Tag Archives: Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi

Denuo Novo has opened pre-orders for their 1:1 scale First Order Executioner Trooper Premier Helmet Accessory. Click through for details.

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We start a six-day run of holiday-themed Star Wars collectibles beginning today. Let’s lead things off by looking at the Disney Droid Factory BB-H20 figure. It’s pretty boring. (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

Hasbro doesn’t seem to realize that NO ONE wants any more toys from Episode VII or Episode VIII ever again. They managed to sucker Best Buy into taking on The First Order Celebrate The Saga multipack. And boy, is it a stinker! (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

How can anyone possibly “celebrate the saga” with a set based on The Last Jedi? Also, Hasbro hates Rose. She’s nowhere to be found here. 5POA is never OK, but OUCH, The Resistance Celebrate The Saga multipack is EXTRA painful. Not even the Photo Real helps these monstrosities. Well, maybe a little. Regardless, you’re probably not going to want this one for any reason. Are you buying the rest of these sets for your collection? (more….)

Thank you for reading Research Droids Reviews: Season 12!

The Walmart exclusive First Order Stormtrooper Executioner 12-Inch Figure didn’t make it to most Walmart brick and mortar locations. Heck, we found it for the first time at Ollie’s for $2.99 a year later. It was just a single piece of the Sequel Trilogy retail poison puzzle. See this repacked figure in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Do you believe Hasbro reissued the Captain Phasma 12-Inch Figure in Star Wars [Solo] line as a Walmart exclusive? This time the figure is based on the appearance from The Last Jedi, although it comes with no new accessories. Poor Walmart. See more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

As someone who, in my strong opinion, was justifiably critical of the Sequel Trilogy, I had zero hopes or expectations for The Rise Of Skywalker. ZERO! However, the last thing I ever expected was to like the film. A LOT. Let’s face some basic facts. The Sequel Trilogy went the wrong way for Star Wars. (more….)

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They’re GOLD! Let’s continue to check out a series of sets intended to celebrate the Skywalker Saga. Let’s move forward with the Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) (Kylo Ren/Rey) two-pack. It’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

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If you missed this multipack (previously canceled from Entertainment Earth), now’s your chance. It’s currently on Amazon for $39.99 with only a few listed as in-stock, grab one while you can! Click here for the product page!

UPDATE: GONE!

Tonights Visual Guide update features Poe Dameron (VC160) from The Vintage Collection. Click below to check out the full Visual Guide. Make sure you stop by our full review for additional details and discussion.

NEW FIGURES! Let’s finish up the Triple Force Friday wave of The Vintage Collection figures with Poe Dameron, which is a significant repaint of the 2015 release. See him in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We saw the magazine scans last week, so we knew it was only a matter of time before SH Figuarts would officially announce the two new Star Wars figures of Luke and Han. You can now find official promo photos for both The Force Awakens Han Solo and The Last Jedi Luke (Crait) on the SH Figuarts homepage.
Luke Skywalker will come with two headsculpts, which look much better than the blurry magazine scans, the usual hands, lightsaber hilt, a lightsaber with blade and the two golden dice (they are tiny). Han seems to come with almost nothing, other than a few alternate hands, and a blaster, he comes with an extra holster that was molded with a blaster inside of it, so the blaster is non removable, this is the same approach SHF chose for their previous A New Hope Han Solo figure.
Both figures go on pre-order on August 1st (Thursday), local Japanese time (Japan is 13 hours ahead of EST). Check the usual Japanese etailers if you want to secure your figure. The figures are not web exclusives so could, in theory, sell out eventually. Release date is December 2019.

Click for much larger version

Prototypes for the figures were on display several times in the past, so this shouldn’t be a complete surprise. But it’s always good when SH Figuarts decides to actually produce a prototype. The Force Awakens Han Solo and The Last Jedi Luke Skywalker (Crait) both appear in a magazine scan. If you are not new to SHF you know the routine, first there’s the magazine scan, then follows the official announcement by SHF and you can usually pre-order the figures soon after. Both figures are expected to be released in December 2019. It remains to be seen if these two figures will be the only ones SHF release for The Rise of Skywalker or if SHF is also under embargo and will show off Rise of Skywalker figures later in the fall.

SH Figuarts Han Solo and Luke Skywalker

In my opinion the sculpt for Han is perfect, this IS Harrison Ford, Luke, maybe because of the beard (beard is notoriously difficult to sculpt) looks a little bit off perhaps. But the overall shape of the face seems to be correct. Also, why does SHF give Luke this bright hair as well, similar to the Hasbro TVC version? Is it possible that both Hasbro and SH Figuarts were given out of date reference material for Luke and that his appearance (hair color) changed later? This also means SHF will beat Hasbro to the punch and release their version of Crait Luke sooner. The TBS version is expected to be released in Q1 2020 or so.

YouTube Channel “Corridor Crew” has a relatively new, ongoing series called “VFX Artists React to Bad & Great CGI” in which they critique various VFX from movies and tell the audience what’s either great or bad about them. Hearing this from people who work in the field can be highly interesting. A short while ago the Corridor Crew took on the Star Wars prequels. While many here remember bad greenscreen effects or overly CGI looking scenes (even if many of those used traditional models and miniatures) the VFX artists actually have a much more positive view of the effects in the prequels, since they were in many ways groundbreaking, and they will tell you why. They also point out when something didn’t work, but for them the good seems to outweigh the bad.
But then the Corridow Crew also has a brand new series called “Stuntmen react…” and in the video that was released the other day they go through a bunch of movies and tv shows (Mission Impossible, Punisher etc) and they also take a detailed look at the Last Jedi throne room fight. The professional stunt coordinator (he was, among other things, the stunt coordinator for The Punisher show) who analyzes the scene has a few interesting things to say about that, let’s just say he was less than impressed… So click through for two videos today, one that talks about the visual effects of the prequels and another that analyzes the Last Jedi Throne Room fight.

Learn why this scene was groundbreaking

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Our Visual Guide updates from The Vintage Collection’s wave 22 continue tonight, this time featuring Luke Skywalker (Crait) (VC146). Click below to have a look at our fully detailed Visual Guide, and then stop by and read our full review.

The latest wave of The Vintage Collection is a bit disappointing. So is Luke Skywalker (Crait) that’s part of it. Find out all the details you need for this figure, and make sure you look for Kylo Ren having a temper tantrum in the photo gallery. It’s the focus of our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

We’re almost done with the reviews, but you can check everything else out right now including a ton of comparison images, diorama shots and the new figures interacting with other figures and vehicles. I have to admit that The Vintage Collection wave 22 isn’t doing it for me. My favorite figure in the wave is the Imperial Assault Tank Commander, and that should NOT be the case. I am thrilled about finally getting a carded “12-Back” Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) figure, but this character and card back were worthy of a completely all-new sculpt. Oh well. Luke Skywalker (Crait) is a decent release, but he is limited in movement thanks to constricting robes. His articulation system is almost voided out by it. And the Death Star Gunner should have been the crowning joy of the wave, but it has disappointed me hugely. Anyhow, check out the new images of the latest figures. Hopefully, the next wave will be a little bit better.

         

Here is the new The Vintage Collection Luke Skywalker (Crait) (VC146) figure. Special thanks to JTA reader and good friend Josh M. for the image!

I Am Shark is returning to the Star Wars universe to present the Collector’s Edition release of Episode VIII: The Last Jedi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 2xLP.  Original artwork created by the brilliant Dan Mumford from the UK, with collectible covers that share an exclusive inner gatefold and include framable inserts.  With over 40 years after the original Star Wars theme captivated audiences around the globe,  The Last Jedi soundtrack sees the return of iconic composer John Williams. Continuing through his climatic score style and underlying motifs has been extremely essential for the new series and continuing the nostalgic emotion and building new expectations.

The Last Jedi goes on sale Friday, October 12th as an exclusive pre-order through IAMSHARK.COM, and shipping will begin November, 30th, 2018. 2 of 4 collectible covers (Luke & Rey, Snoke & Kylo) and cohesive colored vinyl pressed on 180 gram discs are available today, limited to 1000 pieces each variant. The remaining two variants will be released later in 2019. You can visit the I Am Shark official website and social media platforms for more news, releases, and information.

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Wow! You’re going to love the Mountain Trooper (is he a future film character?) and Commander Pyre from this set. And you’ll likely adore the MSE Droid too! Find out why the boringly-named The First Order Galaxy’s Edge exclusive multipack might be for you in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.

Tim Rose, who was a puppeteer in Return of the Jedi and performed as Admiral Ackbar, Sy Snootles and Salacious Crumb, and who returned in both The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi as Admiral Ackbar once more, only this time actually inside a suit, was recently interviewed by Jamie Stangroom. Jamie’s YouTube Channel is still very unknown, he has very few subscribers and his videos don’t really have that many clicks, but over the time he interviewed quite a few Star Wars actors. Jamie also brought Ahmed Best to the forefront again, when he interviewed the Jar-Jar actor, this made quite a few waves back then when it was revealed just how devasted Ahmed felt at the time. And now Jamie interviewed Tim Rose. In the first half of the interview Tim shares a funny anecdote about filming Return of The Jedi, but then he talks about his experience on set of The Last Jedi and how he felt about being killed off unceremoniously. Spoiler: he was very disappointed. Watch the interview clip and then click through for a discussion!

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The time has come! The best Imperial Stormtrooper ever in 3.75″ scale is starting to arrive in collectors’ homes. Thanks to Sergio K. for the image. I have seen reports of cards being charged from EE and BBTS, so start watching for emails and whatnot if you have this on pre-order. Has anyone had their cards charged for the solid cases of Stormtroopers yet? Let us know if you’ve gotten your case or are anticipating it soon in the comments!

We reviewed these figures weeks ago too! Check them out HERE!

Pre-order Wave 6 from Entertainment Earth here.

Bandai has a survey up on their website about the recently released Count Dooku figure. The survey is in Japanese, but using the translate function in Google Chrome you can still take it if you feel like it. However the survey is not really what I want to talk about. What I do want to talk about is the part of the survey in which Bandai wants to know what SH Figuarts Star Wars figures you already own. The recently announced Revenge of the Sith Yoda figure is on the list. But so is the yet unannounced Crait version of Luke Skywalker. The figure was on display in Japan, so we know it exists. However, nothing has been announced yet. But with Luke on the list the question is if SH Figuarts will announce him soon. SH Figuarts should certainly try to beat Hasbro to the punch and release their Crait Luke before Hasbro if they want to make more money. Chances are collectors outside Japan would not order the SHF version if Hasbro releases Luke first. Would you get the SHF version of Crait Luke? Or will you wait for Hasbro’s Black Series version?

Battle of Crait Luke Prototype

Chris Avellone, one of the writers for the upcoming EA Star Wars Game Jedi: Fallen Order and former lead writer for KOTOR II, talked about returning to the Star Wars franchise after a long time and also shared his opinion on The Last Jedi in an interview with website VGC. Click through for the full story!

The face you make when your hero doesn’t meet expectations

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What a disaster! The Walmart Exclusive Entertainment Earth Exclusive ROSS Exclusive Resistance A-wing Fighter (Red Squadron) vehicle didn’t have a chance. Will you ever get one for your collection? Who knows! See more in our Research Droids Reviews today! Be sure to leave your thoughts in our comments section, vote in the poll or comment about it on our Facebook page. Click the banner below for the direct link to the review! As always, you can also send your review requests via email if you’d like to see something that we didn’t cover yet.