Great review Jesse... and I suppose he would make for a good background character or even custom fodder.   I am very dissappoint to see 12 points of articulation on him where Hasbro has skimped on so many other, more deserving characters (in my opinion).   I posted  my first reply to a review this morning on Momaw and this probably makes my 4th or so.   In some of the others, I noted that I have started to become much more picky when spending my $$$ on prequel figures and this is one I have passed on.  Which is why I was disappointed on the amount of detail and articulation on it.   I understand why it is such a favorite for others, but one I care even less about than most of the figures Jesse considers "dull" like Lushos and others.  I will probably get all the upcoming Naboo wave except holo Darth Maul and possibly Obi-Wan, depending on what he looks like upfront and if I see any noticable improvements.   Maybe I'll just wait for Jesse's review on that one....  anyway, I liked and agreed with Jesse's review, but I'm passing on the Firespeeder Pilot.

I keep trying to quit the prequel figures, but "just when I think I was out, they keep pulling me back in!" with figures like this.  I have definitely become very selective with the prequel figures I buy, but this was one of them.  Great review.

Must say, I have never posted a reply to a review.   But I continually find it refreshing to read your reviews.  I can't remember which site, and a few months ago I tried searching, but it seemed one site's reviews were nothing more than a Hasbro mouthpiece for how great each new figure was.

And I guess my senses have just been dulled over the years... I was thrilled when I saw Momaw Nadon and didn't even notice the lack of articulation.  But after reading your review, I agree it is sad to see just 6 points of articulation.   Last week I started to get some of my figures from storage after moving and I was looking at all my old ROTJ figs that I used to love... can't remember which ones in particular, but one set was the 3 in the Cinema Scene of Jabba's Sailbarge (or whatever).   I think they either had 5 or 6 points of articulation. 

Maybe that's how Hasbro plans on keeping the line active until 2015 or whenever their liscense expires.   Give crappy articulation through 2010 and then start resculpting legs & arms of existing figures with articulation and putting them back out there again.  I agree, $9.99 is too much for the VTSC figures and we should expect that articulation more often (or closer to it) in the basic line.

That said, the sculpt and paint application on Nadon are amazing to me.  With his skirt, I'm not sure how the hip articulation would have been there for him to actually sit, but he definitely could and shoud have had knee and elbow articulation.

My bigger gripe has to do with how close Hasbo came with a nice packin.   what is that thing you called a "drink stand"?   I'll have to watch again, but I don't remember seeing one in the cantina.   With a little more effort, they could have had a cantina table that would have been a GREAT packin to include with every new cantina figure.

21st Century has pretty much solved this with removable jackets and separate sets of arms, so I think Hasbro needs to follow suit.

 

Maybe I just answered my own question... but if the arms are removable, then why would a 2nd set of arms be necessary?  Not sure how you would remove the arms even with a plyable rubber jacket, but I was thinking if you could get the arms off, then it should be easy to take the jacket off the body & arms and then put the arms back on.  But, I guess the trick there is to get the arms off while the jacket is on.

Although I've read in forums on multiple sites and even multiple times in the Questions for Hasbro from different sites expressing fan desire for accurate playsets, even for smaller and modular ones, that you (Hasbro) are not interested in making playsets.  Then, how about more "set dressing" like some of the accessories that have been included with past figures (like the piece with General Rieekan, the bar pieces - both in ANH & AOTC, the Jedi council floor & chairs, the separtists war table,  Luke w/Bacta Tank, Leia with Sail Barge Cannon, etc)?  I'm really not sure what those little round things are supposed to be with Hem Dazon & Momaw Nadon, but an acurate Cantina table would be cool, tactical stations, moisture vaporators, the Cantina center bar (where the drinks are mixed), vehicle ladders (like in the canceled Target accessory pack), Death Star table & chairs that Vader, Tarkin, Motti, etc. sat at,  things like that?

I'll try Nicklab's format to see if this makes it any easier.  I think we should vote for our top 30.

THE PHANTOM MENACE - 3
#03 Qui-Gon Jinn (Ultimate)
#05 Tey How
#08 Queen Padme Amidala (Post-Senate)

ATTACK OF THE CLONES - 3
#01 Cliegg Lars w/hover chair
#02 Owen Lars
#03 Beru Whitesun

REVENGE OF THE SITH - 1
#03 SA Mace Windu (Ultimate Resculpt)

A NEW HOPE - 6
#01 SA Han Solo (Stormtrooper Disguise) - VOTC body
#02 SA Luke Skywalker (Stormtrooper Disguise)
#03 Grand Moff Tarkin (Resculpt)
#04 CZ-3
#05 General Tagge
#06 Bom Vimdin


THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - 2
#02 Luke Skywalker (Snowspeeder Resculpt)
#07 Torryn Farr w/ display/table whatever


RETURN OF THE JEDI - 5
#02 Hermi Odle
#03 Yarna D'al Gargan
#04 Sim Aloo
#07 Warok
#08 Lumat  (really should be a 2 pack considering the upcoming podracer 2 pack and the ewok 2-packs of the past)

Maybe we should just ask really, really  open ended questions like "Are there any new Star Wars figures coming out in the fall of 2007?

Or how about, based on your figures from 2006, it appears that articulation is something you don't consider important to kids or collectors....  Is that an accurate assumption?

I really loved the pic I saw of the rebel hanger accessory set.  It could have a random x-wing fighter pilot (could even use one of the existing head sculpts from the upcoming TSC Rebel Soldier from ROTJ or any head sculpt) or the Hoth Major Derlin (can't be sure of his name right now, but Cliffy from Cheers) and but a differnt head sculpt on him (basically any single army building figure from any rebel hangar.   Then add the ladders to climb up to the x-wings (or snowspeeders) that were in the cancelled set.  I don't remember what else was in there, but the could also add those ground (light?) boxes connected by wires.  [Kinda like what's on the base for the Rebel Pilots Cinema Scene.]  Then maybe a crate or two.  I think that one could REALLY sell if done right.