I'm about to make an old man rant, so be forewarned: Movies just don't feel as magical as they used to. I'm not at all saying there aren't any good movies these days or that they don't have really powerful moments, but just that those moments that feel magical and special are fewer and farther between than they were a couple decade ago. When special effects are so prevalent and make up so much of what we see now, can something simple really stand out? Last night we were at my parents' house eating dinner and competing a 2,000 piece Pokemon puzzle with Home Alone on the TV. During the scene near the end of the film where Kevin ziplines over to his treehouse, I was just amazed at how special and amazing it felt. I mean, ultimately is it that big of a deal? A kid zip lining to a treehouse only two or three stories off the ground? Maybe not, but the movie makes it feel wondrous with the cinematography, Kevin's reaction, and the stirring John Williams soundtrack.
Now, what does that have to do with Indiana Jones (Map Room) from Hasbro's more than likely defunct Indiana Jones Adventure Series? If you ask me, the scene where Indiana Jones discovers the location of the Well of Souls (the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant) in the Tanis Map Room is just magical. Simple? Compared to most modern CG fests, no, but there's just something about that scene when the sunlight shines through the headpiece on the Staff of Ra and John Williams music hits that's just magical. Maybe it's the magic of the music of John Williams but there's also something that feels really special about those scenes in some of those movies. Those special effects really felt special and out of the ordinary and not just like dime a dozen stunts or effects shots. I did purchase quite a few Indiana Jones: Adventure Series figures in November on clearance and sale but this guy was one of the last Indy figures that I paid full price for. He was a Target exclusive and I snagged him right away due to my love for Raiders of the Lost Ark and the map room scene. Let's take a look at Indiana Jones (Map Room) after the break...
Height: 6 3/8ths inches
Articulation: Double swivel/hinge ankles, swivel/ hinge knees, swivel thighs, balljointed hips, balljointed waist, swivel/hinge shoulders w/ ballsockets, swivel/hinge elbows, balljointed wrists, balljointed neck, and a barbell jointed head.
Accessories: Satchel, jacket shell, shovel, rope, Staff of Ra, and diary.
Non-Scalper Price: $25 dollars
* Hey! It's an Indiana Jones: Adventure Series figure that isn't wearing a suit! Indy is sporting the robe and headwrap that he wears when infiltrating the dig site with Sallah. The outfit is pretty nicely sculpted (the arms are shared with Sallah) and there's a bit of paintwork to dirty things up a bit. The torso is a solid piece (rather than an overlay) but the pants underneath the robe are the same as those from the standard Raiders Indiana Jones figure.
* I think this is one of the best portraits I've seen for Indy in this line. The Harrison Ford likeness is quite solid, probably due to the sharper paint applications here. The keffiyeh (I think that's what his headwrap is called, but please correct me if I'm mistaken) is a simple, sculpted piece permanently affixed over Indy's head. It could use a few more paint apps on it, but overall it's not bad.
* The Staff of Ra is a very cool accessory. It has a long wooden staff (though shortened a bit out of respect for the Hebrew God) with the headpiece on top. Making the headpiece removable would have been kind of neat, though it feels like the sort of accessory that should have been included with Marion Ravenwood and Indiana Jones in their outfits from Nepal. Map Room Indy feels he could have been a worthwhile deluxe release if he had come with a diorama of the map room. Heck, the map room could have made a cool Build an Artifact if the line had kept/ keep.
* There isn't anything different about Indy's satchel from the standard Raiders Indy figure; it's a simple piece with a bit of paint that looks pretty accurate to the film prop.
* The Staff of Ra is a very cool accessory. It has a long wooden staff (though shortened a bit out of respect for the Hebrew God) with the headpiece on top. Making the headpiece removable would have been kind of neat, though it feels like the sort of accessory that should have been included with Marion Ravenwood and Indiana Jones in their outfits from Nepal. Map Room Indy feels he could have been a worthwhile deluxe release if he had come with a diorama of the map room. Heck, the map room could have made a cool Build an Artifact if the line had kept/ keep.
* Map Room Indy comes with two of Sallah's accessories, just colored a bit differently (Indy's is a brighter white while Sallah's is more of an ecru. The coil of rope can fit on Indy's shoulder or can be laid on the ground next to him.
* The shovel is reused from Sallah, too, though that's perfectly acceptable. It's a decent looking sculpt and the blade has some sand and dust painted on it to show that it's been used.
* Last up is a small journal that Indy uses in the map room to record details. Some people say this is Indy's journal while others believe it is Abner Ravenwood's journal (that's how you'll find it labeled on prop sites like The RPF). It's quite cool and is absolutely a different sculpt from Henry Jones, Sr.'s diary. I initially assumed it would just be a repaint, so Hasbro gets some props from me.
The Negatives:
* I do think Hasbro could have pulled off Indy's robe with a soft goods piece or two quite nicely. He can't crouch in his plastic robes.
Looking for more of Dr. Henry Walton Jones, Jr., better known as Indiana Jones? Then check out my reviews of the Adventure Series Indiana Jones (Professor), Indiana Jones (Club Obi Wan), and Indiana Jones (Temple Escape), Indiana Jones with Ark and the two Indys from the SDCC "Lost Wave" set: Indiana Jones and Indiana Jones in German Uniform, all from Hasbro's 2008 Indiana Jones toyline, the Retro Collection Indiana Jones (Raiders of the Lost Ark), and the Indiana Jones: Worlds of Adventure Indiana Jones with Adventure Backpack.
For more Indiana Jones: Adventure Series reviews check out the following:
Decent figure if not an essential outfit for Indy.
ReplyDeleteThat Home Alone zipline scene got a bit ruined for me the first time I noticed Kevin's proportions change for that (and the other stunts like the shelving collapse) since that definitely ain't Culkin or a child but, as I learnt, 30 year old stunt man Larry Nicholas. I can't unsee Larry since then. :P
It is funny to catch the taller stunt person doing the swing line but still an awesome scene and movie.
DeleteThat's funny, I've not noticed it.
DeleteAgree with you on the amazingness of the map room scene, especially the John Williams music. So awesome.
ReplyDeleteYup, there's a real magic to that scene that really feels like you're watching something special.
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