I have never encountered a figure with joints that were this tight. I had an incredibly difficult time getting the lower joint on the elbows to bend, only managing to make it work by hitting it with a hair dryer for several minutes. Eventually both came free and move easily now.
The knees were another story.
I simply could not get them to bend, period. I was worried I was going to snap off the joint.
Finally, I resorted to heating the knee area until I could pop the lower leg free. Then I took the knee peg and put it in a vice on my workbench. Leaning on the calf part of the leg with everything I had, it *finally* came loose. Moving it back and forth a few times it eventually moved relatively freely. I then heated the hole in the thigh again and replaced the lower leg.
Repeat for other leg.
I am quite frankly *stunned* the NECA released a figure with joints this immobile. If nothing else, they're certain to receive a great many returns due to broken joints!
Other than that, I love this figure. It's like a dream come true from my childhood. Heck, given how large it is, and how much larger I am than I was, it even mimics the size it would have been were it 1/6 scale back in 1971 (when I was six).
So, quick question; do the ankle joints rock forward and back, or simply rotate?