While I am not fully versed in the matter of property licensing and the legalities as they to apply to both domestic and foreign companies, I was a glee filled fanboy when I came across both Standard and Special Versions of The Robert DeNiro and Val Kilmer figures, based on their charcters Neil McCauley & Chris Shiherlis from the motion picture HEAT, as manufactured & distributed by "Dr. Figures". 

The only known means of reaching this company at the time of this writing is via their email dr.figures@hotmail.com. Upon receiving these figures via a successful ebay win, I immediately contacted them and was told that were a new company striving to manufacture 1:6 action figures & accessories and were starting on a small scale, hence the limited product released. I was told that an online store was forthcoming with hopes of opening in February. More on that here at MWC as it becomes available.

Packaging - **
I'll give the packaging 2 out of 4 stars for what it is and I'll explain. It's a basic 12" mailer box much like you'd see for a basic Barbie doll. It makes for s decent mailer and is rather durable. The label looks to have been made on a standard color printer and features artwork from the movie poster. Nothing extravagant, but good enough to start with. The weapons come packed in sealed plastic bags with the Dr. Figures logo on them while the figure is wrapped entirely in bubble wrap.

Sculpting - ***1/2
It's no secret that this is supposed to be Robert DeNiro and they've done a pretty good job in capturing the likeness. It's not real scanned, but it's a good sculpt capturing the mole, the cheek lines and hair on Bobby D. The goatee could have been darker and the cheeks a little more developed, but overall it's a good likeness and till now, the closest we've gotten to DeNiro was the bbi Lucifer figure. I'd give it 3 1/2 out of 4 stars. The hands & head are the only sculpts to really consider here. The hands are sculpted nicely as leather gloves. 

Articulation - 
Basically, it's a Sideshow/bbi/Dragon type body with all the usual suspects as far as articulation is concerned. He can throw a perfect vertical side blade kick and also take aim with his rifle on one knee. The one issue is the same in every figure of its size and design: loose joints. He can stand on his own, but the ankles and knees can tend to give a little causing Bobby to fold like box before the Heat even makes it around the corner. I guess that's why he comes with so many clips of ammo, but we'll get to that later.The hands may come off during posing, but are removable the same as a Sideshow figure. The clothing on the figure tend to help keep everything in place. 

Accessories - ****
Not since the Palisades Reservoir Dogs figures have I seen such detailed accessories in a 12" / 1:6 scale figure. Neil comes with a baclava (which fits terribly), a rifle, a pistol, a WHOLE lotta cash (banded paper money, printed front & back), keys, tons of clips and magazines for his weapons (that shoot out in the film too a lot of ammo you know) a pair of sunglasses, a trench coat, pin stripe suit and black tie. The coat has places to store the guns which is cool and the suit and jacket fit really well. Even the sunglasses fit snugly over his ears, on his head. The coolest accessory to me is the newspaper. Yes, Neil can read the paper, which has actual print, while he awaits the LAPD's arrival to the crime scene. For a small start-up company, they did a nice job. The Special Edition Version has some other additional accessories relevant to other scenes in the movie, while this figure is based on the infamous shoot out at the bank. Based on the above I give a solid, full 4 stars.

Outfit - ****
Getting back to some of my earlier comments regarding accessories, the suit is really cool, with the only weak part being the tie. It's a pin stripe suit and probably the sharpest ensemble I've seen any 1:6 figure sport. He's sporting some spiffy looking shoes as well, pretty much what I would expect him to be wearing in character and out on the town. I'll have to refer back to the movie to see if Neil is actually wearing a pin stripe suit and these shoes, but until I confirm or deny, I'll give 4 stars for detail and effort.

Value - 
To me, value is a variable that depends on the individual. For me, you can't put a price on a figure from my second favorite property outside of the Star Wars trilogies. As a stand alone figure, $90-100 is a high price tag and this figure really isn't meant to be played with like a GI Joe or Star Wars toy. I never like to suggest the value of any item that I deem a collectible and/or specialty item which I deem this to be.

Overall - ****
This is a great effort by a small, up & coming toy company. The accessories, sculpt and attention to detail are pretty awesome but so is the $95 price tag. If you love De Niro and the movie HEAT, this figure is worth it. Mine were numbered #47 & 48 out of 50 so the first run might be tough to track down. I hope to have the Val Kilmer and other Special Edition versions to review later on as well as additional information on Dr. Figures as well. Stay tuned to MCWtoys for more information. Where can you get this figure? Right now, you'll need to search ebay until the store opens.

Until next time, play nice with your plastic and be safe.

SCORE RECAP:
Packaging - **
Sculpt - ***1/2
Articulation - 
Accessories - ****
Outfit - ****
Value - 
Overall - ****

KEEP SCROLLING DOWN FOR MORE PHOTOS!