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Aragorn with Brego - LOTR; Return of the King, ToyBiz Meat and Potatoes; 5.0 Perks; 5.0 Homer Facor; 5.0
					Description; ah, Aragorn finally has a ride! The Aragorn figure is based upon the Pelennor fields figure, but with some major changes.  First, there's a new head-sculpt.  Next, the figure's skirt and cape are make of cloth rather then plastic.  Then the legs have been modified with new articulation so that the figure can 'ride' Breego.  Finally, the right arm now has a sword-slashing feature. Breego is approximately 7" tall and holds Aragor pretty well.  He is decked in a saddle and armor over his head with the White Tree of Gondor design.  The figure also comes with a 'galloping action'; a button over the horses left, back leg will make Breego's front legs 'gallop' when it's pushed.
	'ANOTHER Aragorn review?'   Yes and no.  Yes, this is Aragorn based on his appearance at the Black Gate.  But there is a resounding 'no' to throw in.  One of the key factors that make the 'LOTR' figures great is the figures are based on what appears on the  movie, and each new figure offers NEW things, and sometimes vast improvements.  It's tempting to bust on ToyBiz and say they're just cashing in and making ANOTHER Aragorn figure.  However, that is missing the fact that this piece has a number of very good features that make this a piece to have and put on your shelf.  This ISN'T just a repaint, this is re-creating a great figure and making it better.  Meat and potatoes are still great, although there are key changes here.  First, this ISN'T just the Super-posable Aragorn figure.  The leg articulation has been heavily modified, with the ball joints in the hips removed.  This is a pretty strange choice since having the ball joints should actually make it easier for this figure to ride Brego.  Instead, Aragorn's hips come with joints cut at a slant.  This does cause the legs to open wider, and easier to put on the saddle.  However, ball-joints would have worked just as well and have more posability.  Go figure.  Beyond the legs, the over-all articulation is pretty solid; arms, elbows, you get the idea.  The big difference is in the armor he's wearing.  In the Super-posable figure, everything is constructed of molded plastic, making every fold and billow permanent in the skirt and in the cape.  Instead, Aragorn's cape and the bottom half of his surcoat and 'chain-mail' are made of cloth.  These changes were mostly done to make it possible for Aragorn to 'ride' Brego.  However, in the case of the cape, this is a huge improvement.  Ah, but that's going into the perks.  And peaking of perks, they're pretty dang cool.  First, the cape is still removable; there are tiny plastic 'clasps' on Aragorn's shoulders, and holes in the cape fit on the clasps.  No, this isn't the most sturdy way of doing it, but it's pretty cool to have the cape be removable.  Second, the cape also has a hood that can be fitted over Aragorn's head.  Are these huge things?  No, but these added extras add detail, and help it feel like this is a new figure, rather then just a repaint of a previous one.  I do have one gripe on this; the only reason I found these features is REALLY fiddling with the figure.  Considering how much these extras do, I'm surprised ToyBiz didn't mention these little features on their directions. In addition to the new cape, Aragorn still comes with the elf knife mounted on the small on his back, and he also comes with a new action feature.  Aragorn has a massive button on his back that when pressed causes his right arm to do a sword-slashing action, and this doesn't interfere with the usual posing of the figure.  Hey, if it doesn't mess with the usual operation of the figure, I'm for it.  And there's Brego.  This time, he's wearing new armor with the White Tree of Gondor on it.  Coooooooooooool.  The 'galloping action' is ok; press a button on his left side and his front legs move up and down like they're galloping.  ... ok, whatever.  The hind legs are well articulated so they can be posed to whatever position you want to display Brego in.  Oh, something else not mentioned on the box is Brego's neck moves.  There are a few ball-joints in his neck that allow you to movie his head around.  Oh, one piece of bad news; HE STILL DOESN'T HAVE A SHEATH FOR ANDURIL!  Come on guys, just a simple one will do.  Ok, enough whining.  Homer factor?  I was kinda 'eh' at first because I saw it and went 'Ok, it's still Aragorn, just with his horse.'  Fortunately, after fussing with both pieces, it's actually a new figure and a lot of fun. In the end, ToyBiz does it again with another fine piece of work.  Do you HAVE to get this one?  I would say yes.  Not only do you get Brego in full regalia, but Aragorn himself has a number of new details that are a lot of fun.  Peter Jackson, we salute you and your work.  And ToyBiz, we salute you as well for doing 'LOTR' proud.