Packaging - ***1/2
The package is the same shape as the Batman convention exclusives usually are, which I have personally always thought was the nicest box I had ever gotten any figure in. The front here is nice, with a matching design scheme to the other basic and deluxe figures, which is handy for MIB collectors. There is the usual picture of Batman at the bottom, and the Gotham landscape. Then there is a large window which presents the figure beautifully with a background of bats behind, which is both eye catching and also very pleasing. Then above there is a BEGINS style logo, and then the words “COLLECTOR EDITION” which sound s sweet when read aloud, it just shows us that finally Mattel are turning slightly to the light. The top also features another window which is much smaller, and in the shape of a bat, not particularly useful, but nice none the less. Once we open the box, Bats himself is kept in a small plastic shell, which is easily removed from the box, simple slide in/slide out here. And the usual irritating twist-a-magigs are applied to both arms, but no damage has to be made to box at all to remove the figure, again a plus.

The only downfall of the package is the back of the box. It features simply a large promotional picture of Batman and then some information as to why this is a collectors figure, no blurb, no nothing really, something would have been nice, even the standard text from the other figures, but we get nothing. Overall I love this box, and full marks may have been given if something more inventive would have been done on the back.

Sculpting - ***1/2
Let’s start of with the body, its great! There is oodles of detail for such a small figure, and the articulations is barely visible with the sculpt (mostly). As this is simply a repaint of one of the deluxe figures, most likely Light Suit Batman, the symbol, originally designed to be a button, is slightly separated form the chest, but not so much as it is visibly detached, but more just so it stands out. The new matte black, rubber-esque plastic they have used is fantastic, it makes every piece of this figure look and feel nicer. It also means that everything which is shiny in the film, appears much more vibrantly shiny here than in the basic Battle Gear Batman. The boots are lovely, with the textured sides and treads both being represented fantastically.

There is still one problem I have with the figure, the head. It is too standard, no defining characteristics of Bale, although the cowl is obviously based on this move, the jaw and mouth do not match his, however they do match up with the Bruce to Batman figure from this movie line, and therefore this only detracts a half *.

This figure is of course what everybody wanted, and therefore I did not detract from the score, I feel the deluxe figures sculpt is very nice and also because I realised that I wanted a plain black version of a deluxe figure, and therefore was complaining about nothing.

Paint - ***
The paint ops here are minimal for the most part. The gloss black finish applied to the gloves, boots and chest symbol here work much better than on the Action Cape Batman, mostly because of the new matte black finish the rest of the body has, but I am lead to think that is not a paint op but simply due to the plastic used. Another thing they have used which is better this time round, is the gold for his utility belt, much less garish and seemingly much more accurate to the film, a toned down, more brown than orange gold, it works much better, it is also applied on the batarang and that is a great improvement to. The mouth is a flat flesh colour, although I did not expect more, a little detail would have been nice, but it is mostly clean with little bleeding onto the cowl. The eyes are also nicely done, with detail so you know he is staring a hole right through you!

Articulation - ****
Okay, let me start of by saying with 13 POA this figure is much more than most of the 6” comic line, or any DC Direct figures, and I know it’s a fantastic amount of articulation compared to some of the other figures in this movie line, but it was missing that one key ingredient a ball jointed neck. I am known by some of my friends to be quite partial to a ball jointed neck, and I think that is what this figure is desperately crying out for, so although it has a cut neck, ball jointed shoulders, pin elbows, a cut torso, waist, the kind of t-joint hinged hip joint, pin knees and ankles, there fore I think he stands cape and cowl above all the other movie figures for this film, even the 14” Action Cape Batman.

EDIT – Okay, as a last minute decision I am bumping this up to 15 POA, I know wire is bendable in infinite ways, but I count each piece of wire as one POA, and doesn’t everybody love a posable cape? I know I do, therefore these bump the articulation back up to 4, and with 15 POA (in my books) you’ll be hard pushed to find many 5” scale figure with that amount.

Accessories - ***
Okay so, on first glance at some of the pictures online you may be thinking “***, flipping moron, there’s only a batarang”. And again at first glance I may have agreed, but this baby comes with perhaps the ultimate bat-accessory, no not a Batmobile, no not a hot chick, and NO not a sidekick with hilarious pants. But rather a firggin posable cape, which is supposedly made form the same material as used in the film. It poses great, and the material can also be put in to different shapes by folding etc. I tired using a fan to blown the cape about, but it just knocked the figure over, so I would definitely not recommend that. 

Fun Factor - ***1/2
So yeah I have only had the figure for about 24 hours now, but I don’t think he has stayed in the same pose for more than five minutes, although I would never let some of my younger relatives play with him, I know that I will be doing so for weeks and months to come, and oh believe you me, he is coming to the movie with me on opening night.

The cape just opens him to a whole new world of playtime fun! I think it is better than the cape on FA Batman, simply because the material is thinner, and much nicer/flexible. This is not, I repeat IS NOT a kiddy figure, it does exactly what it says on the fancy box “COLLECTORS EDITION”, so you collectors go get one now!

Value - ****
This chap cost me £14.99 (and I’m sure he will be about $14.99 to), which to me, is absolutely brilliant, the usual Deluxe figures come in at £9.99, and when I factor in, he is the move figure I was dreaming of since the line was announced, and that he has a true to movie cape and suit, I just cant help feel that 50% on top of that original £9.99 is way more than worth it, but I will understand if many of you don’t agree.

Apparently these figures are also limited to 5000 pieces, which makes the price ever more worth it to a collector. 

Overall - ***½
Fans need only apply, this figure is bloody gorgeous, but not for your everyday shopper, although I doubt these will spring up in Target, or TRU at all. Forbidden Planet is where I purchased mine, and I think I will get another for MIB purposes, although due to the high amount of quality and fun this figure has, I don’t honestly know if I could ever bare to keep one of them in the package for too long.
This figure is a quality movie representation, something we have been screaming out for, therefore I think we should all buy this figure just to show Mattel they have made a step in the right direction.

Score recap
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ***1/2
Paint - ***
Articulation -  ****
Accessories - ***
Fun Factor - ***1/2
Value - ****
Overall - ***1/2