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Tony Montana Scarface - Respect and War versions
Enterbay
"The
following is a guest review. The review
and photos do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Michael Crawford
or Michael's Review of the Week, and are the opinion and work of the
guest author."
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Jeff checks in tonight with a look at both Scarface figures recently released by Enterbay - take it away, Jeff!
Scarface is a movie that just refuses to lie down and die, and its
permanent cult status means the collectibles of Tony Montana just keep
on coming. A few years back Sideshow gave us a couple of versions and
then last July I reviewed the outstanding white suited Montana figure
from Blitzway. It was their very first foray into 12” figures, and for
an initial release it was nothing short of amazing, at the time I
thought we had the definitive 1/6th edition. The strange thing is that
since it was unleashed to a pretty unanimous chorus of approval they
went very quiet… could that be about to change?
However, in
the interim another company that was already reasonably well
established has built on its well-regarded name and has seriously upped
its game. That company is ENTERBAY, and the last few months have seen
numerous new releases from them, including the fantastic ¼ scale T800
from T2. They have even more impressive stuff lined up for 2012
including more figures from Batman, Robocop, Rambo and a whole host of
others.
But the license announcement that surprised me most was for Scarface. As I already said in my Blitzway review viewable here,
it’s a cult favourite that has already received a lot of attention from
manufacturers over the years, and coming so hot on the heels of the
other figure did we really need another, let alone two?
Well, as
it turns out we do, because not only have ENTERBAY given us a coked up
to the eyeballs and mad as hell ‘war’ version depicting Tony in his
final bloody showdown, but they have also done a version in the white suit,
but this time with a more relaxed facial expression. So between the
three of them I think it’s fair to say that fans have been truly
spoilt, and if you have the readies to invest, you get a chance to
display everybody’s favourite psycho drug dealer in any pose you could
possibly wish for, all bases are covered!
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Packaging
- ****
Hot
Toys have recently cemented themselves as one of the most innovative
companies going when it comes to interesting boxes, but it has to be
said, right from the offset ENTERBAY have also had a good eye for some
top quality packaging.
I still remember being blown away when I
unpacked my first figure from them, the Game of Death Bruce Lee. It was
the first time I’d received a figure in a hardboard package and fully
surrounded by soft black foam, and it made me realise that as a
statement of intent it showcased that ENTERBAY had their eye on
delivering top quality merchandise.
Now here we have two
representations of the same character from the same movie, so the
fronts are near identical in utilising the classic black and white
movie poster.
However, to differentiate them the ‘Respect’ one has deep Ferrari red
sides whilst the ‘War’ one is a dense black. The sides are held shut
with magnets that lift to release the two halves of the inner box that
open up like a book with a central spine. The left hand tray holds the
accessories in a vac formed tray and on the right side is the fully
dressed figure enveloped in soft die-cut foam.
In short the
build quality of the boxes is absolutely top notch and the use of the
iconic imagery from the classic movie poster makes for a striking bit
of packaging.
Sculpting - ****
Although
this is the same character, we get two figures with distinctly
different facial expressions. Both are sculpted by Enterbays busy
artist in residence YJ Park, and like the work he showcased on Leon
(reviewed here) they exhibit his keen
eye for subtle detail. The ‘Respect’ version has a relaxed, dare I say
it even serene expression, but it is undoubtedly Montana/Pacino from
any angle. The trademark scar is of course there and the distinct Roman
nose is unmistakable. It also has all the finely observed wrinkles and
pores on the skin texturisation and the front section of hair is
seamlessly stuck on to add to the effect of depth and layering on his
fringe. The more eagle eyed amongst you will notice that the two
hairstyle are also unique to the two separate figures. It would have
been pretty easy to just re-use the same sculpt on both. But YJ has
taken the time to translate the distinct detailing and executes it
perfectly on both individual figures. That is the kind of thing where
the sculptors sense of perfection takes over from the cold hard
business of going for the easy option! You will also find two tiny
holes/slots hidden in the edges of the hairline in front of the ears;
these are for inserting the short arms of the sunglasses. They are
pretty well disguised and are only evident to those looking for them,
but if you decide the shades are never going to be worn by your figure
it would be a simple job to fill and paint over this feature with a
spot of acrylic paint.
The ‘War’ version has a much more intense
grimace, even more extreme than the expression on the Blitzway figure.
The mouth is contorted in an angry snarl with the upper lip curled
exposing his teeth as he releases hell with his little friend.
It manages to convey expertly the desperate fury unleashed in what he
knows is his final stand and I for one love to see scene specific
portraits like this conveying tons of emotion. Especially when as
companion pieces to more regular sculpts. That way we get more display
choices and the best of both worlds… expensive for completists though!
Like the other version it has all the super fine observations on the
skin and also has some beautifully rendered detailing on the hair.
Both
come with a selection of eight hands in a variety of poses (I’ll go
over in accessories) that are also expertly painted with the tiny rings
and tattoo painted in as well. In short these can sit on any shelf
beside the finest 1/6th available and hold their own handsomely.
Paint
- ****
ENTERBAY
really know about paint apps, they have proven this numerous times in
the past and the work they showcased way back when they first released
the two 24 figures showed that YJ Park was just as talented with a
brush as he was with a sculptors tool. The detailing here is nothing
short of phenomenal. Not only do we get the warm and swarthy flesh
tones with delicate mottling on the skins texture, but the sublime work
and the hint of beard growth is just astounding when viewed up close in
hand. Both have the ‘cat scratch’ applied delicately into the left
eyebrow and they have even darkened the inner nostrils to enhance the
illusion of depth. I also noted that the ‘respect’ version has that
healthy complexion of someone who has just the hint of catching the
summer sun on their face; it’s a subtle but still distinct detail.
While the War version has a more urban, unhealthy mottled look to its
finish, more suited to the drug addled nocturnal psycho that Tony has
become by the end of the movie.
Both also share some uber
detailed work on the eyes, which are not only shiny enough to catch the
light in a way as to be spookily realistic, but also have so much
microscopic detail as to be unnervingly convincing. They have tiny
lines radiating out of the iris, and we also have even finer work on
the miniscule thread veins that are dispersed over the white of the
eyeball… this is just amazing work, and makes one realise what a
quantum leap this hobby has taken since Sideshow first released their
versions of this character back in the day.
I like to keep all
the figures I collect, even when superseded by superior versions, I see
them as taking their place in the evolution of this art form. But I
think it’s fair to say that if you are lucky enough to own the ENTERBAY
or Blitzway versions of Montana, all previous attempts are now sadly
cast asunder!
Because of the snarling expression the War
versions paint also shows just a flash of the teeth and the inner
mouth. This is also executed deftly with subtle colour on the lips and
very convincing tones on the actual teeth meaning it all comes together
beautifully to look very convincing.
Outfit
- ****
During the
course of the movie Montana wears a number of choice outfits. I have to
admit one of my favourite looks in the movie was the striking orange
Hawaiian shirt, but I also loved the blue suit with the arm sling as
seen here.
However, even though I liked those looks, it’s undeniable that the two
most iconic looks are the ones they have gone for here! But there is
something of an enigma involved, as even though, when scrutinised I can
see that the tailoring and finish is slightly stronger on the white
suit (most notable in the edging of the lapels) I still have to admit
that the pinstripe 3 piece is my favourite.
The complete War
outfit consists of sculpted black dress shoes; the sculpting here could
be a little crisper on the laces and perhaps show some more wear and
creases across the top to be more convincing, buy they certainly
suffice for the job at hand. He also wears some black socks and these
appear to be real full shoes and socks over a foot rather than just
sock tops and a ball joint into the shoe. Next up are the trousers,
these have a velcro fly, working pockets and a black belt with a
functioning silver buckle threaded through the belt loops. He then
wears a slim tailored white cotton shirt with working press studs on
the cuffs and up the front for the buttons, and it features a wide 70’s
style collar. Over this is his pinstripe waistcoat/vest which has two
cut pockets and a row of tiny buttons up the front over the functioning
press studs, and the back panel is a satin/silk effect. Finally over
this is the matching pinstripe jacket, it has three non-functioning cut
pockets on the front with a handkerchief sewn into the breast one, it’s
a classic Savile Row cut with two vents at the back and a peaked lapel
with an unorthodox rounded point, in the movie they had more of a
traditional point, but for the scale this is pretty damned impressive,
especially when you consider it is lined as well. It’s held shut at the
front by two concealed hooks that slide into sewn loops, this is a very
well executed feature that means that when opened you don’t see any
unsightly oversized press studs, it does however lack any buttons at
the cuffs.
The Respect outfit consists of the same shoes but
painted in a deep brown with the laces picked out in black, this
definitely helps the detail stand out here but the underlying sculpt
does still lack crisp definition. Under the shoes he has black socks,
the more obsessive fans amongst you will already be aware that he
should actually have red socks to match his shirt, but like I said with
the Blitzway figure, the trousers are designed to fit long and sit on
top of the shoes making it a moot point for only the most anally
retentive. The trousers are an identical cut to the others with four
working patch pockets and a functioning belt through the belt loops.
The red shirt is also a slim cut with an even wider 70’s super-fly
collar that is worn over the lapels of the white double breasted
jacket. I had to unpick the press stud on the right cuff of the shirt
and move them closer to the edges as they were originally just too far
apart to fasten. It was a minor annoyance that took a couple of minutes
to rectify, but shouldn’t really need to be done on a figure in this
price range. However, it might be an anomaly peculiar to my figure, you
hopefully will have no such issue!
The Jacket has three cut
pockets, the two lower ones are working whilst the breast one is sewn
closed with the red handkerchief in it. It follows more of a classic
Italian cut with no vents at the back but also has peaked lapels (which
are more suited to a traditional double breasted jacket), and I’m happy
to say that this jacket does have a tiny row of three buttons on each
cuff, nice attention to detail lacking on the pinstripe version. This
one also fastens at the front with a small press stud, but the female
coupling that is visible when undone manages to look like a button
anyway, and a double breasted jacket should never be worn unbuttoned
anyway!
In summing up I’d say both are supremely well tailored,
the fabrics used are well sourced to fit the outfits they represent and
apart from a few minor niggles like the moving of the press stud on the
red shirts cuff and the lack of buttons on the pinstriped jackets cuffs
it’s all good to go. And even though I bring these two items to your
attention, neither are big deal breakers for me (I doubt most will even
notice). So because of the outstanding quality of everything else I
feel more than happy awarding both outfits a top score, they really
look great.
Articulation
- ****
These are based around the RM5 base body which is very similar to the RM4 which I gave a full lowdown on here,
so for a comprehensive breakdown of all his joints you can revisit that
old review. This is however a slightly revised version that
incorporates a soft PVC upper chest and neck area so as to improve the
aesthetic without impacting on the articulation. You can see the base
body here and compare it to the RM4 here.
So
what would I add to the review linked to above for this figure? The
main thing is of course the rubber skin covering the upper half of the
figure, as not only does this have a fantastic paint app matching the
heads skin tones and also have microscopic hairs applied to the neck
and chest, but the articulation of the neck beneath has a much better
range of movement than was evident on either the base RM4 or the Leon
figures that I previously reviewed. In short this a great base body, up
there with the very best, and the improved aesthetic coupled with the
revisions to the neck articulation mean this is fully deserving of a
top score here.
Accessories
- War ****, Respect ***1/2
These
come with two distinctly different sets of accessories on the whole,
but cross over on the hand sculpts, shades and stands. The full list is-
War Version-
Six extra hands (eight including the ones on the figure)
One assault rifle (Colt AR-15 carbine with ‘fake’ grenade launcher)
Two 40mm grenades (for above launcher)
One pair of sunglasses
One briefcase
Two bags of heroine (inside briefcase)
One pack of vacuum sealed cocaine (inside briefcase)
One gold neck chain
One cigar
One silver bracelet
One gold wristwatch
One figure stand
Respect Version-
Six extra hands (eight including the ones on the figure)
One pair of sunglasses (polly bagged next to the stand)
One cigar (polly bagged next to the stand)
Two gold neck chains
One silver bracelet
One Beretta
One suppressor
Eight packs of Benjamin’s
One figure stand
Looking
over the list it’s obvious that the War version is just a little better
equipped, not only does he come with a case full of class A drugs but
he’s packing the most iconic firearm of the whole movie, his ‘Lil
frien’. It’s a not widely known fact that the props department couldn’t
locate a real grenade launcher, so the one seen in the movie is
actually a fake that was machined by the props crew, hence the
oversized trigger guard, you can see it here as opposed to the real McCoy here
and a great bit of trivia is that the exact same prop was used on
Dutch’s assault rifle in Predator, cool huh. And it’s double cool to
see that ENTERBAY have replicated it perfectly here rather than just
going for an off the shelf version. It has a sliding pump action on the
launcher (sadly the grenades don’t actually fit inside); a flip up
targeting sight and the two taped together magazines are removable and
indeed swap overable. It has no other moving parts, but it certainly
looks the part. The Beretta has a higher degree of finish and detail
than ENTERBAY weapons have traditionally had, and I’m glad to see that
like on the arsenal received with Leon the finer points of articulation
on the sliding cocking mechanism removable magazine and attachable
suppressor are much better observed. The War version also comes with
his case of drugs, consisting of moulded bags of heroin and a block of
cocaine, the detailing on the heroine is nice, with the outer bags
being made of transparent plastic and the inner part appearing to be
white, the cocaine is just a simple white block but has a couple of
rubber bands sculpted around it as well. The briefcase that houses the
items is perhaps a little simple in its construction, but still
displays all the requisite detailing on the tiny latches, moving handle
and implied stitching around the edges. The only actual unique items
that the respect version comes with is the huge stash of hundred dollar
bills, eight wads to be precise, these are simple tiny printed notes
with buff paper strips holding them together, but for the scale the
detailing is more than sufficient to look convincing.
So, onto
the shared elements, both come with a cigar and a pair of shades,
though it is worth pointing out that the respect version has both of
these items bagged next to the stand rather than placed into vac formed
mould in the accessory tray. So don’t panic, just look closely and they
are there! I mentioned above about the shades, these don’t have full
arms but have short rods that insert into concealed slots on the sides
of the figures hair; they attach reasonably easily and look pretty good
for the scale once put into position and futzed with for a few seconds.
They also share the same metal jewellery of a silver chain on the right
wrist and gold chains around the neck (Respect has 2 as opposed to
War’s single necklace), they both also have moulded plastic ‘gold’
watches with black faces and of course they also have sturdy figure
stands.
Lastly they have a selection of eight hands a piece and
even these differ from each other, the ‘Respect’ version has two fists,
two relaxed grip, two fingers splayed/gesturing and two gun grip. Then
the ‘War’ version has two fists, two tight grip (for the briefcase or a
knife should you decide to equip him), two relaxed grip, then we have
right gun grip and a left grenade launcher grip (also good for cigar
poses).
I think you’ll agree that is a pretty handsome
selection, but the War version is definitely worthy of the higher
praise in my most humble of opinions.
Value
- WAR ***1/4, Respect *** (Double pack ***3/4)
ENTERBAY
as a company are not as fiscally or physically big as some of their
major competitors, but despite their ‘Indie’ nature, they continue to
punch well above their weight and their product just keeps getting
better. The quality of these two figures is definitely up there with
the very best and the whole package is quite a triumph, but whichever
way you look at it these are very far from cheap figures. Of course the
size of a company’s overhead expenditure tends to be reflected in its
products retail price, you want top quality and exclusivity you gotta
pay for it.
There is a way to make a much bigger saving by
buying both together at the same time as a double pack. ENTERBAY are
offering these for $375 shipped anywhere in the world which works out
at $187.50 each. However, if you are just getting one, the price does
jump somewhat with the individual cost being $225 a pop (which also
includes world-wide shipping).
So it’s obvious that the double
pack is by far the better deal, but it’s still not the sale of the
century. And the fact that as individual figures they top the $200
ceiling and come equipped with what is in effect quite a light
accessory assortment (for that outlay), does mean these are gonna
struggle to get a decent score in this category, that’s for sure.
However,
if you are the kind of hardened collector of hi-end 1/6th that has a
collection you would never tell anyone the financial value of (part
shame, part self-denial), then you will have managed to reconcile the
price in the blink of an eye… enjoy, and just ignore my ramblings in
this section!
Fun
Factor - WAR**** Respect***1/2
These
are both solid representations of the character, but I have a feeling
that the WAR version might prove more popular in the long run. The
reasons being twofold, Firstly there will be a lot of fans who already
invested in the Blitzway white suited version. And secondly (and for me
most importantly), the final shootout scene is just so much more iconic
as a memory seared into peoples collective consciousness. Once you have
bought it it will give you an excuse to start re-watching those final
scenes again in slo-mo looking for the best poses and then you can futz
to your hears content putting this guy in that classic crouch with ‘his
little friend’ low slung letting loose the dogs of war (I defy you not
to start quoting lines as you do this!). If I wasn’t such an anal
collector who keeps everything box fresh I’d be tempted to give the
shirt a good blood spattering too.
Of course this is not to
undermine the cool factor of the white suited version, and he does make
for a supremely good display piece, but when it comes to pure fun, then
how can he compete with his ‘little’ alter ego?
Overall- War ***1/2 Respect ***
Of
the two on show here I consider the War version to be the most
indispensable, in fact if you consider yourself a fan of the movie it
is an essential part of your collection, it should be made geek law
that you find a way to own it!
And of course if you have the
monetary funds available I’d recommend you get the double pack and save
yourself $75 (or club together with friend and buy one each). However,
I have to talk cold hard facts and grade these, and to my eyes the War
version is the better of the two (some will undoubtedly disagree). As
not only do I find the aggressive portrait more interesting, but the
accessories are more impressive as well. There is however a mere ½ a
star in it, because when all is said and done both the head sculpts are
approaching perfection with a paint app to match, the tailoring is to a
very high standard and they come housed in some beautifully constructed
boxes.
And so it is that the curse of so many top quality
high-end figures these days is that price alone robs them of a higher
score. Of course if you are not the kind of person used to high-end
prices I guess these would be lucky to scrape through with any stars at
all, and likewise an old hack like myself is tempted to give them an
even higher score… but I’m at least ‘trying’ to keep it real. I
recently showed a few of my figures to some professional ‘figurative’
sculptors, and when I told them the money they retailed for they were
amazed at how reasonable the prices were… make of that what you will.
Where to buy
As I said above, the most cost effective way to get the pair is as a double pack from ENTERBAY direct
where you can get them both shipped anywhere in the world for $375,
alternatively you can get them individually for $225 a pop.
I could only find them with one of Mike’s sponsors BBTS, where they have the War version in stock for $234.99. And the Respect version on pre-order for $239.99.
Or hit
eBay where BIN prices are between $180 to $270.
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This product was provided free for the review by the manufacturer.
Photos and text by Jeff Parker.
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