Monday, February 20, 2012

Monday Blues with Tony Stark, Professor Henry Jones Sr, James Bond and Forrest Gump

This post is called Monday Blues for obvious reasons :) It's Monday and most of us have got the blues. I guess 1/6 action figures are not spared either haha So here are a bunch of them (from left to right: Professor Henry Jones Sr, Tony Stark, Forrest Gump - patially hidden - and James Bond) waiting to catch the bus to go to work, all with their own bags / briefcase. But what's really inside their briefcases? Certainly not just papers. Scroll down to find out ;p


These 12-inch figures are all dressed their best for work in their fine 1/6 scale suits. Sometimes I envy them because they have better looking clothes than me but then again, I wouldn't want to have to put on a suit in the hot and humid climate of Singapore, not even a long sleeve shirt with tie (thank GOD for the invention of the air-conditioning unit).




Close-up picture of 1/6 scale Professor Henry Walton Jones, Sr. (estranged father of Indiana Jones, who is captured by the Nazis while searching for the Holy Grail to act as bait for Indy. The character was portrayed by Sean Connery in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and 1/6 scale Robert Downey, Jr. as Tony Stark, an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton and becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron Man in the Iron Man films.


These two characters are actually worlds apart and from different time-lines but thanks to the wonders of movie merchandising, they can now be put together side by side as a comparison of how times have changed. Professor Henry Jones SR is wearing the fashion that was prevalent in 1938 (the setting for "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade") whereas Tony Stark is more current with the times.


Check out Tony Stark's briefcase, if it is even a briefcase at all ;p The debut of Tony Stark's new briefcase armor was most definitely the highlight of the official trailer for the second Iron Man movie, "Iron Man 2". And this is the Hot Toys released 1/6 scale Iron Man Mark V briefcase armor. Making its debut in a 1963 issue of "Tales of Suspense" (the series that launched Iron Man into the Marvel universe), Tony Stark's briefcase armor has long been a part of the character's arsenal of high-tech equipment.


The movie version of Tony Stark's briefcase armor was certainly a thrill to watch, the way it opened and enveloped his body and transformed him from a man about to meet his demise to a lean mean fighting machine that snatches victory from the brink of defeat - the Iron Man Mark V armor suit (which cannot fly but does enough to stop Whiplash in his tracks).


And here's 1/6 scale Sean Connery as 12-inch Professor Henry Walton Jones, Sr. which was released by Sideshow Collectibles in 2009 and already reviewed HERE and HERE :)


Professor Henry Jones, Sr's trademark briefcase is very well produced in 1/6 scale, even if it's just a piece of molded plastic with faux-leather straps. It's made to look more real with the amazing weathering detail and paintwork. Professor Jones preferred to carry his briefcase with umbrella / brolly tucked in.


This is the 1:6 scale Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump 12-inch figure released in April 2010 (not sure which company made this figure) and reviewed HERE. Standing behind him is a Dragon Models Limited (DML) 12-inch figure with a rather unique briefcase as well plus Medicom 1/6 scale Sean Connery as James Bond figure on the left hand side of Gump


Close-up of the three 12-inch figures. So what does 1/6 scale Toms Forrest carry in his luggage / bag?


There's a "FORBES" magazine, an Uncle Sam recruitment leaflet, a "Curious George" storybook, an Academy Award statue (the film won six oscars including best picture at the 67th Academy Awards in 1995), a red baseball cap with "Bubba Gump Shrimp Company" AND a gift box. There's also a miniature feather (not shown).


This is Dragon Models Limited (DML) 1/6 scale "Michael Chan" from The VIP Protection Unit (Abbreviation: VIPPU; Chinese: 要員保護組) otherwise known as G4 (originally Section G, Division 4) - a branch of the Hong Kong Police Force. The original name had been given to the unit since it is the 4th division of the former Royal Hong Kong Police Force's Special Branch division. He wears a business suit to blend in with the citizens of the city. For protection, he has a bullet proof vest.


But what I really like is his briefcase which is actually a concealed weapon i.e. the briefcase is the weapon, not just storing it inside to be carried but you simply aim the briefcase, squeeze the trigger and fire!


What looks like a typical briefcase carried by a businessman hides a Hecker & Koch MP-5 submachine gun within it. It is fired by a hidden trigger concealed in the carrying handle of the briefcase. These things really do exist in the real world and this 1/6 scale reproduction is very close to the original in every detail. What's even better is that the MP5 may be taken out, along with the spare magazine.


"Dr. No" is a 1962 spy film starring Sean Connery and it is the first ever James Bond film based on the 1958 Ian Fleming novel of the same name. "Dr. No" was produced with a low budget but was a financial success. While critical reaction at release was mixed, over time the film received a reputation as one of the franchise's best instalments. The film was the first of a successful series of 22 Bond films; a 23rd is planned for release in 2012. "Dr. No" also launched a successful genre of "secret agent" films that flourished in the 1960s.

This was the 1998 released Medicom Toys 1/6 scale Dr. No James Bond 007 12-inch figure with Sean Connery's likeness and wearing the trademark suit and carrying his briefcase


What's inside the Medicom Dr No James Bond's briefcase?


Just his Walther PPK with silencer, fitted snugly inside the briefcase.


And here's a close look at the Medicom Toys Dr. No James Bond British MI6 Secret Agent 007 1/6 scale Sean Connery head sculpt. It has a rather cartoonish / anime look but is still un mistakably a young Sean Connery in his breakout role.


And here's Medicom Toys 2008 released "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)" 1/6 scale head sculpt of Sir Sean Connery as Henry Jones Sr. The man may have aged but he still has one eyebrow raised higher than the other ;p


Medicom Professor Henry Jones Sr in his tweed suit with his suitcase and umbrella. For more pictures and a full review, check out my earlier post HERE


So next time you see someone carrying a briefcase next to you on the bus or train, stop and wonder: what is that person really carrying inside? Have a GREAT week, everybody :)

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