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12-29-2014, 09:52 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
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Here's my review of the last BD Hobbit figure. The Smaug "Deluxe" Figure. I ordered this figure from the WB.com website for about $70+. Sorry it's a little pic heavy.
Pretty good detail and color. They even show the missing scale on the left breast. Again pretty good detail. Here's it's downfall!!! It's just too DAMN SMALL!!!! This is Smaug for god's sake. He should be HUGE. He should be bigger than the LOTR Fell Beast figure. Unfortunately he falls way short: Overall, I love the detail on this figure, but he needs to be closer to the 1:18 scale. There is no way this figure is worth $70+. I'd pay $120+ if this figure was bigger than the LOTR Fell Beast. I'm really disappointed by this figure and by BD!!! I understand PJ is not easy to work with given that the final character designs were not complete until right up to the movie, but I'm sure they could have released more figures during the year between the movies. If I remember correctly, the ToyBiz LOTR figures were released in waves between the movies. I know the market for action figures is different than 13 years ago, but come on BD!!! You killed the line by repacking so many figures. They could have made so many troop builder packs it would be sick. Hopefully, someone else can take this over, and we can get the rest of the dwarves. |
12-31-2014, 02:16 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 20
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My brother got this and we were fairly disappointed in it as well. It's nice to have any kind of Smaug figure period, and if the rest of the Hobbit line had been handled better I'd be more forgiving on the size... but as it stands this is almost salt in the wound. It's a real shame Bridge Direct flopped this line so bad.
I wish Hasbro would somehow pick up the license for Middle Earth. A 3.75 LOTR/Hobbit line from them would be so awesome. The silence on the future of Middle Earth toys is so strange to me. I mean, regardless of how some critics feel about the movies, they've all done really really well financially and just about every single character is begging for an action figure. I don't understand how there isn't more merchandise for this franchise. |
12-31-2014, 10:52 PM | #3 |
Stomachboy of Eastside
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 125
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thanks for the review I wanted to get this figure for my Brother as a Christmas gift, but it does seems a little small for a Smaug figure. Now I know I won't be getting it for him later but I hope the price goes down before I get it.
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01-01-2015, 03:55 AM | #4 |
3-3/4 inches enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 543
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Whoa, so disappointing scale-wise... thanks for the review!
It seems that outside of Star Wars or the TMNT HQ, every toy maker is afraid of doing big-scale stuff nowadays... where are our glorious USS FLAGG days...?
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01-03-2015, 09:39 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 20
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I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on why merchandise for the Hobbit has not been very successful? Supposedly the lego sets flopped, and obviously Bridge Direct pretty much totally gave up on it. Of course distribution and variety is part of the issue, but it definitely seems like a lack of interest has to be a factor here too... which seems strange to me, for such a popular and succesful franchise to not get much toy interest.
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01-03-2015, 10:33 PM | #6 |
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Texas
Posts: 9,621
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Quote:
I agree, I want me another Rancor sized beast from Hasbro. Not all companies fear big toys, NECA made the Alien queen in scale with their 7" line so that's 18" tall and 30" long, they also did a foot tall two feet long Godzilla for the new movie, and they're making Otachi from Pacific Rim she'll be around 18" long with an arm-span that looks to be over a foot but she's only 7" tall at most. I am well aware that these all fall short of the FLAGG, but that was a big playset not a single figure. I might blame technology for the fall of massive toys, big playsets/items have been replaced with gaming consoles. I do realize that most of my post comes off as an advertisement for NECA, sorry about that but they're the only company I could think of that gave us new big things that aren't for Star Wars.
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01-04-2015, 08:40 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
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Quote:
I'm curious to hear people's thoughts on why merchandise for the Hobbit has not been very successful? Supposedly the lego sets flopped, and obviously Bridge Direct pretty much totally gave up on it. Of course distribution and variety is part of the issue, but it definitely seems like a lack of interest has to be a factor here too... which seems strange to me, for such a popular and succesful franchise to not get much toy interest.
The reason why this line died is due to a few reasons: 1. BD treated this like the GI Joe ROC line, in that they overproduced and released so many single hero figures, and not troop builders, that once someone got their Gandalf, there was no need get another one. Thus, he pegwarmed. 2. They had too many hero repacks. Bilbo came in 3 separate packs. 3. Not enough troop builders. Of course, this is not really their fault since PJ and weta where changing the designs of the characters, that they could never get get the figures made in time. 4. BD didn't do the Toybiz model by releasing several waves throughout the year. This also lead to slow sales. 5. BD needed to stick to one scale I think. They should have stuck to the 4" figures as they would be cheaper to make, and then go back and make the 6" figures to be special release figures like con figs, or online collector figures. I don't know exactly, but I just hope we are able to get the rest of the dwarves at some point. |
01-06-2015, 11:48 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 20
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Definitely all factors, I'm sure.
I wonder what our chances of seeing a more niche-audience company like Funko or Neca get ahold of the Middle Earth license are. I'd be all over some Reaction figures. Not that this is really even worth posting, but I was tweeting with Boss Fight Studios and asked if they would ever want to do a licensed line now that they have this super successful Kickstarter behind them, and I suggested Lord of the Rings. They said once they have a few lines of their HACKS figures done, they would love to. Would die to see them do a full line, their figures look amazing so far. Regardless of who does it, I think the way to go about a new Middle-Earth line would be to start with Lord of the Rings characters, and introduce Hobbit characters intermittently. Maybe we can hope for something for the 20th anniversary of the films in 2021. God that seems so far away. |
01-07-2015, 03:19 PM | #9 |
3-3/4 inches enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 543
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First day of sales here in France, I found a store selling the 5-fig set of Bilbo and the dwarves for 10$, is it worth it?
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01-07-2015, 09:29 PM | #10 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
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Quote:
You'll save money with that 5 pack, but if you want the other figures, you will have to buy each of them again to complete the collection. So frustraiting!!!! |
01-11-2015, 06:59 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,254
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Quote:
I think the market has changed so much from 2001-2003 to now. Video game consoles and games have become more advanced. Kid's attention spans have decreased so much with the use of mobile technology. Kids are using smartphones and tablets for their main mode of entertainment more and more now. They can play games, watch TV, read, and look up stuff all with one device. I think most kids forgot there was supposed to be a 2nd and 3rd movie given that they had to wait a year for the next movie. I don't know if the data supports this but the Skylande's model seems to be the most viable way to market action figures to children, by keeping the toy somewhat tied to their media.
The reason why this line died is due to a few reasons: 1. BD treated this like the GI Joe ROC line, in that they overproduced and released so many single hero figures, and not troop builders, that once someone got their Gandalf, there was no need get another one. Thus, he pegwarmed. 2. They had too many hero repacks. Bilbo came in 3 separate packs. 3. Not enough troop builders. Of course, this is not really their fault since PJ and weta where changing the designs of the characters, that they could never get get the figures made in time. 4. BD didn't do the Toybiz model by releasing several waves throughout the year. This also lead to slow sales. 5. BD needed to stick to one scale I think. They should have stuck to the 4" figures as they would be cheaper to make, and then go back and make the 6" figures to be special release figures like con figs, or online collector figures. I don't know exactly, but I just hope we are able to get the rest of the dwarves at some point. Maybe we were spoiled by Toybiz....everytime I was in ToysRUS I would look at the figures and think, these are not good, not good at all. I am one of the bigger LOTR fans their is, but parting with my 15 bucks for something that LOOKED so inferior was not happening. The problem is, action figures are now mostly an adult thing. I agree with your assessment of the short attention span kids. Kids from the 80s and 90s are now adults and have the spending power. Now they have the money and will buy figures. I never...NEVER see kids in TRU buying figures unless it's for TMNT of WWE. Star Wars(Black), Legends, FUNKO, Power Rangers, NECA, LOTR(BD) were all adults in their 20's and above. They were the ones buying. So kids no longer buy, and companies SHOULD no longer shovel trash like Bridge Direct(BD) did. The line failed not bc of fans, but because BD was so awful. I compared the figures, and kept thinking who the heck is that character. Obviously I read the name right after but the line was so poor. I am strictly a six inch collector and you are right, I could not figure out the scale. I mean a bunch of bigger characters I wanted, were never given the 6 inch scale like Smaug. I hat the license is finished, here's hoping NECA/Funko makes LOTR figures on day. |
01-12-2015, 09:04 AM | #12 |
3-3/4 inches enthusiast
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 543
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Just bought the 3.75" 5-pack of the Hobbit with Bilbo and the dwarves for 9.99, my first LOTR figs and I love them! The articulation is not as good as the latest Joes, but the details and the sculpt is quite good!
Now I want a Fallen Beast, but I just saw the prices on Ebay...
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01-15-2015, 07:05 PM | #13 |
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
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Smaug is now $48.97.
Action Figures |�*HobbitShop.com -- The Official Online Store of The Hobbit Films and The Lord of the Rings Film Trilogy Still not worth it. I forgot to mention above, that the tail comes off rather easily. I know reptiles can regenerate their tails, but this is a little ridiculous. Goldengreg. That's great you picked up some figures, but beware, if you start collecting the 6" Toybiz LOTR figures, you will not be able to stop. They are great figures and there are so many characters, that you will not be able to stop till you have all of them. Hahah. |
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