Packaging - ***
The packaging is the same as the first two sets, very sturdy and quite easy to
store due to its regular shape. The window shows off the figures well, and
the text and graphics are good.
Sculpting - ****
The sculpts are amazing once again. The smaller scale usually
translates to less detail, but not with this series. All the little
details are still there, and each character looks just like his film
counterpart.
Since these are static figures, with no articulation, the choice of poses was
crucial. All six are good, although I'm happiest with the Cratchit/Tiny
Tim and Fozziwig. They match both the film and the personality of the
characters perfectly.
If you haven't checked out the first two series, be aware that these aren't
as small as the average PVC. It's a happy medium between the larger scale,
where we'd never get a big figure like the Ghost of Christmas Present, and yet
it's still big enough to make all the characters a reasonable size. I have
a great comparison shot in the previous review,
but the largest of these figures, like our jolly friend, are as large as the
average Simpsons World of Springfield character.
There is one annoying aspect of the design this time around - the bases are
round. The first six figures in the line had square bases, and I really
liked the look of them. The round bases are less visually appealing, but
I'm 99% sure that this was due to a Henson decision, and not Palisades.
Paint - ***1/2
The paint ops are an improvement over the first series, or that's what it looks
like from the sets I received.
I had no errant paint marks, general sloppiness or excessive bleed between
colors. There's still minor issues, especially around the eyes and the
very smallest detail work, but for PVC figures, the paint application is
extremely good.
There's a lot of detail here, and if you want to check the ones on the shelf
quickly, just look at Fozziwigs shirt or Tiny Tim's pants. The number of
colors and level of detail is quite surprising for PVC figures.
There is one issue I have with the paint, more from a design perspective than
from a quality perspective. The two Marley ghosts are more clear than the
prototypes. I really liked the ghostly white paint we saw on the early
photos, and without it, these two lack the eye catching design of the
originals. They're okay, but because we saw how good they could have been,
these seem much more plain.
Articulation - Bupkis
Did you really expect any? These are billed as PVC's, but unlike
something like the Clerks or Mallrats figures, don't cost $10 each.
Accessories - Bupkis
Another big goose egg, but another non-surprise. Considering that these are
PVC's, neither of these categories will hurt the overall score too much.
While there aren't any accessories, it is worth nothing that both Waldorf and
Statler's chains are real metal, and look fantastic.
Value - **1/2
I actually bumped the value score this time, because I was able to pick up
the two sets together for only $25. If you can find a deal like that, then
these are getting into the much more reasonable range.
Overall - ***1/2
The overall score ended up boosted by a half star over the previous
releases. That's due to two things - better paint ops this time, and my
generally warm and fuzzy feelings about the film. It's one of my favorite
Muppet films, and I'll even have the original poster up in my basement next
month as part of my 'Christmas set' of posters. I freely admit that my
preference for this film has had some effect on my final overall score - your
mileage may vary.
However, if your a fan of the film, you won't be disappointed in these six
PVC's. Shop around for the best deal, but don't pass them up.
Where to Buy -
I expect that Media Play and Sam Goody will have these on the shelf any
day. On-line options include:
- EBGames.com
is where I picked mine up, and they are only $25 plus shipping if you're buying
both sets.
- Beans Toys has the two sets for $30,
and they are in stock currently.
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