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Boulder / Battle Rock

Comments

12 comments posted
Reevaluation, yes

After 2 1/2" Shoguns and Mini-Godaikins, the next logical step is GoBots/ Machine Robo. They're pretty much the same scale, and feature weird paint schemes and die-cast metal, plus they're dirt cheap and look great standing next to the aforementioned robot icons. Bandai continues to grow on me.

Rock Lords were a big hit with my younger brothers, and I recall checking them out on the sly and being impressed. They are great toys that (imo) owe a debt to those transforming eggs that I can't name. In both cases it seems the transformation feature is more about compartmentalization rather than literal story appeal. As older collectors I think the tendency is to neglect the fact that we no longer see with a child's eye, so when the gimmick doesn't hit you in the face it's lost. As a kid, a make-believe heroic rock might carry additional implications (strength, resolve, etc...)as well as merely being a cool thing to roll across the floor or throw at your sister. You mention photos of piles of these things and the various shapes and colors, and I bet that's what's up where this toys appeal is concerned.

Thanks, I am digging the Tonka/ Bandai love.

Materialist Zen's picture
Posted by Materialist Zen on 3 April, 2009 - 23:52
These guys were pretty

These guys were pretty awesome in the Machine Robo anime. They could launch themselves in rock mode and smack people. They also spoke some weird language.

-Andrew

Destroy All Podcasts DX's picture
Posted by Destroy All Pod... on 4 April, 2009 - 06:55
GoBots Battle of the Rock Lords

Andrew,

I never saw the Battle of the Rock Lords cartoon, I remember it was a big deal when it came out but I think it did real badly, I'll have to check it out,

Thanks,

Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau

Showapop's picture
Posted by Showapop on 4 April, 2009 - 12:50
The Rock Lords movie is one

The Rock Lords movie is one of those things that has always stuck with me since childhood. It was one of about five tapes I'd keep popping into the VCR. The movie itself is a pretty standard Hanna Barbera movie. It's actually not that bad. For weird trivia, it features Peter Cullen and Frank Welker as the two-headed robot Sticks and Stones.

-Andrew.

Destroy All Podcasts DX's picture
Posted by Destroy All Pod... on 4 April, 2009 - 17:28
Telly Sevalis as Magmar... I

Telly Sevalis as Magmar... I LOVE the Rock Lords movie.

Prometheum5's picture
Posted by Prometheum5 on 4 April, 2009 - 19:35
I recommend everyone watches

I recommend everyone watches this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeNg9ID88bI

It even features the Jewel Lords!

The Gobots cartoons were lousy by any metric. The Machine Robo cartoon was really well done, at least animation-wise. The rock lords actually look badass! Although seeing Diaman as a dude is a little strange. Now I know why they only put lipstick on the American version.

Jeremy/Andrew: have you seen the MR cartoon? Any good?

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 5 April, 2009 - 11:23
Machine Robo is pretty good

Machine Robo is pretty good if you're into 80's kung fu anime with a mecha twist. It manages to be pretty fun.

-Andrew

Destroy All Podcasts DX's picture
Posted by Destroy All Pod... on 5 April, 2009 - 17:07
Transfans

"Machine Robo is pretty good if you're into 80's kung fu anime with a mecha twist. It manages to be pretty fun. "

Yeah....too bad Machine Robo didn't manage to appeal the Transfans' interests in the aftermath of GoBots. It doesn't matter if it's Machine Robo or GoBots, for as long as they have their haughty attitudes intact they'll only perceive it as a Poor Man's TF.

-R78

Rodimus78's picture
Posted by Rodimus78 on 5 April, 2009 - 21:46
Now compare the previously

Now compare the previously linked video to this, the trailer for the Gobots Rock Lords movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67Dwz03jlMQ&NR=1

It's almost endearing in its ineptitude. Almost.

The Enthusiast's picture
Posted by The Enthusiast on 5 April, 2009 - 11:33
That MR vid is awesome...

That MR vid is awesome... seeing Fi-tor kick butt was a trip. I've been meaning to rewatch BotRL haven't seen it in a long time.

Prometheum5's picture
Posted by Prometheum5 on 5 April, 2009 - 18:41
Used to own one!

I used to own one of these! Unfortunately most of my toy collection from the 80s was lost during the Iraqi invasion on Kuwait. This was really one of my favorite figures and I loved transforming him into a rock and convincing my cousins that it was a real rock I found on the beach.

Grendizer99's picture
Posted by Grendizer99 on 23 October, 2012 - 10:15
I'm sorry to hear you lost it :(

I'm sorry to hear you lost it :(

it sucks when somehow, someway you lose all of your precious stuff and never can see it again. For me, it was garage sales and moving houses, where packing up often means losing things along the way, but going through hardships is even worse T.T

mrtrainfreak12's picture
Posted by mrtrainfreak12 on 16 August, 2013 - 07:40