Did the word "Republish" in the title trigger the curiosity? No, this is not a Hot Toys remake of the MMS090 Predator figure, there never is one anyway. It is also not the Classic Predator that was released under the <Predators> (2010 film) banner.
This is the first ever "upgraded" posting on a previous entrance in this Blog of the very same figure - and I mean the same physical figure, not a 2nd purchase, but the original. This Predator was uploaded here in 2010 with pictures taken with a "weaker" camera and a lesser Photoshop-skilled me.
MMS090 is an impressive figure - even with today's standard - which deserve a better showcasing. 12 years on, about time.
Wikipedia : Some backgroud story to re-kick start it all over again.
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan and written by brothers Jim and John Thomas. It is the first installment in the Predator franchise. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as the leader of an elite paramilitary rescue team on a mission to save hostages in guerrilla-held territory in a Central American rainforest, who encounter the deadly Predator (Kevin Peter Hall), a skilled, technologically advanced alien who stalks and hunts them down.
Predator was written in 1984 under the working title of Hunter. Filming ran from March to June 1986 with creature effects devised by Stan Winston; the budget was around $15 million. 20th Century Fox released the film on June 12, 1987, in the United States, where it grossed $98.3 million. Initial reviews were mixed, but the film has since been considered a classic of the action genre.
The success of Predator launched a media franchise of films, novels, comic books, video games, and toys. It spawned three direct sequels: Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018), and an upcoming prequel titled Prey (2022). A crossover with the Alien franchise produced the Alien vs. Predator films, which include Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).
Predator was written in 1984 under the working title of Hunter. Filming ran from March to June 1986 with creature effects devised by Stan Winston; the budget was around $15 million. 20th Century Fox released the film on June 12, 1987, in the United States, where it grossed $98.3 million. Initial reviews were mixed, but the film has since been considered a classic of the action genre.
The success of Predator launched a media franchise of films, novels, comic books, video games, and toys. It spawned three direct sequels: Predator 2 (1990), Predators (2010) and The Predator (2018), and an upcoming prequel titled Prey (2022). A crossover with the Alien franchise produced the Alien vs. Predator films, which include Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007).
This set was bought 2nd hand from another local collector via eBay.sg. Paid S$229/- for it and collected on 31 Mar 2010. Said it before and will say it again the original owner has kept the figure well everything are intact and nothing missing or broken.
It is the first Predator that started the franchise till today and a new film will be out this year - 35yrs and still going strong. The design is an evergreen never gets old. Own the original should be good enough. That is the mentality back then. This mentality still prevails today however, the hands are now itching for another. Displaying in pair should bump up the awesomeness level. Wolf Predator beckons.
It is the first Predator that started the franchise till today and a new film will be out this year - 35yrs and still going strong. The design is an evergreen never gets old. Own the original should be good enough. That is the mentality back then. This mentality still prevails today however, the hands are now itching for another. Displaying in pair should bump up the awesomeness level. Wolf Predator beckons.
The perfect menacing look for a Predator has always been with the mask on. That is my way of interpreting it. But the headsculpt without the mask is where the details are, where this "ugly motherfucker" (as uttered by Major Dutch during the showdown) truly embraced what being terrified means.
No helmet is the way to go now. My perspective has changed.
Definitely a photogenic "guy" this is. Seem unable to stop posing and clicking away to make up for a lackluster, underwhelming initial posting.
That said, a rundown on the categories seems proper. The complains here may not even mean a thing to another collector. And the complements does not also mean it is a plus for others. These are plain personal opinions and thoughts. For reference perhaps.
Here goes...
DESIGN - 3/5
Starting from Head to toe -
1. Open and Closed mandibles is by means of a small "cheek" parts - L & R - to be mounted on either side of the (small) mouth. Seams are glaringly obvious.
I believe if this one is to be made today, HT will probably give us a whole face piece.
2. Helmet when mounted looks too forward with the chin hanging out and down. And it also made the head looks oversized. Closed mandibles option is also because the helmet uses "slots" on that cheek as a slider guide and lock onto the head with friction fit.
HT can jolly well made a nonedescript attachment for helmet mounting but instead made the effort to sculpt a displayable closed mandible for this function. This is a positive effort.
3. Hair dreads does not hang down but stick out at a more horizontal angle with the tip dipping down a little by its own weight. Here the dreads mounting slot on the head should be sculpted at a dipping angle to make the flow more natural.
4. Laser marker on the helmet emits very very very faint red lights. Electrical is by means of a wire and connector running from the helmet and plug into socket at the back which leads to a battery pack requiring 2xLR621 button batteries. Fragility of the wire joint needs careful handling. Perhaps typical of an early design. A separate sculpted helmeted head will solve this problem and also the issue in Design Point 2.
5. Rest from the neck down are as good as it gets until upon the ankle joint. It uses the same methodology as the wrist pegs meaning when the feet are moved up and down, it cannot rock left and right - vice versa.
Guess at that time, balled ankle joints are still unborn.
6. Special mentioned on the pleather strap across its chest is holding up coming to 12 years. Absolutely no dryness, no cracks, no nothing, good as new! Why is HT righting this and wronging so many others?
SCULPTING - 3/5
All attention goes to the headsculpt which is actually not too bad. We get a menacing no nonsense hunter species coming at ya. Skin textures are captured in good sculpting details from the face to the unique body, arm, hands, legs and feet. But that is to be expected for a premium figure like this.
PAINTING - 2.5/5
A decent job for this category. I feel the finishing is quite a let down as it looks overly glossy. Not that slimy grimy gloss but a gloss coat kinda gloss. Especially prominent on the head. Causes the paint job to looks kinda flat with lack of layers.
ARTICULATION - 2/5
Ankle joints kills this category for the Predator as described in "Design Pt 5".
Head is also unable to tilt upwards more than 5deg. The Predator can't look up high enough.
Nothing else much that is not standard articulation for a humanoid body.
ACCESSORIES - 4/5
The set came with a very nice diorama base of a tropical forest setting. Nowadays such elaborated base/stand are only available to Deluxe sets or figure that are small to have a diorama base for justifification the MSRP for the set (ie HT ESB Yoda). MMS090 is release at a time where HT is cementing its status in the 1/6 world. The best and nothing but the best were given unreservedly.
The set also came with a "bloodied skull with the spine attached" just like how it is of Billy's parts ripped out by the Predator. not the best sculpt there but it is relavent as part of the movie.
A pair of L&R fisted hands and 1 more grabbing right hand. That's it.
There is really nothing more to ask for.
Starting from Head to toe -
1. Open and Closed mandibles is by means of a small "cheek" parts - L & R - to be mounted on either side of the (small) mouth. Seams are glaringly obvious.
I believe if this one is to be made today, HT will probably give us a whole face piece.
2. Helmet when mounted looks too forward with the chin hanging out and down. And it also made the head looks oversized. Closed mandibles option is also because the helmet uses "slots" on that cheek as a slider guide and lock onto the head with friction fit.
HT can jolly well made a nonedescript attachment for helmet mounting but instead made the effort to sculpt a displayable closed mandible for this function. This is a positive effort.
3. Hair dreads does not hang down but stick out at a more horizontal angle with the tip dipping down a little by its own weight. Here the dreads mounting slot on the head should be sculpted at a dipping angle to make the flow more natural.
4. Laser marker on the helmet emits very very very faint red lights. Electrical is by means of a wire and connector running from the helmet and plug into socket at the back which leads to a battery pack requiring 2xLR621 button batteries. Fragility of the wire joint needs careful handling. Perhaps typical of an early design. A separate sculpted helmeted head will solve this problem and also the issue in Design Point 2.
5. Rest from the neck down are as good as it gets until upon the ankle joint. It uses the same methodology as the wrist pegs meaning when the feet are moved up and down, it cannot rock left and right - vice versa.
Guess at that time, balled ankle joints are still unborn.
6. Special mentioned on the pleather strap across its chest is holding up coming to 12 years. Absolutely no dryness, no cracks, no nothing, good as new! Why is HT righting this and wronging so many others?
SCULPTING - 3/5
All attention goes to the headsculpt which is actually not too bad. We get a menacing no nonsense hunter species coming at ya. Skin textures are captured in good sculpting details from the face to the unique body, arm, hands, legs and feet. But that is to be expected for a premium figure like this.
PAINTING - 2.5/5
A decent job for this category. I feel the finishing is quite a let down as it looks overly glossy. Not that slimy grimy gloss but a gloss coat kinda gloss. Especially prominent on the head. Causes the paint job to looks kinda flat with lack of layers.
ARTICULATION - 2/5
Ankle joints kills this category for the Predator as described in "Design Pt 5".
Head is also unable to tilt upwards more than 5deg. The Predator can't look up high enough.
Nothing else much that is not standard articulation for a humanoid body.
ACCESSORIES - 4/5
The set came with a very nice diorama base of a tropical forest setting. Nowadays such elaborated base/stand are only available to Deluxe sets or figure that are small to have a diorama base for justifification the MSRP for the set (ie HT ESB Yoda). MMS090 is release at a time where HT is cementing its status in the 1/6 world. The best and nothing but the best were given unreservedly.
The set also came with a "bloodied skull with the spine attached" just like how it is of Billy's parts ripped out by the Predator. not the best sculpt there but it is relavent as part of the movie.
A pair of L&R fisted hands and 1 more grabbing right hand. That's it.
There is really nothing more to ask for.
OVERALL - 4/5
Individual category wise, there are much left to be desired. But the figure as a whole, the presentation, the intimidating feature, they are all there. The big head could be imagined as goofy looking but surprisingly, it does not.
Would I recommend folks to buy the MMS090 now? in 2022? Surprised to say - YES!
Saw a YouTube review of the Classic Predator Ver 2.0 and it is missing some stuffs that the earlier version had notably :
1. The necklace.
2. Spine bone ornaments over the left shoulder, underneath the left arm
3. Bones bits ornaments stringed across the left shoulder hanging down the right side.
4. Waist pouch on the middle-left side.
5. Importantly, missing a mid-torso articulation.
Seem only improvement the Ver 2.0 had is a smaller helmetted head profile.
But the overall menacing factor is weaker than MMS090. To the folks who wanted a 1/6 Classic Predator, in my opinion MMS090 is still the one to go for.
My growing up years is in the 80s, 90s, and those 2 decades are the most memorable. Pop culture are coming up. Pop music and Hollywood movies which are now classics, arguably contribute hugely to my memories in those formative years.
Films that left a lasting impression are these few -
1. Star Wars Return of the Jedi (1983)
2. Rambo II (1985)
3. Terminator 2 : Judgement Day (1991)
4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
5. Predator (1987)
1. Star Wars Return of the Jedi (1983)
2. Rambo II (1985)
3. Terminator 2 : Judgement Day (1991)
4. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
5. Predator (1987)
High quality 1/6 scale figures made from these films need little consideration to decide on Pre-Ordering.
Hot Toys has made a Rambo II (MMS006) long time ago, and owned it once. But the headsculpt is truly forgetable. Did not manage to fiddle with it before selling it off quickly while the value is still there.
Last Crusade Indy was only made by Medicom if I remember correctly. Underscale and underpar head sculpting but with big MSRP which is also a forgetable venture. Just couple of weeks back Present Toys made a unlicensed Indiana Jones and it is of really good quality. It is not a direct Crusade version but at that quality, at that price, it is really a no brainer. Made a PO of it instantly. Should be coming in by Q4 this year.
Balance 3 classics are good for now with proper representation in the 1/6 universe and in my collection.
It is a blessing these days that good memories like these can become a physical, tangible item to touch, hold, pose and to reminisce. If real life priorities are managed and there are spare cash floating around, spend it on a collectible. When memories can be bought with money, it is definitely money well spent.
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