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Obi-Wan & Dawn of the Deadddd.

Here's a pretty quick one about "The Spirit of Obi-Wan," a mail-away exclusive from Hasbro and Frito Lay to tie in with the special edition theatrical release of the Star Wars trilogy in the late 90s. I mentioned the figure in that UGO feature a month or so ago, and realized that it meant enough to me for a full tribute. Or in this case, a small one.

By the way, we caught "Dawn of the Dead" last night. No complaints here whatsoever. The main gripes I'm reading deal with the lack of "social commentary" seen in the original, as if that's the real reason people have championed the first flick for all these years. Yeah, it's nice that the movie was clever and all, but come on. It was all about the characters, and while prototypical at times, the new flick delivers with a cast you'll actually feel something for. The zombies are cool, but the film is more about "waiting to die" and scrambling for hope in a hopeless situation rather than an all-out zombie action fest. And yet, when it's time for the monsters to shine, we aren't let down. The film has the requisite gross-out shots and loads of gore, and I'm impressed that they pulled the trigger on some extremely un-PC bits here and there. I'd expand on what I mean, but you know...spoilers and all that. I've been waiting to see a horror movie that's satisfied enough in being just that without trying to be "something better than a horror movie," a poorly structured way of saying it I know, but that's what I wanted and that's what I got. Recommended, and don't wait for the DVD -- it's definitely the kind of movie that's worth seeing in a crowd.

Posted by Matt on 03/21/2004. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 94 comments

first comment,holla!!!!!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by meef @ 03/21/2004 8:52 PM

SECOND!!! I AM SOOOOO COOL NOW!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Kristal @ 03/21/2004 8:53 PM

Third??? Wow!

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Monkey @ 03/21/2004 9:02 PM

4th! yes! I’m better than everyone! go banana!

Chestnuts roasted by Josh @ 03/21/2004 9:04 PM

I saw DotD last night, too. Really great movie if you ask me. Much better than the Texas Chainsaw remake.

Chestnuts roasted by Fifth @ 03/21/2004 9:05 PM

funny funny stuff!

Chestnuts roasted by nelson @ 03/21/2004 9:07 PM

Okay, now I’ll actually COMMENT on this figure. First of all, as a Star Wars collector, I kind of hoarded these. I ordered four of ‘em, and yes, today, they ain’t worth much. Actually, there is a version of this figure that is worth something. It’s a foreign piece, I believe it was out in the UK. When the Special Edition was out over there, instead of having to send away for the figure, you got one at the Virgin Megastore. And it came it a neat box with graphics and it was specially numbered, too. Here’s a picture:

http://www.neal73.co.uk/figure_review_spirtben.htm

Scroll down to see it, it’s the second picture.

By the way, I really wish they’d make more easy-to-get-but-still-cool mail-away exclusives nowadays.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Monkey @ 03/21/2004 9:13 PM

I was going to order this when the promotion started, but for some reason I never got around to actually doing it. I’ve regretted it for years. Oh, I know I could get my hands on one really easily, but it just wouldn’t be the same as ordering it from Frito-Lay, y’know? Oh, and I liked pizza chips. Oh, and one more thing; the prequels are bashed way too much, in my opinion. I love Star Wars as much now as I ever did. That is all.

Chestnuts roasted by Frostor @ 03/21/2004 9:40 PM

I’ve been begging for months Matt. Please. I beg of you, give us the rest of the Photog art. I’ve never asked for anything else.

Why am I so obsessed with the Photog art? I wish I could say. There’s just something about the magic of a walking camera. I’d really like to see the pics. I promise, I’ll stop harassing you every other blog if you post them. PleasE!

Chestnuts roasted by Photog's Love Child @ 03/21/2004 9:51 PM

I’m glad you mentioned that this figure is "worthless" now because when the promo was going on, I was 16 and in the end of my "must have every promo" phase that lasted for about 8 years. For some reason I never got around to holding on to the coupon and proofs, so I never got the fig. Up until now I was pissed at myself for this because I kept thinking it was worth big moolah. I can finally rest after all these years.
I would like to disagree with your praise for Dawn of the Dead though. To each his own, I know, but the two things that made this movie not as good as the original (without spoilers): 1. Mehki Pfifer’s (sp?) "family" 2. The end was totally different. Guess I’m just a big fan of the original…

Chestnuts roasted by Myke @ 03/21/2004 9:57 PM

I agree with you on Point 2 — I wish they didn’t keep it going through the credits; it would’ve been better to leave things off ambigously.

I liked the family thing because it led to one of those un-PC things I’d mentioned.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/21/2004 10:01 PM

I love the figure, loved him the first time I saw him..
to bad the remakes and the new trilogys weren’t even close to *as* cool.

Glad to hear the DotD was good tho, for some reason I trust the opinion of a fellow Cheesy-80′s-movie loving toy freak more than that of the critics.

Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/21/2004 10:39 PM

The Spirit of Obi-Wan figure has sentimental associations for me – it was the first mail-away toy my mom ordered for my little brother (who couldn’t have been more than five or six at the time, too young to order it himself). He still has it. He was actually pretty good about the wait, as far as I can remember.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 03/21/2004 10:40 PM

A few years ago my brother got another Star Wars figure through mail-order. It was probably around the same time this Spirit of Obi Wan was being offered. This guy wasn’t as interesting though, in fact I don’t even remember who he was. All I remember is his grey and black uniform, and he might have been wearing a grey helmet. Probably just some anonymous Imperial bad-guy. Eventually my brother got tired of him, and threw him in the cage with his hampsters, who proceeded to chew his arms and legs off.

Chestnuts roasted by MG @ 03/21/2004 10:53 PM

Woo a Star Wars article finally a chance for me to pimp Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic which kicks all flavors of booty. I’m a Gamecube man myself but if you don’t already have one you need to buy an XBOX for this game it’s that awesome. Not a minute goes by where I’m not thinking about this game which Probably explains why i’m writing about it on the X Entertainment blog. It’s taken over my life. I need help HEEELP MEEEE.

Chestnuts roasted by Meatwad @ 03/21/2004 10:57 PM

What kind of stamp is that on the package addressed to Matt? It almost looks like Bowser…

Chestnuts roasted by G'Tron @ 03/21/2004 11:24 PM

OMG Matt lives in a Crackhouse! :o

Chestnuts roasted by Meatwad @ 03/22/2004 12:22 PM

speaking of pizza flaovred chips, weren’t there TMNT themed pizza flavored crackers, or tortilla chips, or some sort of snack food being sold for awhile?

Chestnuts roasted by sizone @ 03/22/2004 12:35 PM

As Nate mentioned a few bloggies back, yes — "Crunchabungas."

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 03/22/2004 12:36 PM

BTW, What’s your take on the Clone Wars cartoon Matt?

Chestnuts roasted by Cyanyde @ 03/22/2004 12:44 PM

Hmmm… methinks that wasn’t a picture of the envelope from so many years ago. Considering the stamp wasn’t cancelled out, and it was hand addressed. Can’t pull the wool over my eyes! I’m on to your tricks. I do like that you took the time to tell us that you live in a crackhouse. And that there was a dead Jedi inside. Very thoughtful.

Chestnuts roasted by allicat @ 03/22/2004 12:53 PM

Didn’t the Han Solo in Stormtrooper disguise come out before this one? That one’s my favorite.

Chestnuts roasted by Corwin Gibson @ 03/22/2004 1:01 AM

Teehee. Humble Bumble.

Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 03/22/2004 1:15 AM

I have nothing constructive to sayu about Dawn of the Dead. I didn’t see a lot of the scary bits, because I close my eyes and cower during the scary bits in movies. I liked that there were parts I could actually watch, where for most horror movies I just sit there quivering. It’s not like I have to pay to see them, thanks to my job at the movie theatre.

Chestnuts roasted by Gabbylicious @ 03/22/2004 2:17 AM

I recently got rid of my spirit of obi wan figure. For several years I would see it in stores and online for massive amounts of money. Some were selling it for like 60 bucks! They still are. Then other places have it for 3 or 4 bucks. I gave up on figures and comics and started concentrating on CD’s and DVD’s. Great article.

Chestnuts roasted by Jay Amabile @ 03/22/2004 2:19 AM

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This entry was posted on Sunday, March 21st, 2004 at 8:47 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.