Chicagoland Sightings Part 2 - The Revenge!!!

[ChgoMarc]

There is no way I'd pay $100 for the two packs. And if I did, I would at least like someone from TRU to buy me dinner before I get screwed

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Well, Back to the Future was pretty cool! Though, my autograph/photo priorities changes when I found out about the extent of the rules.

I knew going there tonight that it was $20 for an autograph. But I assumed (which I guess I shouldn't have) that for $20, you would get an autograph AND a photo with the actor. But, nope. That ended up being $20 for each thing (or $40 total to get 1 autograph and 1 photo with each actor). Also, they took the pics with their camera and printed them on site, you couldn't take the posed pics with the actors yourself (or have someone you're with take it for you). You could take any other photos you want while in line, etc, but not the actual posed photos.

So, I shifted my priorities a bit. Rather than getting all of their autographs, I decided to get my picture taken with each of them, and I only got 2 autographs... 1 from Christopher Lloyd on my Back to the Future DVD, and 1 from James Tolkan on the Master of the Universe 1987 movie DVD.

Tolkan was pretty cool. When I handed him the DVD cover insert to sign, he said "Ah! Masters of the Universe! Nobody messes with Lubic!" The ONLY thing that I wish in hind sight (I didn't think of this until after I was already sitting in the theater for the movie, long after I had gone through the line for autographs and photos) was to request the phone with him to be him starring me in the face like he does with Michael J Fox at the beginning of the movie.

But it was cool, none the less. All of them were nice and friendly. One guy had a replica of the silver glasses that Doc Brown wears at the end of part I/beginning of Part II, and Christopher Lloyd actually put them on when posing for the photo with the guy, and then he signed them.

The actors did do an intro thing to the movie where some guy from some website (I forget the name of it) was asking them questions. We had our digital camera with us, which has an option for video. We got parts of the Q&A. We would have recorded the whole thing, but part way through it, the camera said the memory card was full, so we started deleting pictures that we didn't care about anymore from it and then recorded a bit more.

Anyway, it was a good time overall!






















No Dynamo ever amounted to anything in the history of Fox Valley...





They (meaning the people who run the theater, who said a few things before the movie started up) also briefly mentioned upcoming events, most of which probably wouldn't be of interest (as far as I know) to most of you, but one thing they said, which was pretty vague, but cool, was that they have been in talks with Dan Akroyd to make some kind of appearance at the theater. They didn't specify which movie it would be with or when it would happen (though it sounds like it would be sometime this year if it pans out). So, that would be cool to go to.

[BrandnChicagoHorde]

Nice work, Brandon. Cool pics.

[Mr. Shokoti]

Well, Back to the Future was pretty cool! Though, my autograph/photo priorities changes when I found out about the extent of the rules.

That seems like it would have been fun. I personally don't think Back To The Future has held up over the years, but I still love Christopher Lloyd, James Tolkan, and Lea Thompson(she's definitely aged but I still have a crush on her). Who is the second woman? Is that the original girlfriend?

I'm surprised Christopher Lloyd has to resort to signings to make money(that isn't a knock against you Brandon). That guy had a lot of great roles over the years. Hollywood sucks sometimes! Lloyd has to do this and Julia Roberts & George Clooney(who play the same characters over & over again) still have great careers.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

Well, I don't know how much (if any) of that money is actually going into their pockets. Supposedly all of the money from the autographs, photos, (and even some portion of the move tickets), all goes to Michael J. Fox's charity. So, while they may be getting paid something to be there (I don't know for sure), the bulk of the money is supposedly for charity.

Yeah, the other woman is Claudia Wells, who played Jennifer (Marty's girlfriend) in the first movie.

Now, while I am a big fan and am obviously very biased on the matter, in my opinion the Back to the Future films have heald up very well over the years, especially compared to many other movies from the 80s. There are a lot of movies that were made in the 80s that obviously couldn't be made during another era. Where, to some extent, I feel like in a way, BTTF holds up in the sense that if someone made a movie today about a kid from the 80s traveling back to the 50s (which would be odd, but not necessarily impossible), this could pass for such a movie in a lot of ways (not in EVERY way, since some little bits here and there individually don't hold up, but overall I think it does).

The only part that really has a hard time holding up is the 2015 segment of the second movie, since we are just 5 years away from it, and it's not going to be anything like that (and it is very much a vision of the future from the view of the 1980s... in many ways that segment is much more dated, IMO, than the parts of the films that actually take place in 1985).

It's totally cool if you feel differently, but those are my thoughts on the matter.

At the very least, the cubs better win the damn World Series in 2015, or I'm going to be very angry!

[Mr. Shokoti]

Well, I don't know how much (if any) of that money is actually going into their pockets. Supposedly all of the money from the autographs, photos, (and even some portion of the move tickets), all goes to Michael J. Fox's charity. So, while they may be getting paid something to be there (I don't know for sure), the bulk of the money is supposedly for charity.

According to an anecdote on some talk show(I forget which one), Michael J. Fox happened to be near a Back To The Future convention(and why isn't there a MOTU Con yet?) and crashed it for an hour or 2. Too bad he didn't do that for your event if the money was going to his charity.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

I'm surprised Christopher Lloyd has to resort to signings to make money

Even though the autographs were for charity, either way, I think it's far more sad that he has to resort to doing a really crappy straight to video Disney "Buddies" movie to make money ...



Oh yeah, and George Wendt (aka Norm from Cheers) is the one playing Santa.

[leonardo]

That's awesome Big B. Back to the Future is one of the best movies ever made, of course it holds up.

And Lloyd is just wrapping up his career, he had a great run. What he does from here on out is just something to do. I doubt he's upset to be in a "buddies" movie, there are probably millions of people that would love to be in a movie like that for one reason or another.

[Dynamo of Eternia]

You make good points, Leo.

I think I just found it kind of surprising and depressing when I first saw that Santa Buddies trailer (which was on some Disney Blu-Ray I bought back in the fall... maybe Up or Monsters Inc, I forget which) and saw that Lloyd was in it. The part where he is on the ground with the dogs tickling him was particularly odd.

[Mr. Shokoti]

That's awesome Big B. Back to the Future is one of the best movies ever made, of course it holds up.

You and Mattingly would make a great duo to review movies.

[leonardo]

If you said something like Short Circuit I could see where you're coming from, but you're probably the only dude in the world who doesn't love Back to the Future.

[Son of Keldor]

0 for 3 on the TRU runs, but i did find a bunch of star wars figures to complete both clone wars & legacy collection w/ the exception of the white bespin guard if he's actually out ?!?!? like the variant ugnaught that came out months later in a repack wave.

=)

[Red Trinity]

0 for 3 on the TRU runs, but i did find a bunch of star wars figures to complete both clone wars & legacy collection w/ the exception of the white bespin guard if he's actually out ?!?!? like the variant ugnaught that came out months later in a repack wave.

=)

I found one leftover Lex/Skellie pack last night with a bad paint app on his Skellie's face, but someone talked me out of it. Apparently we're trying to save for vacation and I already have those two figures. Hmm...

[D-Day V1]

Big B, those are some sweet pics. Im glad you had fun.

[JimmyPSHayes]

According to my good customer/friend/TRU manager Tom March(who REFUSES to march!)before too long we'll be tripping over these. Everything that's at the TRU distribution center in this area is OUT to the stores. BUT, they're getting **** TONS more of these guys. TRU expects these to be big sellers.

[Shankor]

Sometimese those TRU exclusives aren't hard to come by after a while. The GI Joe 5 packs and Senior Ranking Officers pop into mind that was something that was scarce at first but could be found everywhere later on. I'm just glad TRU is a bit easier to get a hold of exclusives as compared to the ones walmart gets.

[Mr. Shokoti]

If you said something like Short Circuit I could see where you're coming from, but you're probably the only dude in the world who doesn't love Back to the Future.

I liked Back To The Future when I was a little kid, but I saw it again last year and I was cringing at some of the scenes. It still kills me that Biff was allowed around the McFly house years after he attempted to rape the mom. That's ridiculous. When I was younger, my dad was always so strict about letting rapists in the house. Johnny 5 on the other hand still rocks.

According to my good customer/friend/TRU manager Tom March(who REFUSES to march!)before too long we'll be tripping over these. Everything that's at the TRU distribution center in this area is OUT to the stores. BUT, they're getting **** TONS more of these guys. TRU expects these to be big sellers.

That's good to hear! When I read a thread about them on this site and saw how much they were going for on Ebay, I figured ToysRUs and/or Mattel didn't have much faith in them. I thought they were going to give the stores one shipment and that was it. I'm happy there's the possibility for new MOTU fans to be made from these.

[Son of Keldor]

did TRU ever have a motu exclusive before? wasn't the first 2 pack w/ the comic a target exclusive? where was the wolf & snake armor 2 pack from?

=)

[Dynamo of Eternia]

I believe the Wolf and Snake Armor 2-pack was a TRU exclusive. At least to begin with. I think I recall seeing that ame 2-pack later on (after the line was pretty much dead and everything had been on clearance for some time) at KB Toys at one point. But it was definately a TRU exclusive when it was "current".

I'm not sure if there were any other true TRU exclusives in the 200X line.

[Shankor]

Does anyone know if those weapon packs are part of our subscription? I thought they said it would be one of our "bonuses" for subscribing. If anything I could see like a coupon or something being offered. Also, any word on the day for this month's meeting?

[ChgoMarc]

The rumor of the day is that the Grayskull stands that came out last month were a ONE TIME SHOT!!! You have got to be kidding me!

[Son of Keldor]

good thing i bought 4 packs of them, and i was gonna buy more!

=0

[Mr. Shokoti]

good thing i bought 4 packs of them, and i was gonna buy more!

=0

I only bought 2 but I'm happy I did that. When I missed out on Battle Cat that day, I was going to forget buying anything from them.

[Son of Keldor]

I found one leftover Lex/Skellie pack last night with a bad paint app on his Skellie's face, but someone talked me out of it. Apparently we're trying to save for vacation and I already have those two figures. Hmm...

yeah i know what you mean, i was planning on buying 2 of each if & when i see them and i was "advised" that if i wanted more spending money for c2e2 i would need to cut down on buying multiples of certain things.

women - you can't be a happy collector w/ them and you can't eat them for dinner b/c one of their damn friends will be calling looking for her non stop and get you busted!!!

=)

[JimmyPSHayes]

Hey Horde!
-Just wanted to let you guys know that yesterday, I quit GCC. For real, not a joke. I needed to get outta there, so for once I'm doing the thing that's best for me.
-So, any suggestions where to hold Horde meetings? I'm sure we'll come up with something.