Statue Legolas Maquette

[FrodoEyes]

I don't see how that would make sense for Sideshow (or any company) to provide that sort of continuity from a business stand point......... Rather than gripe about how the SSW line is not being continued, why not show support for the new line and hope that the line lasts long enough to generate an Eomer in Armor or a Gondorian Royal Guard?

Don't get me wrong, i understand that Sideshow needs to put out an Aragorn, Gandalf, and all the rest, because it's the start of a brand new statue line with just Sideshow involved, i just wonder whether people will buy them so close to the SSW line coming out, and with PF's, dioramas etc available too. Both of the regular editions of Gandalf and Aragorn are still available. What i was thinking that if Weta had got the line, they'd ask the fans what they wanted to see next and do that, exactly what they're doing with their re-aquired environment line.
Believe me, i'm thrilled that 1/6 scale statues are being done again, and am getting Strider, but i really have to wonder whether the line will last long enough to get an Eomer, Royal Guard, etc etc etc...... this is Sideshow remember...... the SSW line gave us over a hundred items, and not even they could give us an Eomer, Faramir, Denethor, Mouth of Sauron, royal guards, prologue elven warrriors etc etc, so you have to wonder how we'll see that in this new line.

Thats why you have to do a good job of mixing. I believe SS will do that. They will mix in pieces like Eomer along with Aragorn. Thus making sure folks who don't want an Aragorn can get pieces they want but folks who want one to get one.

To expect a line to not include the main characters is just not understanding how things work. Not be blunt and rude but its really that simple.

I honestly hope SS do mix their characters up a bit. As you know, i'm a statue collector, so i'm excited to see this new line, i just have to wonder with SS's track record how long it will last and how many characters we'll see, especially by the time we get past all the 'main' characters. I'm really looking forward to seeing Legolas and Arwen, because Sideshow have some of the best sculptors in the world when it comes to human likeness'. I also hope they stay away from 'extreme super-hero' poses like GTG.
As to your second point, i believe i covered that above.... i understand that the main characters have to be included, i just wonder if the line will survive past them. Hopefully they'll do a fellowship Pippin and a Rohirrim armoured Merry, i'd be ALL OVER that!!

I agree SS will do what they can, but let's face it....they are severely limited in what they can do seeing as most characters have been covered at least once [and a handful multiple times] in the previous SSW line. Hopefully there are enough new collectors, or veteran collectors who want to upgrade their collections out there, because these are the two groups where the vast majority of support is going to come from.

Hopefully the line will be a succcess, so we can get to the lesser-done statues, but it's not too long after the SSW line ended, and i wonder if there are enough new collectors, especially as there have been no new films out to promote them. Maybe SS had hoped The Hobbit would have been green-lit by now and the publicity would sell more stuff.

 

[Seaward]

Thanks for the reply FrodoEyes! I really appreciate your viewpoint on the issue, and for the SSW diehards, I can totally understand how a line that restarts the statue line in a similar fashion to the environments line would be a dream come true for you!

 

[The Josh]

Yes, they do look pretty cool and so far, for the most part, done well. The problem is, they are not selling. At the start there was going to be 4-5 per year, by the end of this month, all those initial lot will be on sale and at typing this, all either in stock or still on pre-order (not waitlist).

That will leave just one new one on pre-order, the Dastan PF (that no one wants) and the on-going production preview of Hook, due for pre-order at some point in time.

Mean while, as plenty keep asking for the heavy hitters (like Belle, the Beast, Jessica Rabbit, Snow White, etc) we hear nothing from SS.

I don't know how much they're working with the Disney stores to help sell these pieces or cause a demand for them.

I know I said back when the license was announced they really needed to do this and if it didn't this line would struggle to sell.

I agree SS will do what they can, but let's face it....they are severely limited in what they can do seeing as most characters have been covered at least once [and a handful multiple times] in the previous SSW line. Hopefully there are enough new collectors, or veteran collectors who want to upgrade their collections out there, because these are the two groups where the vast majority of support is going to come from.

Well, that is the major hurdle are there enough hard core fans that want these variations . Are there enough open minded folks basically.

I honestly hope SS do mix their characters up a bit. As you know, i'm a statue collector, so i'm excited to see this new line, i just have to wonder with SS's track record how long it will last and how many characters we'll see, especially by the time we get past all the 'main' characters. I'm really looking forward to seeing Legolas and Arwen, because Sideshow have some of the best sculptors in the world when it comes to human likeness'. I also hope they stay away from 'extreme super-hero' poses like GTG.

SS track record? They really only give the axe to lines that aren't selling. If a line doesn't sell they won't keep making things. Thats good business. So if that develops a track record its one you can live with. If the fans don't buy ain't no point in making it. If the products are as nice as what these look (and even more so in person) then its up to the fans to show support by buying them if they so choose.

As to your second point, i believe i covered that above.... i understand that the main characters have to be included, i just wonder if the line will survive past them. Hopefully they'll do a fellowship Pippin and a Rohirrim armoured Merry, i'd be ALL OVER that!!

Well, then you can't get pissed when a line starts and includes the main characters. Thats why I made the post I did about it not making sense to say rehashing cause they will or have to be made.

Oh as far as Weta having it and doing polls to see what fans want. Thats all wonderful but with statues is you have likeness rights you have to deal with, the licensensor to deal with more I'm sure, etc. So it I doubt is as simple as what they've done with the enviros. Basically they can do a poll and get an idea and take it back and see which is gonna be the easiest to get through first.

 

[woodsy]

Well, that is the major hurdle are there enough hard core fans that want these variations . Are there enough open minded folks basically..

That is the million dollar question isn't it. For the life of me I cannot figure out those who claim to be LOTR fans yet totally disregard a line based on who produced it ....certainly not my idea of a true LOTR fan, or someone who knows anything about art. You would think LOTR collectors everywhere would be ecstatic over what we've seen so far, but sadly that just isn't the case.

Oh as far as Weta having it and doing polls to see what fans want. Thats all wonderful but with statues is you have likeness rights you have to deal with, the licensensor to deal with more I'm sure, etc. So it I doubt is as simple as what they've done with the enviros. Basically they can do a poll and get an idea and take it back and see which is gonna be the easiest to get through first.

I've gotta admit, I love the fact that Weta involves their collectors where the environments are concerned, but I agree, that doesn't necessarily mean they would do so where characters are concerned. Seems to me they had several years worth of opportunities/requests to produce fellowship Pippin, Faramir, and Eomer statues and where'd that get us? Perhaps they would allow collectors to participate, but I don't recall them allowing fans to determine which mini-shields to produce or which John Howe pieces should be considered next, so it's certainly not a slam dunk.

 

[The Josh]

That is the million dollar question isn't it. For the life of me I cannot figure out those who claim to be LOTR fans yet totally disregard a line based on who produced it ....certainly not my idea of a true LOTR fan, or someone who knows anything about art. You would think LOTR collectors everywhere would be ecstatic over what we've seen so far, but sadly that just isn't the case.

That it is. I understand some fans have what they feel is their representation of that character. That being said what we've seen so far the line is really good looking I think. So yeah I'm surprised that more folks are not as ecstatic about it. Me personally I love LOTR and I love what we saw from the SSW line and what we've seen so far.

Everyone has the right to not buy or not like. Its when I read a post that comes across as if well these aren't good enough cause Weta didn't make them. That makes me scratch my had.

I've gotta admit, I love the fact that Weta involves their collectors where the environments are concerned, but I agree, that doesn't necessarily mean they would do so where characters are concerned. Seems to me they had several years worth of opportunities/requests to produce fellowship Pippin, Faramir, and Eomer statues and where'd that get us? Perhaps they would allow collectors to participate, but I don't recall them allowing fans to determine which mini-shields to produce or which John Howe pieces should be considered next, so it's certainly not a slam dunk.

That is a great move by Weta. Tip of the cap on that one for sure. But like we agree on the characters it might not work the same. The option I would see working is getting an idea but there are just so many hurdles that its more of an idea only concept. They've not with those other options so they're doing it with things they have more freedom I suppose.

 

[theguru1]

That it is. I understand some fans have what they feel is their representation of that character. That being said what we've seen so far the line is really good looking I think. So yeah I'm surprised that more folks are not as ecstatic about it. Me personally I love LOTR and I love what we saw from the SSW line and what we've seen so far.

Well, I can't answer for others, but I can for myself. I already have a room full of LOTR statues, many of which I'm more then happy with. At the same time, I have various other licenses/characters that I really want. So it's not about being ecstatic, it's about being practical. If SS want me to buy all of there's, then I'd need to sell all the ones I already have. Or even if I only doing it on a statue by statue basis, then that would be breaking up current 'sets', hoping that SS end up doing a full set of characters. But why do that, when I already have it.

As such and like I've said before, along with some of the other recent posts that repeat what I brought up many months ago (like are there enough new/old collectors for the line to survive), there are only a few characters I'd consider. The one or two that I'm not happy with, in the theory that SS do a lot better or the few characters that were never made.

Everyone has the right to not buy or not like. Its when I read a post that comes across as if well these aren't good enough cause Weta didn't make them. That makes me scratch my had.

It's not a case of not being good enough (assuming SS don't drop the ball on QC, I'm sure they will all be fine). It mostly goes back to what I've said above, I have the Weta statues and in many ways in group sets (all the Fellowship, all the Elves, etc). So the fact these new ones aren't Weta, makes just picking one or two not being an option and yes, some of the factors are due to having the original artists, etc having then worked on the statues.

If the history was reversed, then we'll be saying, well they aren't good enough since Sideshow didn't make them. Sometimes, 10 years of history does matter, it is after all a limited collection.

 

[The Josh]

Well, I can't answer for others, but I can for myself. I already have a room full of LOTR statues, many of which I'm more then happy with. At the same time, I have various other licenses/characters that I really want. So it's not about being ecstatic, it's about being practical. If SS want me to buy all of there's, then I'd need to sell all the ones I already have. Or even if I only doing it on a statue by statue basis, then that would be breaking up current 'sets', hoping that SS end up doing a full set of characters. But why do that, when I already have it.

Thats fine. I don't think SS expects you to purchase every statue in the line. They know thats not gonna happen and not smart $ wise honestly.

Now, that being said if you pick and choose you can get these to go with your current set. I don't get why you or anyone would feel they have to break up current sets. You can always just get a couple from this range and show them off in your collection as well.

I know you totally don't think these fit in the same collection at all. As you know I disagree that you can have both in your collection and it works just fine.

It's not a case of not being good enough (assuming SS don't drop the ball on QC, I'm sure they will all be fine). It mostly goes back to what I've said above, I have the Weta statues and in many ways in group sets (all the Fellowship, all the Elves, etc). So the fact these new ones aren't Weta, makes just picking one or two not being an option and yes, some of the factors are due to having the original artists, etc having then worked on the statues.

I don't think most people collect thinking I have this set and I won't buy anything else similar ever again. Thats not how most folks collect. They collect that if they see something nice representing something they care about they end up buying it. Some folks won't buy them for your reason they have them and so they don't need more. However, you know as well as I do on various boards there is that at the very least strong undertone that Weta isn't making these so they're not as special or whatever. Even if they're better looking pieces than what came out first.

If the history was reversed, then we'll be saying, well they aren't good enough since Sideshow didn't make them. Sometimes, 10 years of history does matter, it is after all a limited collection.

It was special to have Weta making the original line. However, I'm gonna want to get the items that best represent LOTR to me. There are some that Weta did an amazing job but I think as a whole the SS line will be able to be as amazing. As long as folks can be open minded.

 

[woodsy]

I don't think most people collect thinking I have this set and I won't buy anything else similar ever again. Thats not how most folks collect. They collect that if they see something nice representing something they care about they end up buying it. Some folks won't buy them for your reason they have them and so they don't need more. However, you know as well as I do on various boards there is that at the very least strong undertone that Weta isn't making these so they're not as special or whatever. Even if they're better looking pieces than what came out first.

I hadn't noticed that..... Not to be blunt or anything, but that "it's more special because it was made by the company that worked on the movies" nonsense is just that....nonsense. Anyone who knows anything about art knows that the quality of a piece, whether it be a painting or sculpt, should have nothing to do with the artist [or in this case the company] who produced it and everything to do with the merit of that individual piece itself. You show me someone who values a piece more because of who made it, and less because of the overall quality of that piece , and I'll show you someone whose first experience of art collecting started with [in this case] Weta, or someone who has collected before but has never grown in their knowledge and understanding of art.

It was special to have Weta making the original line. However, I'm gonna want to get the items that best represent LOTR to me. There are some that Weta did an amazing job but I think as a whole the SS line will be able to be as amazing. As long as folks can be open minded.

I'm with you 100% on that one. I know alot of people like to brand me a Weta-hater, which is ridiculous considering my Weta collection is bigger than 90% of the LOTR collectors around here, but for me it's all about owning the best LOTR collection I possibly can. And I don't care who makes it....Weta, SS, or one of the many custom pieces I've participated in....it makes no difference to me. But the one thing I absolutely will not do is give a statue/bust a "free pass" because of who made it....that will never happen.

 

[WrathofSauron]

I'm with you 100% on that one. I know alot of people like to brand me a Weta-hater, which is ridiculous considering my Weta collection is bigger than 90% of the LOTR collectors around here, but for me it's all about owning the best LOTR collection I possibly can. And I don't care who makes it....Weta, SS, or one of the many custom pieces I've participated in....it makes no difference to me. But the one thing I absolutely will not do is give a statue/bust a "free pass" because of who made it....that will never happen.

 

[The Josh]

I'm with you 100% on that one. I know alot of people like to brand me a Weta-hater, which is ridiculous considering my Weta collection is bigger than 90% of the LOTR collectors around here, but for me it's all about owning the best LOTR collection I possibly can. And I don't care who makes it....Weta, SS, or one of the many custom pieces I've participated in....it makes no difference to me. But the one thing I absolutely will not do is give a statue/bust a "free pass" because of who made it....that will never happen.

Yeah, I don't get the label myself. We don't always agree but I've seen you hammer both. Now, there are folks out there that will hammer either just for the sake because the other isn't involved. I don't get it myself. I love both companies and they both have great folks working for them.

Now, with LOTR if its Weta making the items and they look great (which many of the SSW pieces do IMO) then and if its SS , custom then like you said.

I will say having the folks from Weta being involved does add something a little for myself. It is nice knowing the folks who worked on the movies helped put this together. That being said if Toy Biz was to make something nice then like I said

 

[woodsy]

Yeah, I don't get the label myself. We don't always agree but I've seen you hammer both. Now, there are folks out there that will hammer either just for the sake because the other isn't involved. I don't get it myself. I love both companies and they both have great folks working for them.

Now, with LOTR if its Weta making the items and they look great (which many of the SSW pieces do IMO) then and if its SS , custom then like you said.

I will say having the folks from Weta being involved does add something a little for myself. It is nice knowing the folks who worked on the movies helped put this together. That being said if Toy Biz was to make something nice then like I said

It is true....but I am trying to use a gentler hammer these days.....

 

[The Josh]

It is true....but I am trying to use a gentler hammer these days.....

I understand that.

 

[FrodoEyes]

That is the million dollar question isn't it. For the life of me I cannot figure out those who claim to be LOTR fans yet totally disregard a line based on who produced it ....certainly not my idea of a true LOTR fan, or someone who knows anything about art. You would think LOTR collectors everywhere would be ecstatic over what we've seen so far, but sadly that just isn't the case.

I can't actually remember any instances where a board member has said this. Everyone here buys Sideshow items otherwise we wouldn't be members here. The main grievance as i see it is more statues of the same characters, and as we've already discussed, yes they do have to go through these main characters as it's their own line, but i wonder how long the line will go on for. Josh says they cancel lines that aren't selling. Well, the regular versions of both these first 2 maquettes are still available, even though Strider is the best Aragorn item in existence and the GTG likeness is good, if a bit too cartoony and super-hero-like.
To say people (like me and Guru among others - i'll say it if you won't) won't buy a SS item because it isn't made by Weta is nonsense, and is an attempt to twist our words.

I hadn't noticed that..... Not to be blunt or anything, but that "it's more special because it was made by the company that worked on the movies" nonsense is just that....nonsense.

Well i'm sorry, but here you're having a go at people's tastes. I'm afraid it isn't nonsense to some people, some people actually do put some worth on owning an item that the team from the movie made, especially if it's a creature statue that was made by the same workshop who made the maquette for the film, and thus looks closer to what it should look like.
You can go on about how qualified you are to know what you're talking about when it comes to art, but art is a very personal thing and can be defined by each individuals taste, and here you're calling other people's taste nonsense.

It is true....but I am trying to use a gentler hammer these days.....

I hope you remember and stick by this..... i think you'll find you can have a better debate with like-minded LOTR collectors when you don't resort to personal abuse

 

[The Josh]

Frodo you know as well as I do we've seen people say as soon as something has gone up "well, weta could have done that better" or you can tell they're not behind it for a reason close to that. So I wouldn't call it nonsense.

I personally do believe if weta started over folks would be much more willing to give them a pass and not call it retreads.

 

[Seaward]

I think that a big reason that people might still be on the fence with the new line is the completeness of the line. Folks have bought into several other lines with Sideshow before for Lord of the Rings expecting to get the nine members of the fellowship, and have been let down by how many characters get made. People have stated that they won't be starting another line with Sideshow until they see all nine members of the fellowship made.

In addition, people also wait to see the in-hand pictures in a lot of cases, and this may be more important for a newer line like this. If Aragorn starts to ship and he is a home run, I would think that the other items that have been solicited might sell more quickly!

The idea of any of the Sideshow Lord of the Rings lines being robust enough to support a "complete" line with all of the members of the fellowship is a big concern to me, but I do hope that we see a lot of depth in both the maquette and premium format lines for years to come. It'll be fun talking about this stuff down the road with you guys!

 

[theguru1]

I hadn't noticed that..... Not to be blunt or anything, but that "it's more special because it was made by the company that worked on the movies" nonsense is just that....nonsense. Anyone who knows anything about art knows that the quality of a piece, whether it be a painting or sculpt, should have nothing to do with the artist [or in this case the company] who produced it and everything to do with the merit of that individual piece itself. You show me someone who values a piece more because of who made it, and less because of the overall quality of that piece , and I'll show you someone whose first experience of art collecting started with [in this case] Weta, or someone who has collected before but has never grown in their knowledge and understanding of art.

Given your background, I can't believe you just said that, or I'm totally missing something. Unless of course the above doesn't apply to paintings. Lets face it, how many other artists have produced paintings in a similar style, etc to the more famous ones, yet they sell for a few hundred, while the 'originals' sell for many millions, even if they do look like junk.
When it comes to the 'art world' so much is about who made it and what they made. So sure, it's the quality that should matter, but when it comes to the real world, who made it can be a factor as well or in some cases, is the only factor.

I personally do believe if weta started over folks would be much more willing to give them a pass and not call it retreads.

I wouldn't go that far. If Weta had got it back, I and likely many others would have been pushing hard for characters that were never made initially. Just because it's Sideshow making them, doesn't mean the request is any different.
I had no problem buying the Eagle vs Fell Beast dio, it looks great, fits in perfect with the rest (simple black base helps) and is the only statue of the Eagle. In that case, I didn't care who made it, since it was want I wanted at the quality I wanted.

 

[The Josh]

People would have been asking but I can almost guarantee people would have _____ed about at them if they had started with Aragorn or GTG. Heck there would have been a moan or two if they had mixed them in early.

Like I said any LOTR line must include them which is why I find the whol discussion odd.

 

[furystorm]

So much interesting discourse from thread to thread here in LOTR. As the newest collector to the series, and being indubitably excited for the start of this new line, all I have to add is:

Sideshow! Bring on Legolas already!!!

 

[woodsy]

I can't actually remember any instances where a board member has said this. Everyone here buys Sideshow items otherwise we wouldn't be members here. The main grievance as i see it is more statues of the same characters, and as we've already discussed, yes they do have to go through these main characters as it's their own line, but i wonder how long the line will go on for. Josh says they cancel lines that aren't selling. Well, the regular versions of both these first 2 maquettes are still available, even though Strider is the best Aragorn item in existence and the GTG likeness is good, if a bit too cartoony and super-hero-like.
To say people (like me and Guru among others - i'll say it if you won't) won't buy a SS item because it isn't made by Weta is nonsense, and is an attempt to twist our words.

Really? Well then I'd like to apologize because I thought that the FrodoEyes over at S&F and you, were one and the same person. Obviously the FE over there who posted this on the first page of the Aragorn Maquette thread is a different guy then:

Could turn out nice but i have the SSW Aragorn and Elessar and REALLY don't need to get into another line! I'll see with interest what they do though...if it was Weta i'd get every one

Do you not realize how much damage you do to your credibility when you speak out of both sides of you mouth like this...... Just asking.....

Well i'm sorry, but here you're having a go at people's tastes. I'm afraid it isn't nonsense to some people, some people actually do put some worth on owning an item that the team from the movie made, especially if it's a creature statue that was made by the same workshop who made the maquette for the film, and thus looks closer to what it should look like.
You can go on about how qualified you are to know what you're talking about when it comes to art, but art is a very personal thing and can be defined by each individuals taste, and here you're calling other people's taste nonsense.

No, I'm not. Look, everyone has their favourite artists or mediums, myself included. Some of the art I love other people hate, and vice versa...and I don't have the slightest problem with that because that involves personal taste. I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about having a knowledge or understanding of art....and that is a completely different animal.

I cannot tell how many times I [and others I worked with] had to serve customers over the years who would come into our gallery and insist on a particular artist or meduim. They would inevitably proceed to explain how their artist was just so much more "inspiring" than others, how only their artist could "evoke such emotion through use of shading or colours" , etc, etc, etc.....I've heard it all. And that is an arrogance born out of a lack of knowledge. While these people were no doubt trying to impress us with their knowledge of art the only thing they were showing us was how little they really knew. And I hate to admit it, but when I started collecting art 30+ years ago, I was no different. It wasn't until several years later that I finally "figured it out". And I can tell you through experience that about 80% of our regular customers finally figured it out as well. Sadly, the other 20% never did. And I say sadly because in their narrow mindedness they will never fully understand or appreciate art. Sorry, but no artist or art meduim has an exclusive licence on what is more inspirational, meaningful, emotion evoking, or "special".....nor does any company.
Go to any art gallery in the world and what do you see....thousands of pieces of art by thousands of artists. If you ask the curators at any of those galleries who their favourite artist's are, they will tell you. But they will never tell you which artist's are "better" or which artists are more "special"....because there is no such thing. The notion that an artist [or in this case a company] is somehow more special would be ridiculous to them.
If I follow your "theory" through to it's natural conclusion then by extension I would also have to conclude that the LOTR artwork of John Howe and Alan Lee is more "special" than the LOTR artwork of Jerry VanderStelt because they participated in the movies and Jerry did not.
While there are certainly huge differences in the way each of these three artists paint.....it is laughable to think that Jerry's work is any less inspiring or meaningful.

I hope you remember and stick by this..... i think you'll find you can have a better debate with like-minded LOTR collectors when you don't resort to personal abuse

What a dishonest statement! Were you looking in a mirror when you typed this? There is no one around here attacked more often than those of us who come to SS's defense when they are needlessly criticized. Nor is there anyone attacked more often than those of us who say anything even remotely negative towards Weta, no matter how true that might be.

No offence, but I have nothing in common which someone who "feels the need" to question SS's LOTR business plan concerning the issue of two GTG statues available at the same time, yet fails to address the issue that their own preferred company has yet to produce a single item from a licence [1/12 scale] they announced 15 months ago.

I have nothing in common which those "like-minded LOTR collectors" who slammed SS for the significant price increase of their 1/6 polystone maquette line [as compared to the former SSW pricing], yet said nothing when Weta did the exact same thing with their newly revisited environment line.

I have nothing in common with those dishonest individuals who took issue with the "glowing" Smaug review I posted on Weta's website. A review that was 100% fair minded/balanced and [in light of Weta's total recall notice which occurred few weeks after I wrote that review] 100% accurate. What exactly do I have in common with the "like-minded LOTR collector" who not only took a shot at my review, he did so on the same day he posted these Smaug-related gems:

"Yeah, I'm leaning toward a refund right about now."

"as a consumer I feel that we did not get what we paid for. I would rather have that money back in my hands until Weta sorts everything out"

and

"Just when Weta LOTR collectibles started to really gain momentum once again, this fiasco happens,"

And how do I have an open honest debate with someone who says this here:

To say people (like me and Guru among others - i'll say it if you won't) won't buy a SS item because it isn't made by Weta is nonsense, and is an attempt to twist our words.

and posts this on another form :

Could turn out nice but i have the SSW Aragorn and Elessar and REALLY don't need to get into another line! I'll see with interest what they do though...if it was Weta i'd get every one

I am dying to hear your spin on how exactly I am twisting your words........

 

[FrodoEyes]

And how do I have an open honest debate with someone who says this here:

[/U]
and posts this on another form :



I am dying to hear your spin on how exactly I am twisting your words........

Then allow me to explain!

That comment was quite clearly made before we saw any pictures of the maquettes. At the time all we knew was that we were going to get another Gandalf and Aragorn statue. To be fair i DID say it'd probably be good!
As to the 'If it was Weta i'd get every one', that was based on the notion that they would carry on where they left off and not do another GTG etc.
As to the rest of it i don't believe that is me you are referring to as i never posted that.
I hope that my spin on how you can (possibly unintentionally) twist my words is satisfactory.
Or maybe i have a kind of Smeagol/Gollum split personality whereby on one forum i can be really nice and on another really evil! Must be the company i keep on each respective forum.

I'd like to reply to the rest of your post, but i'm afraid i fell asleep half way in and awoke just in time to read the end!

I believe i have covered all the points raised in your rant. As nothing i can say can stop you doing otherwise, from now on i shall stick my fingers in my ears and go 'NA NA NA NA' whenever you write any more of your multi-quote posts of doom.