Kaustic Plastik / Infinite Statue / SD Toys - 1/6 Universal Monsters

[Kebron]

The classic designs do not endure because of nostalgia, they endure for the specific, physical aspects of the make-ups and actors' likenesses in those roles. Updates on those will always feel watered down and derivative because at their core that is exactly the essence of those "updates."

Nostalgia plays a big part in why these classic designs are still around. It’s something that just isn’t attatched to UM either it’s across most IPs.

 

[matrix69]

The funny thing is, in the book, he has grey hair and a mustache. And to me now, with the Hammer movies in my head, Dracula looks like this :

View attachment 714153

It's one of the reasons why I made a Dracula custom based on the Dooku figure :
View attachment 714154

When I read it (as I do every year) I imagine Lee with a huge, white mustache. I would also recommend listening to the audio book read by Lee, it's phenomenal.

The Count Dracula movie from 1970 is worth a watch. It's the closest Lee got to the original Stoker version. Though i wish he had changed his accent.

The classic designs do not endure because of nostalgia, they endure for the specific, physical aspects of the make-ups and actors' likenesses in those roles. Updates on those will always feel watered down and derivative because at their core that is exactly the essence of those "updates."

Creative genius sent down from the heavens into the hands and minds of Pierce and Whale, and then realised onto the hauntingly gaunt face of Boris Karloff...Perfection.

It's the Bohemian Rhapsody of Horror make-up.

 

[mattjack]

The Count Dracula movie from 1970 is worth a watch. It's the closest Lee got to the original Stoker version. Though i wish he had changed his accent.

View attachment 714746



Creative genius sent down from the heavens into the hands and minds of Pierce and Whale, and then realised onto the hauntingly gaunt face of Boris Karloff...Perfection.

It's the Bohemian Rhapsody of Horror make-up.

Ah yes the Jesus Franco movie. I never saw it. But yes, it is the closest look to the Dracula of the book.

Also, on this topic of nostalgia. Do you think that someone is nostalgic of these designs ?

https://www.looper.com/623272/the-worst-monster-makeup-in-movie-history/

No. Because they are garbage.
So yes, there is probably a bit of nostalgia in there, but nobody would care if the designs were bad to begin with. So it's also good ideas and craftsmanship that made these monsters iconic.

 

[abake]

Epic:

 

[Dr. Anton Phibes]

Ah yes the Jesus Franco movie. I never saw it. But yes, it is the closest look to the Dracula of the book.

Also, on this topic of nostalgia. Do you think that someone is nostalgic of these designs ?

https://www.looper.com/623272/the-worst-monster-makeup-in-movie-history/

No. Because they are garbage.
So yes, there is probably a bit of nostalgia in there, but nobody would care if the designs were bad to begin with. So it's also good ideas and craftsmanship that made these monsters iconic.

There have been oodles of models and/or figures made of most of the "garbage" designs on that list. I was a Teenage Frankenstein is a B movie classic in fact. Amok Time did The Horrors of Party Beach (I don't care for this film or the creature design). One man's trash is another man's treasure applies.

 

[Damien]

yeah I remember that Horrors of party beach figure
I am surprised no one as done Robot Monster

 

[Kebron]

Also, on this topic of nostalgia. Do you think that someone is nostalgic of these designs ?

https://www.looper.com/623272/the-worst-monster-makeup-in-movie-history/

No. Because they are garbage.
So yes, there is probably a bit of nostalgia in there, but nobody would care if the designs were bad to begin with. So it's also good ideas and craftsmanship that made these monsters iconic.

You'd be surprised what people like, miss, and wish they could get in some collectible form.

 

[Dr. Anton Phibes]

yeah I remember that Horrors of party beach figure
I am surprised no one as done Robot Monster

 

[mattjack]

There have been oodles of models and/or figures made of most of the "garbage" designs on that list. I was a Teenage Frankenstein is a B movie classic in fact. Amok Time did The Horrors of Party Beach (I don't care for this film or the creature design). One man's trash is another man's treasure applies.

Ok I guess.
But these are obscures movies that stayed obscure. Of course there will always be people who liked something because they saw it when they were young.
But none of these monsters became iconic or very popular.
The Universal Monsters did because the movies were good and the make up great for the time.

 

[Dr. Anton Phibes]

Ok I guess.
But these are obscures movies that stayed obscure. Of course there will always be people who liked something because they saw it when they were young.
But none of these monsters became iconic or very popular.
The Universal Monsters did because the movies were good and the make up great for the time.

While I agree whole heartedly that Jack Pierce and Lon Chaney Sr. created iconic make ups, Paul Blaisdell created many 1950's monsters that entire conventions are centered around. The difference between the B's of the 40's and 50's, and Universal Pictures being fondly remembered have to do with the monster craze of the 1960's, and the marketing. Of course, the fact that Jack and Chaney Sr. were geniuses didn't hurt either.

 

[mattjack]

While I agree whole heartedly that Jack Pierce and Lon Chaney Sr. created iconic make ups, Paul Blaisdell created many 1950's monsters that entire conventions are centered around. The difference between the B's of the 40's and 50's, and Universal Pictures being fondly remembered have to do with the monster craze of the 1960's, and the marketing. Of course, the fact that Jack and Chaney Sr. were geniuses didn't hurt either.

There are conventions for everything now though...
Did the Paul Blaisdell monsters stayed popular throughout the years ? Or is it a nostalgic thing that appeared like 10 years ago ?
Because we can argue that the monster craze of the 1960's existed because the monsters stayed popular, and at the time it wasn't nostalgia.
It's the same thing for Alien, Predator. These are iconic monsters that were loved from the beginning. Does people who buy an Alien figure now considered "just" nostalgic ?

 

[Dr. Anton Phibes]

There are conventions for everything now though...
Did the Paul Blaisdell monsters stayed popular throughout the years ? Or is it a nostalgic thing that appeared like 10 years ago ?
Because we can argue that the monster craze of the 1960's existed because the monsters stayed popular, and at the time it wasn't nostalgia.
It's the same thing for Alien, Predator. These are iconic monsters that were loved from the beginning. Does people who buy an Alien figure now considered "just" nostalgic ?

The Blaisdell Monsters are like a poor man's Creature from the Black Lagoon, and were kept alive in the minds of folks who enjoyed the films (and monsters in general) via Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine in the 1950's-1970's. Most "monster movie" fans of the hey day know of them. in fact, most of us like almost ALL monsters. There's no denying Universal were the creme de la creme, but to throw away films like I was a teenage Werewolf or Gorgo or others is just limiting the fun of monster movie goodness. Alligator people isn't going to hold a candle to Dracula 1931. Anymore than a good burger will compare to filet mignon. I still eat both though, and loves me some occasional Alligator People, Blob, Beast from 20,000 Fathoms or Wasp Woman. With comics, there's a tagline "every comic character is somebody's favorite comic character". The same holds true for monsters. For every 10,000 folks who say "Spidey is my favorite, and everyone has heard of him!", there's guys who say "My favorite character is Doc Savage". For every guy who says "Wolfman is my favorite", there's a fella out there who swears by "The Monster of Piedras Blancas".

 

[mattjack]

The Blaisdell Monsters are like a poor man's Creature from the Black Lagoon, and were kept alive in the minds of folks who enjoyed the films (and monsters in general) via Famous Monsters of Filmland Magazine in the 1950's-1970's. Most "monster movie" fans of the hey day know of them. in fact, most of us like almost ALL monsters. There's no denying Universal were the creme de la creme, but to throw away films like I was a teenage Werewolf or Gorgo or others is just limiting the fun of monster movie goodness. Alligator people isn't going to hold a candle to Dracula 1931. Anymore than a good burger will compare to filet mignon. I still eat both though, and loves me some occasional Alligator People, Blob, Beast from 20,000 Fathoms or Wasp Woman. With comics, there's a tagline "every comic character is somebody's favorite comic character". The same holds true for monsters. For every 10,000 folks who say "Spidey is my favorite, and everyone has heard of him!", there's guys who say "My favorite character is Doc Savage". For every guy who says "Wolfman is my favorite", there's a fella out there who swears by "The Monster of Piedras Blancas".

That's fair.

I didn't want to say that we can't enjoy every B movie we want.
But if the Universal monsters stayed widely popular in the pop culture in cartoons, comics, parodies, and not the Blaisdell Monsters, isn't that an indication that the designs were better ? Or is it just because they represent famous litterature monsters ?

The only thing I wanted to say is that I'm not sure it is only nostalgia that makes people want to have figures of these characters. But of course we can love every monster movie for what they are.

For me at least, even if I can appreciate a B movie with pretty bad effects, I don't really see the appeal of having an action figure of some "burger" monsters .
Even the monster/robot Gort of the yet great movie THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL is not that appealing to me. Very simplistic design. Whereas the Bride of Frankenstein is, with this crazy iconic hair. But of course I can only speak for myself

 

[Damien]

pffft,no actual hair
not impressed

 

[vaanrose]

It seems this company has fallen into a niche of classic movie monsters, and classic comedy characters, so this line needs to have an Abbott and Costello.

 

[Kebron]

It seems this company has fallen into a niche of classic movie monsters, and classic comedy characters, so this line needs to have an Abbott and Costello.

They actually hit a lot of niche categories. Charlie Chaplin, Toshiro Mifune, Bloodsport, Westerns, Chuck Norris, Twin Peaks,etc. They've defiantly hit upon a often ignored area.

 

[sj2106]

They actually hit a lot of niche categories. Charlie Chaplin, Toshiro Mifune, Bloodsport, Westerns, Chuck Norris, Twin Peaks,etc. They've defiantly hit upon a often ignored area.

They are my only hope of ever getting a Columbo figure.

 

[mattjack]

Somebody here is familiar with the old Sideshow Universal figures ?

What do you know about the invisible man figure ?
I'm asking because I saw a version with a hollow head that can be separated in two pieces. Basically the version reviewed here :
http://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_051605a.htm
And there is this one with a non-hollow head
What is this ? Is it a bootleg ? Or another non-premium version ?

 

[matrix69]

Ah yes the Jesus Franco movie. I never saw it. But yes, it is the closest look to the Dracula of the book.

Also, on this topic of nostalgia. Do you think that someone is nostalgic of these designs ?

https://www.looper.com/623272/the-worst-monster-makeup-in-movie-history/

No. Because they are garbage.
So yes, there is probably a bit of nostalgia in there, but nobody would care if the designs were bad to begin with. So it's also good ideas and craftsmanship that made these monsters iconic.

I wouldn't call them all garbage, but non have the ingenuity of the original Universal Monsters.
Lon Chaney's Phantom make-up is another that stands the test of time and has never been bettered.

And the granddaddy of them all, Grau/Schreck's Nosferatu still looks magnificent 100years on.

I still think Freddy Krueger's original make-up is one of the best in recent times. Pinhead from Hellraiser was pretty memorable too.
And i love the look of the Wolfman in the 2010 remake. The script may be a load of cobblers, but the make-up along with the great cast makes up for it.

 

[mattjack]

The beginning of a new collection