montgocloud

There are a couple small things that bug me about Maul's character design --- his teeth and his legs. His teeth are cleaner and straighter than they were in Episode I! And while it's very possible that he could've had an upgrade to his legs, that just doesn't fit with the way he's portrayed. He's supposed to be a deranged hermit now, right? Shouldn't he be like a grungy old man with rusted, squeaky metallic legs, maybe even with some chipped/broken horns? He looks so clean! I guess there's a spa on Malachor...

Yikes... $80 for Encounter on Jakku? I love the set and the figures, but that price is a little hard to stomach. I was hoping the Episode VII prices would go down in subsequent waves, but it looks as if that's not the case...

Maybe I'm wrong then - I thought filming for Episode VIII hadn't begun (except for a couple plate shots on Skellig Michael).

He shaved after the filming of VII, but is growing it back before filming of VIII begins. The Resistance X-Wing is a little disappointing honestly. I hoped that it would have corrected some of the problems from Poe's X-Wing, but it seems to just be a color swap. I'll get it, but I wish I was more excited about it.

Sure, adults can buy figures off of Bricklink, but shouldn't we think of children WITHOUT that luxury? What about children whose parents don't frequent AFOL sites but still want a BB-8 figure? Not all LEGO fans know about Bricklink - especially young fans. And while I'm okay with spending $80 on a LEGO set, I'd venture to guess that most kids don't have that kind of money. LEGO fans need to think a little more about the product's primary demographic: kids.

It looks like the Rebel outfits in the new battlepack are modeled after the Battlefront Jakku DLC. And the packaging looks like a sandy landscape. After seeing the trailer for the DLC on YouTube, I'm 100% more on board with the Rebels battlepack.

At least the printed head showing Kylo Ren's mask will still be exclusive to the shuttle - now everyone is happy! It's a little unfortunate that the figures can't stand up inside of the troop transport, but it still looks like an alright set. I'll definitely be getting both.

I think it comes down to the brutality of the scene. Blowing up a planet is violent, sure, but the scene isn't. And thus LEGO produced a Death Star set. Killing some Tusken Raiders is technically less heinous, but the scene is graphic. Shmi is bloody. Anakin cuts down Tusken Raiders as they scream in pain. It's the same reason why there won't be an "Anakin massacres the younglings" set.

Not confirmed by any official source, that's just more fan speculation.

I finally got around to watching Nightcrawler - what a performance! The movie was really engaging and tense. The only real problem it had was the scores which was a little too on the nose. It didn't fit in with the atmosphere. I also watched Beginners. It's great to see Ewan McGregor in a role where he gets to stretch his acting chops. Aaaaaand The Skeleton Twins. This movie just hit me at the right time. Wow. The ending was a little rushed, but everything else was brilliant. I'll definitely watch this again. And I bought Love and Mercy on Blu Ray! Apart from some inaccuracies dealing with Good Vibrations and SMiLE, this is a fantastic film. Dano and Cusack are truly inspired choices to play tortured genius Brian Wilson. I highly recommend all four of these films.

I bought Poe's X-Wing and the Millennium Falcon on Force Friday and I finally found some time to build them on Monday. I love the X-Wing. It's so sleek and refined and... wow. It's just perfect. The model is weighty - it feels like you get your money's worth. I do wish some more figures would've been included, especially considering the price. Leia would've fit here perfectly. The only other real criticism I have are the tails of the engines. The connector that holds the rubber bands makes it impossible for the axle to fully be inserted, so the tails sag a bit during mad swooshing sessions. The Millennium Falcon is also pretty great, even if I already own the 2011 version. The proportions are fixed (to an extent), and the added detail to the exterior is welcome. The interior looks much better, with tan bricks and a more cluttered designed - though I'm not sure how I feel about the sporadic stacks of tan log pieces. I don't know what those are meant to represent... Boxes? Maybe? The fact that Finn is only in this set (and that he doesn't even have his lightsaber) is... unacceptable. Overall, I love the sets, but I'm not sure how they'll fare with kids. They're all around $10 too expensive, the main characters are spread thinly across the wave, and the play features are pretty boring. Most of them are just "open the cockpit!" and "shoot the lasers!" I don't have kids though (and I don't know anything about them), so I could be wrong.

Will TRU mark up the sets even further? I'm trying to plan which store I should go to tonight

True, in the Star Wars universe, Boba Fett is neutral. But in the context of the story, he plays the role of a secondary villain. He is a villain for all intents and purposes in LEGO's eyes. I don't think they care about all the semantics surrounding the morality of bounty hunting. In the carbon freeze scene, Fett is a villain. He is included in the set based off this scene. Therefore, a secondary villain is being included in a smaller set (but Fett has been included in a swath of smaller sets over the years, so I don't see how this changes anything).

LEGO sets take a while to produce. I think it's far more likely that the set is based off of early concept art. The timetable you suggested just isn't possible. The only way it would work is if the lander in the film underwent a radical transformation within a matter of days. We saw a leaked photo of the set in late May that's identical to the current version. If LEGO were to change the model, Lucasfilm would have to give them ample time to create the new design, instructions, manufacture the parts, and package the set. Since the trailer and the leaked photo were released within such a small time frame, the theory that the design changed this late in the game is impossible. I was being sarcastic. Star Wars has always been about toys.

I guess I haven't weighed in on the "products" based on the new "Star Wars movie" that's rumored to release sometime "this year." Personally, I don't believe in all of this superstition about this supposed merchandise. Star Wars has never, ever, ever been about making toys. It's ludicrous to assume that this movie would be any different. It is disappointing that the lead villain's craft doesn't exactly match the one seen in the trailer for the film, but overall I'm a big fan of the look of the model. The build will probably be tedious though. The figures are nice, is that an unnamed evil female "person with hat" that I see? On the whole, I'm loving the diversity in ethnicity and gender - this isn't your grandpa's Star Wars! I mean... theoretically it wouldn't be, if there was a Star Wars movie coming out this year. Which there might be, who knows. The boat-like lander is one of the stand-outs for me. I couldn't have been more bored when the set name, price, and figures were nothing was leaked, but now I'm fully on board. This might be a day one purchase, but probably not, because the prices for these sets are absurd. I mean, they would be, if we knew the prices, I'm just making informed guesses here. The flying hamburger and letter fighter are definitely the ones I'll be carrying when I leave the store on September 4th(*). "Iconic" figures (only rumored, of course) and nicely detailed models. The hamburger has a little too much copy/paste from its previous incarnation, but I'll manage. It's only mostly a waste of money. The letter fighter is so cool. I can't wait to open that sacred cardboard vessel and gently stroke the plastic contents that it houses. (*) Speaking of, which shops are hosting the event? TRU? Target? The LEGO Store? Whole Foods? The only real disappointment is the small airship that is adapted to the cold (references? Acknowledge my genius, please?). It's just so... bland and uninspired. From the ship itself to the figures, nothing impresses me. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see it in action on the big screen. Probably not. In any case, I'll pick it up for free when they start shoveling all of the unbought merchandise into a landfill.

The speeder chase and Obi-Wan's Episode II starfighter are copies of the 2002 sets.

The sets were purchased in Texas and Mexico? Have any Houstonians (namioik) found the sets? I'm planning to do a sweep of the central Houston stores sometime this week - I'll post my findings

I guarantee that they will be available online, but they might get pushed out of shelves in favor of solely promoting Episode VII stuff.

The colors on Maul's speeder look far more muted in person than they did in the official photo, but it's still way too blocky. The Sith Infiltrator itself is massive. I'm going to pass on it in favor of the Episode VII sets, as I'm sure many others will.

You definitely have a point. I suppose I was making a rather large generalization based on the designs of the Naboo Starfighter and Gungan Sub versus the designs of the X-Wing, Y-Wing, and Snowspeeder. In other words, only sets that came out in 1999. By 2002, LEGO's designs had matured quite a bit - something I'll get into if I ever finish my review for 7143 Jedi Starfighter (I'm still in the writing process, it'll be a while). But yes, I agree, the first incarnations of the TIE Fighter, A-Wing, and B-Wing were weak.

I was thinking about toning down my jabs at the prequels, but I actually decided to ramp them up so I'd come off as over-the-top and sarcastic. Personally, I don't like them, but that's just me. More power to anyone who does! So disclaimer everyone: I'm trying to be overly snarky and rude towards those films but I don't mean any real offense.

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone! Glad you all enjoyed it. No doubt! I bought it back in May and I think it's fantastic - very accurate for a system scaled set.

In honor of the impending marketing bonanza that The Force Awakens will inevitably inflict upon the world, I'd like to take a trip back in time. Just imagine... it's 1999: the release date of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace is dawning. A new Star Wars movie? Can you believe it?! The trailer had everything you could ever dream of: heated space battles, a demon with a double-bladed lightsaber, a young Obi-Wan Kenobi, a little kid, a cartoon rabbit... oh, wait. So on May 3, 1999, the entire population of the Earth was subjected to a marketing campaign unlike anything ever seen before (or since). Star Wars was everywhere! Everywhere. And in the immortal words of little Ani, "it [was] working!" I apologize, that reference was a bit of a stretch. So anyways, put yourself back into the shoes of your younger naiveself, before May 19, 1999 - before the deepest core of your being was challenged by The Phantom Menace. The Naboo Starfighter was the first in the new line of LEGO sets based on the film to be revealed, teased in a little catalog included with the early 1999 releases. As the catalog suggests, it was "so wizard, Ani." * (*Is the slogan "It's so wizard" an early reference to Episode I? Or was that just a random coincidence?) This tease blew me away as a kid. But did the model follow through? Was it wizard? Or did it suffer the same fate as the film it was based off of? Without further ado... Name: 7141 Naboo Starfighter Year: 1999 Pieces: 179 Minifigures: 4 RRP: USD $19.99 Links: Brickset, Bricklink 7141: Instructions Scan by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr PACKAGING I don't have any of the packaging for this set anymore, but I can extrapolate from other sets in the line that the box was rectangular and included a slide-out cardboard tray. Boxes in this era were a double-edged sword. On the one hand, the cardboard trays were a wonderful way to store parts and had a classy(ish) feel. On the other hand, the actual boxes were extremely flimsy and cheap in comparison. They were paper thin and ugly shelf wear was almost guaranteed (even with the utmost care). The actual graphic on the box/instructions portrays the scene where Anakin finds himself trapped inside the hanger of the Trade Federation doughnut. Subsequent versions would stray from this and instead focus around the blaster fight in Theed Hanger. The classic LEGO Star Wars logo is beautifully nostalgic - it's a shame that this type of logo was abandoned for the post-2001 releases. (Courtesy of toysperiod.com) The back of the box is typical for the classic line. On the left the figures are building the model. How nice of the Battle Droids to help little Ani and R2 out. Or they could be disassembling it. Whatever. The right showcases two alternate models: a racecar and a mech. Unlike the larger sets in the classic line, a comic highlighting various other alternate models is not included at the end of the instruction booklet. 7141: Instructions by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The 1999 Episode I wave is curious in that it does not show screencaps from the film in the instruction manual like the first OT wave did. This is most likely because Lucasfilm wanted to keep Episode I a mystery... even though they released a novelization for the film on the same day as the rest of the merchandise. Later, the 2000-2001 sets would add in the screencaps. Something else of note: the little graphic behind the step numbers changes based on what you're building. Nifty! MINIFIGURES The set includes four minifigures: Anakin, R2, and two Battle Droids. Below I'll highlight some fairly wizard details about each. 7141: Anakin Skywalker by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr 7141: R2-D2 by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr 7141: Battle Droid by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr THE CART 7141: Cart Build by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The build begins with this little tan cart for the Battle Droids. It's quick, only 10 steps, and it isn't too complicated either (unless you consider a two-piece hinge mechanism complicated). But there's a nice selection of parts here, including a tan 4x4 wedge (which is exclusive to this set!). 7141: Cart by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The final product is... interesting. I don't really understand it and I don't remember it from the film, that's for sure. In a previous review by Mischa07, a user posted that it could be seen in the background somewhere. I can't confirm nor deny this claim as I haven't gone frame-by-frame through The Phantom Menace (because I value my sanity). If someone could provide a screencap to solve this sixteen year-old mystery, it would be most appreciated. Taking the cart by itself, I suppose it's a decent enough model. The top hinges up to reveal two printed 1x4 tiles which represent the engines. There's an awkward bare black bracket on the back (I'm proud of that sentence). I thought maybe it could serve as a gun rack by putting the handle into one of the hollow studs, but alas, it doesn't fit. So it's useless. Without any context to what this cart is or what it's supposed to do, this is the best I could come up with: 7141: Cart (2) by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr People probably didn't buy this set for the cart, though; they bought it for the real meat: THE NABOO STARFIGHTER 7141: Starfighter Build by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The build is just as memorable as the cart's which is to say it isn't. It's a lot of stacking plates and slopes. There is one clever building mechanic used, however, which will be covered later on. Now some may label me something along the lines of a "hatorz" for my opinions on the prequels, but I'd like to think they're fair and balanced. Not everything The Phantom Menace did was terrible; in fact, one thing it excelled at was ship design. Doug Chiang deviated from the utilitarian and practical design of the Original Trilogy and instead (at the behest of ol' George) opted for a beautiful hand-sculpted look. The Naboo Starfighter is a great example of this: the craft is truly majestic in its simplistic, natural elegancy... 7141: Front by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr ...and the LEGO version is not. The shape of the Naboo Starfighter is very dificult to capture in this medium, and in 1999, LEGO's parts catalog and engineering was nowhere near sophisticated enough to pull it off. Most of the early Episode I sets suffered from the same problem:while the OT's angular vehicles were perfect for the simple and blocky design philosophy of the era, vehicles from The Phantom Menace were too complexly rounded. Now, keeping all that in mind, let's delve into what works and what doesn't: 7141: Dynamic Front by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The model is accurate enough to be recognizable, but it has some flaws. Namely, it’s far too stubby; the back of the nose should really be extended by a few studs so the cockpit and the rest of the ship is shifted further back. It just doesn’t manage to capture the sweeping, smooth hood of its source material, no doubt due (in part) to the twin trans-green cones meant to represent the laser cannons. They look out of place and break up the flow. I see what the designer was going for, but I would’ve preferred additional slopes with a print of the barrel. I recognize that a fourth exclusive print is a lot to ask for in a $20 set though. 7141: Side by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr Moving farther back, we arrive at the cockpit. The printed parts provide some much needed detail and bring a modicum level of believability. I hate the use of 4x3 yellow slopes. A nice part to have, sure, but they bring an unnecessary width to the midsection. 7141: R2 Slot by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr Behind the cockpit is a slot for Ani’s Astromech aid. Unfortunately, while the “real” ship covers the droid up to the dome, the model leaves R2 almost entirely exposed. It’s extremely awkward. But, to be fair, although later versions have come close to achieving this effect, none have been completely successful. 7141: Cockpit by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr Inside the cockpit, things start to look up again. I love everything about the interior. It might be simple, but something about it feels real to me - I think it’s the consistency of the color scheme. Having recently bought its 2015 successor, I can say for certainty that the 1999 version’s cockpit is superior in almost every way. 7141: Dynamic Back by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr This is by far my favorite angle. It (mostly) hides the lack of length and the jagged slopes, and emphasizes its relatively smooth tapering on the engines and main section. For 1999, it’s rather impressive. 7141: Engine by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr The engine tails were accomplished using a simple but effective technique: a black technic bar is inserted into the end of the engine and allows for the 2x2 cylinder to be placed in the opposite direction. 7141: Bottom by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr Finally, we go below the ship, revealing another misstep - a confusing misstep as it sort of adds to the model in a way. This odd missile construction looks like garbage when the fighter is in the air (where it’ll be most of the time during play), but when it’s on the ground, it produces a nice levitating effect. It’s extremely flimsy as well; I imagine it would be a nuisance to kids who want to play with this thing. FINAL THOUGHTS 7141: Complete Set by montgomery.cloud, on Flickr All in all, this is a decent set… by 1999 standards. The Naboo Starfighter has already been remade three times... so which version should you buy? Well, it all depends on what you’re looking for. Are you a classic LEGO Star Wars fan? Do you have an odd fixation of the hype leading up to The Phantom Menace like me? Then you most likely have this set. Do you want an accurate representation of the ship? Are you interested in dozens of pointless side builds? Then there’s an excellent version in stores now that I wholeheartedly recommend buying. The point I’m trying to get at here is that you probably own this set if you have any interest in it. But, if you’re a relatively new collector with an open mind (and an open wallet), there’s a lot to like here. It’s one of the cheapest ways to get Anakin, there’s some Battle Droids to add to your collection, and most importantly, the Naboo Starfighter is arguably the most iconic vehicle from Episode I. If you’re looking for a set to represent the first wave of Episode I products, then look no farther: this is the set to get. It isn’t accurate, even considering the time period, but it’s charming. FINAL SCORES Playability – 8/10: This thing has everything you would want in a play set. I suppose instead of a useless cart LEGO could’ve given the droids some sort of attack vehicle. Minifigures – 10/10: Everyone integral to the scene is represented here. The battle droids are wonderful (and the set includes two!). Design – 7/10: Apart from the flimsy missile, the model is very sturdy. My issues mainly lie in the aesthetics of the Starfighter, which are just “okay” even by 1999 standards. Price --- 10/10: $19.99 for a ship… a cup… a ship… a speeder… what a bargain! Overall --- 8/10 And with that, this review has been concluded. If you’re nostalgic for the good ol’ days of hilarious Episode I speculation or just extremely curious like me, then check out the links below. I hope you enjoyed the review as much as I enjoyed writing it (which I did not). Be sure to tell me what you think of the set and my review of it. I'm a big boy, I can take the criticism. Probably. Prequel Rumors Dark Ocean Spider Butt The Silencer

The Infiltrator looks pretty good from that angle, I have to say. I'd buy it if it weren't for Darth Maul's comical face, the bulky Bloodfin, and that stupidly high price. Plus, my budget is completely taken up by all of the Episode VII sets.