Re: Hot Toys MMS188 The Dark Knight Rises: Selina Kyle/Catwoman Figure Full Specs & P
IMO, using the HT Luke as an example is apples and oranges.
1. The Luke was an earlier look no? This Selina Kyle is a rather late-stage look - this product should have been out this month and is still advertised by shops to be out next month.
2. The Luke sculpt in the "bad" photo in fact looks very similar to the end result, but with worse paint and under flat lighting. The sculpt on this potentially late stage Kyle has changed dramatically from the promo images. Despite the lighting, you can clearly see that there are feature and paint app differences on both the fact and equipment she's wearing on her face/head.
While I don't think it's worth going into a panic about what the actual final product will look like when shipped, it is enough evidence for pause and to question where this sculpt came from and when it was made. Arguing about the photographic quality of the image isn't relevant because the differences are plainly obvious in spite of the camera work.
It may be that Hot Toys gave these guys an early prototype for their temporary display and that it is not indicative of the work that has been done since. However, I don't think that's the case. I believe the sculpt has been changed and what we're seeing is the final sculpt of both head and mask. However, I think it may still be an early production or final proto that will receive better paint application when shipped. This sculpt does look very much like Hathaway and the lips are better than on the original, they just need better paint app. The mask, outside of the paint app also looks more like the one from the movie. Compare the images above for yourselves.