One of the main protagonist in the ever expanding Star Wars universe. Leia was the 2nd of it to appear in the first Star Wars movie [A New Hope] (ANH) (1977), right after Darth Vader (6 years later, we know he is also her father). This figure represented the same Leia in that scene.
There is no need for further elaboration of this character for even the most casual Star Wars fans knew enough of Leia Organa to spare further writings. Carrie Fisher was the actress portraying this character. She reprises the same role in its Sequel Trilogy ie [The Force Awakens] (2015), [The Last Jedi] (2017), [The Rise of Skywalker] (2019) as an aged Leia Orgna.
A digital (deepfake?) rendition of a young Leia Organa - pre-Stormtroopers invasion on Tantive IV - was added to the end scene in Star Wars, [Rogue One] (2016). Personally I think it is badly done and although share some resemblance but one can tell immediately it is not the real Princess. There is even more likeness to this figure's sculpt comparing to that digital clone.
Ever since S.H.Figuarts (SHF) ANH Han Solo and Farmboy Luke Skywalker were added to to my collection, with ANH Chewbacca joining the duo quickly soon after, ANH Leia is a must to complete the surviving casts that made it through to [Return of the Jedi] (ROTJ) (1983). Old Ben Kenobi will the last piece of the puzzle but there is no urgency on that one since he decided to only be in 1 show - excluding the "Force Ghost" appearance in [Empire Strikes back] (ESB) (1981) & ROTJ.
It was then I realize SHF Princess Leia Organa is really hard to come by. When it does will be unusually pricey. On occassion an affordable entry gets into Carousell and it doesn't need to dance long before someone snap it up quickly. I missed it on at least a couple of occassion. However one entry is there in Carousell for as long as I know without takers probably because seller wanted $160/- for it. I wasn't about to pay that much for it.
My chance finally came about out of nowhere when scrolling through Facebook saw a sale posting and lo behold, there she was MIB I reckon. $70 bucks and without hesitation. It was awhile tracking her down and it is extra sweet having her finally in hand.
So yeah, is this the ultimate Leia already? Lets move on to the detail review.
DESIGN - 3/5
The first most annoying thing is the plastic gown which is good that the sculpted flow of the dress makes it visually "correct" and natural. But we are not having this as a statue. Designers know that and so a slit all the way from bottom to just beneath the belt on both sides allow figure to be pose. I do not like this compromization. Rather for this figure, cloth garb is quintessentially required.
The irony is with the slit, it is still very hard to pose the legs without having the rubbery gown sway the leg away while trying to pose the other leg. Even when a dynamic pose is achieved, Leia looks strange with legs sticking out from the side of her skirt. Absolutely dislike this totally.
Gown's overhead hood is a separately sculpted piece and it can be placed only by removing the head from the peg, put the head inside the hood and reattach it to the body. I did not make an effort or try to "sit" the hood naturally with the bottom top of it "resting" wholly onto the top of Leia's head. Pictures here show it slightly floated on top of her head, which is not correct. It could jolly well sit correctly on it as it did not dawn on me then, when taking these pictures, that this need to be tried and confirmed. Therefore this will not contribute to score positively or negatively.
The rest of the figure are done as how it is. That means the rubber skirts single handedly took 2 points away from this section.
SCULPTING - 5/5
Sculpting alone does not bring out the likeness of a character but it is an essential first step. The sculptor has done a great job by Carrie Fisher slightly puffy youthful face. Probably still a teeny bit of baby fat left on her cheeks and it bear fruits in this sculpt. Both the main face with straight staring eyes and the swap out second face bear this features. Pretty sure both are from the same mold only with the pupil painted in different position.
After bashing the gown and drag it through the mud, this section redeemed it in a way that the gown was sculpted very nicely with natural folds and flow. It made the figure looks natural when not in dynamic poses. Especially commending on the flow out of the cloth around the top of the belt. And the flow and fold when the cloth burst out from the lower edge of the belt. Truly good job on the sculptor.
PAINTING - 3/5
Not exactly know how to score this because SHF did not go any extra mile for Leia. Only painting probably only happen on the facesculpt and hair with some black or darker brown washes.
Commendable and also saving grace came from the face painting. Although not the best but it achieve what it set out to achieve ie not letting the sculptor down by successfully (for me at least) bringing Carrie Fisher's Leia features onto the 1/12 face sculpt.
Mentioned earlier SHF did not do anything extra here but they really should for this figure. Leia's white gown is made with vinyl type soft plastic material and it has a textured matte look and feel to it. Over time it turned yellowish at some spots/location. I believe my piece is new since the tape on the box lid, on both sides, are not cut but it doesn't escape the yellowing fate. Photoshop helped to "clean" off the yellow spots on these pictures. It wasn't too obvious in pictures but was visible before photoshop treatment.
This unedited picture of the gown shows where the yellowing are. It could very well be the translucent gown showing Leia's yellow under garments... if you chose to believe so.
2 reasons for painting this gown for it could probably prevent yellowing, and secondly, a satin coat could have given it a slight glean which should mimic the actual cloth material.
ARTICULATION - 2.5/5
Leia has standard articulation for a 1/12 action figure. It came with Butterfly shoulder joint as well. Since this is not a given feature on all figures, it add a little distinction to this figure. A little annoyed on the arms that only allow a 90deg bend and cannot have her holding the blaster up to her face level for a picture shot.
Legs wise pretty standard articulation can do some pretty basic poses BUT that plastic gown killed it all.
I could have greyed this section with poseabilty but even with the best articulation and it cannot pose, then I think it defeats the purpose.
ACCESSORIES - 4/5
Set came with 2 additional pairs of hands - 1 pair L&R Weapon holding trigger hands, 1 pair L&R like a reaching-out-to-the-Force hands or as a rifle supporting hands either way. 1 pair of relaxed hands pre-fixed onto the figure.
Now an interesting fact that Leia's pistol blaster with a long-ish barrel is called the "Satine's Lament". Refreshing name to a weapon! It is one of the accessories coupled with 1x Stormtrooper's E-11 medium blaster rifle.
But the most valued one - to me - is the extra face plate with a side glancing eyes. Allow added character, attitude to the figure.
Seem complete but I'd wish there is another hand holding the chip to the hologram recording she inserted into R2-D2. Just a wish and not a deal breaker.
OVERALL - 4/5
One of my most wanted figure in recent times, if not the most wanted. However there is a tiny bit of disappointment in the yellowing gown due to age. Tempted to airbrush it then seal with satin finish but unsure what chemical reaction will happen or if will happen. When it does, it will turn into a sticky gooey mess. And in order to prevent further yellowing, have decided to keep her in the box after this photoshoot.
But SHF Leia Organa is the best 1/12 rendition of this character at least to me. These pictures shows having her posing in a regular way exudes that elegant. It is also to scale when having her beside Papa Vader, Brother Luke and Boyfriend Han.
A must have for any Star Wars action figute fans.
"Why do you have that big bad black helmet over your head Daddy? Aww but you're the coolest Dad EVER!"
"My brother is a Jedi! So is my father before him. And does that make me a Jedette? hmm....."
There is still a very big playing field out there for Star Wars 1/12 action figures waiting for some one, some company, to have these characters in cloth garb. Yes Black Series already have a clothed garbed ANH Leia but the quality of it is still in the "toy" level. Collector's level is where the vacuum is at. Will it happen?
No comments:
Post a Comment