Escape From New York (NECA)

Escape From New York
NECA
2014

You know, as we sat down to post this particular...er, post...We had to honestly take a step back, and ask, "Does Kurt Russell actually make good movies? Or are they just cult classics due in part to the iconic characters and one liner quips?" Don't get us wrong, we enjoy films such as Big Trouble in Little China, Tombstone, and yes, even Overboard (to an extent)...But, did the general public and critics?

Kurt Russell ranks number sixteen on IMDB's list of Worst and Overrated Actors. However, in general it's rather difficult to take this list serious when it includes (at the time of this writing) the likes of Michael J. Fox (#17), Sylvester Stallone (#24) and Hugh Jackman (#4) - Just to name a few. Sorry, but Back to the Future, Rocky and the X-Men films were pretty good as far as we're concerned - As were the actors who played their respective rolls in them. So again we ask, Does Kurt Russell make good movies?

UPDATE Before it's even posted...

As many of you know, we prepare posts well in advance. The particular one has been ready to go since mid August. The answer to our question above oddly enough came a few weeks after we scheduled this post, and that answer is yes. Cool and Collected host Brian loves Kurt Russell so much that he wants a life size wax figure. Brian, you answered our question, and you didn't even know at the time that we had asked it.

We may never know the answer to that question - Past our own personal opinion. However, what we do know is that in 2014 NECA produced a one and done Snake Plisskin based off of Russell's 1981 film Escape From New York (Written and Directed by Horror Icon John Carpenter). Whether you like the man or not, there's no denying that the amount of detail that went into this particular figure is spectacular! It captures the character to a "T".

Because it's a relatively new figure, Snake isn't difficult to come by. You're looking at spending about twenty-five to thirty on him - Which in reality is only about ten dollars (at the most) more than the original retail price. Of course, much like the list of Worst and Overrated Actors above, these prices were noted at the time of this writing - Which in all actuality is August of 2016. We work rather far in advance here at The Toy Box to ensure that there's a new post each and every week.

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The Rocketeer and Escape From New York (Funko / ReAction Figures)

Since The Rocketeer and Escape from New York are Funko's smallest lines to date for the ReAction Figures line, we've decided to compile them both together.

The Rocketeer
Funko / ReAction Figures
2014

A lot of people associate The Rocketeer character with Disney's 1991 film - So much to the point that they don't even know that the character had been around in comic book format since 1982 when illustrator Dave Stevens created him.

The character is a throw back to the serials of the 1940's and 1950's, and it very much shows in the overall look and design of not just Cliff Secord (The Rocketeer), but also his world as set in Los Angeles and New York. The ironic part of The Rocketeer's origin that in a way he's no more than a crook himself. See, he initially obtained his jetpack by finding an abandoned package that two crooks ditched while evading the police. Inside was the pack - Which he kept - Which is stealing.

Anyway...Funko's version of The Rocketeer is based on the inception as seen in the 1991 Disney film - Down to the artwork and logo design. Sadly, it's also the only figure you'll find under the banner.

 The Rocketeer

A black and white version of The Rocketeer was produced for San Diego Comic Con in 2014. We have to admit that we like the old time look to the cardback and figure.

The Rocketeer

Escape From New York
Funko / ReAction Figures
2014

Kurt Russell made a few cult classics with John Carpenter. One of which was Escape from New York in 1981. The premise of the movie is that essentially crime has bloomed so much that the island of Manhattan was developed into a prison from shore to shore. It's a lawless island where the criminals have developed their own society under the rule of Duke of New York (Isaac Hayes).

The Duke has also take the President of the United States hostage, and promises to execute him if the prisoners of the island are not granted access to the mainland. Their response is to send Snake Plissken, an ex-U.S. Special Forces soldier turned rebel in to retrieve the president. His reward for doing so - A full pardon.

Things explode, people die, and Kurt Russell throws out catch phrase after catch phrase over the course of the next ninety-nine minutes, and it all culminates into a cult classic that wouldn't see a sequel until fifteen years later (1996).

 Snake Plissken

Funko's ReAction Figures series brings us two versions of Snake. One with a brown jacket, and one without the jacket. Not much in terms of variation.

Snake Plissken

If you're a fan of Kurt Russell, Funko has already given you three opportunities to nab a figure based on the actor - These two above, and Jack Burton from Big Trouble in Little China. Now we just need Colonel Jack O'Neil from Stargate (or better yet, an entire line up of Stargate figures).

Join us next time when we take a look at The Terminator!

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