General Rieekan (75014) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

“You’re a good fighter Solo, I hate to lose you”

Carlist Rieekan was an Alderaanian General and veteran of the Clone Wars, but is best known to Star Wars fans for leading the Republic Forces during the Battle Of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.

  

Whilst Hoth was a crushing defeat to the Rebels, Rieekan’s careful security and evacuation measures led to many survivors of the overwhelming Imperial invasion.  Rieekan survives Hoth and his story continues far into the future in the Expanded Universe series of novels and is even called out of retirement in the Yuuzhan Vong War 27 years after the Battle Of Yavin. 

General Rieekan first appears in Lego Minfigure form in 2013 and at the time of writing remains unique to set 75014 Battle of Hoth.

In the film Rieekan is mostly seen directing operations from the command centre in Echo Base and so would naturally seem to be more at home in the 7879 Hoth Echo Base set from 2011, rather than in a set which is suggestive of him leading troops in the trenches on the front line.   Not a moan, just an observation.

The minifigure is composed of 4 pieces, with blaster pistol and a two piece cold-weather helmet and goggles.

The figure has the same head as the 2010 version of Professor Snape (4842 Hogwarts Castle) with a   single print to the front with a serious determined expression:  “Princess, we have a visitor”.  The print has heavy black eyebrows above black rounded eyes with white pupils and light brown facial lines to the sides of the mouth and crease between the eyebrows.

The dark bluish grey hair piece has short smooth combed hair from a parting on the left side.  This piece is the same shaped piece that we have seen on a number of Obi-Wan Kenobi variants in a dark orange colour.  The hair piece can be replaced by a cold-weather helmet and snow goggles combination in a similar style to the Hoth Rebel Troopers in the set.  The snow goggles can clip into a choice of two sets of holes, so that they can be worn over the eyes or over the helmet.

The torso is dark tan in colour representing the snow jacket we frequently see him wearing in the film.  The snow jacket has two pockets highlighted by black and crimson red lines as well as an insignia on his right chest.   On the lower part of the torso a simple belt (dark brown) and buckle (silver) print can be seen.   The arms are dark tan in colour with white gloves.  The torso has printing on the rear which continues the themes we see on the front: criss-crossed upper part of the snow jacket; brown belt and brown crease lines to the lower part of the snow jacket.

The Legs and hips are both dark tan colour with no printing.

Overall this is a good minifigure.  I find it difficult to pick fault: the lack of leg printing (despite being commonplace in 2013) does not really bother me.  If I was being extremely picky, then perhaps a new head piece instead of the re-use of Professor Snape’s head would be a consideration:   Rieekan has grey hair – grey eyebrows perhaps?  They certainly weren’t black in the film.  As an additional point: the hood is the same as that worn by the Hoth Rebel Troopers.  Being tan in colour it is not exactly consistent with the dark tan colour of General Rieekan’s torso or legs.  A dark tan coloured hood would have been a nice option.

We have seen a couple of variants of General Veers over the years (and maybe another one very soon?) so it’s good to see Rieekan in Lego Minifigure form.  I can’t imagine we will see too much more of him in future minifigure variants.

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Han Solo - Hoth Parka Outfit (7879) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

“There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser”  

Han Solo was conspicuous in the Hoth scenes in Empire Strikes Back in his dark-blue heavy weather parka.  While other rebel personnel and soldiers wore cream/tan uniforms Solo’s attire set him apart.  I remember having the Kenner figure of this back in the 1980’s, and have now developed a soft spot for the Lego minifigure.

It is no surprise that there have been a number of variants of Han Solo in his Hoth attire over the years.  Today we will look at the unique minifigure variant from the 7879 Hoth Echo Base set.  Whilst opinion can be divided over the quality of the set: playabiity vs film likeness etc there were some great minifigures in the box. Han Solo in his cold weather Hoth gear has also appeared in:

• 4504 Millennium Falcon (2004);
• 6212 X Wing Fighter (2006) – without parka hood;
• 7749 Echo Base (2009);

The Han Solo Hoth – Heavy-Weather Gear/Parka Outfit (whatever you want to call it) has also been captured in Lego Minifigure form in a promotional polybag (5001621) released as part of Lego’s annual “May The Fourth” promotion in 2013.  The head piece was double-sided, one side showing Han with goggles with the lower part of the face covered up, and the other depicting Han with a grimace.  Whilst this version had a touch of exclusivity to it and was superbly detailed, it was predominantly dark brown in colour which departs significantly from what we see in the film.

Our subject for today is composed of 5 pieces and is equipped with a blaster pistol.

There is a simple print to the front of the face with a slight curl to the mouth on the right side of the face.  Simple, but it has an element of ‘scoundrel’ to it: “You should have seen us alone in the South Passage. She expressed her true feeling's for me”.  There is quite heavy reddish-brown eyebrows above simple rounded black eyes with white pupils and finally a brown line to accentuate the chin.

On the head we have a choice of standard reddish-brown hair or a detailed parka hood.  The parka hood is done very well and is on my minifigure the majority of the time.

The torso is printed to the front only, with details on the torso including: white Macrobinoculars/Electrobinoculars with black line detailing hanging from a brown strap slung over his right shoulder;  Insignia on his left chest; and printing continuing the parka hood theme tied around a v-neck coat opening showing a dark brown undergarment.  The overall torso has a dark blue base colour and arms and flesh coloured hands. 

The legs and torso are identical to the 2009 variant, with the principal difference being the parka hood (and head piece).

The legs are tan coloured with dark blue hips showing brown belt and silver buckle detail.  A holster print is present on his right upper leg, with orange-brown and silver buckling detail consistent with the belt.  Overall the legs have evolved little from the reddish-brown legs and hips seen in the 2006 variant.

Whilst the small blaster pistol that Han is equipped seems commonplace in Lego sets of recent years, this set and figure from 2011 was the first time it was seen.  Probably a bit of useful trivia, but QI.

Based on the current standard of minifigures in 2014, it is easy to look back at this minfigure and expect double printing to the torso and a second facial expression on the rear of the head piece.  I’m sure given the significance of the Battle Of Hoth that Lego will no doubt release another variant at some point in the future.  But this is a perfectly satisfying minifigure that looks great astride a Taun-Taun.   An enjoyable little minifgure!

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Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (75040) Lego Star Wars Minifigure Review

“Your Move!”  Kenobi challenges General Grievous on Utapau

There have been a number of Obi Wan Kenobi Lego variants released in recent years and at first glance, this one does not look appreciably different.  This is an Episode III, Jedi Master variant of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

This set is clearly linked with Episode III:  Revenge of The Sith, as are many of the 2014 Winter Wave releases.  2012 saw the last release of an Episode III themed Obi-Wan Kenobi in set 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor.  Whilst this set dealt with the climatic contest between Master and Padawan, this 2014 set captures Kenobi’s other great duel in this film with General Grievous on the planet of Utapau.

This minifigure variant is not really breaking any new ground as you will see in the photographs and descriptions below.

The head piece is printed on two sides with brown trimmed beard, eyebrows and facial lines and black circular eyes with white pupils. On one side we have a white grimacing mouth on the other we have a straight black line, but worried eye brow line.  Kenobi always looks somewhat troubled!  In fact the face print is identical to the Obi-Wan Kenobi head piece which we saw in sets:  9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor from 2012 and 75021 Republic Gunship in 2013.

Kenobi’s hair piece is dark orange, with smooth hair combed in a sideways manner.  This has also been seen before in 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor and 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar from 2013. 

The unique aspect of this minifigure is the torso and leg pieces.  The torso is a double sided print portraying Jedi Robes.  The detail of the Jedi robes is outlined with black lines and brown lines on a tan base colour.  A reddish brown undergarment is seen in a V-shape around the neck line to the front.  Kenobi’s belt is detailed with silver buckles and accessories as well as black detail lines describing small pouches on the rear of the torso.  The torso is completed by tan coloured arms and light flesh coloured hands.

The legs are nicely printed to the front.  The hips are tan coloured with simple line details in black and brown.  The upper legs are tan coloured with simple robe detailing: black and brown lines which follow a similar design to the legs we see on the Kenobi variant from the 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar.   The difference here is in the two-tone colours that are used.    The lower leg is dark tan in colour.

Interestingly, Kenobi is not equipped with a lightsaber, but is given a standard blaster.  Considering Kenobi loses his lighsaber early in the Wheel Bike Chase and uses a blaster to finally dispatch Grievous I guess there isn’t room for too much argument here.

So if you own the Kenobi minifgures from 75012 BARC Speeder with Sidecar, 9494 Anakin’s Jedi Interceptor, 75021 Republic Gunship (2012-2014) you see a gradual evolution/subtle evolution.  From my point of view the Torso is probably the highlight here.

Let’s face it though, if you are purchasing 75040 General Grievous Wheel Bike, you are not really buying it for this minifgure.  You will be buying this for General Grievous and/or the Wheel Bike itself.  For an outlay of £20 you are not going to be disappointed with this set.  Build experience, playability and quality of the minifigures make this a value for money set (not something I say very often about Lego Star Wars sets).  This is a nicely detailed/printed minifigure that is not to be sniffed at!

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General Grievous (75040) Lego Star Wars Review

   

“You fool. I have been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Dooku himself. Attack, Kenobi.”

The character of General Grievous developed out of concept art in the production of Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith.  George Lucas gave the designers  a high level steer of: “Threatening”; “not Darth Vader-like”; “Droid General”; “alien in a droid shell”; “an echo of what Anakin is going to become”.

The imposing cyborg has been seen in Lego minifigure form in two variants in the past.  This is the third variant of General Grievous, unique to the 2014 set: 75040 General Grievous’ Wheel Bike and the first opportunity to get a decent minifigure variant of General Grievous in a set for under £20. 

Of course the subject of the set is the Wheel Bike chase and final confrontation with Obi Wan Kenobi from Episode III:  Revenge Of The Sith.  A similar set was released back in 2005: 7255 General Grievous Chase and taking a look at this 2014 set in comparison shows just how far Lego design has come in 9 years.

General Grievous has an interesting back story that I have explored in the review of the previous minifigure variant of General Grievous:  The Clone Wars variant that appeared in two sets in 2010 and 2012.

The new variant of General Grievous resembles the second variant in form, but gets a new colour scheme – predominantly white and there is a change to the eyes on the head.  

Other than these two differences the figure is the same and comes with 2 green and 2 light blue lightsabers taken from the fallen Jedi that he has defeated.

Grievous' is composed of 8 parts that make up his mechanical 'duranium' body and if you don't own the previous variant, is pretty special and somewhat different to your average minfigure. 

Personally for me, the second variant has the edge , but you would previously have had to spend at least £45 on a set to get the second variant, so getting largely the same minifigure in a set for £20 seems a bargain.

Did Lego get it right?  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: