New GG LOTR busts

[woodsy]

Still, GG made up by giving us torsos with arms instead of busts -- essentially half the normal SS/W statue for less than half the price.

Yeah, you're right.. I was just thinking about that a few minutes ago while looking at the photo's of Sam and Frodo...that's it I'm in!

 

[FlyAndFight]

I really do like this line but I'm not a fan of GG's "jump through our hoops for exclusives" policy.

If, like the Star Wars line of clone busts, they will be offering exclusive pieces at different Toy Fairs and make it next to impossible to obtain them, then it's not worth the agravation or super-inflated aftermarket prices to obtain.

I do like the Sam & Frodo pieces. And it's cool to see Sam with Sting.

 

[Seretur]

GG is really not going to get any of my business with this silly exclusives policy.

But then, if that "Glorfindel" thing is an indication of their exclusives policy, they're welcome to it. I wouldn't have gotten it anyway!

 

[FrodoEyes]

But Bombadil will be a hit

 

[Seretur]

If they use that Weta card game thing design... well, maybe.

It's still not the book-Tom, but it's close enough. What someone needs to do is find the old Tolkien family toy named Tom Bombadil, and base the design on that.

Again, I'm not getting the stuff that didn't go through the rigorous movie design process. Even in the cases where Weta chose not to follow the book, their final work was impressive. Things that just get cobbled together after the fact, to cash in on a character left over from a book licence... they just don't concern me. (And, remember, I translated The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, so I love the merry old fellow!)

 

[woodsy]

Is GG going it alone with these busts , or is Weta involved as well?

 

[The Godfather]

Is GG going it alone with these busts , or is Weta involved as well?

GG was involved with scanning the actors heads for Toy biz. They went to New Zealand during filming and worked on set with Weta and the Actors etc. At one time I had a link book marked with a video of Karl from GG and he is holding this sculpt of Frodo which was amazing. I know that they scanned just about everybody they could from Barilman Butterbur to Saruman. I am assuming they are using these same head scans to make the LOTR line. Personally I am in love with this line and am happy to see even more great busts coming.

 

[Seretur]

Precisely, Bob. This is the thing to remember about Gentle Giant -- they are the biggest scanning company in Hollywood now, and work on just about every single major effects project. If anyone has a library of actors' head scans, it's they.

It's a shame their sculptors never get much time in the spotlight, though, as most of their pieces are way more than just scans.

 

[woodsy]

Precisely, Bob. This is the thing to remember about Gentle Giant -- they are the biggest scanning company in Hollywood now, and work on just about every single major effects project. If anyone has a library of actors' head scans, it's they.

It's a shame their sculptors never get much time in the spotlight, though, as most of their pieces are way more than just scans.

Well whatever they're doing...it's working! These busts seem to be much closer in likeness to the the actual movie actors than the one's produced for the SS/Weta line.

 

[Seretur]

Well, that's the one thing GG is supposed to be good at!

Weta's pieces, on the other hand, were done by people who designed creatures and armor and costumes -- and those are the aspects of their pieces that truly excel. We had the same person design something for the film, and then show us their ideal representation of that thing in polystone -- as an art piece, not a design maquette, usually. Doesn't get better than that.

Weta, on the other hand, really did the facial likenesses only because they had to. It wasn't their forte, for the most part, and that's why I'm ready to be a bit more lenient toward that aspect of their pieces. (Although some of them were very good even in that respect.)

 

[woodsy]

Weta's pieces, on the other hand, were done by people who designed creatures and armor and costumes -- and those are the aspects of their pieces that truly excel. We had the same person design something for the film, and then show us their ideal representation of that thing in polystone -- as an art piece, not a design maquette, usually. Doesn't get better than that.

Weta, on the other hand, really did the facial likenesses only because they had to. It wasn't their forte, for the most part, and that's why I'm ready to be a bit more lenient toward that aspect of their pieces. (Although some of them were very good even in that respect.)

Can you imagine the kind of statue or bust line we could get if GG and Weta ever formed a partnership?

When you speak of some of the Weta busts that were very good in likeness, I assume you're not including the Eomer bust!! I understand Weta used to give the actors the first glimpse of the busts made in their likeness. I'd pay to see the video of Carl Urban when they showed him his!

 

[Bannister]

Well, that's the one thing GG is supposed to be good at!

Weta's pieces, on the other hand, were done by people who designed creatures and armor and costumes -- and those are the aspects of their pieces that truly excel. We had the same person design something for the film, and then show us their ideal representation of that thing in polystone -- as an art piece, not a design maquette, usually. Doesn't get better than that.

Weta, on the other hand, really did the facial likenesses only because they had to. It wasn't their forte, for the most part, and that's why I'm ready to be a bit more lenient toward that aspect of their pieces. (Although some of them were very good even in that respect.)

Yeah, I doubt anything could top the weta gandalf the white bust.

 

[Seretur]

Gandalf (both), Saruman, Théoden... maybe Gríma, and certainly Merry and Arwen... those are the good actors' likenesses.

The others, eh. Thankfully half the busts were Orc and nondescript character designs anyway.

 

[FrodoEyes]

It's still not the book-Tom, but it's close enough. What someone needs to do is find the old Tolkien family toy named Tom Bombadil, and base the design on that.

I always wondered what happened to that toy. Surely they wouldn't have gotten rid of it? Maybe Christopher has it now in his room

 

[The Josh]

GG does some great work. I am happily collecting this line because they are some great LOTR Collectibles. I do tend to expect a little more from them since they do have the scans. The line so far is really awesome.

 

[Radagaster]

For the record, GG cant make any convention exclusives for ToyFair, since your average Joe isn't allowed to attend it. So, chances are, that "Glorfindel" bust may show up some place else, whether as an exclusive or not.

 

[Seretur]

It clearly wasn't a ToyFair exclusive, but was displayed as an exclusive for a future event, most likely SDCC.

At least that's how I take it...

 

[FrodoEyes]

Well, if someone would be able to nab me one, I'd be most grateful

 

[pordey2]

That elf looks cool. Elrond still looks like the chick from Twister.

Helen Hunt?

 

[The Josh]

Helen Hunt?

That's the one!!!