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'04 -  Princess Leia - A New Hope (Reviewed 11-14-2004)

Includes:
• Blaster

"Maybe you'd like it better back in your cell?" - Han Solo

Click thumbnail for large image Spice: With the release of four ANH figures, we move on to Princess Leia. I guess the thing that strikes me funny is why isn’t the whole thing soft goods or hard plastic? Seems like having it 50/50 is a bit odd. It seems if they did the whole thing in cloth you may be able to pull up her hood as seen in her first appearance. I guess it’s not a big deal, but I’m looking for the ultimate Princess Leia. I mean we are talking double the dollars here so it should blow any other version away. I love the nostalgic card, again taking us back to the time when we all purchased our first Princess Leia figure. Nobody really wanted to admit they wanted a girl figure, but a character you had to have for certain.   Click thumbnail for large image Rob - While we once again are hit with the double cost issue, I have to admit that I liked the 50/50 idea. With some of the other figures, we have seen where the soft goods approach has failed when trying to do the whole figure. The sculpting of Leia’s hood looks a lot better than anything that could be sewn together. If we are looking for a true 100% soft goods figure, then Luke’s pants should have that military canvas feel to them as well. It is just too hard to sew these things together and give the figure the right feel about them. As for the card, I do love the retro look. It does bring one back to a happier time when your main concern was if it was going to rain during recess. While I agree that no boy was looking for a Leia figure in their stocking, she was essential in reenacting many of the scenes on the Falcon.   Click thumbnail for large image Spice - Well I’m not so much sure about the back of the card. Why not stick with tradition and have a checklist on the back? Unless you are a complete moron you know virtually all of the information they regurgitate on the reverse of the card. I really do like the way these figures are accurately proportioned. Looking back, the Red Carded version was perhaps the worst sculpt ever being named the “Dick Butkis” Princess Leia. This VOTC figure could possibly be the most accurate version to date. The only thing I don’t like about the face sculpt is the paleness of her worship. It seems like Leia had a lot more color in her face. I really like the extra movement in the legs, knees, elbows and wrists. This is very useful in creating a multitude of poses. You can lay her down in her cell to recreate the scene where she was rescued from the detention block. Rob - The only reason I could see for not replicating the traditional card back, which we all used to mark off which figures we had in our toy box, is to help prevent it from being sold as an original vintage figure. Last thing we would need is for scalpers hitting us up for the big bucks to only discover you have a 2004 VOTC Leia instead of your 12-back Leia. While I think the sculpt is OK, I’m more impressed with the proportions of her body. Not since the POTJ Bespin Escape Leia have I seen a Leia figure that has properly put all her features into scale. Even the blaster is to the right scale with her body. However, the blaster is where I have some issues with the figure. Where is the signature long-barrel Leia blaster that dealt out death to the Stormtrooper snooping in her ship? I would have liked to see that accessory versus another Stormtrooper rifle. Yes Spice, you are right about the articulation. The extra articulation on these figures does help justify the extra $5 for the figure. The VOTC line should be a diorama builder’s best friend when it comes to dramatic poses.

Spice - Overall I really think these figures are a huge step in the right direction. If they are to cram these core characters down our throats for double the money, they should be revamped and the best ever. This one I’m not quite sure is the best ever, but if she is not, which ANH Leia is? There are so many good features on this figure; by far they overshadow the bad. The ball and socket head is another big plus for extra pose ability. I was impressed overall everything about this figure other than the facial color as I previously mentioned. I’m looking forward to the rest of the line, and would really like to see a Death Squad Commander or Jawa in the immediate future. Although that might make too much sense. The Stormtroopers were not snooping Rob, they were taking it over!

Rob - Sounds like you might be the optimistic one now, Spice! Yes, a continuation of this series, that offers so much to the collectors, would be a giant plus. However, it would also mean the executives at Hasbro making a common sense decision; something we’ve not seen from them in some time. Anyone remember the OTC Slave-I Boba Fett missing his rocket? As far as choosing one ANH Leia for my opener collection, this one would have to be it. Besides the extra articulation, the proportions of her body with respect to everything else just really set this figure apart from the other ANH Leia figures. Hopefully, this type of attention to detail will continue as we enter the Ep III figure series.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Spice - Like her brother Leia is equally impressive. We can only look forward to the continuation of this series. The OTC Collection was a major let down for die-hard collectors, the VOTC was a nice shot in the arm.  If they can only do half as good with the EIII Figures I will be impressed. Star Wars Collectors deserve this kind of quality, and for this I give VOTC Princess Leia a thumbs up.

Rob - We finally get a ANH Leia where the figure practically oozes the grace and beauty of her Highness. This figure is another fine example of how a little extra bend at the knees or the raising of a chin can give goose bumps to a collector. The only real minus I see is the lack of peg holes in her feet. She may be petite like a ballerina, but she’ll need those pegs when my Falcon cruises around the room.

(Figure '04 | #XX, Asst. No. 85225/85213 , Insert P/N 6314591600, Backing Card P/N 6314370400,  UPC No. 7693085225)