A new week is here, and with it... I dunno. I had a pretty good weekend. The weather has been pretty nice latley so I took the opportunity to grill out Sunday. I'm not sure if an early spring is setting in this year, but I'll enjoy a relaxing afternoon around the grill cooking some good food. Did some shopping Saturday, resulting in a new pair of Hey Dudes. I've always been a sneaker guy, but these little shoes might have me finally changing my ways. The Mrs got me a great pair for Christmas and now we're at two pair. The times are changing I guess.
As far as toys go, I got some fun stuff. A trip by the Dollar Tree resulted in finally finding some new Final Faction figures. I got 4 of the new Venom series Kharn toys. Just need 2 more and to find the Elite series. A stop by TJ Maxx provided a Lightyear Hyperspeed series buggy set. I'd been hoping to find those since seeing other Inchman posts on Instagram using them. Walmart didn't have anything I've been looking for, so I took the occasion to order some Beastbox. Got the new rabbit set (just in time for Easter) and the Godzilla flavored SubZero figure. My Mom came by Sunday for the cook out and gifted me the new Talon Fighter (Netflix CGI He-Man) and a Bakugan set she found on clearance.
There's a new episode of Transform Squadron avaliable for your listening pleasure. I hope it helps you get this week going. I've got some fun stuff planned for you all this week as usual. Thank you for continuing to support Zone Base. It may be just a podunk little fan blog, but it's mine and I appreciate you all reading. Please don't forget to share with your friends. I don't ask much. No ads or hand outs required, but it'd be great for more people to enjoy this fun stuff with me.
PAWTUCKET, RI – July 13, 2020 – Feel the need… the need for speed!
Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) and Paramount Pictures today revealed the
first-ever TRANSFORMERS-Top Gun collaboration, starring the all
new character MAVERICK.
Not to be confused with Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, this new
TRANSFORMERS robot makes an ideal wingman, taking form as the iconic
Northrop
Grumman F-14 Tomcat® jet from the original Top Gun
film. This nostalgic Top Gun mash-up MAVERICK robot marks a celebratory moment ahead of the
highly anticipated sequel to the iconic original film,
Top Gun: Maverick, releasing December 23, 2020.
After more than thirty years of service as
one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is
where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and
dodging the advancement
in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a
detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of
which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley
Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son
of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick
Bradshaw, aka “Goose.”
Facing an uncertain future and confronting the ghosts of his
past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest
fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from
those who will be chosen to fly it.
TRANSFORMERS Autobot MAVERICK stands at 7
inches in robot mode and can convert from robot to classic Northrop
Grumman F-14 Tomcat® jet mode in 25 steps (The
F-14 Tomcat is a registered trademark of Northrop Grumman, and is used under license).
He includes a screen-inspired miniature motorcycle accessory and 2
alternate hands that can hold the included volleyball accessory. This
bot is always ready to go vertical in jet mode or dominate a slow-mo
volleyball montage in robot mode. This MAVERICK robot figure also
features folding jet wings, movie-inspired details, including a helmet
design inspired by the 2020
Top Gun: Maverick film, and includes 4 missile accessories that
can be mounted on figure’s arms in robot mode and under wings in jet
mode. Even the packaging is inspired by the aircraft carrier!
TRANSFORMERS robots have always been more than meets the eye, but
now, through the TRANSFORMERS Collaborative, fans can experience these
larger than life characters as they team-up, mash-up, and meet up with
other characters,
teams and people who share this same special quality. It is a world of
constant change where things are not what they seem.
The MAVERICK figure is available now for pre-order at
HasbroPulse.com, while supplies last
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to
Creating the World's Best Play and Entertainment Experiences.
From toys, games and consumer products to television, movies, digital
gaming, live action, music, and virtual reality experiences, Hasbro
connects to global audiences by bringing to life great
innovations, stories and brands across established and inventive
platforms. Hasbro’s iconic brands include NERF, MAGIC: THE GATHERING,
MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE, POWER
RANGERS, PEPPA PIG and PJ MASKS, as well as premier
partner brands. Through its global entertainment studio, eOne, Hasbro
is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content
on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place
for all children and all families through corporate
social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked among the 2020
100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media and has been named one of the
World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past
nine years. We routinely share important business
and brand updates on our
Investor Relations website,
Newsroom and social channels (@Hasbro on Twitter and Instagram.)
About ViacomCBS Consumer Products:
ViacomCBS Consumer Products (VCP)
oversees all licensing and merchandising for ViacomCBS Inc. (Nasdaq:
VIACA, VIAC), a leading global media and entertainment company that
creates premium content and experiences for audiences
worldwide. Driven by iconic consumer brands, VCP’s portfolio includes a
diverse slate of brands and content from BET, CBS (including CBS
Television Studios and CBS Television Distribution), Comedy Central,
MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and Showtime.
With properties spanning animation, live-action, preschool, youth and
adult, VCP is committed to creating the highest quality product for some
of the world’s most beloved, iconic franchises. Additionally, VCP
oversees the online direct-to-consumer business
for CBS and Showtime programming merchandise, as well as standalone
branded ecommerce websites for Star Trek, SpongeBob, South Park, and
MTV.
About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global
producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of
ViacomCBS (NASDAQ: VIAC; VIACA), a leading content company with
prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment
brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful
brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount
Animation, Paramount Television, and Paramount Players. PPC operations
also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount
Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio
Group.
Thanks to Rogers & Cowan for providing Zone Base readers with this news!
Believe it or not, the 1998 Godzilla movie will turn 21 soon and while I'm sure so many of you will make some joke about even it needs a beer after watching itself type joke. I'll admit to actually liking the movie. It's ok to have opposing opinions about things (despite how people behave on social media). I'm not about to make any apologies for the movie. I don't have to, I didn't make it or have any stake in it. I just have always liked it. Sure, I wish they would have called it anything else, because I'm convinced by any other name it would be looked back at more fondly (it's basically a remake of The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms).
There I was in 1998, all of 20 years old and enjoying student life at my local city college (as opposed to high school where I was miserable). The media hype and blitz for the new upcoming Godzilla movie meant kaiju was everywhere and I was loving it. The 'new' look of Godzilla was kept secret, meant to be a big surprise to viewers... which was spoiled by the toys hitting shelves weeks ahead of the films release. Godzilla marketing was running rampant and almost as big as the movie was itself. Sequels were planned, the hype was crazy and then the movie came out...
Most people hated it and everything just kinda died. Sure there was the Saturday morning cartoon that followed (pretty sure it was to far along at that point to drop), but it was like within a few weeks everything just kinda got swept under a rug. It's funny, all these years later the movie has it's fans, but most folks hate it. *shrug* It is what it is. Aside from one more movie appearance, the 1998 Godzilla was gone.
One of the more interesting planned 1998 Godzilla projects, of all things, was a roller coaster. Now I could easily see a dark ride or some kind of 4D movie at a theme park, but a roller coaster isn't something I would have thought of. I'm not complaining though, hell make a Godzilla themed anything and I'm there. Oddly enough the roller coaster is actually a still operating ride that's quite popular at Carowinds in North Carolina. The After Burn roller coaster started it's life as a Top Gun themed coaster during the time the park was owned by Paramount. During the initial planning phases, one of the theming ideas for the coaster was the sure to be a hit Godzilla movie. Seeing as the movie came out in 1998 and the ride opened in 1999, it's not hard to see why they went with the more popular movie.
I live in the real world, I understand the movie didn't light the world on fire. I accept reality. Though... just... Carowinds isn't that far away from here. I'd LOVE to be able to drive up there and partake in the Godzilla themed merchandise and snacks for sale around a Godzilla roller coaster. Get my picture next to it and with it's photo op statue of Godzilla. Man... if only the movie didn't belly flop into the pool. But it did.. hard... we all heard the fwap sound from the parking lot.
Know what, I'm gonna watch that damn movie right now.
