Hot Toys's -MMS134 Inglourious Basterds: Col. Hans Landa

[Cheungkinmen]

I wouldn't be surprised if HT took on IB as a foot in the door to get to Tarantino's more iconic stuff like Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill.
They don't get the character because he's not smiling?
Right.

I'd buy Kill Bill figures in a heartbeat

 

[Star Puffs]

They don't get the character because he's not smiling? Right.

Then how do explain the significant number of people here that find the expression uncharacteristic or at least prefer a smirking/sardonic expression?

The Aldo figure also suffered from a weird expression that conveyed nothing about the character.

Some people from the West cannot see past the simplistic 'he smash Nazis good' level so it would not surprise me to find elements lost in translation.

 

[YoNoSe]

Then how do explain the significant number of people here that find the expression uncharacteristic or at least prefer a smirking/sardonic expression?

The Aldo figure also suffered from a weird expression that conveyed nothing about the character.

Some people from the West cannot see past the simplistic 'he smash Nazis good' level so it would not surprise me to find elements lost in translation.

I haven't seen a single person convey an opinion as silly as your generalization suggests. I don't think the nature of this character is lost on anyone.
Hot Toys typically go for neutral expressions on most of their figures.
As stated previously, the studio and possibly individual actors have final approval rights.
The character is not a clown. His frivolity is usually as calculated as everything else he does.
I wouldn't call a smiling face inapporpriate, but I find a determined expression very fitting. And I don't feel the need to imply that you don't get it just because I don't agree with you.

 

[gunm]

No disrespect Star Puffs, but I think the only message myself and YoNoSe are trying to convey is that Hot Toys has explicitly stated in the past that it does not have control over the final expression on the head sculpt--the actor, movie studio, or their legal representatives do--and most of the time the license holder goes with the neutral expression.

It is not that Hot Toys does not understand the movie or character, and it is not that they don't want to abide by fans' wishes to have more emotional or distinct expressions on the figures.

I personally would like to see less "blank" expressions, but on the other hand I recognize that it would probably limit my display options if the figures were frozen in angry, smirking, happy, sad, or other distinct faces.

 

[robbiethepainter]

I personally would love to see more character in the head sculpts. For example, in my opinion, the Comedian head sculpt is hands down the best, not only in accuracy but also in characterization. But I also know that most actors/ studios aren't crazy about some of the things fans like the most. In regards to the Comedian, he hasn't really flown off the shelf either. But I also know there are other factors that play into the popularity of that figure.

 

[Biojex]

I personally would love to see more character in the head sculpts. For example, in my opinion, the Comedian head sculpt is hands down the best, not only in accuracy but also in characterization. But I also know that most actors/ studios aren't crazy about some of the things fans like the most. In regards to the Comedian, he hasn't really flown off the shelf either. But I also know there are other factors that play into the popularity of that figure.

Yeah, I was glad to see they ventured out with the Comedian.

 

[m4rc3low]

 

[uscmhicks]

Gonna have to order this soon. Simply a figure I can't pass on.
Trying to cut down on buying stuff.

 

[Darth_Fatso]

Great pic! Like I said he looks great without the hat on, but with the hat on, in most pics it throws off the likeness a little imo.

 

[siquisiri]

Great pic! Like I said he looks great without the hat on, but with the hat on, in most pics it throws off the likeness a little imo.

...................

 

[Cap'n Cook]

Brilliance.

 

[Star Puffs]

I haven't seen a single person convey an opinion as silly as your generalization suggests. I don't think the nature of this character is lost on anyone.

a) A comment specific to Hot Toys' reaction to a particular movie is not exactly a "generalization".

b) It usually works best to not turn around and do what you just criticised someone for allegedly doing. I mean "I don't think the nature of this character is lost on anyone" is an absurd blanket generalisation.

 

[Star Puffs]

No disrespect Star Puffs, but I think the only message myself and YoNoSe are trying to convey is that Hot Toys has explicitly stated in the past that it does not have control over the final expression on the head sculpt--the actor, movie studio, or their legal representatives do--and most of the time the license holder goes with the neutral expression.

I understand what you are saying, but the truth is we really have no idea how the headsculpt got approved or HT's motivations. QT or Christoph Waltz may never have seen this. Waltz was not a star before IB and his contract may not have such approval rights.

HT is not a communicative company like SSC; they are pretty much a blackbox (see their Watchmen line). I stand by my view they have misinterpreted this film as far more serious than it was intended.

 

[YoNoSe]

Brilliance.

Totally.

 

[denger4000]

I understand what you are saying, but the truth is we really have no idea how the headsculpt got approved or HT's motivations. QT or Christoph Waltz may never have seen this. Waltz was not a star before IB and his contract may not have such approval rights.

HT is not a communicative company like SSC; they are pretty much a blackbox (see their Watchmen line). I stand by my view they have misinterpreted this film as far more serious than it was intended.

I actually kind of agree with that

 

[YoNoSe]

a) A comment specific to Hot Toys' reaction to a particular movie is not exactly a "generalization".

b) It usually works best to not turn around and do what you just criticised someone for allegedly doing. I mean "I don't think the nature of this character is lost on anyone" is an absurd blanket generalisation.

Ugh. I'm not into splitting hairs but since you are:

A) "Some people from the West can't...." is, exactly, a generalisation. What people? REAL people, or imaginary people who are less clever than you?

B) I prefaced that comment you quoted by saying I haven't seen anyone express an opinion as silly as your "smash Nazis" statement. Meaning most of the discussion I've had and read about the film has been intelligent, not the moronic caveman talk you attached to "some people from the West." Hence, I don't think the nature of the character is lost on anyone. Not absurd at all, and quite particular to what I've seen (with my real eyes).

You're right, it is impiossible to know how HT came to their decision. I just don't understand why you assign it to their inability to understand. The movie is fairly straightforward. But I don't actually care. You seem to be generally negative about most things.

 

[Centrocal]

I think everyone would have preferred the expression to be a smirk or full on smile with the telephone. And after the backlash Hot Toys got when they first revealed the Aldo Raine sculpt, everyone demanding they give him the look he had in the poster, Hot Toy knew what the fans were expecting. So its obvious there were other factors involved that restricted their creativity, besides them just not 'getting' what the movie was about.

Also Landa is a complex character.He has many different faces. When he says bingo, my immediate impression was 'Wow this guy...is crazy' Like he was actually unstable. I don't think Waltz was going for silly or comical, he was trying to convey just how far gone Landa really is. He is so impressed with his own scheme, he's completely giddy

The sinister expression of the figure is very suitable but he could benefit from extra sculpts too. Maybe we could ask for a V2 in the other uniform

 

[Darth_Fatso]

I think everyone would have preferred the expression to be a smirk or full on smile with the telephone. And after the backlash Hot Toys got when they first revealed the Aldo Raine sculpt, everyone demanding they give him the look he had in the poster, Hot Toy knew what the fans were expecting. So its obvious there were other factors involved that restricted their creativity, besides them just not 'getting' what the movie was about.

Also Landa is a complex character.He has many different faces. When he says bingo, my immediate impression was 'Wow this guy...is crazy' Like he was actually unstable. I don't think Waltz was going for silly or comical, he was trying to convey just how far gone Landa really is. He is so impressed with his own scheme, he's completely giddy

The sinister expression of the figure is very suitable but he could benefit from extra sculpts too. Maybe we could ask for a V2 in the other uniform

This I'd also like them to release Aldo in his tux with a smirking face as well.

 

[YoNoSe]

I'd love to see Aldo and Landa in their clothing from the theater with more specific expressions. I'm just glad I have more neutral expressions as a standard.
Frankly anything they make from Tarantino's library, other than Jackie Brown, I'd probably buy. I'd even take a Clooney from From Dusk til Dawn and a True Romance Christian Slater while we're at it.

 

[gunm]

HT is not a communicative company like SSC; they are pretty much a blackbox (see their Watchmen line). I stand by my view they have misinterpreted this film as far more serious than it was intended.

I respectfully disagree--Hot Toys is as communicative as a small niche toy company that is based in Hong Kong can be. I also think you're reading too much into things by assuming that the choice of HS has anything to do with a misinterpretation of the character or movie.

But I do respect that you don't like the HS. The HSes for these HT figs are a constant source of controversy regarding likenesses, expressions, and whatnot. I'd hate to be the marketing guy for HT who has to wade through the polarizing comments that every single figure they make ends up getting, lol.