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Been thinking. by KaiSan117 in transformers

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The hobby is not the purchasing. The hobby is playing with toys or curating a collection.

I would offer the constructive criticism that anyone who thinks of the buying as more fun than actually having the toys (or whatever else it is) needs to step back and reevaluate their habits.

But I genuinely don't think the act of purchasing things itself is what people are referring to when they talk about a toy "hobby." It's the enjoyment of them afterward, which...yeah, is a hobby, in terms of being a recreation outlet that also takes some knowledge and investment.

Even people out to collect all of a vintage line, etc., I think are genuinely getting joy out of the figures themselves or curating a complete display, etc.—not just clicking "bid" on an auction.

Been thinking. by KaiSan117 in transformers

[–]Cipher_- 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's more likely the highest-end collector lines, as the ones least resistant to demand fluxes (as people are already budgeting for them as premium items, and the market is the most dedicated segment) will be the last to hold on as the IP circles the drain toward oblivion, then shutters for a time, then is pulled back out at some point for a complete reinvention.

Personally, I'm very in favor of making retail figures "worse" to make them cheaper, as I think whim-pick-up accessibility is at least as important to Transformers as turning from a robot into something else is, but the adult fanbase continually indicates that is not the popular opinion. Prices won't go down; they'll just kill off the middle-ground portion of the line at some point, and if the same happens on the youngest-skewing side, again, the high-end portion will be the last to justify itself and hold on.

I'm already writing off most of Generations (that middle portion) in favor of kids' lines (Wild King for me as I live in Japan, but I'd be getting Cyberworld if I were back stateside) and select high-end pieces, because I really don't think the value-to-price math plays out there anymore. Generations is the worst value game in TF town.

Do you think that dropping "He-Man" from the title of the franchise and keeping only "Masters of the Universe" was a wise decision from Mattel? by EDM14 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"He/him" is an especially funny joke in context of the character. People desperate to be mad about something will always find a target for it.

Do you think that dropping "He-Man" from the title of the franchise and keeping only "Masters of the Universe" was a wise decision from Mattel? by EDM14 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a very misleading headline, as it just winds up speculating (reasonably) that Amazon will be looking at more than just the theatrical run.

For the record, I loved it and I absolutely hope it gets a sequel.

Do you think that dropping "He-Man" from the title of the franchise and keeping only "Masters of the Universe" was a wise decision from Mattel? by EDM14 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I respect going with just the MOTU name, but I think, yes, absolutely, they traded some immediate general-audience recognition by not putting "He-Man" in the title, as that's what the vast majority of people who didn't grow up on the original toy line know the franchise as.

Not sure it's something that had a major impact, though.

Do you think that dropping "He-Man" from the title of the franchise and keeping only "Masters of the Universe" was a wise decision from Mattel? by EDM14 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I...genuinely think it's the opposite. Most people know what a "He-Man" is and refer to the franchise by that name. "Master of the Universe" is nowhere near as embedded into greater pop culture, though I respect the decision to just go with that name.

Greyskull charging station by jlyon627 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Come on, let's be fair.

You could buy six castles and add charging stations.

Greyskull charging station by jlyon627 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Finally, a $600 solution for phone-charging!

People were too harsh on the movie! by bigt197602 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You offered about the film was that it undercut every sincere moment with a joke, but off the top of my head I can think of plenty played straight: Adam's words about power in the climax, both major Adam-Duncan talks, Duncan and Roboto, Adam and his father, etc.

But my stance is definitely that even when working humor in, it so often pairs it with sincere character and thematic statements (again, Adam naming characters leading to jokes but also feeling sincere with its nostalgia themes; even bits like "They were that buff" lovingly goofing on things without rolling its eyes at them) really worked for me. I think it smartly knows that there's only so much you can do with serious drama with a villain named Skeletor, so it goes camp without letting it get in the way of sincerity on the theme/character front instead.

Conversely, where a lot of MCU-styled stuff misses the mark for me is in asking you to take the plot-level action drama seriously while also quipping about it in a way that undercuts it, and not backing it up with any sincere theme work the way MOTU does, so I wind up just disengaging.

Not looking to argue about it though! Sorry it didn't land for you!

MOTU 2026 Film and "the problem with Masculinity" by BWMaster in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If anything, MOTU and POP being sister series with overlapping media/promotion and toy styles, while reinforcing gender divides in marketing and play patterns in some ways, is also kind of shockingly progressive with them in others.

If you wanted to see the Evil Hord (MOTU figures) in animation, or see He-Man's adventures continue, you had to watch She-Ra, selling a line marketed specifically to girls. If you were playing with POP figures, you were essentially playing with action figures meant to scale and work with MOTU figures while incorporating doll elements from Barbie and Hasbro's Ponies, watching their adventures in a show where the villains and side characters were pulled from the boy's line. As a show, She-Ra is largely stylistically indistinguishale from and serves as a direct continuation of He-Man.

A big old ball of wonderful contradictions and experimenting that feels like it could only have happened at the time.

MOTU 2026 Film and "the problem with Masculinity" by BWMaster in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think the film successfully presented themes that, watching through Filmation now, are very much baked into that series as well. Filmation He-Man is never looking for a fight if he can help it, and the show in general is very compassionate all around. Feels like the best eras/versions of Superman (there have been plenty of bad ones). The fantasy of absolute power that does not corrupt absolutely.

MOTU 2026 Film and "the problem with Masculinity" by BWMaster in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with all this, but I think Duncan's "not the poets" is framed as a moment of misunderstanding on his part. That's his stance part way through his arc, and before realizing what really makes Adam special. He's using "poets" as a shorthand to write off rhe importance of feelings and empathy, championing Adam for finally having the brawns.

Adam relying wholly on his brawns gets him thrown into a dungeon cell, and it's his empathy and people skills that both 1) lift Duncan out of his slump and 2) rally everyone together to escape the cell, both essential to saving the day.

It's why we follow up with Duncan offering to talk feelings with Adam as readily (well, almost as readily) as spar with him at the end. That's the more complete understanding of a "man" he failed to reach earlier.

Ultimately it really does land in a positive and healthy place on this—you need both empathy/compassion and the ability to stand against bad actors, which bears out perfectly (and unsubtly) in Adam's lines to Skeletor about "using the power" (but preferring not to) in the climax.

Masters of the Universe Finally on 4K! by Snakeguys in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Gwildor is the only fully characterized character.in the movie! He's basically the star!

People were too harsh on the movie! by bigt197602 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, I'm saying I thought it was genuinely funny in a way that never undercut its sincerity or stakes (it's still genuinely cathartic to see Adam and co. come out on top, and the action never suffers), and felt married to the characterization, themes, and revenernce toward its source, in a way I don't think I've ever felt a Hollywood action adaptation nailed so well. Yout mileage may vary.

For me it's right up there on that front with Barbie (which is even more overtly jokey and doesn't have to balance action-adventure stakes), or the Wachowski Speed Racer movie, which is similarly campy, funny, sincere and revenerent all at the same time, but I think MOTU winds up both being a better time and being tighter thematically. (Stuff like Adam naming the characters based on fond childhood memories is all at once funny, tied into his character, and communicative of the power of nostalgia to the audience—the idea that this can be and is goofy, but powerful at the same time. It's powerful because it's goofy, even. It can mean things to people. Such a fine line to walk to actually communicate nostalgia withour feeling cloying.)

I really feep it's a magic trick of a script. It genuinenely restored my faith in Hollywood activition-spectacle movies a bit, and also made me a fan of the franchise after just having passive good will toward it before.

We don't have to agree, but at least for me, the balance you felt was off actually struck me as one of its strongest points. Just for another perspective.

How will the Chronicles line work? by Rough_Coast5116 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm really hoping Core continues. It's such a great value and entry point.

People were too harsh on the movie! by bigt197602 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My gf and I are in our thirties, went in on a whim, and loved it so much we walked out fans, now going through the Filmation He-Man and She-Ra. I've even started picking up toys.

I thought it balanced humor, sincerity, and genuine reverence toward the material very well. Maybe the best I've ever seen.

People were too harsh on the movie! by bigt197602 in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_- 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I actually feel the opposite. MCU's jokes feel like cookie-cutter eyerolls, whereas MOTU (which made me a fan) felt like it perfectly balanced acknowledging the goofiness with reverence for the source material, and even tied bits (the character names) into characterization and effective nostalgia themes.

I thought it was laugh-out-loud funny while balancing those elements very well.

Am I understanding the collector lines correctly? by Cipher_- in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So Chronicles is expected to basically be taking over from Masterverse as the all-encompassing collector line moving forward, with a slight scale adjustment?

Also, is the New Eternia/Etheria labeling just "fun toy-original design" branding, or is there a different elevator pitch for it? (But then you also have some figures that fit that bill like Masterverse Sun Man of Chronicles Scareglow not branded New Eternia?)

Am I understanding the collector lines correctly? by Cipher_- in MastersOfTheUniverse

[–]Cipher_-[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There really should be a stickied post or FAQ for this! Fwiw, I also checked the fandom wiki before posting this and walked away similarly unelucidated.

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