Statue Aragorn Maquette - Link in 1st post.

[theguru1]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

And you're dead wrong. If, after seeing more pic's I think it stinks, I will say so. I wouldn't trash a Weta statue after seeing a single photo and I'm not going to do so with SS either, and quite frankly you're been around long enough to know better yourself.

No doubt you remember some of our previous discussions over 'not another Aragorn', etc, etc.
Now sure, more pic's could make things look better and final production items can go either way, but at this point, I'd say most of my 'fears' aren't far from coming true. If SS can't hit this line on ever important mark, then most are likely to just stick with what they have (not like there is a shortage of choice) and I just don't think there is enough 'new' market out there to buy up large numbers of new statues.

Could we have another 12" figure line in the making....

As for the comparing of likeness, yeah, neither the first SSW statue or this preview hit the mark. Compared to the PF and I still say the 'Black Gates' one is very good, neither of the others look like Viggo.

 

[Trustey]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

So is this a Lord of the Rings movie Strider or just the character from the book?

Kind of crazy Viggo is in my head so much as Aragorn I couldn't read the book without seeing him that way.

Anyway yeah the preview shot is a weak likeness. I hate to say it but you would think a single preview shot would be shown in the strongest possible angle to show a likeness- if likeness is what they are even going for. I am pretty much set with pf's though, but I still have high hopes for this line. Maybe SDCC will reveal another.

 

[Trustey]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Wait a minute they s***canned LSB's? Or are you guys just complaining because they are so slow to come out?

I love LSBs, but just the monsters really. And not humanoid monsters like Uruk-hai, but big monsters where a 1:4 wouldn't do justice, and a 1:1 would be retarded huge and expensive and undisplayable.

 

[tomandshell]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

The LSB line is taking a break. A nice, long break.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Apparently the joke was on us.......for believing this was a line they were fully committed to in the first place. A whopping 3 busts produced over the last 28 month's, two of which being good guys [Aragorn and Boromir] with just OK likenesses, and SS needs to re-evaluate this line? Are they kidding?

I think they need to re-evaluate the people running their LOTR program to be quite honest. One dio. since Spooktacular, one PF in the last 15 month's, and zero LSB's in the last year......either the people in charge of SS's LOTR lines are so incompetent it's not even funny, or SS has LOTR so far down the list of relevent licences these days it barely registers on the radar list.

If it's the 1st scenario...start showing people the door, and replace them with people who are actually passionate, committed, and knowledgeable where the LOTR licence is concerned.

If it's the 2nd scenario then SS should do the right thing,....walk away from lines they are not fully committed to, and let Weta take over. I don't think anyone can question Weta's absolute committment to the LOTR franchise based on the 5 years of the SSW licence....anyone willing to make that same claim for SS based on the last year or so?

... I think this also raises issues of consumer confidence around the maquette line. On past performance how can LOTR buyers have any confidence this line will go well beyond the initial offerings we have seen? Sure we may get a few more, a half-dozen, maybe a dozen or so... but if history tells us anything SS won't be in it for the long haul.

 

[The Ween]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

No Saruman bust???? Gimli? Just a few random LSB characters???? Are they kidding? What sort of a display are we ending up with if this is the end of the LSB line? This SERIOUSLY is putting me off SS and collecting!!!!

For some reason, they really hate Gimli. This line will probably stop before getting to him as well.

 

[The Ween]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

The LSB line is taking a break. A nice, long break.

Yup, it's sitting in the break room with the 1/6 line.

 

[FrodoEyes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

... I think this also raises issues of consumer confidence around the maquette line. On past performance how can LOTR buyers have any confidence this line will go well beyond the initial offerings we have seen? Sure we may get a few more, a half-dozen, maybe a dozen or so... but if history tells us anything SS won't be in it for the long haul.

This is my concern too. As i've said, i collect statues, so should be overjoyed at this maquette line, but with SS's track record of just dropping lines and leaving them 'incomplete' i'm VERY wary about getting into it, especially as i own most of the SSW statues.
I think if Weta had this license there would be much more confidence of a long-term plan. Infact, i don't think they'd really do most of the main characters apart from improvements as they've done most of them already. I think they would have gone straight in with characters not already done and i think that is what statue collectors like myself want more than starting all over again with the main characters. That way i think there would also be more excitement from fans - imagine getting Faramir, Eomer on steed, mouth of sauron on steed, a fountain guard as the first releases rather than more Aragorns, Legolas' or Gandalfs.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

This is my concern too. As i've said, i collect statues, so should be overjoyed at this maquette line, but with SS's track record of just dropping lines and leaving them 'incomplete' i'm VERY wary about getting into it, especially as i own most of the SSW statues.
I think if Weta had this license there would be much more confidence of a long-term plan. Infact, i don't think they'd really do most of the main characters apart from improvements as they've done most of them already. I think they would have gone straight in with characters not already done and i think that is what statue collectors like myself want more than starting all over again with the main characters. That way i think there would also be more excitement from fans - imagine getting Faramir, Eomer on steed, mouth of sauron on steed, a fountain guard as the first releases rather than more Aragorns, Legolas' or Gandalfs.

Agree, that is the other great problem here... SS seemed to have canned the LSB and perhaps dio lines with a thought that these buyers might migrate to the maquette line. Problem is most LOTR collectors already have pieces from various previous lines and could be reluctant to buy Aragorn, Gandalf and other heavy hitters all over again. The more I think about this line the more I think SS didn't. The Strider PO next week will be very interesting.

 

[tomandshell]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

When/if they release the entire fellowship, I'll go back and pick them all up and display them together. But I'm not starting yet another incomplete set right now.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

The way I look at the LSB line is this: It began with characters who were over-large, like Sauron, ML, Cave Troll and the Balrog. The LSB approach was, imo, perfect for this; otherwise we might never have seen these characters in such detail (imagine a 1:1?).

From there, they went into human-sized subjects - for me the result was underwhelming. The GTG LSB was the first item I ever bought direct from SS. The day it arrived, I remember being shocked at how small the box was, at least much smaller than I expected. When I took that bust out of the box, I realized then and there that SS had goofed up. They should have offered such characters as a 1:1 bust instead. I think it would have made all the difference in the world.

I'm sure that price paid a large part in the decision; fewer could have afforded $450-$500 instead of an LSB's going price, but I think that the "underwhelming" aspect of the smaller size is definitely what pushed me out of the line early on. Strictly a view from my perspective but I have spoken with others who share my view. Maybe if they went back to the large baddies (armored battle troll, fell beast head, etc.) it would help.
Imagine in 1:1 a Ringwraith, Gimli, King of the Dead, Eomer w/Helmet! WOW!

Yup, it would have....this line would have been dead year's ago. 1:1 scale works great with creatures and superheroes, but it rarely ever works with humans. It is simply too difficult to nail human likenesses, esp. on a consistant basis and no one is going to pay $500 for a LOTR bust that "sort of" looks like the actor playing the character.

You mean maybe SS should have listened to the requests and suggestions of those of us who faithfully supported this line, the same collectors whose opinions SS claims to value......

No doubt you remember some of our previous discussions over 'not another Aragorn', etc, etc.
Now sure, more pic's could make things look better and final production items can go either way, but at this point, I'd say most of my 'fears' aren't far from coming true. If SS can't hit this line on ever important mark, then most are likely to just stick with what they have (not like there is a shortage of choice) and I just don't think there is enough 'new' market out there to buy up large numbers of new statues.

Could we have another 12" figure line in the making....

As for the comparing of likeness, yeah, neither the first SSW statue or this preview hit the mark. Compared to the PF and I still say the 'Black Gates' one is very good, neither of the others look like Viggo.

Yup, or another LSB. And how far behind can the dio. line be? Questionable scene selections and sporadic pre-orders and the dio. line is starting to look more like the LSB line every day.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

... I think this also raises issues of consumer confidence around the maquette line. On past performance how can LOTR buyers have any confidence this line will go well beyond the initial offerings we have seen? Sure we may get a few more, a half-dozen, maybe a dozen or so... but if history tells us anything SS won't be in it for the long haul.

It absolutely does, but i'd even take it a step further than that. I think it raises the issue of consumer confidence in SS's entire LOTR licence, and SS as a company. Does anyone really believe SS is in this one for the long haul? We've got two lines lying in the morgue right now and another one [dio.] in critical condition. And what of SS's "flagship" PF line? At less than two PF's produced a year anyone want to go out on a limb and state with any confidence whatsoever we're ever going to see a complete line....does anyone even care to claim with confidence we'll even see a complete fellowship someday?

To make matters worse, we have SS telling collectors "LOTR has a special place in our hearts" everytime the subject concerning a lack of LOTR products is raised, yet that's all we get....lip service. We have SS's CEO, Greg Anzalone, lying to every LSB collector out there during the Fantacular chat when he stated the LSB line was "still viable". Three month's go by and all of the sudden we have SS staff lying to us saying "The LOTR LSB line is under review" when in fact the line isn't "under review" at all....it's dead. Personally, I'm finding it harder and harder to believe anything they say these days where LOTR is concerned.....

This is my concern too. As i've said, i collect statues, so should be overjoyed at this maquette line, but with SS's track record of just dropping lines and leaving them 'incomplete' i'm VERY wary about getting into it, especially as i own most of the SSW statues.I think if Weta had this license there would be much more confidence of a long-term plan. Infact, i don't think they'd really do most of the main characters apart from improvements as they've done most of them already. I think they would have gone straight in with characters not already done and i think that is what statue collectors like myself want more than starting all over again with the main characters. That way i think there would also be more excitement from fans - imagine getting Faramir, Eomer on steed, mouth of sauron on steed, a fountain guard as the first releases rather than more Aragorns, Legolas' or Gandalfs.

Let's be honest here, Weta didn't just drop a line or two, they dropped the entire LOTR licence!!...and left us all with a sadly incomplete line long before SS ever had the opportunity to do the same. One could almost excuse SS in that their incomplete lines are based on a lack of products available in the first place. What excuse does Weta have for producing over 100 statue's and busts without a single Denethor of Faramir representation? And I think we both know those are just a couple of the horrible decisions made by Weta, so I do not share your total confidence in their decision making abilities. Where I do have complete confidence in Weta however, is in the knowledge they will treat LOTR like a 1st tier licence and will "pull out all the stops" concerning production. Now I don't think they could/would produce statues and busts as quickly as during the LOTR days, but it would certainly be at a faster and more consistant pace than we have seen from SS. And I must admit, it would be nice to see LOTR at the top of the food chain once again instead of the 4th or 5th tier licence SS has turned it into.

 

[gabberjawa]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

 

[The Ween]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Why would they go through all that trouble of sculpting the hair, then cover it all up? If this were a PF and you could remove the hood, I'd understand it. But this looks like a completely different sculpt from the teaser.

 

[woodsy]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Why would they go through all that trouble of sculpting the hair, then cover it all up? If this were a PF and you could remove the hood, I'd understand it. But this looks like a completely different sculpt from the teaser.

It would be pointless, unless as suspected, the hoodless version is an excl. We'll find out on Tues.

 

[choopie]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

We all know that what Sideshow says and what Sideshow actually does are two different things. They go into all licences with grand plans and good intentions, but with the exception of SW and Marvel are not following through with anything they spouted from the get-go. I'll go to their defense and say that identifying a "complete" line based on what collectors feel is a complete line is difficult. Is all of the Fellowship a complete line? What is a complete line when you throw in characters from TT and ROTK? Yes, overlooking characters like Gimli is inexcusable. But how far does Sideshow go to completing a line, based on a collector's definition, short of including every single character from every movie, which they obviously are not committed to doing?

However, dropping a line after giving collectors a random, hodge-podge, smattering of characters that don't make any sense being together in a single collection is extremely poor execution of a license. Sideshow has a bad habit of doing that and doesn't excite me in the least in terms of collecting a line or a license. LOTR and Indy are perfect examples of this. I have no doubt that after this luke-warm reception of Strider, we'll get an "all over the board" release of characters and then the line will be put "on hold" with some key character missing.

 

[ede]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

We all know that what Sideshow says and what Sideshow actually does are two different things. They go into all licences with grand plans and good intentions, but with the exception of SW and Marvel are not following through with anything they spouted from the get-go. I'll go to their defense and say that identifying a "complete" line based on what collectors feel is a complete line is difficult. Is all of the Fellowship a complete line? What is a complete line when you throw in characters from TT and ROTK? Yes, overlooking characters like Gimli is inexcusable. But how far does Sideshow go to completing a line, based on a collector's definition, short of including every single character from every movie, which they obviously are not committed to doing?

However, dropping a line after giving collectors a random, hodge-podge, smattering of characters that don't make any sense being together in a single collection is extremely poor execution of a license. Sideshow has a bad habit of doing that and doesn't excite me in the least in terms of collecting a line or a license. LOTR and Indy are perfect examples of this. I have no doubt that after this luke-warm reception of Strider, we'll get an "all over the board" release of characters and then the line will be put "on hold" with some key character missing.

Ditto, same ole story just a different line. Guess time will tell I hope we are wrong in this though.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

However, dropping several lines after giving collectors a random, hodge-podge, smattering of characters that don't make any sense being together in a single collection is extremely poor execution of a license. Sideshow has a bad habit of doing that and doesn't excite me in the least in terms of collecting a line or a license. LOTR and Indy are perfect examples of this. I have no doubt that after this luke-warm reception of Strider, we'll get an "all over the board" release of characters and then the line will be put "on hold" with some key character missing.

Fixed for you

 

[nefarius1]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

Didn't they show sketches for Gandalf, Boromir, Legolas and Gimli? With Strider that's 5 of the fellowship minus the hobbits. I think they plan on doing the core characters first. At least we can hope.

 

[xerxes]

Re: Aragorn Maquette Teaser

To make matters worse, we have SS telling collectors "LOTR has a special place in our hearts" everytime the subject concerning a lack of LOTR products is raised, yet that's all we get....lip service. We have SS's CEO, Greg Anzalone, lying to every LSB collector out there during the Fantacular chat when he stated the LSB line was "still viable". Three month's go by and all of the sudden we have SS staff lying to us saying "The LOTR LSB line is under review" when in fact the line isn't "under review" at all....it's dead. Personally, I'm finding it harder and harder to believe anything they say these days where LOTR is concerned.....(

I take anything coming out of SS with not a grain, but a truck load of salt. Your above example is why I think the dio line is also ... SS just haven't given us the unfortunate news yet to avoid more poor PR around their LOTR license.

Happy to be proven wrong SS