Packaging - ***1/2
While not quite as nice as the box for the recent CSM from X-Files, the
work here is still much better than average. Great graphics,
particularly on the interior cardboard tray, but not nearly as much text as
I'd like. It is very collector friendly though, with only the most
necessary twisties, and no weird changes to how Freddy is packaged inside.
Sculpting - ***1/2
Freddy always suffers from some level of skin condition, and here we have
alternating skin and exposed muscle. The sculpt is actually quite good,
although at first glance you may not agree. This is one of those cases
were a very good sculpt is hurt by less than perfect paint ops.
There's lots of detail and sharpness to the face sculpt, and the difference
in the texture between the muscle and skin makes for a very realistic
appearance. Freddy's expression is also quite appropriate, appearing as
though he's just stepped in something, like your large intestine perhaps.
The hands are also both new sculpts, and the right hand sports the
permanent "wolverine" like blades. This means they are less
articulated than past versions, but the hard plastic of the blades makes them
less likely to warp. The hands themselves are actually a softer plastic,
and can hang onto various accessories quite well.
Paint - **1/2
So if the sculpt is so good, what's wrong? It's the paint, man, it's the
paint.
The work on the skin and muscle isn't bad, and they've used two different
finishes - matte and gloss - to give a realistic appearance to each. The
colors are fairly consistent, although the muscle colors might be a little too
consistent, appearing more like painted plastic than real flesh.
The big issue with the paint ops lies in the eyes, those windows to the
soul, or in Freddy's case, lack thereof.
In short, the eyes don't look real. They are the most 'doll-like'
eyes I've ever seen done by Sideshow, and are certainly a big
disappointment. They went with a look off to one side, which actually
works fine on it's own. However, the white of the eyes appears too
thick, and certainly has way too matte of a finish, to appear realistic.
A shiny appearance works well with eyeballs - they're always moist.
Here, the lack of shine makes it extremely obvious that this is a toy, and not
the real deal.
It also doesn't help that the pupils of the eyes are clearly simple black
dots, and they don't even line up particularly well with each other. The
eyes on their figures is always one of Sideshow's strengths, so it's even more
disappointing that this is the biggest problem with the paint application.
Articulation - ****
I've been commenting on the Sideshow body for years, and those comments remain
in force. He has all the industry standard articulation for top line
sixth scale figures, plus the specially designed Sideshow ankles and wrists,
along with a ball jointed neck.
He does lack the finger articulation that we got in the previous gloved
Freddy's, but since that's not surprising considering the breakage issues and
the delicate nature of the blades.
All the joints were nice and tight as well, and I haven't had an issue with
a floppy Sideshow body in several months now.
Accessories - **1/2
The version I'm reviewing here is the Sideshow site exclusive, so he includes
the exclusive accessory - the tongue phone. Oh, you remember this
phone! Nancy picks it up to call for help, and Freddy answers in his own
distinct style.
The sculpt is quite good, and it's a well done accessory, but other than
the standard display stand, that's it. After getting the cool
accessories with CSM, and even the accessories with POTA, this seems very
light. If you're not getting the exclusive version, you're actually
ending up with a big bupkis in this category.
Outfit - ***
Freddy almost pulled another half star here, just because of his uber-cool
boot sculpt. These boots are extremely tight fitting, and flow almost to
his knee. They look great, and are some of the best foot wear Sideshow
has ever produced.
The rest of the outfit doesn't fair quite as well though. The hat
looks good, and fits on the head well enough, but some may find it a tad
oversized. However, it's very similar to the past Freddy hats, so if
you're cool with them, you'll be cool with it.
The jacket looks great closed, and is very nicely tailored. When it's
opened up, it shows of the red and green striped lining specific to this
movie. The sweater is a very obvious read and green as well, to the
point of Christmas decoration obvious. I don't recall them being that
green in the show - it really is quite bright - but I might be confusing it
with the other films.
The green on the shirt is also that 'rubbery' paint, you know the type,
that is often used on cheap t-shirts. Since the red stripes are not, and
are actually dyed material, there's a bit of a mismatch in style between the
stripes. Worse yet, both the green AND red stripes on the inside of the
coat appear to be the rubbery paint-like coating, so that the red on the
lining doesn't match exactly in color with the red of the shirt.
The pants are a soft pleather, and are also very well tailored, not too
baggy yet not too tight. If you're not one to pick too many nits on the
outfit, you'll be fairly happy, but I was a bit disappointed in the rubbery
paint used on some of the stripes. I know that process has a name...but
I can't remember what it is for the life of me right now.
|