Terminator taught movie-goers a wealth of lessons, such as technology will ultimately destroy us and to never answer yes if leather-clad man wants to know if your name is Sarah Connor. While the original was great, the follow-up films were campy (occasionally silly) fun and it's always cool to see more merchandise for this iconic franchise that just doesn't die (no matter how many times somebody goes back in time to stop something).

NECA's third Terminator wave rather unfortunately looks stiff and, well, robot-like. While that's arguably acceptable for T-800 and (the liquid nitrogen-coated) T-1000 of Terminator 2: Judgment Day (as well as their robotic actor alter-egos, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick), it's much less so for the not-a-robot-in-disguise Kyle Reese. The figures are largely stuck in pre-posed positions and feature relatively little articulation. While I'm not a fan of this almost-statue style, I take greater offense at how cheaply made they look. NECA has done tremendous things in recent history and these figures seem like a giant step backwards.

By the way, the wave is notable for its inclusion of Kyle Reese whom many will forget was the hero in Terminator as well as the father of Resistance Leader John Connor in the future (which some might call a "father paradox" rather than a, well, you know). This is being billed as his first time as a figure and, given the franchise's merchandising practices, I wouldn't be surprised if that were true.

Now, if anybody needs me I'll be busy going back in time to warn NECA that it's Terminator figures have a lot of room for improvement. You know, provided I don't get arrested for public indecency because of that whole stupid rule about being unable to time-travel wearing clothes.

[ Pre-order at Big Bad Toy Store ]