Sunday, October 4, 2015

Review 1: Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Figure

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Somewhere... somehow... someone's going to pay

Commando is a 1985 American action thriller film about a retired elite Black Ops operator (Green Beret) who launches a one man war against a group of South American criminals who have kidnapped his daughter to blackmail him into starting a revolution and getting an exiled dictator back into power. The film was released in the United States on October 4, 1985. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the film which makes this 12-inch action figure review on my toy blog rather appropriate.

The original concept was for an Israeli special forces Mossad agent who, sick of the continual death and destruction in the Middle East, emigrates from Israel to the United States, where he is forced out of his self-imposed retirement after his daughter is kidnapped. This was modified and further adapted when Schwarzenegger was cast; some of the original dialogue can be heard in the deleted scenes when Matrix says he regrets his past actions.


The Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series MMS276 1/6th scale John Matrix Collectible Figure specially features: Newly developed head sculpt with authentic and detailed likeness of Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix in Commando, including Movie-accurate facial expression with detailed wrinkles, skin texture, and war paint. Each piece of head sculpt is specially hand-painted. Approximately 32 cm tall Newly developed muscular body with seamless upper body and over 26 points of articulations, Seven (7) pieces of interchangeable palms including: One (1) pair of fists, One (1) right palm for gun holding, One (1) right palm for holding rocket launcher holding, One (1) left palm for holding knife, One (1) left palm for supporting machine gun, One (1) left palm for supporting rocket launcher

You can buy this from Sideshow Collectibles

Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.


The Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch figure comes in a rather standard shoe-box packaging. Removing the lid reveals the figure. However, under the lid is where some of the accessories are stored. This does remind me of the old packaging style for Hot Toys MMS113 1/6th scale Blade Collectible Figure which employed this particular form of packaging (see my action figure review post HERE). Hot Toys Wesley Snipes as Blade 12-inch figure came with lots of goodies in terms of accessories and it looks like John Matrix comes with goodies too :)


Everyone thought Hot Toys had forgotten about giving collectors more 1/6th scale accessories with their 12-inch figures so that it's more value-for-money. Well, Hot Toys doesn't disappoint with this MMS276 John Matrix 1/6th scale Collectible Figure


But before we go to the goodies, let's study the instructions carefully to prevent any unnecessary damage to the figure which will cause us to regret later. This Hot Toys MMS276 John Matrix 1/6th scale Collectible Figure appears to come with an almost seamless 12-inch figure body type in that you cannot see the joints on the body except for the shoulders.


The instructions caution against extreme poses as the arms are not designed to rotate beyond a certain angle. There are also instructions on how to equip the tactical vest and other 1/6th scale accessories and how to put it on the figure. But the real deal breaker is the last panel which states: "Don't leave the vest on the figure for extended amount of time; otherwise, color may transfer onto the figure due to the nature of the material." So are we supposed to display the figure without his tactical vest or leave the vest on and be concerned about discoloration of the vest staining the body? Bummer for sure for those of us who are the "open-the-box-and-display-the-toy/figure" collector :(


There are also extra cautions which were printed separately


Here's the Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure with newly developed seamless muscular upper body right out of the box. He does look rather nice and Hot Toys certainly has no problems getting the head sculpt right in matching the actual actor's likeness. The same can't be said for their attempts at getting Harrison Ford's likeness, both with Indiana Jones and Han Solo. And the recent reveal of Hot Toys 1:6 scale Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts collectible figure still looks "off" - see my STGCC2015 coverage HERE.


Check out the turnaround views of Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure. His costume / outfit consists of one (1) green camouflage thigh holster, one (1) pair of green colored cargo pants,one (1) beige colored belt with buckle, and one (1) pair of black boots (these are "beets" which means there are no feet inside the boots, a concept which Hot Toys created to make the figure look more realistic without oversized shoes)


Check out the nice United States Army Special Forces logo (Green Berets) on the belt buckle. He also comes with a black watch


Scroll down to see the Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix head sculpt which bears an amazing likeness to the actor with a remarkable resemblance. Arnold Schwarzenegger was a much younger man then. Growing up in the 80s and 90s with the action movie in its Golden Age and flourishing beautifully, two men who were larger than life led in the action hero genre: one an Austrian Oak, the other an Italian Stallion, both of whom had successful films under their belts depicting characters who surmounted a threat to come out on top and save the day. I am talking about none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Arnold Schwarzenegger is John Matrix and Sylvester Stallone is John Rambo; both are special forces military guys who are a one-man-army fighting the bad guys.


Now let's take a look at the 1/6th scale weapons and accessories that come with the Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure set.


Hot Toys John Matrix 1/6th scale weapons: one Valmet M78/83 machine gun (a Finnish light machine gun similar in appearance to the RPK), Uzi submachine gun with extendable stock and removable magazine, Remington 870 shotgun with a specialized under-barrel laser sight, one pistol with removable magazine and working slide. A matte stainless steel Desert Eagle Mark I is the sidearm carried by Matrix during the final assault on Arius' mansion.


One articulated 4-barreled rocket launcher - M202A1 FLASH, Valmet M78/83 with a synthetic thumbhole "Dragunov Style" stock and removable magazine, Three (3) knives (two are throwing knives) and a pair of green binoculars


Two (2) M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines with two (2) remote detonators and the bags meant for carrying them. I certainly had my personal experience with these during my National Service days. The ones in this film are NOT real and even more 'customized' than usual. They are plastic casts of the M18A1 and fabricated to take an internal Radio receiver (and custom detonator). In reality, the M18A1 would be a self enclosed unit, two plastic halves enclosing the explosive and steel balls (shrapnel), and would not have room to add on an internal radio unit. Twelve (12) rounds of ammunition (shotgun rounds) are also included; these will go on the assault vest.


One (1) black and green-camouflaged colored tactical vest with three (3) M67 hand grenades and ammunition pouches as well as sheaths for the three knives - one carried in the front with the two throwing knives kept at the back 


The picture below shows how the M202A1 FLASH 4-barreled rocket launcher can be extended (the sight is also adjustable) and how the M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mines with remote detonators fit in the bags


Here's a picture of all the 1/6th scale weapons included with the Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure set


There is also the standard figure base with movie logo and John Matrix nameplate plus extra hands


Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure posing with his combat knife in right hand


As you can see, the arms cannot really bend all that much.


You can buy this from Sideshow Collectibles

NEXT: More pictures of Hot Toys MMS276 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as John Matrix 12-inch Collectible Figure fully loaded and ready to take on all the bad guys

Related post:
May 29, 2009 – Hot Toys MMS72 (Movie Masterpiece Series) 1/6th scale Arnold Schwarzenegger as Major Alan "Dutch" Schaefer 12-inch collector's edition Review HERE
February 12, 2011 – Hot Toys MMS136 (Movie Masterpiece Series) 1/6th scale T-800 12-inch Collectible Figure from "The Terminator" movie posted HERE and HERE

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