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J: This one is so awful, I had to don the 'Sandtrooper Jason REVIEW BELT' just to try to swallow this figure and throw off my apathy for a few minutes to write about it. It seemed like they were going for a cool, quasi-macho "look at me, I just got my hand lobbed off" look here. But, why? Then I don't know where to go after that, you have your choice, so pick your poison - the huge robe with the line backer shoulder pads and hanging coat tails or the 'tip-toe through the tulips' feet. This one I truly believed was a hold-over from the "MUMMIES ALIVE" series of action figures, rather than an entry in the Star Wars line-up!
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Spice - Whoa J man, I think you are losing prematurely on this one. What I am looking at is quite possibly the best Anakin Skywalker figure released for Episode 2. Look at what they have already thrown at us, Outland Peasant, Hangar Duel, and Tatooine attack were all pretty horrible in their own rights. You don't want me to even start about constipated F/X Anakin (flipping) and even worse Screetch riding his speeder bike. What does amaze me is they didn't get it right until the final scene. Poor Hayden, so many figures and this is the only one that I think may be worth the $5-6 bucks! |
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J - I still don't see the face working with this guy. As sad as it sounds, I think Hangar Duel had the best likeness and Tatooine Camp Ambush had the best body. This one does have some good proportions and I admire the rotating shoulder and 'Force' action left hand, but, beyond that, what did we get here? Another lame lightsaber deflection effect that most folks grew weary of after the Shaak Ti wave one year ago. |
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Spice - I disagree with you about the facial expression; I mean this one doesn't have the look of a complete doofus across his face, a dramatic improvement. They gave you the option of removing the cloak when he has to "kick a$% and take names!" No one pose wonder syndrome here, the package boasts about nine points of articulation, so perhaps they are hearing the cries of collectors. I don't think it's a look my hand just got chopped off, it's a Don Magic Juan look, saying, "I am about to honeymoon with Natalie Portman!" |
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J - I can't believe they are using the same type of noggin on these Anakin figures since they began this line a year ago - Toe headed, light features, and either stressed, confused, or in this case, flat out dizzy looking. They finally got Han Solo right after thirty or forty tries, so maybe I need to be patient here. Spice, I have to rip a page from your book and suggest that not only did the REAL SCAN machine break down here, but EVERY time they have produced an Anakin action figure. |
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Spice - Yes, I know they threw in the token Shaak Ti blaster effect, but the likeness is really cool for this one. The only thing I really loathe is the Olive Oil ankle that seems to affect mini Vaders ankles. However, if this is the price to pay for added articulation they I will gladly pay it. I'd rather have a figure look several different ways than to have it froze in time in a permanent fixture. What they really should have thrown in was another flesh hand so you could have one complete Anakin figure. They should have used the same method as used in the Power of the Force Bespin Luke, that way you wouldn't easily loose the hand. Magnets are okay, but the old way was defiantly better. Look at Hangar Duel if you don't believe me. Then they wouldn't have to issue Anakin again, but it's Hasbro and they would never do something like that, then they couldn' t rip collectors outta hard earned money, making 30 or 40 of this figure. |
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J - I'd gladly rather have this one suffer from the dreaded and much-publicized "Jay Leno Syndrome" than have the old "do the plastic bag and tie the twisty thingee too" around this guy's shoulders. The pop culture phenomenon of Michael Jackson walking on his toes is the only real thing I can squeeze out tof this figure, just bend the feet back and Anakin just might be heard to say "the kid is not my son." |
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Spice - They didn't put a magnet in the hand, which is cool, I thought Tatooine Attack appeared as if he was Doug Henning and couldn't figure out heads or tails. It poses awesome, something the others didn't do well at all. He can shed the cloak you hate, so he can tell Wedding dress Padme, 'let me take my coat off and handle these thugs!' Really though, my biggest problem is with the robotic hand, it does not hold the Lightsaber properly. Also, seeing as no magnet Hasbro spared the money on using metal handles. Realizing these 2-piece sabers break easy, they made this one non-detachable. How cheap can you get? |
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J - Cheap was he way to go here, why not dress it up with a 'soft-goods' robe? Reminds me too much of the POTF2 Wave 1 Vader cape - bulky and excessive. The saber looks more like a ball pen than a light sword, it is so slim that it couldn't fit in any figure's hand. The chukka boot feet is what did it for me. If there was one linch pin that pushed this new figure into the loser zone, it was the unecessary calf raise articulation - what is the purpose? - where is the value added? Besides being able to juxtapose his foot stance as well by twisting the foot in either direction, there is none. Is he joining Swimming Jar Jar in a little dip down into Otah Gungah? When I take this one to the grading box it will be 'Transport to Oblivion.' |
FINAL
THOUGHTS:
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Jason -
In the past year of doing these figure reviews, if ever a product reviwed here warranted a thumbs down, it is this. Way worse than Saga Qui-Gon in fact. You would think the figures would get beeter as time goes on, but lifeless outings like this one make you wonder what is going on in Pawtucket, RI. |
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Spice -
I really am somewhat torn on this one after hearing some of your points. In the big picture, I still think this is the best they have done so far. Why worry and complain about this one, I am sure they will have dropped about six more in our laps before Episode 3 comes out. It was one flesh hand away from being perfect. Instead, like our old dartboard Saga Qui Gon Jinn, they rip off Shaak Ti's blaster effect to try to trick you into thinking you have something new. It still isn't enough to sway my thumb down. Thumbs up, maybe now Hayden can rest! |
"HIT ME WIT DA DIGITS!!!"
| Grades |
J
|
Spice
|
| Visual Impact |
3.9
|
6.8
|
| Detail &
Paint |
7.0
|
7.7
|
| Accessories/Weapons |
2.1
|
6.5
|
| Articulation/Function |
6.3
|
8.2
|
| Overall |
2.9
|
7.3
|
| - |
with these ankles he could do that old Alfonso Riberto Learn to Dance Tape! |
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cloak comes off to lay the 'Force Smack Down' however cloth may have been better |
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should have done the flesh hand, instead of the cheap blaster effect |
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they should have waites to make this seventh Anakin until they could get the face and hair right |
(Figure '03 | #07, Asst. No. 84851, Item No. 84927, Backing Card P/N 6190300800, Window Insert P/N 6190540800, Date code 30021 (1st shift on 2nd days of 2003; can be unique for different samples of the same figure) )
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