Category: Decorations

STING & LEX LUGER (WCW/FUNKO STATUETTE TWO-PACK)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 24, 2020

SUMMARY:

Released in 2017, this power-packed tag team recreates their dominance of the long-defunct World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from the late 80’s through the late 90’s. Sting colorfully sports a vintage look, as a golden scorpion adorns his light green tights. Luger’s Funko corresponds to his mid-90’s appearance when he started pairing black boots with his non-distinctive trunks upon returning to WCW. Capable of 360-degree head turns, both mini-statues are the standard size (about 3.75 inches tall). They easily stand up for display options.

Note: Luger’s Funko is slightly shorter than Sting’s, though the real Luger is actually two or three inches taller than Sting.

REVIEW:

Including spot-on paint jobs, Funko’s rendition of WCW’s two premier ‘super-heroes’ is both flawless and impressively durable. Case in point: Sting’s light green-and-black face paint is immaculate. For that matter, both Sting’s spiky peroxide-blond crewcut and Luger’s dirty blond mullet are rendered exactly the way fans would remember them. Hypothetically, the only item missing is a pair of WCW World Tag Team Championship belts. Considering all factors (especially, their wacky potential as a desk/shelf decoration), this Funko two-pack is a wonderful homage to that other wrestling league that held its own vs. the WWE.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Decorations Dolls, Statues, & Busts Toys & Games WWF/WWE (Pro Wrestling)

“MACHO MAN” RANDY SAVAGE (WWE/FUNKO STATUETTE)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 24, 2020

SUMMARY:

Released in 2014, this variant (specifically, the purple & white wrestling trunks) of Randy “Macho Man” Savage is a faithful vinyl rendition of the two-time WWE World Champion. As to his attire, this Funko is a homage to his late 1980’s Macho Madness prime. Savage is the standard Funko size (about 3.75 inches tall). His wrestling ensemble consists of: a familiar orange bandanna with his name spelled out; his wide yellow-framed shades; white triple-starred purple wrestling trunks; white wrist and knuckle tape; yellow knee pads; and white-laced yellow wrestling boots. Easily standing up for display options, this Funko Randy Savage statue can also swivel his head a full 360-degrees.

REVIEW:

As the “Macho Man” was fond of saying … Oooooh, yeaaaah! Including a spot-on paint job, Funko’s rendition of Savage (including his trademark shades) is near-flawless. A mild disappointment is that the triple-star pattern on his trunks is repeated slightly bigger on the backside rather than replicating the gaudier look of placing his name there in white surrounded by white stars. As to what else is missing, it’s really more wish fulfillment. Pairing this colorful Funko with one of his classy manager and then-wife, Miss Elizabeth, as a nostalgic two-pack would have made sense – at a minimum, even just placing the eagle-themed WWE Championship title belt around his waist would have wonderfully complimented this vintage look.

Considering all factors (particularly, its wacky potential as a desk/shelf decoration), this Funko Randy Savage still makes an awesome gift for any Macho Madness fan. Long live Macho Madness!

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Decorations Dolls, Statues, & Busts History & Biographies (Videos) Movies & Television (Videos) Toys & Games Westerns

KURT RUSSELL AS TOMBSTONE’S ‘WYATT EARP’ (FUNKO STATUETTE)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 24, 2020

SUMMARY:

Released in early 2020, it’s a 3¾-inch hard plastic/vinyl homage to Kurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp from the 1993 film, Tombstone. Underneath a black wide-rim hat, this Wyatt sports a confident ‘what, me worried?’ smirk. Rather than flashing a trusty pistol, Wyatt’s pocket watch is prominently on display. Easily standing up for display options, this Funko statuette can also swivel his head a full 360-degrees.

Notes: Wyatt Earp is Funko # 851. Available separately in this Tombstone series are his brothers : Sam Elliott’s Virgil (Funko # 853) and Bill Paxton’s Morgan (Funko # 854). Val Kilmer’s ‘Doc’ Holliday is Funko # 852; ‘Doc’ has a pair of variants (# 855 and # 856). Wyatt’s fictional present-day descendant, Wynonna Earp, appears as Funko # 918.

REVIEW:

Including a spot-on paint job, Funko’s rendition of Kurt Russell-as-Wyatt Earp is a gem. Considering its fun potential as a desk/shelf decoration, this Funko Wyatt Earp makes a nifty gift for any Tombstone fan.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Decorations Dolls, Statues, & Busts Movies & Television (Videos) Toys & Games

CADDYSHACK’S DANCING GOPHER (ANIMATRONIC STATUE)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 24, 2020

SUMMARY:

Produced by Gemmy Industries, Inc., this lightweight, plush 6” x 14” animatronic gopher has a built-in plastic base where its red button will play the 1980 comedy’s laid-back “I’m Alright” theme. For about thirty-five seconds, swiveling its heads, paws, hips, and knees, the ‘Dancing Gopher’ makes with the shimmy and performs its memorable boogie from the movie’s closing credits.

For when the time comes: open its battery hatch with a screwdriver where your ‘Gopher’ buddy will require four AA batteries.

REVIEW:

It’s a wonderful office decoration that delivers some chuckles, as long as the batteries last. Otherwise, it’s just a plushie on a pedestal. Based on prior experience, there are evidently two different versions, though the gopher itself remains identical. When initially released, the ‘Dancing Gopher’ clearly played Kenny Loggins’ rendition of “I’m Alright.” Yet, when it eventually came time to replace the initial batteries, the ‘Kenny Loggins’ gopher’s electronics didn’t work again. Though it may have been a fluke, this reviewer’s first ‘Dancing Gopher’ was literally a one-hit wonder.

Years later, another ‘Gopher’ was found (presumably, a re-release), which now plays a generic cover of “I’m Alright.” Chancing whether or not replacing the batteries is really a fool’s errand, this reviewer found that battery replacement works on this second ‘Gopher.’ Assuming all goes well, Caddyshack’s Dancing Gopher is a fun stress reliever, particularly on tough workdays, or, as this reviewer can attest, to liven up staff meetings.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

Books & Novels Children's Books Christmas

SANTA IS COMING TO IDAHO

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 19, 2020

Written by Steven Smallman and Illustrations by Robert Dunn & Jim Mitchell

SUMMARY:

Published in 2013 by Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, this hardcover book tracks Santa’s calamity-filled journey to Idaho. Santa Claus and his reindeer are trekking off to Idaho on Christmas Eve only to get lost in a blizzard after crossing the Canadian border. They further stumble through a minor crash landing. Santa’s Santa-nav (his version of GPS) is not proving very helpful. Fortunately, Santa’s unnamed, inexperienced, and youngest reindeer out on his first Christmas Eve run demonstrates a keen sense of intuition. Ultimately, Santa and his reindeer team must use their ingenuity in delivering toys to everyone all over Idaho.

REVIEW:

At just under thirty pages, it could be construed that Santa’s visit to the Gem State is really just the author name-dropping various Idaho towns and landmarks. Even if Santa follows a zig-zag path, at least the author keeps his geography correct. Instead of relying on clichés, Steven Smallman nicely demonstrates Santa’s traditional habits with some sprinklings of well-timed humor. The author’s text is also well-matched by the magic of Robert Dunn & Jim Mitchell’s affectionate illustrations. Delightfully, this book is a real gem for children.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Books & Novels Children's Books Christmas

CHARLIE THE RANCH DOG: CHARLIE AND THE CHRISTMAS KITTY

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 19, 2020

Written by Ree Drummond & Illustrated by Diane deGroat

SUMMARY:

Published by HarperCollins in 2013, this 34-page hardcover storybook is the sequel to author Ree Drummond’s Charlie the Ranch Dog. It’s Christmas Eve for Charlie the Basset Hound’s family at their snowy ranch home. Charlie takes an extended snooze, only to wake up and meet the new family member: an orange tabby kitten. Initially mistaking the kitten for a rabbit, Charlie senses dire reality setting in. This new kitty is there to stay. Trying his best to ignore the kitten, the basset hound finally resorts to baying. Realizing that his efforts are futile, Charlie is thrilled to find that the kitten is a natural masseuse gladly willing to knead his ‘aching’ back. Yet, one more Christmas surprise awaits Charlie, as a new Basset puppy named Walter arrives wearing a collar with Charlie’s name on the gift tag.

REVIEW:

Exceptionally well-illustrated by artist Diane deGroat, this formulaic second Charlie book is a sheer delight! Author Ree “The Pioneer Woman” Drummond’s poignant text is occasionally hilarious depicting Charlie’s bemused canine point-of-view. For youngsters who adore dogs and basset hound aficionados alike, Charlie and the Christmas Kitty makes a wonderful holiday treat. The book is also an ideal treat for infants and toddlers before bedtime/naps.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Illustrated with an image of Charlie wearing a Santa hat, there is a single-page recipe for “Charlie’s Favorite Christmas Cookies.”

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars

Christmas Decorations Movies & Television (Videos)

SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 1, 2020

SUMMARY:

This approximately 5-inch (including the support base) x 2-inch Christmas ornament depicts Col. Steve Austin in a bionic jogging pose. It was released in 2015 by Hallmark Marketing Company, LLC, in conjunction with Universal Studios.

REVIEW:

Despite a generic likeness of actor Lee Majors, think of this ornament as a nostalgic salute to Col. Steve Austin in his iconic red track suit. This sturdily built ornament is firmly attached to a well-designed plastic support base. This base also works well as a lightweight decoration for desks and shelves.

Its one detriment is a flimsy hanging wire, which may require replacement by one better-suited for the ornament’s weight. For the Christmas tree, ornament novelty collections, and/or Six Million Dollar Man fans, this homage to TV’s original bionic super-hero makes a fun nostalgia gift.

Note: The green pipe-cleaner wire seen below is a homemade replacement.

BONUS FEATURES:

By pressing a button on the left side of the support base, a voice chip plays a 43-second rendition of the TV series’ opening credits intro (including its sound effects and the voice of actor Richard Anderson as OSI boss Oscar Goldman). Its battery is accessible through a screwed-in plate beneath the base.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

Decorations

DALMATIAN IN FIRE HAT SNOW GLOBE

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date October 1, 2020

SUMMARY:

This small snow globe features a Dalmatian puppy in a fire hat. Its manufacturer isn’t identified.

REVIEW:

It’s well-constructed for what it is, including a nicely-decorated base. Considering its relatively compact size, this globe would make an ideal bookcase decoration.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars