Tuesday, January 31, 2006
I like My old Star Wars figures better
Call it nostalgia or call it reality, but I like my old Star Wars figures better. Yeah I was thrilled when they started putting out new figures in 1997, but now that a decade has passed (sheesh), I'm able to be more objective about it. Sure new technology made the 1997 figures more detailed, but like all post Super Powers superhero figures, newer does not mean better (although Justice League Unlimited comes pretty damn close). Something gets lost in translation as the simplistic designs of yesteryear get replaced by "better" designs. Just look at McFarlane and his super-duper detailed figures. It's true that they're uber detailed with complex paint schemes, but I wouldn't touch one with the shit end of a stick. I like my old Star Wars figures better.
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19 comments:
Okay, you've pictured so many figures there that I have to weigh in individually.
Zuckuss: Looking at these two is a great way to view the different personalities of the two lines. The old figs' limbs are so straight, they're accurate but they're still operating as an idea of the character.
It is exactly the element that makes some of the old figures the superior choice, but in the case of Zuckuss there, I think both figures are so good I don't even want to make a choice. The sculpt on the old one's torso might be the best sculpting job of any figure in the whole line, and the new one has that great rusty paintjob. Both are testaments to the best their respective lines have to offer, actually.
I always thought Zuckuss's body was how 3PO's should have been. It's the same basic design, but Z's sculpt is more interesting in both lines.
Sandperson: TOTALLY overwhelming example of the older figure being better. It's the "accuracy" thing that we're going to keep bumping into. Sure, the new one looks more like the guy in the movie, but his head is small and lacking in personality, and his clothing 1)prevents him from moving, and 2) it's just not that interesting to have a figure covered by a cloak. Realism loses.
Emperor's Royal Guard: I'm going to disagree with you here. I'll cede that cloth capes are in general the better move, but to be honest I've always been a little disappointed in the old figure, even back in '83. Somehow the coolness of the helmet isn't properly served (and the ERG is all about the helmet), and I was never down with how he was completely covered by cloth like that. The new one, despite being a big wad of plastic, does a better job at conveying the feel of those guys, especially if you have two of them.
Princess Leia: First of all, that old one there is HELLA discolored!
This is another example of the Sandperson thing, and although Leia in this outfit doesn't interest me much, I'm with you. Small head, too much robe.
Hammerhead: This is a weird one, it seems like they didn't have an accurate model to build the old one from, but since those came out after the first 12 figs I'm wondering if the time frame makes sense. Was that X-mas of '77 the Sears Cantina came out?
Anyway, the new figure is pretty damn charming, and really doesn't lose anything for it's accuracy. The only problem is that, for whatever reason, the old Hammerhead turned out to be ONE OF THE BEST FIGURES EVER. I've always loved the way he's looking off to the left, and his arms are veiny.
I bought like 12 old Hammerheads for cheap at that November con in 2003. Why? Not sure yet.
Greedo: Another merciless victory for the old team. The weird magic of Greedo's head is totally lost in the new one, and such bland colors! Accuracy loses again, big time.
Gamorrean Guard: I wish the old one's face had the detail of the new one, otherwise I agree. Something about the old one seems more balanced, more in proportion with itself.
Darth Vader: Blagh! You're kidding, right? Wasn't the Darth figure universally reviled when we were kids? He has no lower cape, he's wearing a leotard! He's so skinny, he has no presence!
I do get how the beefy-T versions of Luke, et al. are kind of annoying, and I wouldn't pick this new Darth as my favorite b/c of that hard plastic cape (the new line does offer lots of choices, there), but I don't think I'll ever champion the old Darth.
Chewie: While Chewie is a pretty tall, thin dude, I like the beefier version the new line offered. Eventually they got more accurate, and figs like Hoth Chewie and Chess Set Chewie are tall and thin, and I don't like them.
Then again, that old one is pretty charming. The shape of his head is captured better. I don't know.
Threepio: I like the new one better. The old one, besides not looking like Zuckuss, is kinda bloated and dumpy. Look at him! And it was a bit of a rip to coat him in gold chrome and stop there; adding the "belt" of exposed wires was overdue. Jeez, even the old Death Star droid got some added details.
Boba Fett: As with Zuckuss, I'm going to have to call this one a tie, too. That old BF fig was perfection itself in the old days, and I still get that thrill looking at it. But the new one was the first of the new figs to sport that one-shoulder cape thingie that is so popular in the SW Universe.
Yeah, I haved to agree with you on most of your comments, especially the Vader comparison. The first "new" Vader was weak (too beefy and posed with solid plastic cape), but there have probably been a dozen vaders over the past decade and at least a few of them have been near perfect (I'll seek out some pictures).
My problem with the newer Royal Guards is that the arms never look right poking out of the garmet. It bothers me that even with ROTS we still never get to see those damn guards in action!
I disagree about Chewie and 3PO. Some of the new Chewies are better than others, but I love the simplicity of the vintage figure and I LOVE his face. I still don't believe that a good version of 3PO has been made. All the new versions are too slight in stature, some are downright anorexic looking.
Granted the new versions of Boba Fett have been excellent, I still LOVE the original, especially the version with the brighter colored spray ops. I don't think I'll ever get over seeing that figure for the first time when I was a kid. What made it so cool was that he came out before the next movie came out so we were able to get a glimpse of a new badass villan and our imaginations ran wild.
Yeah, Chewie's old face is great.
What I still recall as being wicked cool about Boba Fett is the great sculpt on his shin pockets -- they really look like objects in pockets.
You have a good point about the new Emp Royal Guard's arms. Maybe if they were the same color as the cape it would be better.
And whadda you mean we never see them in action? We see Yoda slam those two against the doorway, wasn't that exciting enough for you?
Yoda slamming them into the wall was one of my favorite Star Wars moments! I have this Star Wars action figure collector's book and in the book are some pictures of cut scenes. One of the pictures is one of the Royal Guards shocking someone with his staff - that's what I want to see!
What if the shock staffs were really not that big a deal, like the person goes "Hey--ouch! (Rubbing arm) jeez, that really hurt!"
Gilbert are you real? Ow!
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