News

This week sees the release of two films worth mentioning. But let's be upfront: neither of these new releases has truly captivated us so far. Originally, the second part of Kevin Costner's epic Western opera, »Horizon: An American Saga«, was also set to premiere today, but the release was canceled at short notice. According to our information, there is no new release date yet.

The live-action adaptation of the cult game »Minecraft«, aptly titled »A Minecraft Movie«, transports Jason Momoa and Jack Black into a CGI-heavy blocky world. Unfortunately, the trailers didn't win us over at all, and Momoa's pink leather jacket almost gave us a mild retinal burn. Then again, we have to admit that we're probably not the target audience for this flick. We've read here and there that it's supposed to be quite funny, but we'll likely skip this one. For all the gamers and fans out there – here's the trailer:
https://youtu.be/wJO_vIDZn-I

Even though the preview clips for »Eden«, Ron Howard's new film, already gave away a bit too much for our taste, the cast — featuring Jude Law, Vanessa Kirby, Daniel Brühl, Sydney Sweeney, and Ana de Armas — has definitely piqued our interest. »Eden« tells the mysterious true story of eight expatriates who, in the 1930s, attempted to live out their personal utopia on the uninhabited Galápagos island of Floreana — an endeavor that ended fatally for some. So if you don't mind being spoiled by the trailer — here you go:
https://youtu.be/3EVXjJWauko

How time flies! Today marks exactly 50 years since »Monty Python and the Holy Grail« premiered in British cinemas. We take this as an opportunity to pay tribute to the brilliant comedy troupe Monty Python.

The group, consisting of Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam, produced four seasons of the BBC series »Monty Python's Flying Circus« from 1969 to 1974. The show featured sketches and animated sequences, and the world had never seen anything like it before. In many ways, Monty Python's sketches were revolutionary. Their humor was absurd, subversive, often pitch-dark, and they didn’t bother with punchlines. The comedy lay in the absurdity of the situation itself.

After their Flying Circus years, the troupe turned to filmmaking. While »And Now for Something Completely Different« (1971) was produced during the show's run and consisted of re-enacted scenes from the first two seasons as a best-of anthology, »Monty Python and the Holy Grail« (1975) was their first work with a continuous storyline. It tackled the legend of King Arthur and the quest for the Holy Grail, parodying medieval films with typical Monty Python humor.

Their masterpiece came with »Life of Brian« (1979). This tale of mistaken identity during the time of Jesus satirized religious and political dogmatism, angering both Christian and Jewish groups, who vehemently protested its release.

In 1982, »Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl« followed, and the next year saw the release of »The Meaning of Life«. That same year, the group temporarily disbanded. Their last performance with all six members took place in 1989 for the anniversary compilation »Parrot Sketch Not Included – 20 Years of Monty Python«.

Graham Chapman succumbed to cancer on October 4, 1989. The remaining Pythons attended his funeral, where Cleese and Palin gave moving eulogies. The gathered mourners then sang »Always Look on the Bright Side of Life« from »Life of Brian«.

In 2014, the surviving members reunited one final time, though they didn't present any new material. With their last show on July 20, 2014, the group officially disbanded for good. Terry Jones passed away on January 21, 2020.

Monty Python's influence on subsequent generations of comedians remains undeniable. We say thank you for all the crazy ideas — and, last but not least, for some wonderful songs that still echo in our ears today.

And as a final note for collectors: In 2002, Sideshow released a cool 1/6 scale series featuring 14 characters from »The Holy Grail« and two figures from »Life of Brian«. With a bit of luck, these figures can still be found on the secondary market today.

Whether it's the Batmobile, Ecto-1, K.I.T.T., or DeLorean, many manufacturers attempt to create 1/6 scale models of iconic vehicles from film history. Blitzway is known for their exceptional eye for detailed replicas. Now, they've proven it once again with their surprising rendering of the DeLorean Time Machine from »Back to the Future Part II«.

The DeLorean is equipped with a variety of light, sound, and mechanical effects. Among other things, the doors can be opened and closed automatically using a magnet – unlike the 2022 version by Hot Toys, which required collectors to open them manually. The magnet also allows for automatic horizontal positioning of the wheels when the DeLorean is placed on its base. Combined with the spectacular lighting effects, this makes for a film-accurate recreation of the Time Machine's hover mode. To quote Doc Brown: "Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." The chassis is made of cast metal, allowing the front axle to be moved via the steering wheel. Pressing the brake pedal also illuminates the brake light, and the turn signals can be activated using a lever on the steering wheel. The extent of Blitzway's attention to detail is particularly evident in the interior, for example, in the flux capacitor, the gearshift, and the genuine leather seats.

We're already amazed and feel like Blitzway's team of artists has done an incredible job making every BTTF fan and collector's dreams come true. Here you can fulfill your wish of owning your own (little) DeLorean:
https://www.space-figuren.de/Filme/Zurueck-in-die-Zukunft/1-6-Scale-DeLorean-Time-Machine-Ultimate-Masterpiece-Series-Back-to-the-Future-2::28636.html

"The way is ... shut. It was made by those who are dead ... and the dead keep it. The way is shut."

Once cursed by Isildur as an oathbreaker, the King of the Dead waited a long time to atone for his sins so that he could rest in peace with his undead subjects. The ultimate opportunity came when Aragorn sought him out in the mountains. He promised the King of the Dead that he would lift his curse if he fulfilled his oath and led his army of the dead into battle on the Pelennor Fields ...

These scenes from »The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King« were extremely impressive and still give us goosebumps today - just like this epic rendering of the KING OF THE DEAD STATUE by Weta Workshop! The New Zealand manufacturer, that was also involved in the adaptation of the film trilogy back then, has truly created a masterpiece here 👑.

Standing, or rather almost floating, on a base of skulls, the king's expression is determined, terrifying and commanding at the same time, and Weta has captured his striking appearance perfectly and with great attention to detail. His crown, armor, and sword have long since rusted, yet the luster of former days can still be seen. The manufacturer has meticulously incorporated the many intricate details and small textures (and that's certainly not easy in 1/6 scale). For the first time, Weta Workshop uses a special transparent resin to create a replica as close to the original as possible. Anyone who dares to look directly into the face of the King of the Dead will see his skeleton shimmering through. The figure's impressive overall appearance, especially with the elaborate paintwork on the flowing cloak and armor, almost gives the impression that it's glowing – incredible!

The King of the Dead statue is limited to just 700 pieces worldwide – and we expect the entire edition to be sold out very soon. Cheers to Weta on this impressive release and congratulations, Your Majesty, on being named 💥 Product of the Month 💥 April 2025!

Last weekend, from March 28th to 30th, cosplayers, collectors, and nerds gathered in Anaheim, California. WonderCon, essentially the little sister of San Diego Comic Con, once again offered all sorts of new things to discover. The collectibles section featured a limited but nevertheless interesting range of new releases and announcements.

In a panel, Todd McFarlane himself presented a whole range of new products from McFarlane Toys that we can look forward to in the coming months. These include numerous DC and Marvel action figures and statues in various scales. The manufacturer is also releasing new figures for »Mortal Kombat« and the Turtles. Particularly noteworthy among the announcements are the 7 inch action figures (as a so-called Theatrical Deluxe Edition) for »Batman Returns« – not only do we get new versions of Batman, Penguin, Catwoman, and Max Shreck, but also a super-fun set of Penguin Commandos figures in full rocket gear! And of course, there will also be collectibles for the new Superman film that's coming out this summer.

In our opinion, Mondo made the biggest splash in the collectibles section. It seemed like there were a ton of new releases, both at the booth and in their panel. We were extremely impressed by the 1/6 scale Mumm-Ra, the second figure in Mondo's »ThunderCats« series. He will likely be followed by Cheetara, whose first concept art was shown. In the 1/6 MOTU section, we can soon look forward to a new take on Man-E-Faces. In all her glory and vibrant color, She-Ra with Swiftwind was one of the eye-catchers at the Mondo booth. Strictly speaking, the biggest MOTU hit is only half the size: the brand-new 1/12 scale »Masters of the Universe« line from Mondo! It debuted at WonderCon with an unpainted prototype of the 200X He-Man and the concept arts of Clawful, Skeletor, and Man-At-Arms shown in the panel. This could be really cool!

Speaking of 1/12 scale: The Cereal Mascots 1/12 scale figures from Jada Toys brought a wide, cavity-ridden grin to our faces. Jada brings out the iconic Kellogg's Frosties tiger Tony, among others - all without artificial colors or flavors, of course ;)!

Exactly 20 years ago, the first »Sin City« film, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel series, premiered in Westwood, California. On this occasion, our Tim is looking back on the film:

The night in Sin City: The streets flooded with cannibalistic cardinals, corrupt cops, prostitutes, serial killers, sex offenders, alcoholics and the Yellow Bastard – their dark stories intertwined in four episodes that glide through the city like shadows.

As a huge »Lord of the Rings« fan, I originally went to the cinema at the age of 15 just to see Elijah Wood (our small-town cinema wasn't too strict about age ratings) – and I was blown away. The dense atmosphere, the radical stylistic choices, and the uncompromising look left a deep impression on my understanding of cinema. »Sin City« carved out a cinematic niche that I still adore and that ignited my passion for the comic noir genre. Naturally, I devoured every one of the Frank Miller comics I could find in our local library afterward.

What makes it so fascinating is that the comics themselves were inspired by classic film noir, but the film directly reinterpreted the comic's style, animating the static images and creating a visual experience that felt like a graphic novel come to life. The rigid figures, the abrupt cuts, the high-contrast black-and-white with selective splashes of color, and above all: the all-encompassing CGI. It was proof that the era of computer-animated elements in live-action films had truly arrived. »Sin City« propelled the neo-noir genre into the spotlight and ushered in a new, darker era for comic adaptations – far removed from the bright and colorful aesthetics of the '90s. Without »Sin City«, we probably wouldn't have received masterpieces like »Watchmen« (2009), and I dare say that Christopher Nolan's »Batman« trilogy wouldn't exist without this trailblazer.

And then there was the cast: Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller assembled an ensemble that reads like a game of musical chairs with every A-lister from the early 2000s, where they simply cast everyone who grabbed a seat. Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Benicio del Toro, Jessica Alba, Mickey Rourke, Josh Hartnett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Tommy Flanagan – each one a true character actor, perfectly fitting into this dark world. And of course, Elijah Wood, whose role as the pain-immune cannibal Kevin was so far removed from the friendly Frodo we knew that it was clear he was determined not to be typecast (see also the brutal Nazi-hooligan drama »Green Street Hooligans«, released the same year – highly recommended!). Fun fact: As a favor for Robert Rodriguez composing the music for »Kill Bill: Vol. 2«, Quentin Tarantino directed a scene in »Sin City«.

That »Sin City« only cost 40 million dollars is almost impossible to believe nowadays (especially after recent films like »The Electric State«). Almost ten years after its release, in September 2014, the film adaptation of Frank Miller's second »Sin City« volume, »A Dame to Kill For«, was released. Unfortunately, it lacked the impact and emotional depth of the first film and became a flop. Nevertheless, »Sin City« is and remains a pioneering work that changed not just cinema but also me.

When the news broke in mid-January that Diamond Comics Distributors, whose collectibles division also includes Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant, had filed for bankruptcy, it was a shock for collectors and, of course, for us as retailers. Now there's news of the bankruptcy proceedings.

A few days ago, it was announced that Alliance Entertainment would acquire the comic book giant. The company had made the highest bid for the acquisition. However, approval from the bankruptcy court is still pending. The purchase would also include Diamond Select Toys. Gentle Giant, however, is not mentioned in the press release. It remains unclear whether the manufacturer will be considered part of Diamond Select Toys or treated separately.

Alliance Entertainment is a global wholesaler specializing in music, film, video games, and collectibles, among other things. Therefore, the company's decision-makers saw significant cross-selling potential with Diamond's comics, games, merchandise, and collectibles.

The increase in their revolving credit facility, which will allow Alliance Entertainment to finance the takeover, is expected to be completed in April – assuming the bankruptcy court approves the purchase.

Of course, we hope that the acquisition goes as smoothly as possible and that collectors can continue to be supplied with collectibles from Diamond and Gentle Giant in the future. We will keep you updated on further developments.

A whole series of new trailers have dropped on YouTube in recent days, which whet our appetites for upcoming film and series releases. We've selected a few appetizers to present to you here:

Warner Bros. is serving us a new trailer for »Final Destination: Bloodlines«, the sixth installment in the popular horror series. This time, young Stefani's family is haunted by death, and the preview gives us a glimpse of the creative traps the Grim Reaper sets for them. You can quench your thirst for blood in theaters starting May 16th.
https://youtu.be/UWMzKXsY9A4

On Disney+, however, the Doctor's adventures continue on April 12th, when the second season of »Doctor Who« starts streaming, starring Ncuti Gatwa in the title role. Soon, you'll be able to travel through space and time with the Time Lord and his new companion.
https://youtu.be/IN7nAyeeN5Q

It'll be less wholesome, but bloodier, when »Clown in a Cornfield« hits the big screen on May 9th. The first trailer already piqued our interest about a month ago, and the new one promises a truly terrifying slasher. We're excited to see if Frendo can join the ranks of iconic killer clowns.
https://youtu.be/8tBSOKyyZT8

A real highlight from the Star Wars universe awaits us starting April 22nd: the second (and final) season of »Andor«! The new episodes on Disney+ continue the story of the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance. The trailer impressively shows what's at stake and really stokes our anticipation for Season 2!
https://youtu.be/duN-KQgOjYs

Lionsgate gives us another glimpse into »Ballerina«, the spin-off to the »John Wick« series. Ana de Armas plays the eponymous dancer, who, after the death of her parents, is trained to be an assassin and embarks on a bloody campaign of revenge – and encounters a familiar face along the way. The action film will be in theaters starting June 6th.
https://youtu.be/yNN2PoilSp4

Finally, Marvel is upping the ante and releasing the fourth trailer for their upcoming mega-blockbuster »Thunderbolts«, which opens on May 2nd. And the fast-paced trailer is really building up hype for the MCU's new anti-hero squad!
https://youtu.be/bqnRzjPfb5A

"They don't make films. They make movies."

The first season of the series »The Studio« premieres today on Apple TV+ under the creative direction of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

Film geek Matt Remick (Seth Rogen) has reached his dream as the newly appointed head of Continental Film Studios. But how do you produce captivating and modern films? How does he manage the balancing act of realizing creative visions while simultaneously fulfilling the studio's commercial interests? In an attempt to please everyone, Matt's big dream quickly turns into a nightmare.

For film buffs, movies and shows that take a look behind the scenes of a film production are, of course, a special treat. It wasn't that long ago that the HBO series »The Franchise« took a look at the production of a superhero blockbuster, unfortunately with a rather disappointing result, as the series turned out to be unfunny and the characters were all unlikable. If the initial reviews are to be believed, things seem to be quite different with »The Studio«. There is a lot of praise for the satirical view on the film business, the sense for the absurdities of Hollywood and the accurate humor. Part of this is likely due to the many Hollywood celebrities who make fun of themselves. We meet Charlize Theron, Ron Howard and Martin Scorsese, among others. Unlike in the series »Entourage«, the cameos here aren't an end in themselves, but rather drive the plot forward, according to the reviews.

We're also particularly excited about Bryan Cranston's appearance as studio CEO Griffin Mill in the pilot episode, which is available on the streaming platform as of today, together with episode 2. The remaining 8 episodes will follow weekly.

The sci-fi adventure »The Electric State« premiered on Netflix on March 14. Tim watched the film and shares his impressions here:

Sometimes it's astonishing how massive film projects can just pass you by, even when you’re deeply immersed in the subject, constantly on the lookout for new trailers, working with collectibles from current blockbusters, spending almost all your free time watching series and movies, and even heading to the cinema every few weeks. That's exactly what happened to me and the entire S.P.A.C.E Crew with »The Electric State«. I vaguely remember hearing that Simon Stålenhag's book was getting a film adaptation a few years ago, and I recall thinking, "Oh, cool!" – but somehow, I completely lost track of it. That is, until a few months ago when I saw the trailer once as an ad before another trailer, promptly forgot about it again, and then suddenly, on March 14, the film appeared out of nowhere on my Netflix page. But more on that in a moment.

Simon Stålenhag's illustrated novel is one of those defining artworks of an era – in this case, the Photoshop era. His haunting, 1990s-inspired retro-futuristic dystopian imagery is the epitome of digital painting, heavily influenced by game concept art, the digital revolution, and environmental disasters. They are also reminiscent of Lovecraft, if the Gothic author's monsters were robots instead of biological. The images feel eerily familiar, whether it's because the machines resemble mechatronics from our childhood or because these giant metallic beasts loom over an otherwise ordinary nighttime gas station. And that’s precisely what makes them so unsettling. This aesthetic perfectly fits into the internet world of backrooms and creepy pastas.

This fascination must have inspired the Russo brothers to acquire the film rights to the book and attempt the second adaptation of a Stålenhag work. In 2020, Prime Video released the series adaptation »Tales from the Loop«, which is definitely worth checking out. Here’s the trailer:
https://youtu.be/1htuNZp82Ck

And now we get to the film's genuinely eerie story: it is Netflix's most expensive production ever. Roughly 320 million dollars (!) were spent on this film, placing it among the top 10 most expensive movies of all time. Current mega-stars like Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, and Anthony Mackie were cast in the lead roles. Incredible work went into the cinematic design and CGI for Stålenhag's metallic creations, and Avengers blockbuster directors Anthony and Joe Russo helmed the project. How did such a colossal project fly under our radar - especially when you compare it to Netflix’s last big sci-fi film production, Zack Snyder’s awful Star Wars knockoff »Rebel Moon« (166 million dollars for both films), whose promotion you simply couldn’t escape before, during, and after its release?

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that. Maybe they just ran out of money when it came to marketing. The posters didn't do the movie any favors either, they are as stupid and generic as the ones for »Borderlands«. Nevertheless, the film has climbed to the top of the streaming charts, and I watched it too. I can already tell you this much: it’s DEFINITELY not as bad as the »Rebel Moon« films, but was it worth the 320 million? Probably not – though that depends a bit on what you value.

Visually, »The Electric State« is absolutely stunning. I love the design of the robots and the world, which sticks closely to the aesthetics of the source material. Honestly, I would have been satisfied if they had just left out the story altogether and made a dystopian atmospheric documentary instead. Unfortunately, the storytelling doesn’t come close to matching the visuals. Instead of the book's atmospheric horror, we get an action-comedy – popcorn cinema (without the cinema) that wouldn’t feel out of place in the current MCU. Chris Pratt's character is annoyingly unfunny, but his companion Herman (voiced by Anthony Mackie) has quite a bit of charm and makes up for it in places. I liked the connection between Millie Bobby Brown's Michelle and the robot Cosmo, though Cosmo's speech pattern, filled with cartoon references, heavily reminded me of Bumblebee from the »Transformers« series. The film's climax is a chaotic CGI battle lacking any depth, and the social and technological criticism is as on-the-nose as can be, carefully avoiding offending any particular group. The "robot messiah child" trope was executed far better in »The Creator« two years ago.

Conclusion: The film is perfectly fine for a casual movie night. At least you won’t constantly get frustrated with unbearably dumb protagonists, like I did with »Rebel Moon«. Did I expect much more from an adaptation of the book? ABSOLUTELY, but fans of »Transformers« and Marvel movies like me will still enjoy it. Just don’t expect any depth – and certainly no horror. That element only surfaces in a single, far-too-brief scene where you already know in advance that there are no stakes at all. Was this a way too long and complex review for a mediocre film? Probably ;).

Watch the trailer for »The Electric State« here:
https://youtu.be/KpN98z8Kf5E

Sometimes we see a trailer and add the film to our watchlist in capital letters, bold, underlined, and with exclamation marks. »The Ugly Stepsister«, Norwegian author and director Emilie Blichfeldt's debut film, is one such case.

It tells the Brothers Grimm's Cinderella story as a biting satire and deals with ideals of beauty and gender roles in a fairytale-like, not very squeamish way. Like »The Substance«, the film delves deep into body horror. Blichfeldt cites Cronenberg and Argento as two of her sources of inspiration. The film garnered considerable attention at this year's Sundance Film Festival and in the Berlinale Panorama section.

Watch the trailer and tell us if you're hooked like we were:
https://youtu.be/5vZ1_Yxjwzs

Last weekend, a very special game series celebrated its 20th anniversary. The first »God of War« game was released on March 22, 2005 in North America. The game revolutionized the action-adventure genre, scoring points with a fantastic mix of riddles, intense boss battles, a dark atmosphere and - by the standards of the time - high-quality graphics. For the publisher Sony and the developers at Santa Monica Studio the first part of the series was already a huge success, selling more than 4.6 million copies. The franchise's popularity hasn't waned since then, with newer titles also playing in the higher leagues.

At the center of the story, as well as the entire video game series, is the Spartan Kratos. Basically, we're dealing with a classic antihero, who often favors violence and resorts to unfair means in war. But the nefarious son of Zeus plunges into deep grief after falling victim to a ruse and murdering his own wife and daughter. It quickly turns out that not everything's black and white in »God of War«. Especially through flashbacks as cinematic cutscenes, the player learns about Kratos' demons from the past.

To forget these gruesome events, Kratos obliged himself to the Olympian gods, so they'd stop the flashbacks. Armed with the Blades of Chaos, the weapons of the god of war, Ares, to whom he once sold his soul, he must kill him on behalf of the goddess Athena. This fits well with Kratos, since Ares is indirectly responsible for the death of his family. Revenge is not only a central theme in the first »God of War« part, but it runs through the series as a common thread.

In 2010, the »God of War Collection« was released for PlayStation 3, which includes the first and second parts of the game series in reworked HD graphics. This makes it worth playing again, even after 20 years, to nostalgically slaughter monsters from Greek mythology.

Of course, we also have figures and statues from »God of War« in store. The 1/3 Kratos statue from Prime 1 Studio's Elite Masterline from the latest title »God of War: Ragnarok« is currently available for pre-order. The love for detail and a considerable amount of equipment will make the hearts of diehard fans and newcomers alike beat faster. Here you'll find the collectibles!

A bit of anime, a pinch of gaming, plus some »Lord of the Rings«, »Star Wars«, and old Hollywood classics, and a touch of samurai flair to boot: Sven and Tobi present you with a colorful potpourri of collectibles in episode 26 of 💫 NEUES AUS DEM FIGUREN UNIVERSUM 💫. There's a lot to see in this episode - from the Witch-King Mini-Statue from Weta to the high-quality 1/6 scale figures from Kaustic Plastik to a fantastic replica of the Master Sword from »The Legend of Zelda« (including a musical interlude 😉). Don't miss out!

You can now watch NADFU episode 26 on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/uAcMJ7_bndM

Japan is a hot topic at S.P.A.C.E right now - not just personally and in terms of collectibles, but also in our news.

After several delays, the latest installment in Ubisoft's »Assassin's Creed« series is released today under the title »Shadows«. Over the past weeks and months, we've written quite a bit about it, especially after Pure Arts surprised us with their new affordable 1/8 statue line for the popular game series, alongside their usual giant 1/4 pieces. You can already find Naoe and Yasuke from »AC Shadows« here, and more characters like Kassandra, Eivor, and Bayek are planned.

Now it's finally time to dive into the beautiful Japan of the late 16th century in this game, which once again masterfully blends history, fantasy, and science fiction. After the last installment, »AC Mirage«, offered a much more streamlined experience from start to finish, »AC Shadows« returns to a massive open world filled with hundreds of exciting side missions, eccentric side characters, and magnificent locations – so much so that you might just forget the main quest entirely.

As we mentioned in our last news about »AC Shadows«, we're a bit disappointed by the character models and the flow of the cutscene dialogues, which simply aren't up to the motion-capture standard a game of this caliber should have in 2025. In comparison, even the cutscenes from the more than 7 years old »AC Origins« feel more live-like. But aside from that, the living world, gameplay and story feel like a massive improvement over recent entries. Naoe, in particular, stands out as an assassin who matches Ezio (»AC II«, »Brotherhood«) in emotional depth and development potential, while also rivaling Arno (»AC Unity«) in agility and assassination skills. Meanwhile, Yasuke is by far the most massive and brutal AC protagonist ever. The whole experience feels like a course correction that could win over both old and new fans alike. The fact that the two main characters feel as different as two entirely separate games likely boosts replayability as well – it’s bound to be thrilling to tackle missions stealthily one time and then crash through like a tank the next.

A little correction of something we criticized in our first gameplay impression a few weeks back, is in order. It seems, that the allies we can call in during battles, are not faceless and nameless as we expected but real characters we meet during missions and RPG-conversations. They live in our base of operations, and it seems that we can even build relations with them to some extent. The scope of the base is also an innovation in »AC Shadows«, although we'll have to see for ourselves how much it impacts the experience while playing.

We're very curious to see how the backgrounds of the templars and assassins fit into the rich history of feudal Japan, and how the game will hold up against its big competitor, »Ghost of Yōtei«, which releases later this year and features a protagonist very similar to Naoe.

We highly recommend checking out theRadBrad's Let's Play for a good look at the game's first 2.5 hours:
https://youtu.be/kH9faLXla_M

We wish you a lot of fun during your own adventures in feudal Japan of the late Sengoku and early Azuchi-Momoyama era!

It's Thursday and therefore time for the cinema! We'd like to present to you 2 new releases worth mentioning:

Robert De Niro in a mafia movie? That's all we need to know to get in line at the box office. Barry Levinson's »The Alto Knights« opens in theaters today. De Niro plays two roles: the mafiosi Frank Costello and Vito Genovese, who are engaged in a bitter battle for supremacy on the streets of New York.

The trailer pleasantly reminds us of the great classics of the genre, from Francis Ford Coppola's »The Godfather« to the works of Martin Scorsese, especially »Goodfellas«:
https://youtu.be/1aayuOp0AnE

»Novocaine« is the brand name of a painkiller and also the title of an action-thriller comedy starring Jack Quaid. He plays Nate, an unassuming, average guy. When his true love (Amber Midthunder) is kidnapped, Nate embarks on a dangerous rescue mission. He is aided by an unusual ability: he cannot feel pain. The film probably won't be a cinematic masterpiece, but the trailer looks quite entertaining:
https://youtu.be/-PyOIlJEdqA

Are you going to the cinema this week?

With his upcoming vacation there, our Mick is currently in full Japan fever. Perhaps the new Toshirô Mifune figures from Kaustic Plastik are also partly responsible for his enthusiasm. Mick reveals his thoughts on the 1/6 scale collectibles of the legendary actor in his incarnations as a ronin in »Yojimbo« and as a samurai in »Red Sun« in a review from kimono to katana in the Action Figure District.

Of course, you can find both figures in our shop.

Troma Entertainment, Inc. is an American independent film studio. Since its founding in 1974, Troma has celebrated bad taste and enjoys cult status among fans. Even those who have never heard of Troma will nod at the film title »The Toxic Avenger«: "Yes... that rings a bell!"

While many film critics turned up their noses, as they so often do, Toxie became a crowd favorite, and the 1984 film became Troma's biggest success, spawning three sequels and animated and comic book adaptations.

Half-wit Melvin Junko works as a cleaner at a gym and is constantly bullied and harassed. When his tormentors pursue him again, Melvin escapes by jumping through a window and landing in a barrel of radioactive waste, whereupon he mutates into the Toxic Avenger ...

The remake of the film opened Fantastic Fest in Austin in September 2023, after which the film went quiet. Although there was a Red Band trailer a year ago, the film then seemed to have disappeared into obscurity.

But now August 29, 2025, has been announced as the US release date, and Entertainment Weekly published the first photos of Peter Dinklage as the Toxic Avenger. Alongside Dinklage, Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, Jacob Tremblay, Julia Davis, and Taylor Paige are also part of the cast. An international distributor for the film has not yet been found, so we'll have to wait and see.

Fans of the original film from 1984 can pre-order the Ultimate Toxie action figure by Super7 in our shop - including his mop, of course ;)!

Have you seen the new trailer for »Lilo & Stitch« yet?
https://youtu.be/VWqJifMMgZE

The preview for the live-action remake of the 2002 Disney film was released by the animation giant a few days ago and definitely positively surprised us – and we're not alone, as most fans sound quite enthusiastic! The film seems to be a truly humorous and charming adaptation, and Stitch's look also strikes the right balance between faithfulness to the original and realism. The first teaser in December, as well as the Super Bowl spot a few weeks ago, already made us optimistic, but now the anticipation for »Lilo & Stitch«, which opens in theaters on May 23rd, is growing even more!

Are you excited to see the film?

On March 16, 2000, »Final Destination« celebrated its US premiere.

A school class is on their way to their final school trip to Paris. Shortly before the plane takes off, student Alex has a vivid vision in which he sees the plane exploding. When he rebels and tries to prevent the takeoff, he is escorted off of the plane. Some students and a teacher follow him and plan to take the next flight to Paris as soon as Alex has calmed down. But then the plane actually explodes. However, those who left are anything but safe, because death has been cheated. It was their fate to die in the explosion, and no one can escape fate. Thus, death itself becomes the protagonist, and one after the other, the survivors suffer fatal accidents, often staged with dark humor as wonderfully bizarre chain reactions that ultimately lead to the demise of the doomed. These picturesque deaths are the film's highlights.

Four more movies followed the same pattern. Each time, a group of people escapes a deadly catastrophe after a vision, sometimes a pile-up (2003), sometimes a roller coaster accident at an amusement park (2006), sometimes a car race accident in which a car crashes into the stands (2009), and sometimes the collapse of a bridge (2011). And each time, death gradually claims all those who initially managed to outwit fate.

We'll happily admit it, we have fun with the film series. Because even if the plot is basically the same every time, it's the creative kills that keep us interested. What will the Grim Reaper think of next to prevent his victims from getting away from him?

The film series ended in 2011 with the fifth installment and is now being revived with »Final Destination: Bloodlines«. Call it a guilty pleasure, but we're really looking forward to it - including the reunion with Tony Todd, who died in 2024, who makes his final film appearance here in his recurring role as William Bludworth. Let's honor him with our cinema visit!

»Final Destination: Bloodlines« hits cinemas this May. And if you want to see Death at work again before then, you can find the previous five installments of the series on Netflix.

Sascha photographed this Mogwai for our March postcard. Hopefully, without a flash 😵!

This wonderful retro motif featuring the Punk Mogwai from NECA will definitely trigger a real nostalgia rush – not just for Gremlins fans, but also for anyone who loves »Back to the Future«, the Turtles or the Simpsons. And don't worry: even if the Bat Gremlin stole one of the cards, there's still plenty left for you. You'll receive a free copy with every shipment we send you in March 📦. So browse our shop – you might find something in our sales section.

And be sure to check out Sascha's Insta account for even more cool toy photos 😃!