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Messages - TheBlackDog65

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1
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Collecting: Did You Intend to Go This Far?
« on: August 25, 2007, 01:41 AM »
I was gung ho with POTF and POTF2 getting most of the figures. With Episode I and POTJ I got at least one of every figure (usually multiples).  Then with Ep. II I backed off and collected those figures I really liked and wanted since I felt some of the Saga Wave left something to be desired. I went full balls out with Ep. III because I really liked that line, and stayed up with the figures through the post Ep. III. This year though I think I really shocked my wife. I have only purchased about 20 figures that either I or my son has wanted.  I display only those figures that reflect a scene, or that I personally like in my office. I basically have stopped actively collecting the 3 3/4 line.  I do still collect, but it is more Sideshow, Weta etc for LOTR and SW and it is items that I want to have and display. The all consuming fire ended for me and it will stay that way.  Do I love Star Wars? Yes. Am I still a huge fan? Yes. Do I feel I am still a collector? Yes. But in the end, I feel I am now in charge of my collecting and collecting is not in charge of me.  Part of that is age, (I'm 42), and part of that I think is finding other avenues that are just as rewarding personally.
Maybe another question is for those who have basically really backed down or stopped on the 3 3/4 line, how did you do it? I know I quit coming to boards, watching for my patterns of when figures were going to hit the shelves, not actively hunting (and I have to say I have picked up ALL of the figures I have wanted this year by going in during normal store hours) and staying close to a friend who also wanted to back down. Basically, or 5 or 6 weeks, I stopped collecting. Now I save about $300 or $400 a month (depending on how active the current line is) and I use that money to fund playing golf with my son, being part of a local hiking club, and saving most into either my 401K or into investments, or into our vacation fund so we can go to places in the country and world we want to take our kids (who are now 13 and 14) before they are too old and too involved in things. 

2
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: A thread about concerts.
« on: August 13, 2007, 04:55 PM »
Saw Rush a week ago last Friday.  Really good concert, 29 songs in 3 hours time. 

3
DoctorPadawan,

I might suggest that you contact either a local children's hospital or get in contact with Make a Wish Foundation in your area. I know my son and I gave a fair amount of figures to a kid going through cancer treatments about a year ago or so, and all Iwe had to do was drop them off. We got a thank you note from the kid which was really cool. I also had my son go through and pick the figures since my collection is really his collection. 

As far as what I am doing . . . most of the collection is in bags and I have turned it over to my 13 year old son. He is getting into customizing so it is getting far more use than just sittting in a bin. I have some of my favorite figures on a book shelf in my office and that is where they are.

4
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: 'The Hobbit' movie
« on: August 12, 2007, 06:27 PM »
Tons of news with Raimi to direct and Peter Jackson to produce The Hobbit.  Here is a link: 

http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3042&Itemid=99

From the OneRing.Net comes the following (along with the link above)
Don't believe everything you read but this story makes a lot of sense. It also seems that Bob Shaye may have been hinting at this yesterday when he said, "I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in 'The Hobbit.' " Notice he didn't say he would "direct" the film but did say "involved in some way".

and from the LA Times:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4160162a1860.html


Thoughts? Do you want PJ to direct or are you ok with Raimi directing and Jackson producing?   

5
I finished the book and though I enjoyed the series, I found Harry himself to be somewhat of a boring character. Harry besides being an a typical moody teenager, doesn't really change or grow in the series.  Harry's destiny is to confront Voldemort and defeat him, and in the end, he does just that. Snape is my favorite character and in the end, is released from his torment and by his actions by dying. Snape faces himself and has to come to terms with what Sirrus says about our choices making us who we are.  What choice does Harry have? He is destined, predestined even, to defeat Voldemort and he does it. Can someone help me to see where Harry ever doubts his mission and his destiny?  Snape choices reveal that he is human and that his choices make him who he is.  Harry on the other hand, never doubts his mission/destiny, never confronts his own weaknesses and sins, and for that reason I think Harry is less than a mythic hero. 
When comparing Harry to hero's like TH. White's Wort/King Arthur, Beowulf, Frodo, and other legendary mythic heros (I am thinking of famous Greek mythic heros also) Harry doesn't ever have to face his own humanity, his own weaknesses and limitations.  All Harry really has to do is to figure out the riddle and then defeat the Master Riddle, Tom Riddle. 
Again, I really enjoyed the series but still find some critical findings on the main character. 

6
30th Anniversary Collection / Re: Target's new policy
« on: July 10, 2007, 11:39 PM »
I know in the past I use to hit the stores hard and hit people up for stuff out of the back, and was very successful doing it.  Now, to be totally honest, I don't. I haven't done for almost a year now and I haven't missed anything that I wanted. It really just comes down to hitting the store at the right day and hour when stock is out. Know that and your fine and you don't have to worry about the employees. I'm sure this is just part of my fading out of collecting though as I don't feel the rush to be the first to have something or the need to have so many of something.   

7
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Lord of the Rings
« on: June 3, 2007, 07:42 PM »
I have to say that in reality, yes, the book is not a happy ending but if your a die hard LOTR fan, you know that from the HOME series and from the Smill. Having said that, I think Turin is perhaps the most realistic figure for a human.  The book without giving it away

SPOILER












is in reality a tragedy and as such, it is about how choice and pride lead to destruction.

8
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Harry Potter
« on: April 5, 2007, 12:31 PM »
So Harry is now a treasure hunter like Indy Jones? :P

No, that is all the loot from touring with Lord V. and the Deathly Hallows.

9
Watto's Junk Yard / Re: Lord of the Rings
« on: April 5, 2007, 12:26 PM »


Anyone going to be reading this?  I will eventually, but probably not in 2 weeks...(damn you David Copperfield and your 700+ pages!)

Summary (some SPOILERS)

Yes, I will be reading this and getting it when it comes out.

As far as the blue rays, IF there is not more extended I will pass and wait for what PJ called the anniversary additions that will have more of the deleted scenes on them.

10
I made this point in my post about loyalty to Hasbro.  Lucas did a wonderful thing with the prequels if you love collecting this line. What he did was to raise interest in the line and bring a whole new generation into collecting. Thus as old farts like me, transition out, we are/have been replaced by 2 to 4 new collectors. This should extend the line for up to 8 years if not 10 and by then you have the TV series and the other cartoons.  A combination of both shows the marketing genius of Lucas. The cartoons will bring in kids, and the series will drive new figures and new characters. Overall the health of the line is fine as others have already stated, and I think it will last for sometime, unless something unforseeable at this time comes up in technology that changes the marketplace.

11
30th Anniversary Collection / Re: Your Loyalty?
« on: April 5, 2007, 11:47 AM »
No loyalty to Hasbro . . . for that matter at this point in my collecting my loyalty lies to what I like, what I am interested in, and if it fits with what I am doing currently. Thus whether it was Hasbro or another company, I don't think that will change. I know over the last year or so I've changed as has my collecting. It takes a lot now for Hasbro to get money from me as the figure has to be to my liking, interests me, and fits a theme I am currently collecting.
Having said that, like any toy line, Hasbro has grown and has done some good things and some not so good things. The proof is in the pudding so to speak. Look at how many people buy what Hasbro puts out regardless. I think that is loyalty to Star Wars not to Hasbro. Hasbro is the company with the license so that is what people buy. 
However, having been a huge collector of LOTR ToyBiz, I can say that when a line dies, you wish you had an alternative or that someone else would pick up the line. So since the Hasbro 3 3/4 line is not in overall danger, and more importantly, since there is plenty of money for Hasbro to make from people who buy the line from kids to collectors to those people who buy everything regardless. Because of that, Hasbro will be in the game until the profit and interest fades which I don't see happening for sometime.  Luckily, they You have to hand it to Lucas, from a marketing standpoint, the prequels brought life into collecting this line. As those who were 12 to 20 during the orginial series transition out of collecting, an whole new generation has come into collecting this line. As a result, I think Hasbro will be around for some time and overall, thought not perfect, having Hasbro hang around is not a bad thing overall.

12
I think this wave looks okay, but I am passing on it. Nothing really reaches out and grabs my attention and I don't see a pressing need for anything in the wave.

13
30th Anniversary Collection / Re: Hasbro 30AC Overload Already?
« on: March 29, 2007, 10:34 PM »
Do I think Hasbro has overloaded? Depends on the view I take. Hasbro is a company out to make a profit. So of course they are going to ramp up using the 30th anniversary as an excuse.  Perhaps the question is does that mean I am going to overload on my spending and feed the giant? Nope. Buy what I like, and either save the money or spend it on other things I like/want.

14
I just cannot bring myself to purchase yet another SBD. I have not had good experience with these and in the end super glue the ones my son doesn't play with to a stand so they stay up. I saw one yesterday and I passed on it.

The Marine is an ok figure, but one that is easy to pass on in my opinion. The fact that it is a clone from a scene will drive it. I do llike the Airborne Clone overall.  Mace is okay, but not a huge change from the past. Obi Wan is a pilot body with a hole in the mouth.  The McQuire is nice, I took one and left 2 others. Darth Vader was a pass as I will not be keeping or collecting the coins. I don't need another Vader unless they improve on the VTSC or the Evolutions Vader. I did like the Mustfar Miner as he is something different. Artoo is a pass, because I have enough Artoo.  So like most waves this year, I bought piecemeal. I'll probably pass on wave 2 and just pick up 1 or 2 from each wave from here on out. I have to say that I am rather disappointed overall in this year's selection. There are some interesting ones, but also some that I just don't need. Then again, what is different than any other non-movie year.

15
I looked at waves, and so far, I am interested in parts of wave 1 (I am done with wave 1), the Biggs pilot (if it is new) and the Biggs on Tat.  Then the parts of wave 5. I am also interested in some of the VOTC  but that is all. I guessed I picked a good year to really scale back the collecting and buy up the figures I really like.

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