Can some explain the purpose of Movie Action Figures designed for Adults

Ironically, I think it's the coolness factor - having a "badass" figure of Spawn or Freddy on your nightstand means that maybe you are a little bit badass yourself. Not saying I understand WHY people feel that way, but I think that is mostly what it is about. Same reason guys used to pretend to like W.A.S.P. (guilty), or why the Comedian's blood-specked smiley button was on so many college backpacks at one time. Edgy? That's me, just look at my toys.

Their purpose is to make a lot of money for their makers.

If it weren't for these toys, Todd McFarlane would've been forgotten and left to rot alongside Dave Cockrum, William Messner-Loebs, etc....

See The 40 Year-Old Virgin.

I think some people just like to collect stuff that connects them to their favorite movies. Some grew up collecting Star Wars action figures and just stuck with it. I mean, why do adults read comics (or graphic novels) and watch the cartoon network? These are adult things presented in a format that has the comforting familiarity of what you loved as a kid. Personally, I don't collect action figures, read comics, or watch cartoons, but I can see what is appealing about these things. Taken in moderation, I don't see anything wrong with it.

I don't think there's really any explanation other than a way of showing your appreciation for a particular film or character. It's not that far removed from having a framed poster or a Cheeto-stained T-shirt from a movie you enjoy.

I'll admit that it's a bit odd when you see these huge collections featuring every character from HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES sitting on a shelf. I geeked away a lot of scratch in my early, and yes, mid 20's buying a ton of junk so I know how sad the addiction can get. Save for a few pieces on my desk and around my DVD shelves all my stuff is boxed away.

But dammit, one day years from now I'll feel like looking through those boxes and I'll get such a rush staring at my figure of Joe Pantoliano as Cypher.

It's a rung on the enthusiasm ladder, farther down than the "bought every verson of the film on DVD" rung, but way, WAY above this rung:

It's like movie posters.

Yes, but you can't stick movie posters up your ass for a good time on a Friday night.

That all depends on how tightly you roll them.

I collect movie posters. They hang proudly framed as decoration in my home. Better, I think, then paintings of mountains or streams.

As for toys, I have a few - not many - and nothing from the movies. Some are Todd McFarland sports figures. They just sit on top of my book shelf. When I was a kid I collected action figures - to play with.

And I don't see how this would compare to graphic novels or cartoons at all. What is the differance between a graphic novel and a regular novel? Pictures. That's it. What is the differance between watching cartoons (which would include Pixar and Disney animated movies - they are cartoons) and watching regular movies or television shows? These are all forms of entertainment, and is not the same as collectables, I don't think, at all.

"pretend"?

I just can't believe that anyone ACTUALLY likes W.A.S.P.

There shouldn't be a difference between adults buying toys and adults buying video games. Money-wasters, the both of them.

HERESY!

They're cool grotesque little sculptures of shit from movies you enjoy. It's collectibles, so that's about as much 'purpose' as you're gonna get.

Weed's still okay, right? And vodka? I collect vodka.

I've got two McFarlane Akira figures on top of my stereo(the Tetsuo figure is great), and I don't can't explain it, they just look cool and I love the movie. It's not like I ever reenact scenes from my fan-fiction sequel script with them or anything.

There was a while when I had considered buying a few of those resin statues(Marv in the electric chair, and the Savage Dragon), but they were just too pricey for me.

The figures are similar to posters, just a little geekier(well depending on the posters you have up, anyway). I don't see anything wrong with having a few of them on your desk or shelf or what-not. It gets a bit weird when you're an adult and you have a herd of them on your desk or shelf.
But then again if you're a collector of sorts(well shame on you for removing them from the box, for one), it's not too much weirder than the random shit people collect anyway. My brother, for instance, has an extensive collection of Marvin the Martian crap and football/baseball crap. It wouldn't be that much different if he were a movie geek and had some Evil Dead figures. My sister-in-law collects candles. Candles she will never light. I think that's pretty fucking weird, so I'm not one to judge.

Well... which album are we talking about?

Toys generally cost less than video games and don't suck up all your free time, so I'd argue that they are a better value.

As someone who likes action figures, (I'm not into the McFarland shit 'cause they're ostensibly statues, not action figures so fuck that shit.) I can say that for me it's about having a favorite character and or actor immortalized in living plastic. They only way you could take my cyborg/sea captain Donald Sutherland from VIRUS away from me be is to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I only have one. As a proud owner of a Gunnery Sgt. R. Lee Ermey 12' Motivational Figure I can honestly say that it is fantastic. When people overstay their welcome at parties a few pulls of the string and some "tear your head off and shit down your throat" and "I will gouge out your eyes and skull fuck you" really helps make it clear it's time to leave.

This is the kind of thing you need to avoid.

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I admire the artistry and detail of some of these figurines/action figures/dolls, but at the same time I'd never want one on display where people could see it.

That being said, I do have a couple of Simpsons figurines that I got from a cereal box a few years ago sitting atop my monitor; and yes, I did buy the cereal just to get them.

But hey, look on the bright side, at least he lives in a basement.

Exactly. Why do old ladies collect clown sculptures or Elvis lamps?


And, Molt. That link is ridiculous. He's got a Convention's worth in that room.

I'm not gonna comment on the figures (I own some), but I have those Batarangs at the bottom (gift from my Brother-in-Law).

He'd probably be a much better rapist if he took some of those dolls out of the plastic to practice on.

Yeah, I'll cop to having the three-pack McFarlane Toys Hanson Brothers set. The diorama pieces that form a hockey rink put it over the top.

I'm able to have the boys square off against my Sidney Crosby McFarlane figure.

What I love from that basement is how he has the first three CROW films. On VHS. Unopened.

Hey, they're like investments! What have you done for your retirement?

That OJ looking doll looks like it's a sex toy. Free blowjobs from OJ! And I love Darth about to beat the shit out of the washing machine.

And I like the guitar so he can make sweet, sweet music for the ladies. This guy may as well get Put The Lotion In the Basket tattooed on his chest.

I think that's Candyman. Six of one, a half dozen of the other.

I like the china collection he has in the first photo...

Actually, I do own one movie-figurey type of thing:



If bobble-heads count.

I dare you to look in the mirror and say OJ's name five times.

WTF?!?! Who is that dude in front of that Richard Pryor tape? I will add to the others commenting on the strange vibrations picked up from seeing superhero action figures posed up on basement walls. Not even that - it's the way you can picture the dude holding the camera pointing it up, thinking about what an awesome shot it would be. This thread should be linked up with that wedding thread.

Ahh...I just started looking again. It keeps pulling me in, but it makes me feel so dark.

In your case I'd call that a CHINa collection

I'm more interested in that pie.

What kind of pie is it?

Holy fucking son of a what the fuck. That's completely insane.

Good god, we may have the 50 year old virgin there.

I pick up the occasional one for ornamental value, partly because they're not that expensive when it comes to decoration. If I could afford to buy actual paintings and sculptures, I would be instead.

I have, however, known a guy with a room a bit like that (though his were unboxed). What redeemed it a little was that he also made his own and sold them.

I've always wanted to make an action figure of my weird friend so I could do imitations of him to show him how weird he is. I guess the redrum finger routine will persist.

You'd think he'd have used some of that money to upgrade from VHS to DVD...

I have lots of old figures/dolls stashed away in my closet, but I've got a few laying around. The prize of my pathetic collection (that most people ask me about) is this one- http://www.sideshowtoy.com/cgi-bin/c...cgi?item=6903R

I really want that set of The Thing with Macready and the dogs, but just don't have the room to put anything up. Dvds have taken over my house.

Having kids is excellent therapy for adult toy collectors. I've gathered a few over the years (Hulk stuff, a Pumpkinhead figure), but now I can justify owning figures by letting my daughter play with them. It also breaks one of the mint-with-the-card habit.

But I swear if she ever loses the launchable fist from my 30 year old Godzilla toy there will be hell to pay.

I wouldn't mind having a Bruce Campbell bobble-head. That couldn't have been more than a couple of bucks.

I can't justify collecting stuff when I'm busy collecting a house.

"The Mazinga is Daddy's, honey. Here's a peg-warming X-Men figure."

I collect too much shit actually. SW took up most of my time, but has now ceased, thanks to limited space, time and funds.
I have several figures on display because I think it looks good. Far more interesting than traditional decor. It helps me have my own identity in a world full of sheep and boring fucking people.

Why is this questioned, yet anything with sports is acceptable?

Hey, if it were up to me, my house would be filled with movie posters. I never left the college dorm aesthetic (and I didn't even have a dorm). Posters are cheaper than figures, and look nicer. I think guys generally have natural bad taste when it comes to decorating, and now that I'm married, I no longer have to turn my house into some sort of chick attractor.

I still wouldn't spend a lot of money on it, though. That's just buying nostalgia, and remembering my youth is still free, last I heard.

This is exactly the reason why I've still got my collection - I want my (eventual) kid(s) to play with daddy's toys - may have a Spider-Man or Batman fan eventually.

My Mego figures are hands off, however. Kids must have boundries and respect Daddy's rare circle-suit Spider-Man.

BTW, one of my best friends has a collection rivaling that dudes in the photos Moltisanti posted. Mostly, his stuff skews towards early 70's stuff (remember Duke the rescue dog? Hal Needham Stunt Set anyone?), TMNT figures and the occasional item he picks up on the cheap.
His basement's like 40 years of ToysR'Us on crack.

Nothing attracts chicks more than a Wrath Of Kahn poster.