Toys From Summer Blockbusters 2008

Star Wars was the big bang as far as film merchandising and children's toys where concerned. The demand for the toys was so high that the manufacturers could not keep up with demand. For Christmas 1977, they sold boxed vouchers for various toys. The toys sold in the "Empty Box" campaign during December were not delivered until the following March. Now that's demand!

As a prime candidate for Star Wars toys I was amazed and overjoyed to be drip fed a succession of action figures, play sets, books, comics and even duvet covers over the following years. My imagination could run riot with these extra props to help me.
I still have some of my original figures and my own kids play with them and seem to enjoy them as much as did.

Now in my old age I am slightly more cynical about the summer blockbuster season and the ensuing avalanche of toys that it brings. Sometimes I wonder if the toys are created and shoehorned into the films rather than the reverse. Anyone who has had the misfortune to sit through a Bratz, Pokemon or Power Rangers film in the cinema will understand where I am coming from. A slow cultural death by poor dubbing, hack writing and flimsy plot lines.

My son's birthday is in mid June which makes him a prime target for the hard sell of the summer movie merchandising. I was heartened this year that two of the major films have decent characters to hang their toys upon. Both Iron Man and Indiana Jones have long histories and characters that should have a life beyond the end of August.

Both the films have gone for the marketing synergy of a tie in with Burger King. The Iron Man set included a cool figure, if a little small, and some funky sun glasses that my son loved. The Indiana Jones toys from Burger King include Boulder Escape Indy, Stunt Jump Indy, they are fun but again a little on the small side.

The main thrust of the Iron Man toys are action figures. The figures made by Hasbro are neat. The design from the packaging to the figures are great, the colours strong and likeness to the film characters are impressive. In line with other comic book hero's the advantage is that the Iron Man toys can do battle with other Marvel and DC superhero's. They have also released a set of dress up outfits with masks, suits and weapons. These look like great fun and should ensure hours of good imaginative play.

Lego appears to be the main trust of the Indiana Jones toys. They have released a variety of different sets covering most price ranges. The Motorcycle Chase with its mini motorcycle and check point looks immense fun. I've never been convinced that the larger play sets are worth the money or the time to construct. The never stay complete for that long in my house!

I love Lego and it has a shelve life that easily out strips the life span of most toys. Once the thrill of the film has died away the Lego can be reused in any number of ways, combined with other sets, morphed and redesigned. The small figures will join the never ending army of Lego figures that double as everything from crowds at soccer matches to holiday makers at the airport or flood victims in need of rescue.

With the new influx of toys the issue becomes what to do with those from last year! What should I do with those Transformers that are cluttering up the toy box.

5 Tips For Maintaining Action Figure Toys

Buying collectible action figures is a long process as you need to think which figures to choose and which to ignore. You make an extensive search online and offline before making a decision. It's a stressful process. Well, your job is not done yet, after buying the figures you also need to take proper care of them so that you can gladly show them to your friends. You need to maintain your action figures toys always and for that here are some useful tips.

1. The Preservation -
The preservation of collectible action figures is not a complicated process, it is very simple. Actually, the packaging of these toys is not made to protect them from sunlight, so it is better to store your toys in a waterproof container away from windows or you can also store them in a cardboard at a place that does not allow moisture. Storing the action figures toys in the basement is also not a good idea. When you store your figure toys in the basement in a cardboard packing and if the basement gets very cold, the packing may become damp and the cards will begin to bend. Storing the collectible action figures in an airtight container is necessary at places that have fluctuations in temperature.

2. Displaying the Figures -
When you want to display your collectible action figures carded, you can do it at a place where the sunlight is not coming directly on the figures. At a place like a recreation room, you could hang them on the walls. And for loose (without packing) action figures toys, a glass case or a shelf works well as long as you keep dust off them and also prevent then from sunlight.

3. Regular Care of the Figures -
You should also fight off dust and dirt that build-up on the figures. When the figures get dirty, they can be easily cleaned by simply soaking them in soapy water and scrubbing them gently with a soft toothbrush. Also the dust can be removed easily with an air-propelled dust remover that is used for computers.

4. Caution for Packing -
You also need to take care of the backing as that cardboard used is inexpensive and it can easily bend or peel apart when improperly handled. Also, then natural oil of your finger may cause the inks on the packing card to discolor when touched too often. All these things lessen the mint value of the action figures toys as mostly the collectors are concerned of such thing while buying a 'mint on card' action figure. So, if you store your toys in boxes, use sturdy plastic containers to keep out the excess humidity. Store each statue in separate plastic container.

5. Expanding Your Collection -
When you collection starts looking paltry in your eyes, it is time to expand your collection of action figures toys. You should replenish your collection every so often to have the status of a prime action figure collector. While expanding your collection, keep an important thing in mind that quality always tops quantity. So, first know what pieces you lack and which figures can enhance the beauty of your collection. Always have the best collection (yet affordable, do not go over budget) and take care of them.

So, keep your collectible action figures in excellent condition always by following the above guide. This will give a long life to your collection.

5 Hot Christmas Toys For Action-Loving Little Boys

Manufacturers, toy sellers and critics are starting to come out with their hot toy lists for the 2007 Christmas season. The list includes a wide range of low and high tech toys in a huge range of prices with a variable range of themes. There's truly something for everyone, but this article is going to focus on toys suitable for action-loving little boys.

Gift buyers who assume a little boy will like anything they can bang or shoot or make loud noises with is only partially right. Little boys do love all of these characteristics but in my experience (with two boys of my own) what really makes a good little boy toy is one in which the child can expand the intended play. Boys like to take the toy and find a way to incorporate it with other toys, with their siblings, with their friends or with a willing parent.

There are several items on many of the lists that fit this bill and are appropriate for little boys who love action. Categories on the lists run the gamut from action figures (Spiderman and Transformers), to online gaming and collecting (Swypeout Online Battle Racing), onto transportation (Air Hogs Havoc Heli) and ending at target practice (Hasbro Nerf N Strike, Here's are descriptions of 5 "hot toys" for action loving boys:

1. Hasbro Nerf N-Strike Disk Shot: This nerf toy takes target practice to the next level with 12 foam, fast-moving disks that ensure endless moving target practice. A cartridge attached to the top of the blaster lets your child chose when to launch the disks at several exciting angles (straight up, 45 degrees, or left and right). About $50.

2. Air Hogs Havoc Heli: This is an extremely high tech and compact radio controlled helicopter that can fly in any direction with complete accuracy. Like a real helicopter, the Havoc can hover in one spot and can fly up to 100 feet high in the air. Since up to three Air Hogs helicopters can fly in the same room at the same time, the toy is perfect for having like-minded friends over. The Havoc fits in the palm of a hand and is extremely lightweight. Available in three colors (yellow, red and blue), no assembly is required. About $80.

3. Swypeout Online Battle Racing: Swypeout is an innovative, interactive racing game that combines two boy obsessions - online gaming and collectible trading cards. Kids logon to sypeout.com and compete to be the top battle racer. To enhance their playing, boys collect digital cards to swipe through the game's USB scanner. Boys can collect new cars, gear and weapons for their online gaming experience. About $30.

4. Transformers Movie Ultimate Bumblebee: Other than Spiderman, Transformers was probably the year's most popular movie for boys. The Transformers Movie Ultimate Bumblebee is a huge, bright yellow 2008 Camaro that transforms into a robot. This is a very large, (14 inches) sturdy toy which is why it commands its approximately $30 price tag.

5. Spider-Man 3 Movie Action Figures: Riding on the tale of the very popular Spider-man III movie, Hasbro is out with a fresh selection of Spider-Man action figures including several new versions of Spider-Man himself, as well as new versions of Peter Parker, the Green Goblin and the Sandman. These toys are all under $10.

Revenge of the Fallen Transformers

Are you fond of science fiction movies? There are lots of science fiction films that are made these days. You might have heard about the revenge of the fallen transformers which released in the year 2009. This was an action film and was a sequel to the transformers which released in the year 2007.

The makers of the film have announced a transformers trilogy and this movie is the second film of the trilogy. The film starts two years after the first part ended. In this movie the autobots have found their home in the NEST.

The NEST is actually a military unit which is secret and is used to destroy the decepticons that are still alive. Autobots and decepticons are the two groups of transformers who are bent on destroying each other.

While on a mission the autobots destroy two of the decepticons but while they die they promise that the fallen will surely rise again and will destroy the autobots. This is the actual plot of the film and the storyline on which the film revolves. After the film released the transformer toys were the first to become a hit.

They were a constant hit from May 2009 to early 2010. The pictures of the transformer toys were available on the internet since late 2008. Other than these toys the transformer games too became popular. These games are widely available on the internet.

You can either play them online or you can even purchase them from the internet. This movie released all over the world in various languages. The name of the movie differed according to the language in which it released.

There were different kinds of characters present in the film. There were autobots, the decepticons, humans and others. The main casts of the movie are optimus prime, bumblebee, skids, the fallen, megatron, soundwave, ravage, Sam witwicky, Mikaela Banes, professor Colan and many more.

Other than this, there were characters called the appliancebots and the seven primes. Lots of people were excited about the revenge of the fallen transformers after they had seen the first film. There were certain critics whose opinion about the movie was not too good.

But still for many viewers it survived as a good action movie. In this movie the autobots, the US army as well as the humans joined hands to get rid of all the decepticons from the earth.

The plot is not very much different from the first movie. In both the movies the good and bad guys fight against each other and the mission is to get rid of the enemies. They are actually fighting for some power which will help them rule the world.

The characters used in this movie are almost similar to those used in the first movie. The transformer figures too became popular after the movie released. Other than the kids young people too were fond of these figures and the transformer toys. The film even had certain errors which were pointed out by the critics.

Top 5 Batman Begins Action Figures

Every time anything new of batman is released, whether it is a comic book or a movie, the demand for Batman toys hits the market. The toy line of batman begins action figures was released and they are all named after the batman movies and comic books. The toys are the liking of the characters that are in the movie and are even dressed the same.

Batman action figures have always been very popular since their first release in the 60's. Unsurprisingly enough there are more Batman figure toys than any other character out there thus far.

The toy companies continue to put out batman begins action figures toys each year with different variations and people of all ages are interested in these either to collect them or just because it is a batman toy.

The batman Begins action figures toy line is excellent and was launched when the Batman begins movie was release in 2005. Here are the top 5 action figures that are popular from the Batman Begins action figures collection:

1. Batmobile- This toy replica of the bat-mobile from the movie is full of sounds that bring the movie to life. It has a rocket engine that has really neat sounds and light up in the front with lasers. It also converts into attack mode.

2. Ultimate Batman Figure- This is an all-time favorites because it is the very own, batman with the stunning black and gold details which looks very sleek.

3. 14 inch action cape Batman- With over twenty-five points of articulation kids can put Batman in lots of poses. In addition to a pop-out cape that dramatically extends into "gliding" position.

4. Battle Gear Batman Begins Figure- This is a classic figure from the original Batman movie. Batman is always ready for a good fight with this 6 inch figure that is equipped with a steel case full of battle gear, keeping the Dark Knight prepared for any foe.

5. 13-inch Superman figure- Although it is higher priced than the other action figures it is great for the Batman collector. It features an authentic movie costume, an alternate set of hands, and a display base and to top it off, it is a limited edition figure.

2010 Wrestling Toys by Mattel

In early 2010, WWE and Mattel entered an agreement for the manufacture of a brand new line of WWE action figures. The new wrestler figures which are being created by Mattel will offer a series of great toys for kids, and wrestler likeness figures for serious collectors. These action figures released in 2010 are specially created to look just like the WWE superstars that many fans root for at live events or on pro wrestling television shows. Fans will be able to collect and enjoy figures of their favorite stars like John Cena, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, Shawn Michaels and Triple H.

There will be several series of the new Mattel WWE figures with new wrestlers being released throughout 2010. These include the Wrestlemania Heritage series, Elite series, Basics 2-Packs, and FlexForce. FlexForce features action figures whose arms and legs swivel and snap for action-packed wrestling moves such as kicks, punches and more. The Entrance Greats Series are another great lineup of collectible figures featuring wrestlers in classic ring attire such as Shawn Michaels in his all white outfit, or Triple H dressed with a crown and robe to represent the "King of Kings". There are also two special wrestling rings which have been manufactured with the Raw and Smackdown logos on the side aprons just like live shows have.

With the new Mattel WWE action figures it looks like the toy manufacturer and sports entertainment company will have a winning product on the market. This first series will most likely become a highly collectible item which will be hard to find in stores. Fans will finally be able to literally get their hands on their favorite wrestlers, and control the action inside miniature rings. Serious collectors will also be able to proudly display these rare, unopened collectibles in their special collections and pass them down to future generations of wrestling fans.

Great Birthday Gifts For Boys

Boys can be tough to buy for-especially if you already have "every" action figure ever made! Don't buy another video game, just because you can't think of anything else! Consider one of these kid tested ideas for your next "boy" gift:

1. Storage for cars or action figures: Little boy toys like cars and action figures are great for prompting pretend play and role playing-but the small pieces get scattered everywhere. Your house will look better, and your son will be more likely to play with his cars if they are all in the same accessible place. Look for a storage set specifically designed for cars or action figures, or select and decorate a large tackle box.

2. Sports Equipment: This may seem obvious, but a sports set with equipment of the right size (scaled down for little guys, regulation sized for big kids), will keep your child motivated and moving. Consider a basketball hoop, soccer goal, or for the little ones, a t-ball set.

3. Skateboard, skates, or scooter: Depending on his age, one of these fun and functional transport devices is a great addition, and will be sure to encourage physical activity. If you buy one of these items, be sure to supply the proper safety equipment, and explain the rules for use as well.

4. Fishing gear: Supply your son with his own fishing rod and tackle box. Little kids will enjoy using a smaller sized rod featuring their favorite characters. Kid 8 and up can use a standard sized rod. Depending on where you live, you can go fishing, shrimping, or crabbing-the one on one quiet time you will have together is just as important as the catch of the day!

5. Tent or Tunnel: Offer a pop up tent or tunnel, and allow your son to use his imagination. A tent can become a fort, a spacecraft, or even a play house, all in a single day. Look for a tent or tunnel that folds compactly for easy storage.

6. Visit a zoo or museum: Have some one-on-one time with your child at a zoo or museum. If your son is interested in dinosaurs, check out an exhibit, attend a dino-talk, and have lunch at a local museum, and pick up a souvenir at the gift shop as a reminder of the day.

7. Take in a Sports Event: If you have a local major or minor league team, spend a day together at a sports event. If your child has an interest in a particular sport, attending a "real" match or game can be a very inspiring experience for him.

8. Pottery set: You can buy a kit that comes with everything you need to make your own pottery-this very messy activity appeals to boys with an interest in art, and helps foster creativity. Alternatively, provide art materials like paint, paper, and canvas to encourage creativity.

9. Building set: Choose a building set of some type-depending on your child's age, it can be robotic, including moving parts, or a classic "building" toy like plastic or wooden blocks. Either way, make sure you purchase a large set with lots of pieces, and make some space for your "builder" to work.

10. Remote control anything: Boys of all ages-including grown ups, love to play with remote control toys. From helicopters to cars, and airplanes to boats, you can find a fun remote control toy that your son will enjoy.