Gandalf the Grey EX and Frodo. Originally I had the Gandalf the White, never loved it and sold it. Much prefer Gandalf the Grey even if character wise I prefer the white version, the statue is just much better. It?s a 10/10 for me.
Weta Sauron with custom paint job. I love this piece, I know many people say he?s too small and want the bigger/better later versions, but this one is just as menacing even if he does skip leg days. Solid 8/10 though.
Sideshow Gimli Com EX. I am always amazed more people didn?t pick this up. I rarely see this piece in peoples LOTR collections. He was a bit tricky to find. I love, love, love this piece and think he mixes in just fine. Either they oversized him, or dwarves are just, you know, smaller, but it works. This also makes me realize I don?t have a Legolas picture handy so I?ll have to add him later and show what I mean. I like to go back and read old threads and see what people were saying about these pieces at the time and the action pose they thought was too much for a pairing, but The Legolas PF is drawing an arrow so I don?t see the issue. 10/10 piece.
Lurtz. One of SS best ever LOTR pieces. I have zero complaints with this one, they generally knocked the LOTR line out of the park and this is no exception. Maybe the new one is as good but I don?t think it?s better. 10/10.
Frodo is actually the piece that got me to go put together a LOTR collection. Originally I had Gandalf the White and Saruman, sold both to help fund a family vacation and thought I?d just assemble the two again and call it a day. Then my daughter fell in love with the movies and I was debating which way to go, figures or statues (well I did both, but, you know, that?s just how I roll). I had a crazy low bid on Frodo and said if it won, I?d buy the statue versions, so here we are, one of the weakest LOTR pieces influenced me to buy thousands of dollars of these guys?. I have seen this repainted and it?s better but still not great. Excellent tailoring and the metal ring is a great touch but a 5/10 piece. My hobbit busts are much better likeness.
SS Aragorn EX, love this piece though the factory paint lets it down. Saw someone?s repaint and the likeness was spot on. As it is, from the factory 7/10.
Saruman EX. This is probably one of the best likenesses SS has ever achieved. Love the EX too, just think that spell cast is more wicked. 10/10
Black Orc Scout EX. Another solid entry into Sideshows PF line. 8.5/10. I?m not as attached to random Orcs so this can only go so high on the list for me.
Gollum/Smeagle. SS in a rare move provided the extra bust and nameplate. One of the finest products they have ever produced. 11/10.
Moria Orc PF. People complained about the color red on his shirt on production. It really was not something that bothered me. I think that entire drama was overblown. But again, random Orc, too bad this slot didnt go to another character like Sam, though my weta 1/4 busts are fine, nobody?s lineup would be incomplete if they didn?t make this guy. It?s a good Orc, great tailoring, and a fun piece overall though. Solid 7.5/10.
