Should Hot Toys be making figures without the actor likeness rights?

[8th wonder]

They should release them anyway but they should put allot of effort into getting the likeness rights. If they can't get the likeness rights it's a shame but that should not stop them.

 

[prefused]

at the price point Hot Toys is asking, there's no excuse to not secure and perfect actor likenesses.
nobody cares if NECA makes a figure that doesn't look right for $40. not that they have that i've seen.
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Variable Universal Life Insurance Forums

 

[King Darkness]

Hudson was another that was iffy until later, same with Drake. But it's been a long time since HT botched a sculpt, Kane was a return to old school HT.

I think every Aliens figure was off. Ripley changed dramatically in paint from proto. Hudson, Vasquez, Apone look nothing like the actors. Hicks is there somewhat and Drake came with a mustache and sideburns

 

[Cocoboloboy]

at the price point Hot Toys is asking, there's no excuse to not secure and perfect actor likenesses.
nobody cares if NECA makes a figure that doesn't look right for $40. not that they have that i've seen.

If they're unable to obtain the rights then there's nothing they can do about that no matter how much they charge.

 

[prefused]

If they're unable to obtain the rights then there's nothing they can do about that no matter how much they charge.

then they should do what everybody else does. don't make the figure.
what's the point of having a figure of an actor that doesn't look like the actor?
if it's not the actor, then why would i want to pay $100+ for that?
the whole point of me paying the premium price is accuracy. otherwise, i'd just pay $5 for chinese bootleg figures that are barely reminiscent of the movie i like.
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Nick Scheele

 

[King Darkness]

then they should do what everybody else does. don't make the figure.
what's the point of having a figure of an actor that doesn't look like the actor?
if it's not the actor, then why would i want to pay $100+ for that?
the whole point of me paying the premium price is accuracy. otherwise, i'd just pay $5 for chinese bootleg figures that are barely reminiscent of the movie i like.

If you are so upset by it then dont buy the figure. Seems a simple choice.

 

[prefused]

If you are so upset by it then dont buy the figure. Seems a simple choice.

when did i say i was upset? for that matter, when did i say i go around buying expensive figures with crap sculpting?
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Herbal Vaporizers

 

[Cocoboloboy]

then they should do what everybody else does. don't make the figure.
what's the point of having a figure of an actor that doesn't look like the actor?
if it's not the actor, then why would i want to pay $100+ for that?
the whole point of me paying the premium price is accuracy. otherwise, i'd just pay $5 for chinese bootleg figures that are barely reminiscent of the movie i like.

I think Ed is a good example of why HT should make them regardless of likeness rights.

It's an excellent looking figure that captures the overall look of the character with an incredibly detailed outfit that most of us wouldn't even consider attempting as a custom. I'm glad they're doing it. Well worth the money even though they weren't able to secure the likeness. They also did a fine job with the sculpt despite that huge obstacle.

 

[Rock83]

The way i see it,fans will buy the figures either way,if the likeness is slightly off it still has a good overall look,examples,V1 Jack Sparrow,Superman,Rambo 1 Gunner Version,Joker V1.Im taking examples from my collection,all are overall nice figures even if the likeness isnt quite there.

People love V1 Joker right?Does this one look like Heath ledger?No...

But to answer the question,yes as long as it look good.

 

[prefused]

I think Ed is a good example of why HT should make them regardless of likeness rights.

It's an excellent looking figure that captures the overall look of the character with an incredibly detailed outfit that most of us wouldn't even consider attempting as a custom. I'm glad they're doing it. Well worth the money even though they weren't able to secure the likeness. They also did a fine job with the sculpt despite that huge obstacle.

oh, i would buy that figure in a heartbeat.



for $40.
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Portable Vaporizer

 

[King Darkness]

I think Ed is a good example of why HT should make them regardless of likeness rights.

It's an excellent looking figure that captures the overall look of the character with an incredibly detailed outfit that most of us wouldn't even consider attempting as a custom. I'm glad they're doing it. Well worth the money even though they weren't able to secure the likeness. They also did a fine job with the sculpt despite that huge obstacle.

99% of the time when attempting a custom figure the costume is the most difficult thing to get done. There are plenty of sculptors one can commission who do AMAZING likenesses, but there are few artists who do costume work.

I see no reason for companies not to do what Hot Toys has done here.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

oh, i would buy that figure in a heartbeat.



for $40.

Surely you appreciate that there's much more involved in the costume than $40 worth. If not then I think you should shy away from 1:6 figures alltogether. And even though they couldn't legally get Depp's likeness in the sculpt there is still a lot of work put forth from the sculptor to get it where it at now.

 

[galactiboy]

Also I don't think anyone could reproduce that costume in a way that would not be incredibly expensive. The individual sculpting on the hands alone would be nearly impossible for a custom artist to do and reproduce not to mention all of the casting and individual assembly required for that costume.

I don't know how much Ed will be, but it is waaaay cheaper than a custom version would cost. And I honestly don't think (aside from the head sculpt) that this could be improved upon. As a huge fan of the movie I will be waiting with cash in hand

 

[a-dev]

Yes they should, especially with distinctive outfits such as the Alien Nostromo spacesuit or the Aliens Colonial marines.

I allowed the lack of accurate likenesses to deter me from buying Hicks, Apone and Vasquez and I've regretted it ever since.

 

[sladesuperagent]

Yes they should, especially with distinctive outfits such as the Alien Nostromo spacesuit or the Aliens Colonial marines.

I allowed the lack of accurate likenesses to deter me from buying Hicks, Apone and Vasquez and I've regretted it ever since.

I spent $,$$$ on the entire set of Marines including the Hero Heads and I've never regretted buying them--but when they came out, they were pretty much were a pass cause the likenesses were so effed up.

 

[Darklord Dave]

It is disappointing, although for Edward it's not as bad as it would have been for Jack Sparrow. The costume is beautiful on Edward though. I'm sure they try to get the likeness rights, that's what happened with Kane, but were unable to.

I'm of 2 minds about it - with Edward or Kane it's not so bad, the selling point of the figure is the costume. However with Dutch, if it's not Arnie, it's just some random military guy and not the character from Predator.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

What I don't get is HT had the Depp likeness rights for Pirates, they now have the Edward Scissorhands film rights.....soooooo??? :shrugs

Can someone explain what happened with Edward?

 

[prefused]

Surely you appreciate that there's much more involved in the costume than $40 worth. If not then I think you should shy away from 1:6 figures alltogether. And even though they couldn't legally get Depp's likeness in the sculpt there is still a lot of work put forth from the sculptor to get it where it at now.

ok, how about $41?

actually, i don't care how much work goes into the figure. at all. i just want it to look good on my shelf.
scratch that-- i want it to look damn near perfect on my shelf. and i'll pay through the nose for it if needed.

i see my $$ as a vote. and for the best Edward figure so far, McFarlane gets my vote.
Hot Toys and their costume work can go to hell if they think i'd pay them for an inaccurate figure.
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[bagelsncheesey]

Yes and no.

No, because they should really nail a sculpt to make a mini version of the real thing that we can all have. An accurate headsculpt, to me, defines the completed product... a product that we pay good money for.

Yes, because we have talents like Josh and Les to really make accurate headsculpts, and make our figures complete.

So it's a give and take situation, as I see it.

 

[Captain Britain]

I think Ed is a good example of why HT should make them regardless of likeness rights.

It's an excellent looking figure that captures the overall look of the character with an incredibly detailed outfit that most of us wouldn't even consider attempting as a custom. I'm glad they're doing it. Well worth the money even though they weren't able to secure the likeness. They also did a fine job with the sculpt despite that huge obstacle.

I agree with all of this - and though I'm not a huge Edward Scissorhands fan, I know if I was I'd probably be buying this figure. But that's the thing - I like the film enough to have bought this if it was a really superb Depp sculpt on a par with the Cannibal King Jack Sparrow. As it is, it's a pass.

And if I was a massive ES fan I know I'd be annoyed at almost getting a perfect Edward Scissorhands figure.

You wonder why they're bothering to obtain any of the rights, instead of just releasing it as 'Scissor Boy' or something, along the lines of 'Android Hunter' or 'Relic Hunter'.

It's hard to slate Hot Toys for doing such great work most of the time, but to quote Jurassic Park, 'Don't get cheap on me!' I really don't want them to give me a reason to go off their figures.

BTW, I wonder how an artist of Yulli's talents feels about being asked to produce an 'off' sculpture?