Faefrost

I love that Lego is finally giving us actual included locations for emergencies. But why are they all boarded up? Is Lego city in fact Detroit? Where half the city is an abandoned post apocalyptic wasteland, and the other half is a crime ridden hell patrolled by robo cop? Actually thinking on it, that would be a pretty cool theme. I'm in!

If it helps you visualize the Cyclops, I think the classic Harry Harryhausen interpretation of it from the Sinbad movies had a single centered horn above its eye. Both the evil knight from series 7 and he new heroic knight look like they came straight out of the box from 7009 Final Joist. Which mind you insn't necessarily a bad thing.

I sort of suspect that a lot of the planned second wave of AC has seen the light of day slightly re colored as Galaxy Squad. The GS interceptor and the tank with the mech seem to have a bit of ADU aesthetic to them. But yeah we can kinda hope that MF will become a recurring fall theme targeted at Halloween.

We have not seen a bad "Castle" type set in years. Most of the stuff from the past 2 to 4 years has been incredibly designed principally brick built structures. With lots of play value, and limited or intelligent use of panel pieces. Just look at what we have gotten recently, regardless of the theme name it is under. Helm's Deep - wonderfully brick built. Expandable. One of the best Castles ever. Joust - while not a huge or complete castle, an almost totally brick built set with amazing detail. Everything we could possibly want. Medieval Market Village - not just the best castle set ever produced, in the running for best set Lego has ever made. Just perfect. Vampires Castle - probably the mst "<insert that tiresome argument>" of he recent sets. But still an incredibly fun build. A stunning looking creepy castle, and all around a fantastic set. Hogwarts Castle - like Vampires castle just a fun and wonderfully detailed build with a ton of play features. Bag End - probably he best of he new Hobbit sets. Lots of detail. Fun total brick build. Looks stunning. Diagon Alley - like Hogwarts a wonderfully detailed civilian setting. Lots of great builds. I am fully hopeful that any new Castle sets will easily be up to the standards set by these recent works.

BTW, Am I just imagining it, or do most of the Lego Hobbit releases seem to suspiciously line up with the musical numbers from the old Rankin Bass animated movie? (Not the Ralph Bakshi LotR, the Hobbit TV movie). ... The Greatest Adventure... ... Down Down to Goblin Town... ... Pretty Little Birds... etc

Don't forget Elrond was a promotional figure given away as part of the video game preorder, and was never a retail product. So I don't know if it is considered a true poly bag. It is more along the lines of the comic con build a Bilbo. The others were all retail impulse buy items. The Mirkwood elf is only partly unique. It is the same basic minifig (head chest and torso) found in the Barrel Escape set. It just has the green cowl instead of the elf hair.

I think the hopefully brief disappearance of Castle was simply part of their normal cycles. Except for City, every Evergreen theme gets periodic breaks. They may have timed the break for the release of LotR's just to focus some attention. But as I said above Castle and LotR do not really directly compete. Castle is a more brightly colored play featured theme that is truly targeted at the core Lego audience 6 to 12. LotR's like Harry Potter before it, targets a slightly older more well read and Literary minded group. If done properly the two will feed each other in the Lego product line. The release of major LotR type movies tends to lead to an increase in general sword and knight type play interest. Not simply the specific and exact Middle Earth stuff. Even the kids who are way too young for any of the movies pick up the vibe. (Look at all of Fisher Prices Dark Knight Rises type toys). Castle feeds that interest of the younger audience. Leads them into the licensed stuff. And trust me, Lego is bright enough to realize that the AFOLs are a non issue in this. If they put out LotR and Castle side by side, it just means that most AFOLs will for the most part spend twice as much. (While complaining the whole time.)

PS I think the Worgs are the second best Lego animals ever! Behind only the wondrous "Sharks with Laser Beams"

I'm holding out for the "Evil Waitress" myself.

Strange question, and maybe slightly OT, but when does the new X- men movie come out? Because that might play into he unknown 6th set? While Lego does not have the rights to movie depictions, they obviously do have the rights to all the comic versions, and they aren't so stupid as to blow a built in bit of free marketing. (Note the timing of this years doc Oc set.)

Excellent review. I just picked this one up. The minifigs and worgs are gorgeous. My only nitpick... Where the heck is Orcrist? No really? Little stabby hobbit sword =| Orcrist!

I think that at best for Minus Tirith we may get small sections from where the various action spots were. So a main gate with battering ram, The White Tree, etc.Basically a lot of secitions of wall with minifigs and some play features. Like multiple Uruk Hai Army sets.

Where oh where did you find them in the US?

I'm not sure on this group? I love the Kimono Ninja's and some of the figs. But the sets themselves seem sort of soso. I think the only one on my must have list is the Gold Dragon? The Temple of Light just seems bleah compared to the Fire Temple set.

Yay! Got my Bag End :drool:

Oh dear gods... They're giving us a Paris Hilton Minifig? Is it officially categorized under the "Monster Fighter" Subtheme?

Few seem to realize this, but LotR was not really a replacement for Castle in the Lego rotation. It was far more a replacement for Harry Potter. It probably can co-exist with regular Castle sets quite well.

I love how the Great Goblin looks. That set just seems a little pricey for what it is. Some great figs, but the rest is mainly just little sections of terrain. Compare it to the MF Vampires Castle, in the same price range, and the Goblin set just feels a little light in terms of non minifig substance.

The Dark Bucket was canned because it would never ever be possible under the terms of TLGs SW license. But I thought it did hit 10k before they canned it. As far as the others? I'm sure a lot depends on whether the projects currently under review pass or fail.

In the case of the NRG spinners if you don't do the game then they are essentially simply a way to get the exclusive figure and a bunch of weapons. Whether or not that exclusive figure is worth te $15 is up to you. The alternative is to Bricklink it.

The Minifigs and the minifig parts are kind of interesting. The sets themselves seem underwhelming to me. Trying to be or do too many things at once. The only things half interesting are the bird planes.

Actually the answers to most of the questions we have been discussing can be found in the May 30, 2012 CuuSoo blog post "cheat sheet, how to pass the Lego review with flying colors". Original source: http://legocuusoo.posterous.com/?page=2 6. Think in terms of individual sets, since playthemes are planned well in advance. Many of the playtheme projects on LEGO CUUSOO are very well done, however LEGO CUUSOO is oriented toward producing and selling individual products (or SKUs). On the upside, the conceptual and story work that goes into developing a playtheme helps build a project with depth and character that can compel people to support. We allow projects to propose playthemes as they help communicate a concept, but remember that our team makes the final decision on what will be produced, and we are set up to produce individual LEGO sets. And 1. A good LEGO model helps, but it’s not required. A good model helps you get supporters and also helps us in the model design process. If you submit concept art or photos, we have to design the model from scratch ourselves. The evolution of an idea to final product can take many twists and turns. The more precisely you describe your concept with LEGO bricks, the closer the end result will be to your original concept. If your project reaches production, the final product will be designed by a LEGO model designer, so know that the product won't be your exact design. These Seem to address the set vs theme, and the brick built vs concept debates rather nicely. All are allowed, but it is easy to see which are far more likely to pass review.

While I don't think Lego should in any way weight the system for or against physical vs virtual builds, at the end of the day the projects creator has to sell the project to everyone else. Not simply TLG. Presentation counts. And in most cases actual physical builds do a much better job of presenting the work than a poorly framed LDD project with the hideous default backgrounds. You are trying to sell something specific, not simply a nebulous idea. This isn't to say that a well presented digital project cannot be worthwhile. Just look at Nick Royers Space Marines. It's all ultimately a matter of presentation, and what grabs the individual voters attention.

I've always wanted some early Industrial Age / steam age stuff. Maybe with a touch of Jules Verne or Steampunk thrown in? Victorian type stuff? Although that might be viewed as more of a Literary theme than a Historic. Things Like Captain Nemo or Sherlock Holmes.

My first thought was Dr. Whiteface from the Diskworld series. And I am in love with him just for that.