Buzz Lightyear - LEGO Toy Story Minifigure Review
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Mattel Toy Story 3 Super Spring Woody Review
Mattel Toy Story 3 Super Spring Woody Feature
Mattel Toy Story 3 Super Spring Woody Overview
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Toy Story Deluxe Figure Stretch Review
Toy Story Deluxe Figure Stretch Feature
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Disney TOY STORY Buzz Lightyear Swim Goggles Review
Disney TOY STORY Buzz Lightyear Swim Goggles Feature
Disney TOY STORY Buzz Lightyear Swim Goggles Overview
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Alex Toys See-Thru Stories Cubes Review
Alex Toys See-Thru Stories Cubes Feature
Alex Toys See-Thru Stories Cubes Overview
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Mattel Toy Story 3 Train Rescue Figure 2 pk. Review
Mattel Toy Story 3 Train Rescue Figure 2 pk. Feature
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Toy Story 3 Jessie Fashion Doll Review
Toy Story 3 Jessie Fashion Doll Feature
Toy Story 3 Jessie Fashion Doll Overview
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LEGO Toy Story Western Train Chase (7597) Review
This is a five star train for kids in the 5 to 8 year old range. Older kids may be more interested in the forthcoming Harry Potter Hogwart's Express train (4841) or the City line trains (7938 and 7939). The City trains, incidentally, are the only ones that come as complete sets with track, motors and remote control devices.
This is an Old West 4-4-0 steam engine, box car, passenger car, and caboose. I would describe the design as more cartoon-like than realistic, with the engine having exaggerated proportions and the cars a tad short. The set includes no track or motor. It is designed as a push train. The engine uses four new drivers (and comes with two extra un-flanged drivers) as well as a cattle-catcher (a new part). The train cars themselves are small but attractively designed. As with the other new trains for 2010, this set is largely brick-built (i.e., few specialized plastic moldings). The set includes Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Rex, and Evil Doctor Pork Chops mini-figures. The passenger car and the caboose are designed with lift-off tops to make it easier to place characters inside, and the box car has a trap door in the roof. The train is not a difficult build, but younger children will likely need some assistance.
Regarding adding a motor, it is possible to use Lego's Power Function (PF) accessories to add one, but Lego has not provided directions for doing so. I have not done this yet, but one way is to build a tender that carries a battery, motor and remote receiver. It might be a little awkward given the proportions of the train, but it is doable. These parts are available directly from Lego. I will revise this review when I see someone do a good job of motorization.
Though train buffs will likely be put-off by the design, this set is going to be very, very popular among children. Grandparents, I think this makes a perfect birthday or holiday gift. I do recommend buying track; you need at least two sets of Lego 7896, though consider getting three sets of 7896 and one set of switches (7895). If you want to add additional old west structures, you can add 7594, Woody's Roundup (which I believe is a scene in Toy Story 2, not 3).
LEGO Toy Story Western Train Chase (7597) Feature
LEGO Toy Story Western Train Chase (7597) Overview
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Barbie Toy Story 3 Made For Each Other Gift Set Review
So, if you're looking to buy this new Barbie and Ken "Toy Story 3" 2-pack, you are either buying it as a plaything for a kid or as a collector of Toy Story or Barbie memorabilia. If you're buying it as a plaything, great, there's nothing to complain about except for one issue. This set DOES NOT come with the accessories shown. That's the gym bag, water bottle, and whatever that little pamphlet is supposed to be. An exercise guide, I guess. No, while I THINK those items do come with the solo version of this TS3 Barbie, the two-pack is bare-bones. You just get Ken and Barbie in the outfits shown. They are your standard Ken and Barbie dolls with hair and clothes designed to look similar but not exactly like what we see in the upcoming Disney/PIXAR sequel, "Toy Story 3". It's a great two-pack to get the two iconic love birds in one set, just know that the accessories are false advertising. You don't get them in this "Made For Each Other" gift set.
Now, to address Disney and Toy Story fanatic collectors like myself, this pair is not a Toy Story Collection Certificate of Authenticity item, and therefore is waaay off model from what we see in the film. Similar in some ways, yes, but not perfect if that is what you require. I have lately reduced much of my Toy Story collection to just the Certificate of Authenticity "replica" toys and the best items I can find of characters not available in that TSC line. I mean, I've gotten rid of my kids' meal toys and other merchandise, most of it anyway, to simply go for the purest type of Toy Story collection with the most accurate representations. I have the Toy Story Collection C.O.A. Buzz, Woody, Aliens, RC, Army Men Bucket, Potato Head, and Rex. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Jessie and Bullseye (undecided about getting Lotso so far), and have also supplemented that line with the Disney Store Slinky Dog (removed the string) and the new, Disney Store, REAL Hamm piggy Bank (with the real cork and all, go now and get yours!), and just bought a standard Ohio Art Etch-A-Sketch today. I even got the beautifully done Woody's Round-Up toy guitar (thankfully, the retro packaging doesn't even say "Toy Story" on this one! I hope they do come out with the harmonica after all, too!). And another non-C.O.A. item I added to my collection today was this Ken and Barbie set. I'm somewhat happy with it, though I'm tempted to seek out a pair of '80's Ken and Barbie dolls and put these outfits on them, since the ones in the film do seem to have a more '80's look. Though Mattel attempted to recapture Ken's '80's hair here, they kept the modern Ken and Barbie faces. So, already, not a film match. But it doesn't stop there. Their outfits are also quite different. There seems to have been an attempt to make Ken look a little less silly on the actual toy than in the film. As goofy as his outfit looks here, it looks way goofier in the movie trailer, with bigger shorts rolled up higher, a far more open shirt, and a turned up collar that is sewn down on the actual doll. Barbie's outfit looks different as well. It's basically the same except for one big difference. On this actual doll, it is a very shiny, shimmery material. It doesn't really appear that way in the movie trailer. So, bottom line, these are not perfect film replicas, however, they're probably the closest thing we'll see in terms of the clothes, and if the face inaccuracies really bother you (the differences are probably pretty subtle if you are not prone to picking up on this sort of thing), you can always switch outfits with some older dolls. I'll make due with these as is for now, though it IS a shame they didn't flare out Ken's shorts as much as they are in the film. They almost look like a skirt, and it's totally hilarious when you see him shuffle out on unbending legs.
Basically, great toy set for just toy purposes and an okay but far from perfect addition to a Toy Story collector's display. For myself and my Toy Story collection, this pair was a must buy, even though I greatly wish they were more accurate. But, with Jodi Benson's heavenly voice behind the gorgeous Barbie in the Toy story films, I HAD to have her in my group (especially after missing the Tour Guide Barbie from years ago), and Ken is just going to be too hilarious in this movie! Just remember, despite all the pics, you don't get those accessories in the 2-pack!
Barbie Toy Story 3 Made For Each Other Gift Set Feature
Barbie Toy Story 3 Made For Each Other Gift Set Overview
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