who probably have some good qualities but I'm not going to give them credit for them. So decent cinematography isn't something I'll bother acknowledging.

 

[DakRen]

There are people who commit atrocities who probably have some good qualities but I'm not going to give them credit for them. So decent cinematography isn't something I'll bother acknowledging.

Well you do have a good point of the importance of the whole picture being greater than the sum of its parts. Though I do not completely think the analogy with atrocity is warranted. Regardless, all that effort and ideas wasted in the ST will hopefully lead to better things with Favreau and Filoni. We definitely deserved better. The ST had its chance and failed in many ways. I know people dislike Luke’s treatment but for me I hate the fact the New Republic was never used in the story. We saw more of that in the Mandalorian than any world building in the whole ST. That was a travesty since the dynamic could have changed everything, instead of being left with a rehash of the rebellion again.

 

[Hoody999]

Well you do have a good point of the importance of the whole picture being greater than the sum of its parts. Though I do not completely think the analogy with atrocity is warranted. Regardless, all that effort and ideas wasted in the ST will hopefully lead to better things with Favreau and Filoni. We definitely deserved better. The ST had its chance and failed in many ways. I know people dislike Luke’s treatment but for me I hate the fact the New Republic was never used in the story. We saw more of that in the Mandalorian than any world building in the whole ST. That was a travesty since the dynamic could have changed everything, instead of being left with a rehash of the rebellion again.

I just finished watching the Season 2 Finale Galerie episode. Every fan should watch that. It really is special to see what they did and the care, thought and effort that went into it.

Just reading the few posts here it's really showing the same topics. I think what a lot of fans simply hate with the ST is the lack of respect and importance of characters like Luke and Star Wars as a whole. That is clearly what Faverau and Filoni understand 10000%.

When I think about the ST Ep7 was generally more or less OK. It was when a director like Johnson (and everyone else involved) treats Luke like they did, and try to re-invent Star Wars, that's when the scales tipped.

As they repeatedly say in that Galerie episode, Star Wars goes deep into peoples childhood and nostalgia. F*** with that and you will get the debates that still rage to this day.

I think at the seat of it is simple disappointment and frustration by fans that they did not treat the ST characters and Star Wars with the correct respect it deserves.

 

[user 67922]

Some creatives need somebody strong enough to rein them in, to give them another perspective.

Imagine if Lucas had worked on Raiders of the Lost Ark alone? If it weren't for Spielberg Indy would've had an affair with Marion when she was only eleven years old.

A Favreau and Filoni Sequel Trilogy... ah, what might have been.

Taika Waititi came immediately to mind. He could either make the best Star Wars film ever made, or the worst. I feel there's no in-between with him. I hope Favreau and Filoni are there to keep him in line, much like they did with him in his Mando episode. I love Taika's films btw, going back all the way to Boy, but there are certain things that fit and don't fit Star Wars.

I had to Google that thing about Lucas and Marion, I'd never heard that before. Oh, George

 

[Asta]

Taika Waititi came immediately to mind. He could either make the best Star Wars film ever made, or the worst. I feel there's no in-between with him. I hope Favreau and Filoni are there to keep him in line, much like they did with him in his Mando episode. I love Taika's films btw, going back all the way to Boy, but there are certain things that fit and don't fit Star Wars.

I had to Google that thing about Lucas and Marion, I'd never heard that before. Oh, George

The shocking quotes from the ROTLA Story Conference Transcript:

Spoiler

"RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK"
Story Conference Transcript
January 23, 1978 thru January 27, 1978
George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, Larry Kasdan

Larry — I like it if they already had a relationship at one point. Because then you don't have
to build it.

George — I was thinking that this old guy could have been his mentor. He could have known this little girl when she was just a kid. Had an affair with her when she was eleven.

Larry — And he was forty-two.

George — He hasn't seen her in twelve years. Now she's twenty-two. It's a real strange
relationship.

Steven — She had better be older than twenty-two.

George — He's thirty-five, and he knew her ten years ago when he was twenty-five and she
was only twelve.

George — It would be amusing to make her slightly young at the time.

Steven — And promiscuous. She came onto him.

George —Fifteen is right on the edge. I know it's an outrageous idea, but it is interesting.
Once she's sixteen or seventeen it's not interesting anymore. But if she was fifteen and
he was twenty-five and they actually had an affair the last time they met. And she was
madly in love with him and he...

 

[SOU7567]

Oh cmon I avoid ST debates because they are pointless but to say the ST was bad everything that is beyond ridiculous. That’s a disservice to the actors, the cinematography and the special effects. Sure the ST has shortcomings like PT but it was not bad at everything. You can dislike something without intentionally misrepresenting what it was able to accomplish.

Edit: You know what no, that’s not enough.

Are you going to tell Adam Driver he was bad in acting? Are you going to tell Lucasfilm special and practical effects artists they are bad at effects? Are you going to tell the concept artists they are bad at drawing?

You say people can’t justify they like TLJ. Yes they can, that’s why it was so divisive because approximately half of Star Wars fans enjoyed it. Just because you fail to even acknowledge a basic facet of the film as positive doesn’t mean you suddenly get a catch all magic key to rewrite history and tell people what they can and can’t enjoy.

With how disappointed I was when I left the theater after watchin TLJ, and even more disappointed after my single watch at home, the cinematography in that movie is by far the best in the series. Some of the shots on Crait, especially when Luke confronts Kylo, is just gorgeous.

 

[user 67922]

I just finished watching the Season 2 Finale Galerie episode. Every fan should watch that. It really is special to see what they did and the care, thought and effort that went into it.

Just reading the few posts here it's really showing the same topics. I think what a lot of fans simply hate with the ST is the lack of respect and importance of characters like Luke and Star Wars as a whole. That is clearly what Faverau and Filoni understand 10000%.

When I think about the ST Ep7 was generally more or less OK. It was when a director like Johnson (and everyone else involved) treats Luke like they did, and try to re-invent Star Wars, that's when the scales tipped.

As they repeatedly say in that Galerie episode, Star Wars goes deep into peoples childhood and nostalgia. F*** with that and you will get the debates that still rage to this day.

I think at the seat of it is simple disappointment and frustration by fans that they did not treat the ST characters and Star Wars with the correct respect it deserves.

My favourite part of that was learning that Plo Koon is Dave's favourite Jedi.

Episode 7 wasn't too bad at all... at the time. I'll admit to going and watching it in the cinema 10+ times in that first month. Now I barely even consider it at all. It doesn't have that timeless factor that most Star Wars films and shows have. It was very much of its time, a fun popcorn flick. No real substance. What is there actually in there to go back and take out of it? Definitely not terrible though. Unfortunately, the next film failed to build on it, failed to do any world-building, provided very little connective tissue, provided no real story to build on for the third film, and was just a ''look at how clever, controversial, and divisive I am'' vanity piece from a weird little man. Episode 9 never stood a chance after that. However, yeah there was some nice cinematography and music, Adam Driver was also excellent, so was Mark Hamill despite the complete butchering of his character. That's not enough to hang on to.

Filoni and Favreau have proved that you can make Star Wars everyone loves as long as you remain loyal to what has come before and draw inspiration from it, add in some nostalgia and easter eggs here and there, gradually add some well-loved characters, and keep the story nice and simple. As we say in Yorkshire ''no need to overegg the pudding''.

Sequel trilogy ''rant'' over. Back to the Gallery installment, it was terrific, though surprisingly they kept the advertising for this one very low-key, I only found it by chance while flicking through Disney+. One thing I found weird, and this might only be me, is how little Mark Hamill sounded like Mark Hamill in his interview. Maybe he was suffering from a throat infection.