TPM Jar Jar Binks (with Gungan Battle Staff)

Happy Force Friday, gents. Here at the Star Wars Box, we're excited about getting new Star Wars toys, but decided it's not worth fighting for them when they'll be flooding clearance bins in a few months anyway. Instead, lets reminisce on The Phantom Menace with this Jar Jar Binks figure, from a Force Friday sixteen years ago...

First, I've got to say I'm no fan of Episode I. Actually, I'd say it's pretty much the worst Star Wars film that's been made. I'm not hyped for the Force Awakens and yet my expectations are that it will be at least better than that film. But with that said, Jar Jar Binks isn't really what made the movie bad.

When I was a kid, I had a fledgling interest in Star Wars. TPM came along and more or less killed it, but I did still appreciate a few aspects and characters from the movie, even back then. Among what I liked was actually none other than Jar Jar. It really wasn't for much more of a reason than him being a silly, annoying character that everyone else hated, so it made me want to like him. I was always a bit of a troll like that.

This Jar Jar figure is surely not his best. The sculpt and pose are both okay, but I find he doesn't have much detail or definition to be seen. The character design really doesn't provide much to work with, but from the neck down this figure has very little detail.

The battle staff is an awkward part too. I barely remember him using it in the film, and I'm not even sure if that's just my memory or if he really did use it. I wish he could hold it with both hands as he tends to look very lazy and enthusiastic holding it with one or by just dragging it around...

Anyways, here's to hoping Episode VII will be light-years better than Episode I!

Kenner Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)

Hard to imagine that at one time there was virtually just one pilot figure made for all of Star Wars, that figure being X-Wing Pilot Luke. This figure is a fine example of Kenner quality however, which does make me wonder if this figure was the only pilot we really ever needed.

This figure has a lot of detail both sculpted and painted. From the buttons on his chest-box thingy to the various belts and straps adorning the figure. You can even see the tip of the helmets visor just above Luke's brow, which is some fine work. Speaking of detail, the helmet's complete with Rebel symbols and a red stripe going down the center. I always have liked the Rebel buckets for some reason.

The only problem with this figure is also another element that makes it rather nice: he doesn't resemble Luke much. There's not much on the figure that makes it blatantly apparent this is Luke Skywalker. Which is good, because that more than makes him a good army builder. I'd say it'd look fine to have a dozen of these running around personally.