Two Star Wars LEGO Spaceships for the Price of One? Sign me up!
Written: Apr 25 '05
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Pros: Two cool spaceships; Anakin minifig, nice "specialty parts"
Cons: Could have used another minifig...
The Bottom Line: They really need a catchier name...like "X-Wing"...something like that...
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| JediKermit's Full Review: LEGO Star Wars Episode III Jedi Starfighter and Vu... |
Less than a month now until Star Wars Episode III comes out..."Revenge of the Sith." One of my big hopes for the movie (hopes that will undoubtedly be dashed when I see the movie) is that there will be a good space battle. I mean, the whole series is called "Star Wars," after all...there should be some space battles, right? But thus far, the best space battle in any of the movies is in "Return of the Jedi." Nothing in Episodes I or II compares to that. So we'll see.
This LEGO set is a step in the right direction--Anakin Skywalker's Jedi Starfighter and a "Vulture Droid"...an unmanned droid fighter from the Trade Federation. So by buying one LEGO set, you can recreate dogfights that you haven't even seen happen yet. For parents buying for children, you get the "good guy" and "bad guy" in one package, making for a good deal for less than twenty bucks.
The Jedi Starfighter's a cool ship--sort of a cross between the Episode II Jedi Starfighter that Obi-Wan Kenobi flew http://www.epinions.com/content_78737477252 and the TIE Fighter of the original Star Wars trilogy http://www.epinions.com/content_36826353284 . The hybrid looks cool on its own, and the ties to both of the other starships are nice for the geeks among us. *cough-cough* The Jedi Starfighter is loaded with "action features" that are somewhat difficult to assemble, but once assembled work well and add to the playability of the spaceship.
Some of my favorite features of the Jedi Starfighter:
The cockpit has a round front windshield with an octagonal frame in it--a clear predecessor to the Imperial TIE Fighters.
There's a "trunk" for storage behind the pilot's seat...good for Anakin's lightsaber or other small pieces.
The landing gear really work, unfolding into a tripod of steady legs to support the starfighter.
The wings change their configuration via sturdy "click hinges," meaning sometimes the wings are on beam with the rest of the fighter, and can also be folded down into an inverse "V" formation.
It's a cool little ship; it's personalized with yellow, like all of Anakin's ships and speeders and pods have been. I think I would rather have a "generic" Jedi Starfighter, like Obi-Wan and other Jedi fly into battle, but Anakin is the star, so you know he gets his own special ship.
Along with the Jedi Starfighter comes a Vulture Droid--a robot fighter that transforms from a walking land-based droid on four spindly legs into a spacefaring fighter. This one is a retread of an earlier "Phantom Menace" design, so it wasn't that exciting to me...but it's a nice touch for people who don't already have the Complete Star Wars LEGO Collection. It also gives you an instant villain, making this a good set for birthdays or Christmas. The transforming feature works well--you need to disassemble most of the fighter to convert it into the walker, but it's simple enough that after you've done it once, you don't need instructions to do it again.
This is a good set for children or for adult collectors, and even though it only includes one minifigure, that figure is Anakin Skywalker...before he gets completely messed up in Episode III. He is wearing a few scars, he has longer hair than in Episode II, but he's still the hero. That changes later in the movie, and in other LEGO sets, I assume. So if you want to remember him as the hero he once was--this is a good set to pick up.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 19.99
Type of Toy: Blocks
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Epinions.com ID:
JediKermit
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Member: Quinn
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Reviews written: 2189
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About Me:
Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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