I'm a little late to this party and at the risk of sounding like an echo, here's my take (much like a lot of other folks)
This was a surprise to see-came out of nowhere like...the Jedi Luke Deluxe! At least that one looks like some bang for the buck with all of the wardrobe options of the character in one package. And I think the portrait is closer to how Mark looked in ROTJ than the (admittedly better quality) HT one....that's why I'm going for that one and not the HT to update that character.
Not digging the "plug n' play" features. The eyes aren't so bad, but the lower jaw/chin really call themselves out with the seams, making it more "toy-like" and distracting from the look. An alternate head might've worked better here. The original release had the better looking sculpt, I think. While the paint apps on the original may not have been as effective as they could have been (although at the time of release, there were some great shots of the customizing crowd doing some great repaints), these new apps are really overdone and heavy. Considering how most of the time the production pieces have final apps that are much less intense, that could end up working to this new version's advantage. But it's the little things that add up on the new one that don't quite work. The curled tail on the original looked good on the throne. The whole area on and around the head looks strangely proportioned compared to the original and the screen version. Someone commented earlier that it looked more like the cartoon version - they're right.
The throne is nice but....again, the paint is a little over the top. I reallu like the muted shades on the original. While the rugs and pillows look well-rendered, they look more "Pier One" than "Jabba's Palace" a little too sharp and new for that hutt.
And the price, always the price. Pointless to carp too much on that. They'll keep charging as much as they can-why not? Won't the joke by on everyone if the edition is so limited that anyone who wants this that misses it will be seeing near-grand prices on the aftermarket? Perish the thought...
If they offered Jabba separately, without the throne, I might consider it if the production pieces turn out well. Sideshow can still crank out some good stuff. I'm enjoying the recently released Dengar and Zuckuss, two figures that may not be at quite the level of the prototypes, are still really good looking figures. I just don't think this set is pulling at me to replace the one I've got. Maybe the audience for this is more the folks that never picked up that set.
One has to wonder though...is Sideshow revisiting all of their previous releases with new, more expensive versions? I hope not. I'd rather see them take a crack at new stuff that they (or other companies) haven't done before. More aliens, more soldiers, more off the stuff they are really consistently good at. With all of the development resources they are pouring into these re-dos, that's less they can put towards some new pieces. How about more environments? An Eopie? A Wampa? A Landspeeder?
Whew...I guess inflation hit my "two cents" there...went one a bit more than I expected to on this one
