This page consists of my personal reviews of some of the Star Wars merchandise that is out there.  Please remember that these reviews are only my OPINION, and everyone is entitled to that (right?)  If you would like to submit your own reviews, please E-Mail them to me.  As always, you will be given full credit for anything you send in.

POTF Stormtrooper (w/COMM-TECH) - (Hasbro) - I've been looking forward to this one for a long time and I definitely wasn't disappointed.  Hasbro is really making up for past indiscretions with these new POTF figures.  The new Stormtrooper is to all past Stormtroopers as the new Han is to all other Hans...it is simply the best one yet.  I don't even know where to begin singing it's praises...well okay, I'll start by saying that he looks great!   Gone is the He-Man physique, goofy pose, and pin head.  We are left with a Stormtrooper that a) Looks like the ones in the movies b) Can not only stand, but be posed in any number of ways and c) Lends itself to army building like no other figure yet...(well except for the Battle Droids perhaps.  The articulation is great, especially at the shoulders and neck...not only does his head turn side to side, but looks up and down as well.  The only way the articulation could be better would be to have the head on a ball joint and maybe articulation at the wrists so he could hold his blaster a little better...but who am I to complain?  The detail is amazing!  The helmet is so much better than the others, no uni-brow this time (take a look at the old ones and you'll se what I mean), the belt is great (the "butt cannister" thing is actually "there"), he even has a holster.  Hell even the COMM-TECH chip sounds good (in comparison to the others) right down to the little "click" of the helmet communicator.  If I had to say something bad about this figure (and it is really hard to) it's that I wish it came with a "standard" Imperial blaster as well as the blaster rifle and that the blaster rifle wasn't made of that soft "OOM-9" kind of plastic.  Other than these two, minor, complaints this is an excellent figure.

Adi Gallia- (Hasbro) -   Another "Next to zero screen time" character is immortalized in plastic.   This one has been immortalized quite well though.  This figure looks great!   Let's start with the robe...it is awesome.  Unlike the robes of some other figures (Mace Windu and Naboo Anakin in particular), this one doesn't mask all the detail that Hasbro has put into the figure.  It is sculpted perfectly around the body and looks like she is actually wearing it.  The right sleeve (saber arm) is a really great touch.  The detail on the figure itself is nothing short of brilliant...especially the eyes (the character's most  striking feature in the film).   They even got the saber right, Hasbro obviously did some research (see the Episode I Insider's Guide CD-ROM).  The only real bad point about this figure is the COMM-TECH chip.  Try as I might, I just can't recall Adi Gallia uttering a single word in the film (maybe cuz she didn't).  I understand Hasbro had to put something   on there, and that's cool, they at least made the lines fit the story line, but the voice they use...well I'll let you be the judge on that.

POTF Jawa w/GONK (w/COMM-TECH)- (Hasbro) -   Ok, I know what you are thinking..."ANOTHER Jawa?"  Yeah, but this time they did it right.  No more uni-leg Jawa, this time he has legs underneath a spiffy robe.  Apparently variations on the peg holes in his feet have popped up.   Some have 1, some have 2, some have none.  So what? (mine has 2).  All in all, a really great Jawa, still has the light pipe eyes too.  The GONK, or Power Droid (as us old farts still refer to him) is pretty nice too...as nice as a box with two legs can be I suppose.  The "walking action" is ok but I would trade it any day for a GONK that could stand up!  His legs just don't seem to want to stay in a standing position.  Though some folks have gotten there's to stay in place, I had to use one of those little, clear,  rubber bands that Hasbro insists on using to hold figures weapons in their hands to bind his legs together.  The COMM-TECH is ok, Jawa babble (obligatory "Uttini!!!!" included) and GONK making...uh.."GONK" noises.

POTF Luke Skywalker (w/COMM-TECH)- (Hasbro) - A lot of complaining has been done about the number of Lukes in Tatooine farmer garb that Hasbro has been pumping out.  I couldn't agree more, but with all that aside, this is a fairly decent figure.  Nothing to write home about, but not bad either.  The head sculpt is pretty much the same one that they've been using since the Purchase of the Droids C.S.  The articulation is pretty good, at the knees and elbows...would have been nice if there was some at the wrists so that Luke could hold a lightsaber with both hands (ala the Jedi).  The accesories (droid scraper thingy and T-16 model) are ok, but not real action packed.  On the whole a pretty ho-hum figure.  Major problem is that, without the aid of the COMM-TECH chip, this figure would never be able to stand up on it's own.  And speaking of COM-TECH...why oh why is the line "We're going in full throttle" included?  This should have been saved for a new X-Wing Luke .   If they were gonna do another Luke why not that...or how about one from a better scene?  How about "Death Star Escape" Luke w/Stormtrooper blaster and utility belt w/holster?  Maybe throw in a "real" grappling hook this time too.

Anakin Skywalker (Naboo)- (Hasbro) - Found this one the other day...yes they do exist and are out in stores.  Though I can't say that I was really looking forward to this figure all that much, I am  happy to say that, once I found it, I was most pleased with it.  This figure is really well done.   Ok, Ok, some people have complained about the cloak...well we never saw Anakin wear a cloak in the movie, but since all the other Jedi have them...why not?  The cloak is well sculpted and fits nicely over Anakin...and besides, what's the big deal?  It is removable.  And with the cloak removed is where this figure really shines.  The detail on Anakin's Padawan outfit is quite remarkable...especially on the boots and pants.   the head sculpt id quite nice as well, looks a lot more like Jake Lloyd then the first Anakin did.  The inclusion of the Jedi Comm-Link is a nice touch.  Once again, we never saw him use one in the movie, but it is quite cool and well detailed (and a much better accessory than the grease gun).  Another thing that makes this figure so great is...the Comm-Tech chip.  That's right folks, you heard me correctly.   The Comm-Tech chip that comes with Anakin (Naboo) is probably one of the best.   Very clear and the voice sounds a lot like Jake Lloyd (even though it most likely isn't).  Yeah, yeah...he never says any of the lines that are on it in the movie...of course in the movie he has no lines when he is in his Jedi outfit.  Maybe these were cut from the film or maybe Hasbro just made them up, who knows.  I is pretty cool to hear Anakin recite lines that will be repeated by his son in the future..."I want to learn the ways of the Force...and become a Jedi like Qui-Gon" and "I am not afraid"

POTF Han Solo (w/Comm-Tech)- (Hasbro) - I have looked forward to this figure ever since I first heard mention of it.  My excitement grew as pictures began to leak out.  Han Solo is, by far, one of my favorite characters and I was never truly happy with the other 3 3/4" representations of him.  They were all to bulky, had weird poses, and all had that kind of cross eyed vacant stare to them.  This figure promised to correct all of Hasbro's earlier Han blunders, and then some.  I am most happy to announce that they did not disappoint this time around...this is THE BEST HAN SOLO FIGURE OF ALL TIMES!   No longer is he a muscle bound freak of nature, but this time around is a lean, mean, fighting machine.  The pose, at first appears standard, but the articulation lends itself to many pose possibilities.  The knees are articulated as is the elbow on the left arm and , what I believe is a first for any figure,   the leg above the left knee is articulated to swivel so that you can cross Han's left leg over his right.  Obviously this figure is designed to depict Solo in his Greedo duel pose from ANH, specifically the part where he reaches back to pick at the plaster of the cantina wall while unholstering his blaster underneath the table.  Which leads us to his blaster/holster combination...very well done, I really can't believe how ell they pulled this off, it could have been quite a disaster.  Long have I waited for a Han Solo with a holster to put his blaster in...since the days of the "vintage" Kenner figures...I don't think I was the only kid who figured out how to clip Hoth Han's blaster onto that little loop on his otherwise useless holster.  This works perfectly, it is not too bulky (as it could have been) and looks great.  The blaster, though maybe a tad smaller then it should be, is a great sculpt, the best yet, and detailed right down to the holes in the muzzle...awesome job.  My only real complaint with the blaster, which is also the only complaint about the whole figure is that the blaster is a silver-ish color...still this is a very minor complaint...just looks a little funny is all.  What else can I say?  Let's see...oh yeah...the separate, somewhat removable vest is a nice touch and the head sculpt is SO much better than all of the other Hans...oh yeah...the Comm-Tech chip...well, really not so good...two of the lines "Chewie!  Get us out of here!" and "Great kid, don't get cocky!" sound like they should have been on the Anakin Skywalker Comm-Tech chip, they are in this really strange, high pitched voice.  The third line "Han Solo, captain of the Millenium Falcon" sounds much better, but still isn't great.   Nonetheless, Comm-Tech chips do not a great figure make, and this is, in my opinion, one of the best figures around.  It is. truly, THE BEST HAN SOLO FIGURE OF ALL TIMES!

POTF Greedo (w/Comm-Tech)- (Hasbro) -  Finally they got it right!  This figure blows the old POTF, pin-head Greedo out of the water (and I actually liked that one).  Greedo has to be one of everyone's favorite characters from Star Wars and Hasbro has finally done him justice.  The sculpt is perfect, the head is in proper proportion, those eerie, black, bulbous eyes, articulated knees, he has a nifty vest (sort of removable I guess) and a cool blaster wound in his chest.  Even better is the Comm-Tech chip...you heard me right, the Comm-tech chip is great.  one of the coolest and most distinctive voices from the trilogy was Greedo's and it is captured perfectly (ok almost perfectly) on the Comm-Tech chip.  Still slightly speak and spell-ish, it is still, in my humble opinion, one of the best Comm-techs yet.  My only real complaint, more of a question I guess than a complaint, is how Greedo got a blaster wound underneath his unscathed vest?

Action Collection Darth Maul- (Hasbro) -  I'm sure I don't need to tell you how rare this one is but, when my Mom happened to come across it in the local Kay-Bee (quite by accident I must add) the guy there said that out of 48 Action Collection figure they received that there was only ONE Darth Maul.  So what is so special about it?  It's simply one of the best 12" Star Wars figures out there.  I mean it, it's only rivals would be the 12" Han on Taun Taun and the 12" Electronic Darth Vader (removable helmet).   The detail on this figure is truly amazing.  The cloak/robe is awesome.   the head sculpt is dead on perfect...it really looks like Ray Park, detailed right down to the stud in his upper left ear.  The articulaton is the same as all other 12"ers with the exception of the neck which is on a ball joint and is really nice, really adds to the "poseability" of the figure.  this leads us to the lightsaber...I have read a lot of negative things about this, the figure's sole accessory, and have to admit that, though I love this figure to death, I agree that this is it's only fault.  Don't get me wrong, the lightsaber looks great, very detailed handle (could've used the red buttons though) and removable blades, giving you the option to have the un-ignited handled, single bladed mode, or double bladed...cool enough....if it was made of a little bit stiffer plastic.  The handle is mad of a soft, somewhat rubbery plastic which, with both blades inserted, tends to make the saber sag and bend and get all misshapen-like.  My only real complaint with an otherwise awesome figure. 

Destroyer Droid - (Hasbro) - No sooner did I think I was never gonna find this one, than I found one.  here's the lowdown...First things first, For those of you who don't already know...IT DOES NOT TRANSFORM INTO A BALL!  OK, with that out of the way, this is one awesome figure, VERY articulated, and what else can I say..it's the Destroyer Droid, one of the coolest things in TPM.  His (it's) three legs (heh, heh)are jointed in two places, his arms in two as well, and his head swings up and down (and comes off as I just now discovered) thus allowing for great "poseability".  The paint job is terrific, with the bronze/purpleish fade in full effect.  The CommTech chip has laser blast and explosion sounds and sounds like...lasers blasts and explosons.  What else can I say?   It is a great figure, the only way it could be any better is if it transformed, but it doesn't so "oh well".  If I had to say something negative (which I don't, but will anyway) it would be that he (it) is made from slightly rubbery plastic, note I said "slightly", by no means is he the same kind of jellyfish that OOM-9 is.  Supposedly the upcoming Episode I R2-D2 carrying case will come with a "ball" Destroyer Droid, though at this time it is unknown whether or not it actually transforms or not.

Darth Maul (Tatooine) - (Hasbro) -  I had looked forward to this figure for quite some time and am glad to say that, now that I have found one, I am not disappointed.  Due to the scarcity of the first Jedi Duel Darth Maul ,and the equal scarcity of any new figures, I was really surprised (and delighted) to find one...ONE in the whole store!!!  If you see one, I highly recommend that you grab it, the only other one I have seen was in a @#$% scalper shop and it was $25!   Well anyway, on to the review...I feel pretty confident in saying that this is probably the best Darth Maul yet (having not seen the Cinema Scene DM in real life yet).  The sculpt is great, the face is excellent, the detail is awesome, and even the CommTech sounds good (in comparison).  The cloak is very well sculpted and they even included his "skirt" underneath (hey, the layered look is in).  The pose is pretty straightforward, no dashing action (can't stand up i.e.original Han) poses here.  The lightsaber is very detailed and the single blade is longer than the blades on the double model (a major complaint with Jedi Duel DM)...once again, like the saber handle in the Sith Accessory Pack, the end without the blade is flat...it just looks funny to me...it should have a hole or indentation or something.  Oh well, who am I to complain, at least I found one.  My only other real problem (and it's not a big one with me) is the lack of "poseability" (is that even a word?)  His head doesn't turn (i.e. Darth Sidious) and is locked in position looking slightly over his left shoulder.  His arms are articulated at the elbow, but not at the wrist, so there is really only one pose you can put him in that looks natural.  Like I said, not a real problem with me because it just looks so darned cool anyway.  As far as the CommTech chip goes, it is a vast improvement over the Jedi Duel Maul.  Even  though the voice is not quite exactly like the movie, it is much closer.  The lines:  "At last we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi", "at last we will have revenge", and one that I don't remember being in the film..."It's the Jedi!", followed by sound of saber iginiting and crashing, battling sounds.  This last line does sound a little strange, but what the hell.

"Basic" Qui-Gon Lightsaber - (Hasbro) - This is the Lightsaber I mentioned seeing on the new (sometimes accessible, usually during a full moon) Hasbro site, (see Collecting July 17)  In many ways it is very cool and in many ways...not so cool.  Although I was excited at finding it ( as it is a relatively unknown new item) I refrained from buying it.  In retrospect I wish I had, the price was right (only like 6 buck, if memory serves me) and I'll probably never see one again.  Here's the skinny...It is basically the same looking handle as the Electronic Qui-Gon lightsaber, maybe a little bigger, with the addition of a "slide latch" type button.  The telescoping blade retracts all the way inside the handle, not like the electronic version, and this "slide latch" holds it locked in place.  Pretty cool if you want to wear it with a costume (if your into that sort of thing). It also has a nifty clip on the handle for clipping it to your belt.   My only real problem with it is that the blade, when extended, is just too darn short...more like a light "machete" than a light "saber".  This was the only real reason that I didn't snatch it up at the time, but, alas, now I wish I had.  So it's obvious enough that I have mixed emotions about this item...it would definitely make for a good lightsaber to beat the hell out of your four year old son...err..I mean your buddies with.

Sith Accessory Pack - (Hasbro) - Finally managed to find this one yesterday.  As far as the accessory packs go I wasn't to thrilled once I saw them...except for this one.   Though, like the others (underwater, Naboo, and Tatooine), some of the accessories lack the kind of detail given to the accessories that come with the figures, it is still a pretty cool pack.  What do you get?  First, a groovy Sith cloak : This one is much nicer than the one that comes with the Sith Speeder.  It is made of a heavier material and just looks more like the cloak worn by Darth Maul in the movie. The hood is excellent (though it takes a little shaping) and much larger than the S.S. cloak's hood.  The only problem is that it is a little tight in the chest area...still it looks mighty cool on Jedi Duel Darth Maul.  Next up, the Double Bladed Lightsaber: A little longer than the one that comes with the figure and a little thicker in the handle too...but no detail at all...looks ok in D.M.'s hands but by itself it leaves a little to be desired...same goes for the Lightsaber Handle: a really good idea, but a poor looking product...no detail and one thing that really bothers me is that there is no hole (or even an indentation) on the ends, just a smooth surface.  It just looks...wrong.  Still it is cool to have the Hilt.  Also included are Darth Maul's Macrobinoculars:  Very cool, just like in the movie.   Not as much detail as Floppy Hat Luke's, but then in the movie they appeared to be all black anyway.  This leads us to the Wrist Commlink:  Used in the movie to communicate with the Sith Probe droids.   Still no detail, just all silver, but, once again, that's how it was in the movie. The addition of these two items  also takes away the chance of Hasbro making yet another D.M. variation...Darth Maul (Tatooine Arrival) (or something equally as silly) as do the two Sith Probe Droids that are also included...very nice looking, shiny black, with just the right amount of detail to highlight the "eye".  Also included is a Stand to stand the probe droids in.  I'm very glad they included this, as without it the Probe Droids are pretty useless because they are made to be launched from the Firing Backpack.  Now don't get me wrong, this is a kind of cool action toy and all , but...it just wasn't in the damn movie!!!  I fail to understand Hasbro's fascination with making the Sith Probe Droid into a missile.  They did it with the Sith Speeder and here they have done it again.  I realize that it is probably their attempt at making these toys more  "playable" for kids, but even as a kid I would have thought this was lame.  Oh well, I'm done venting.  Bottom line is this is the coolest of the Accessory Packs and, if by some stroke of luck, you should come across one it is worth the cash. (except for the backpack...I'd much rather have two stands for the Droids...oh well.

Qui-Gon Jinn (Naboo) - (Hasbro) - Just got this one a few days ago and I must say it is ,    easily, one of my favorite Episode I figures yet.  Sure it has some flaws (mainly the  articulation) but it just looks so cool!  The pose this figure is in is simply the best...kind of a "classic", knight, kind of pose...hard to describe really...he just looks kind of ...noble or regal...Anyway, this is a much better sculpt than the "Jedi Duel" Qui-Gon. The face and hair are much better, the robe is very well done (except for those weird slits on the side), and the accessories (lightsaber w/blade extended and lightsaber hilt) are awesome!  The only way they could possibly be better is maybe if the lightsaber blade was detachable like the 12" ones..but hey who am I to complain (at least we finally got a hilt that attaches to the belt).  So I guess my only real complaint (like I mentioned) is the strange articulation.  Why oh why have the saber arm stiff, w/only the wrist articulated, and have the other (non-saber holding arm) articulated at he elbow?  Obi-Wan (Naboo) has two points of articulation on his saber wielding arm.  Oh well, it might have ruined his cool pose and I guess that is a worthwhile trade-off.

Obi-Wan Kenobi (Naboo) - (Hasbro) - Well, like the previously mentioned Qui-Gon, this too is one of my favorites from this line and mainly for the same reasons.  It just looks good...the sculpt is dead on, a good likeness of Ewan Macgregor.  The pose is great, it   really seems to capture Obi-Wan's "ready for action" nature without making it  impossible to stand him up ( a major drawback to al lot of other figures in this line).  The accessories, once again, are great.  The detailing on both Obi-Wan's and Qui-Gon's lightsabers is quite nice.  The articulation on Obi-Wan far surpasses that of Qui-Gon...his saber arm is articulated at the elbow and the wrist!   To top it off, his saber hand is sculpted rather differently then most figures...it makes it  look more like he is actually holding his saber.

Queen Amidala (Coruscant) - (Hasbro) - Once again, another very nice figure with little bad to say about.   Wonderful sculpt of this rather complicated costume...the robe/dress thingy is really well done with nice textures and gold highlights.  the horned headdress/hairdo is also well done (just as damned weird looking as in the movie).  The arm articulation is kind of unique...the arms sort of swivel at the elbow, which is kind of cool, Hasbro could have easily gotten away without articulating the arms do it makes for a rather nice  touch.  My only real complaint with this figure is the fact that she has a hard time standing on the Comm-Tech chip as the peg holes in her feet are not deep enough...so she almost appears to hover over the chip. They easily could have made the hole further back  towards her heel, but for some reason it is in the middle of her foot.  Everything else about this figure makes up for this one small problem, plus she does stand well enough without the aid of the Comm-Tech chip.

R2-D2 (w/Booster Rockets) - (Hasbro) - The new Episode I R2 with rocket boosters is actually from a scene in Episode I that was cut out.  When they are on the landing platform, preparing to return to Naboo (when Qui-Gon tells Anakin about the Midi-chlorians) you can see R2 leaning over the edge of the platform. Originally there was a scene of him falling off of the platform after this and then flying back up using built in rocket boosters (not sure why this  scene was cut, guess we will have to wait for TPM the special edition). Anyway the Episode I R2 with rocket boosters  IS different in several ways from the other R2s so far.  Despite the obvious difference, the addition of the rocket boosters, it is pretty much a whole new sculpt.  The head is not chromed like the others, but is still shiny, and is more detailed.  His "ankles" are jointed, which is a nice touch.  My only problem with this figure is the rocket boosters themselves...to deploy the rocket boosters, you have to turn his head to the centered position (other wise it is slightly turned) there is no free range of motion to the head (so no Exorcist/R2 head spinning)..then you push in on his third leg (hee hee) to make the rocket boosters come out...only his third leg doesn't go all the way up into his body so it looks a little silly.  The other problem is that with the rocket boosters hidden there are four big slots in R2s body.  So some good features, some bad in a figure that really shouldn't have been made since the scene was cut out.  The upcoming R2-D2 with holographic Princess Leia, which is  pictured on the new Hasbro site (should you manage to get on) looks to have the same improvements as this one (i.e. jointed ankles, better sculpt, more detail on a non-chromed head) without the problems caused by the rocket boosters, oh yeah and it comes with the groovy, holographic, Princess Leia (kinda looks like a miniature Spirit of Leia in see through blue plastic)  Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi!