Home News
Reviews The List
NYTS Links
Ramblin' Man Gallery
Meat and Potatoes; 5.0
Perks; 5.0
Homer Factor; 5.0
Super Posable Aragorn is about 7" tall in the same dark-blue surcoat and chain-mail he will be wearing during the Battle of Pelennor Fields. The figure features and amazingly detailed sculpt and over-the-top articulation.
Aragorn is also equipted with a sword, removable cape, and a dagger with a sheath.
So what wonders do the toys have, and aren't we cheating by seeing the toys now? Well, as Elijah Wood said in an interview regarding the ending; ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS READ THE BOOKS. Duh. People have known the ending for 50 FREAKING YEARS, so just deal with it.
Anyway, back to the toys. ToyBiz has out-done itself with the entire line. Although Mattel and McFarlane have respectively done amazing work, ToyBiz has taken a genre that historically does really, really badly (Aside from 'Conan', can you name any GOOD fantasy work in the movies? ...still thinking?) For ToyBiz to take advantage of the opportunity and create such stellar work is a testament to ToyBiz's dedication to the license.. and it probably doesn't hurt that the Tolkein estate would have a cow if the figures sucked.
Yes, this is ANOTHER Aragorn figure, but he is THE man; that cool, Clint Eastwood stare, funky lilt to his voice, butt-kicking fighter... and he gets to pick between Eowyn and Arowyn. Lucky bum.
The fun thing with the Aragorn figures is you see the character change not just physically, but emotionally through the pictures. As Strider, he's like The Man with No Name, the wandering vagabond righting wrongs. Then with 'Two Towers', he begins to take on the role of leader and defender of humanity during it's darkest hour.
So what happens now? Aragorn faces THE great battle as the Forces of Morador come banging on the doors of humanity, and the heir to the Throne of Ghondor must respond... and ToyBiz created a figure worthy of the King as he strolls towards the most important battle of his life..
Meat and potatoes are just about perfect. The figure is based on Aragorn's appearance in the climactic battle of 'Return of the King'. He's clad in a surcoat and chain-mail armor, all very well sculpted to capture every detail. Rings of steel, the leather-work, are all beautifully recreated on this figure. And the head-sculpt is gorgeous; Aragorn's hair is tousled like he's riding on Breago, his mouth open in a roaring battle-cry. And I'm not even talking about the articulation. It's not called 'Super Posable' for nothing; ball-joints in shoulders AND hips, wrists, ankles, TOES, the works. Booyah!
Perks are limited, but fitting. Like the 'Helm's Deep' piece, Aragorn has his trusty dagger strapped to his back in a sheath, and the dagger is removable. The figure also comes with a large, removable cape and a very solid sword. However, there is one tiny problem... where is his scabbard? Did he leave it at Eowyn's last night? Doh!
Homer factor? Are you serious? Ok, ok, so it's the umpteenth Aragorn figure. Still, like Gundam figures, the key is THIS FIGURE ACTUALLY EXISTS IN THE MOVIE AND IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT FROM EVERYTHING ELSE DONE. So there.
Is the figure perfect? Not by any means. Now if it had a scabbard, then we can start talking. What this is, though, is an amazing piece of work that maintains the standard of excellence ToyBiz has exhibited through the entire line. And Mr. Peter Jackson, I look forward to seeing you kick some SERIOUS butt during the Oscars.