Which Of the Summer 2013 Lego Star Wars Set Are You Most Looking Forward to Opening on Christmas Morning?

With less than 5 weeks to Christmas morning we are interested to understand which of the Summer 2013 Lego Star Wars Sets are you most looking forward top opening on Christmas morning.

Let us know what is top of your list:

General Grievous (Clone Wars) Lego Star Wars Minifigure

   

General Grievous, Supreme Commander Of The Droid Armies, savage merciless brute, tactical genius and trained in the art of lightsaber combat by Count Dooku himself.  What a fantastic Star Wars Villain?

Of course fans of the Star Wars films will only see Grievous in Episode III.  If you indulge in the Clone Wars TV Series you will see quite a bit more of Grievous and his back story is truly interesting...

Originally known as Qymaen jai Sheelal–a Kaleesh (Reptilian Humanoid race) from the planet Kalee, he is reconstructed as a cyborg (part metal, part flesh – sound familiar?) following a bomb plot that critically injured him.  Qymaen is reconstructed by Geonosian Scientists led by Poggle The Lesser using techniques that we will see perfected a little later on, on a critically injured Anakin.  Grievous is led to believe that the bomb plot was initiated by the Jedi.  A deep hatred of the Jedi ensues:   The four lightsabers that come with this minifigure being the trophies of Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters that he has killed.

You’ve got to love Grievous, this four–armed minifigure is pretty special.  Composed of unique lego parts in bluish grey and tan his mechanical 'duranium' body is beautifully recreated.  It is not your typical lego minifigure in appearance, but a great addition to your Lego Star Wars minifigure collection.

This minifgure variant was first released back in 2010 in the Lego Set:  8095 General Grievous Starfighter.   Up to this point minifigure variants of Grievous had been pretty disappointing (risk of understatement).  The first minifigure variant of Grievous dates back to 2005 in the set 7255 General Grievous Chase where he was albino appearance complemented with a reddish brown cape.  In this set he rides the wheel bike as seen in the chase scene in Episode III on the planet Utapau before his final showdown with Kenobi.

Grievous later appeared in the 2007 set: 7656 General Grievous Starfighter but followed the same “white theme” in appearance bearing little resemblance to the Grievous we see in Episode III and the Clone Wars.

So this minifigure variant is truly satisfying in appearance:  a huge step forward.  There is sufficient variation in poseability (find it in the Oxford English dictionary you won’t, know what I mean you do).  The angle of the arms and variation in lightsaber orientation keeping the young at heart content with playability (lightsaber duelling choreography as I like to think of it).

Could the minifigure have been better?  Not sure – it certainly exceeded my expectations.  Although it looks like we are going to get a new wheel bike set in 2014, let’s see what Lego can do next time!

We are always interested in your thoughts on the Lego Minifigures we review, please add your comments below and give the minifigure a rating on a scale of 1-10 below:

Count Dooku (Clone Wars)

In the Clone Wars Episode ‘Destroy Malevolence’ on which the Lego Set 9515: Malevolence is based we see the public leader of the Separatists: Count Dooku mostly in hologram form communicating with General Grievous.  Count Dooku (now Darth Tyranus) liaises with Darth Sideous to arrange for Senator Padme Amidala’s ship to be routed to the stricken Malevolence which is being bombarded by Star Destroyers in the wake of the Battle of Kallida Nebula.  When Padme’s ship is towed into the Malevolence by a tractor beam a daring raid to rescue her is led by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This is a Clone Wars variant of Count Dooku which in all fairness is a good rendition of the imposing, posturing Sith Lord that we see in the series.  Being cartoon-ish in appearance, it is somewhat different to the noble Count that we see played by Christopher Lee in the films.  This is the same minifgure variant that was released in 2009 in the 7752 Solar Sailer set:  

The first variant of Count Dooku appeared back in the 2002 Lego Set:  Jedi Duel.  This was a yellow faced minifigure with brown cape with the same curve-hilted red lightsaber.

At the time of writing this post a further Count Dooku variant was released in the summer of 2013 in the 75107: Duel On Geonosis set which recreates one of the concluding scenes of Star Wars 2:  Attack Of The Clones .  Those with a preference for Christopher Lee would do well to take a look at this later release.

The Count Dooku (Clone Wars) variant is composed of 5 pieces with a 2 piece red lightsaber.

The chrome, curve hilted red lightsaber is the same as the original 2002 Dooku variant.  If you don’t own this already – the look is quite novel, in line with what we see in the films and TV episodes and a welcome difference from the usual lightsaber hilt.

The hair is swept back in style, light bluish grey in colour and is unique to this Lego Star Wars set.  A light tan coloured version of this can be found on Chancellor Palpatine in the 2009 set: 8039 Venator-Class Republic Attack Cruiser.   A difference to the variant in the 7752 Solar Sailer Set is that we don’t get the brown hood this time around.

The unique face print is light flesh in colour with gray beard and eyebrows and downturned mouth with 'hooded' eyes and light tan wrinkles to the side of the face.  Cartoonish in style and a long way from the Christopher Lee version that we see in Star Ears Episode 2: Attack Of The Clones. 

The predominantly black torso includes a silver ornate cape chain clasp and light grey lines to represent garment creasing and brown belt.  The arms are black with light flesh coloured hands.  There is no printing on the rear of the minifigure.   The legs and hips are plain black with no printing to front or rear.

As a minifgure itself I can’t fault it.  One could argue that its inclusion in this set has meant that there has been no new variant of Dooku for three years.  If you didn’t pick this variant up with the original exclusive release back in 2009, then this will be a welcome addition to your minifigure collection.  Assuming you have a stomach for the slightly cartoonish look of the clone wars variants.

We are always interested in your thoughts on the Lego Minifigures we review, please add your comments below and give the minifigure a rating on a scale of 1-10 below:

Welcome To Dagobah....

Back in the 1980's I received my first Kenner Star Wars Action Figure for my fifth birthday.  The Tusken Raider.  There began a passion for the George Lucas films and accompanying action figures and playsets.

Another passion when I was a child was building Lego.  Lego City, Lego Space, Lego Knights & Castles, Pirates & Soldiers.  This was back in the day when sets were labelled as 'Legoland' and the minfigure wore the same yellow faces with a neutral, slightly happy countenance.

Roll the clock forward 30 years, and now as a father I am able to rediscover both these passions with my son in the shape of Lego Star Wars sets and minifigures.

This blog sets out with no lofty ambitions or stated aims other than to enjoy the Star Wars universe through the medium of Lego.

I hope in reviewing the numerous minifigures that enrich the Star Wars universe that this site becomes a useful resource to those that share the passion.  Please engage with the site by leaving your comments and ratings of the various minifgures.

Bless George Lucas and the escapism his universe provides, Bless our children and that small part within us that never truly grows up.  Enjoy Musings From Dagobah....

Senator Padme Amidala (Clone Wars)

This LEGO minifigure is unique to the LEGO Star Wars set 9515 Malevolence which was released in 2012.  This is the only unique minifigure to be found in this set if you discount the battle droid commander (which except for a couple of splodges of yellow is an ordinary battle droid).

This is the clone wars variant of Senator Padme Amidala which is attired as she appears in the Clone Wars episode “Destroy Malevolence” (Clone Wars Series 1 Episode 4).  This episode which aired in 2008, sees Amidala unwillingly caught up in the path of the damaged Malevolence as it is relentlessly pursued by Star Destroyers during the Battle of the Kaliida Nebula.  Her ship is caught by a tractor beam and pulled into the giant warship which prompts a daring rescue led by Obi Wan and Anakin.

Prior to 2012, Padme has been included in LEGO sets : '7131 Anakin’s Podracer'  (1999); '7171 Mos Espa Pod Race' (1999); 7961 Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator (2011).  In each release she has been attired in a peasant disguise as seen on the planet Tatooine in the film Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.   In 2012, we also see Padme in more regal attire as Queen Amidala in the '9499 Gungun Sub' set.  In 2013, the set '75021 Republic Gunship' includes a new variant of Padme in Geonosis attire.  

So after years in the wilderness we have seen a good run of new Padme variants over the last few years.

This is the first variant of Padme that we see in a senatorial outfit, to its credit this minifigure is an accurate rendition of what we see in the Clone Wars episode.

The minifigure is made up of four pieces and comes with a small black blaster pistol.

The face has a single print to the front with dark red ‘lipsticked’ lips, brown eyes and beauty spot below the right eye.  There is no printing on the back of the face.  The dark brown hair piece is unique with shoulder length hair tied in a ponytail.

The torso has printing to front and rear with a dark maroon red jacket with insignia over a dark tan top with brown belt and silver buckle.

The legs are dark tan in colour and have no printing to front or rear.

The following photograph shows the comparison to the 2011 variant of Padme In ‘Tatooine Peasant Disguise’ from 7961 Darth Maul’s Sith Infiltrator.

It is in this shot we really saw one of the principle flaws with this minifigure: The face print. Whether you question the size of the eyes, the distance between them, ultimately it comes across less then feminine. In the Clone Wars episode Padme can best be described as lithe (thin, supple, graceful?). By constrast the lego face print is somewhat fuller of face and could best be described as androgynous. A disappointment. The level of disappointment is heightened when you consider this is the only unique minifigure in the set.

We are always interested in your thoughts on the Lego Minifigures we review, please add your comments below and give the minifigure a rating on a scale of 1-10 below: