Captain McKay
Main Eventer
WF 15+ Year Member But all out of badges so this is not one
Joined on: Jul 13, 2002 14:19:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,993
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Post by Captain McKay on Nov 8, 2015 21:51:40 GMT -5
Hey all, what I've done here is a new idea I've had for figure reviews. I decided to not only look at the figure, but the timeframe that the figure was based on. People seem to love the Ministry and Undertaker during this time, but after re-visiting some of it, I've got a different outlook. What do you think of his time in the Ministry? Curious to get thoughts from people who watched it then, vs. people who only see it on DVDs, the Network, YouTube, etc.
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Post by kennyw86 on Nov 8, 2015 21:53:23 GMT -5
That was the last time i gave a damn about the undertaker
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Post by cmiller79 on Nov 8, 2015 21:59:26 GMT -5
I loved it then and I love it now
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Captain McKay
Main Eventer
WF 15+ Year Member But all out of badges so this is not one
Joined on: Jul 13, 2002 14:19:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,993
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Post by Captain McKay on Nov 8, 2015 22:03:20 GMT -5
I loved it then and I love it now At the time, I thought it was great. Really different, interesting stuff. But now, realizing that it basically had NO direction, and was totally de-railed once the "Higher Power" was revealed, it just comes off as a total letdown. Despite how cool the elements, symbolism, and overtones could be at times. That was the last time i gave a damn about the undertaker American Badass was ridiculous. People liked it then, but then again, people also thought Limp Bizkit was cool at the time as well. I will say I liked his "Big Evil" stuff though, and when he first came back for WM20.
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Post by LostHawk05 on Nov 8, 2015 22:03:58 GMT -5
Nice twist on a figure review, I enjoyed it. And you're right, no way any of that Ministry stuff would fly on WWE programing today.
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Captain McKay
Main Eventer
WF 15+ Year Member But all out of badges so this is not one
Joined on: Jul 13, 2002 14:19:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,993
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Post by Captain McKay on Nov 8, 2015 22:06:54 GMT -5
Nice twist on a figure review, I enjoyed it. And you're right, no way any of that Ministry stuff would fly on WWE programing today. Thanks man. People want to complain that "PG" is the problem - even though you can still write great TV and have it be PG. They just haven't found the way to make the product such a huge hit like it was in the boom period of the Attitude Era.
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Post by TheHitmanKid on Nov 8, 2015 22:12:25 GMT -5
I love the background info for the figure. Most reviews that are online are like "I don't know which time frame this figure outfit is from". Your review makes me love my SDCC Undertaker even more. Keep making more reviews like this for other figures. I'll watch them ALL!
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Deleted
Joined on: May 5, 2024 19:57:04 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2015 22:15:15 GMT -5
i think he was awesome when he was ministry Undertaker
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Post by LostHawk05 on Nov 8, 2015 22:18:41 GMT -5
Nice twist on a figure review, I enjoyed it. And you're right, no way any of that Ministry stuff would fly on WWE programing today. Thanks man. People want to complain that "PG" is the problem - even though you can still write great TV and have it be PG. They just haven't found the way to make the product such a huge hit like it was in the boom period of the Attitude Era. I agree 100%. Its not about the blood, hardcore matches or 'puppies', its about creative story lines and solid ringwork that will improve todays product. Well, I think it would. Hopefully soon (probably once Triple H finally gets full control), we will see another boom for pro wrestling.
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Post by venomeratt on Nov 8, 2015 22:43:34 GMT -5
I liked the video. A little more comparison wont do you harm, between figures. But excellent work. The music, your back-fact checking - all spot on. In that same accord im 30 and i loved the attitude era. Not only did i love that era but the ministry of darkness was one of my favorite storys from that time. Undertaker was always the human incarnate of darkness. And for him to abduct and include members of the wwe roster that were fading away breathed new life into characters. He had great feuds with main eventers, and mid carders just the same. His characters had more life than many, and really coming down to the last of kayfabe, was a phenomenal persona. I remember being a teenager and rooting for mideon only because he was a art of that faction. Now part of my love of this is because we had so many great factions wars during this time, but the "evil" ultimate heel persona was the super heel version of anyone. I mean, if they can attempt to hang big boss man (and we've seen him beat the hell out of peope on stretchers with his nightstick) your really worried at the time, "who can stop them? How big will they get?!" The undertaker stabbing austin with a pen so vince can sign a contract in austins own blood was brilliant at my age wathing the show. These small things made me so much more intreagued to watch the next RAW. Its something i didnt see coming but also was like "oh my god could this have ended any better?!" Theres a reason that they did so well during the attitude era, they not only pushed the boundries on television but also your imagination. And lets be frank, imagination is what drove wrestling since the get go. I loved the attitude era. But i started watching in the new gen era and loved it then too. And i watch here and there now (mostly because with a wife, i dont have the time between all the rich real housewives of whatever shows). I dont think undertaker EVER really fell off (though was not a big fan of the AB taker) but consider him one of the all time greats and will allways buy his figures. P. S. My wife watches his dogs in port arthur texas when he's away, and ive met him many atime. A "phrnomenal" person. So i may be biased. Also exclude any typos cause ive had alot of shiner beers this evening.
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Post by ZDB on Nov 8, 2015 23:15:33 GMT -5
I liked ABA Taker so much that I think I've almost totally forgotten about Minstry Taker which I didn't like from the start.
Edit: just watched the video and that was on point. Like your style and production, hoping you do another vid like this one
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Post by cmiller79 on Nov 8, 2015 23:16:49 GMT -5
I loved it then and I love it now At the time, I thought it was great. Really different, interesting stuff. But now, realizing that it basically had NO direction, and was totally de-railed once the "Higher Power" was revealed, it just comes off as a total letdown. Despite how cool the elements, symbolism, and overtones could be at times. That was the last time i gave a damn about the undertaker American Badass was ridiculous. People liked it then, but then again, people also thought Limp Bizkit was cool at the time as well. I will say I liked his "Big Evil" stuff though, and when he first came back for WM20. I was a big fan of ABA taker even tho a lot of people didnt like it
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Post by BadGirlRyleigh on Nov 8, 2015 23:32:54 GMT -5
Ministry Undertaker was good until Vince was made the Higher Power.
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Deleted
Joined on: May 5, 2024 19:57:04 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2015 0:30:51 GMT -5
The angles and stuff were cool but his ring work was subpar due to nagging injuries IMO
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Post by "The Perfect Ten" Mizard on Nov 9, 2015 0:30:47 GMT -5
Nice review.
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Post by The-Rock on Nov 9, 2015 0:31:12 GMT -5
Totally agree with the review video that people have this tinted view that this was classic/awesome undertaker...when in actuality it was the type of stuff people would bitch about on forums to no end in today's environment.
So I started watching WWF right when Undertaker started this stuff, so to me (8 year old kid) he was the absolute worst bad guy there could be (which slowly but surely changed to HHH). In retrospect, as I have gotten to learn more and more about the Undertaker, this was a natural career progression for him (being kind of goth and what not) character-wise but was totally campy and represents the lowest point he was really ever at on the card before the Corporate Ministry stuff took over. When he returned as the American Bad Ass in 2000 was absolutely awesome, one of my favorite wrestlers of all time from any era (proof that the right look and theme music makes a difference).
Something I have always hated about this figure (and the Jakks incarnation as well)...is that he wore this attire like once or twice. Additionally the cape and shoulder-pad get-up was not his primary look, his look was the hooded robe. But for some reason companies are obsessed with it because it looks iconic/cool.
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Post by SporeSpam on Nov 9, 2015 0:56:52 GMT -5
Please. Do more.
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Post by qdogg on Nov 9, 2015 2:04:01 GMT -5
I thought the Ministry Taker theme was his best theme song. Its on WWE the music vol 4 I think
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Captain McKay
Main Eventer
WF 15+ Year Member But all out of badges so this is not one
Joined on: Jul 13, 2002 14:19:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,993
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Post by Captain McKay on Nov 9, 2015 12:30:03 GMT -5
I liked the video. A little more comparison wont do you harm, between figures. But excellent work. The music, your back-fact checking - all spot on. In that same accord im 30 and i loved the attitude era. Not only did i love that era but the ministry of darkness was one of my favorite storys from that time. Undertaker was always the human incarnate of darkness. And for him to abduct and include members of the wwe roster that were fading away breathed new life into characters. He had great feuds with main eventers, and mid carders just the same. His characters had more life than many, and really coming down to the last of kayfabe, was a phenomenal persona. I remember being a teenager and rooting for mideon only because he was a art of that faction. Now part of my love of this is because we had so many great factions wars during this time, but the "evil" ultimate heel persona was the super heel version of anyone. I mean, if they can attempt to hang big boss man (and we've seen him beat the hell out of peope on stretchers with his nightstick) your really worried at the time, "who can stop them? How big will they get?!" The undertaker stabbing austin with a pen so vince can sign a contract in austins own blood was brilliant at my age wathing the show. These small things made me so much more intreagued to watch the next RAW. Its something i didnt see coming but also was like "oh my god could this have ended any better?!" Theres a reason that they did so well during the attitude era, they not only pushed the boundries on television but also your imagination. And lets be frank, imagination is what drove wrestling since the get go. I loved the attitude era. But i started watching in the new gen era and loved it then too. And i watch here and there now (mostly because with a wife, i dont have the time between all the rich real housewives of whatever shows). I dont think undertaker EVER really fell off (though was not a big fan of the AB taker) but consider him one of the all time greats and will allways buy his figures. P. S. My wife watches his dogs in port arthur texas when he's away, and ive met him many atime. A "phrnomenal" person. So i may be biased. Also exclude any typos cause ive had alot of shiner beers this evening. Excellent post, man...thanks for all the feedback! I'm 31, so we would have been about the same age watching this back in '99. I can admit that, at the time, I thought it was interesting and cool that they were incorporating supernatural stuff with their show. They always had before, even with Undertaker the previous year. But the whole thing just got derailed when Vince was revealed to be the "Higher Power." If they'd just let Undertaker continue the Ministry, it would have been better. He could have totally been part of why the Corporation dissolved (which was bound to happen, since the Rock was clearly going to be a breakout star and they had to turn him face basically out of necessity). I don't know why I didn't compare him with more different figures - usually I do, must have slipped my mind. The whole thing about the Attitude Era was how hard they had to fight for fans, who could easily just watch WCW if they wanted. Nowadays, they've hit their stride and don't really have to prove anything, and the show suffers as a result. I will say that I never really "disliked" Undertaker, I just kinda found this particular version a little ridiculous in retrospect. American Badass was worse, to me, and has not aged well at all. However, I liked Big Evil a lot...the whole "mean guy wants respect" character was new and fresh. I definitely think he remained consistently good right up until I stopped watching wrestling. Cheers, man - If you're talking about Shiner Bock, it's a good beer!
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Captain McKay
Main Eventer
WF 15+ Year Member But all out of badges so this is not one
Joined on: Jul 13, 2002 14:19:45 GMT -5
Posts: 4,993
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Post by Captain McKay on Nov 9, 2015 12:34:36 GMT -5
Totally agree with the review video that people have this tinted view that this was classic/awesome undertaker...when in actuality it was the type of stuff people would bitch about on forums to no end in today's environment. So I started watching WWF right when Undertaker started this stuff, so to me (8 year old kid) he was the absolute worst bad guy there could be (which slowly but surely changed to HHH). In retrospect, as I have gotten to learn more and more about the Undertaker, this was a natural career progression for him (being kind of goth and what not) character-wise but was totally campy and represents the lowest point he was really ever at on the card before the Corporate Ministry stuff took over. When he returned as the American Bad Ass in 2000 was absolutely awesome, one of my favorite wrestlers of all time from any era (proof that the right look and theme music makes a difference). Something I have always hated about this figure (and the Jakks incarnation as well)...is that he wore this attire like once or twice. Additionally the cape and shoulder-pad get-up was not his primary look, his look was the hooded robe. But for some reason companies are obsessed with it because it looks iconic/cool. Very true regarding the attire. His usual gear was a lot simpler, and the hooded robe is definitely how I think a lot of people remember him more. The old BCA figure had one, it was awesome. I'm still waiting for a 1997-1998 Undertaker figure, that's my personal favorite look for him. Plus, he wore it from time to time in '99, so the new Ministry head could be swapped onto that body as well. And yeah, the Undertaker kind of became a caricature of whatever "evil demon bad guy" that Russo was trying to create. Just wound up being silly, more so than scary.
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