Movie Masters - Jor-El Review

April 16, 2013 the main trailer for Man of Steel goes viral over the net and takes the breath out of each Superman fan.  This third trailer shows the phase and how action-packed this re-telling of Superman’s Origin. Check out the Third and Main Trailer for Man of Steel here.

My quick thoughts for the trailer, as a Superman fan this got me riveted as each segment of the trailer is a hint and shown in ways that a fanboy would speculate and initiate what might be – that’s the fun of it. I have 5 points to raise:

1.  General Zod is fierce; the reinvention of the character is not something I expected. Michael Shannon executed Zod that would shun fear to humans as a conqueror and full of hate to the House of El longing for vengeance to Jor-El’s son Kal-El.

2.  Wonderer Clark, searching for this true purpose.  This is reminiscing of the graphic novel Superman: Birthright by Mark Waid.

3.  Action-packed movie with a heart, I got to admit I love how Zack Snyder imagination and how brilliant Goyer and Nolan with the story. I truly believe that this is NOT THE SUPERMAN MOVIE WE NEED but THE SUPERMAN MOVIE WE DESERVE since Christopher Reeve’s 1978 movie.

4.  Russell Crowe as Jor-El for me translates as the Marlon Brando of this generation.  The futuristic medieval look is great on screen.

5.  AMY ADAMS as Lois Lane is not how I would imagine it but seeing them for the first time is a re-invention of the 1^st interview looks very promising. 

With everything said, I am very psych about the Man of Steel’s debut. My favorite part of the trailer is the crest or symbol defined “It’s not an “S”, in my world it’s the symbol of hope.”

Now on to the Review of the Mattel Movie Masters Man of Steel – Jor-El Figure. This is my second review from the new Man of Steel Movie figure.  Special Thanks to BIG BOYS TOY STORE https://www.facebook.com/bigboystoystore for this figure. You can PRE-ORDER them at any Big Boys Toy Store Branches. BIG BOYS is one of the Philippines premiere source of collectibles, you can check out their FB page to know what’s the latest collectible available.

Packaging:

I had high hopes that that packaging would change much like the Green Lantern and Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters line but it’s the same with the Superman Figure and will be the same for all the Movie Masters Man of Steel Line.  I will not go through with the box further as it was already discussed in the Superman Figure Review -> http://bboytoysadvocate.blogspot.com/2013/04/man-of-steel-movie-masters-figure-review.html#.UXDBFEomCSo

In the Superman Review I was asked to post the Bottom part which contains the serial numbers so here it is.  Since these are advance figures I can understand speculations.  Hopefully this will suffice the inquiries regarding this issue.

I still wish there was a collect and connect for this line but like the Dark Knight Movie Masters line, there was none.

The Figure:

It stands 6” tall and is in perfect scale with the other Movie Masters Line. It comes with an “S” Symbol stand with a color scheme similar or patterned with the figure. It does not differ in any way from the Superman Stand. The Armor and crest symbol depicts a mix of medieval yet highly advance technology for Kryptonians in this movie.  The figure itself is a teaser of how intricate and attention to detail was given.  It is well designed and crafted giving us a closer look of what to expect in the movie.  The figure depicts the armor over the costume with a lighter color from what Superman is wearing, same texture though. The head sculpt is just as presented in the promo pictures, it has Crowe somewhere but not as uncanny as Cavil’s headsculpt on Superman. I can live with the head not depicting Russell Crowe but I am very disappointed that it has no cape. I see how Mattel and the Four Horsemen wanted to boast about the intricate details put into the figure, but removing an iconic part of the character is something else. Man I would accept a clip-on cloth or rubber cape, if the reason is what I suspected. Aside from these 2 points, I like the figure a lot! I am thinking of making a custom clip-on or attachable cloth cape afterwards, I will add those pictures or will make a supplementary review with the cape. I am giving the figure a 4/5.

Articulation:

The articulation in this figure surprises me, I love how all the hinges and cuts of the figure are well concealed.  It features all the standard DCUC points of articulation. The Arms movements are constrained due to the cable like attachments due to the design of the Kryptonian Armor. The head as far as this figure is concern can tilt upwards fairly and is not hindered by the armor. Aside from the hindered arms I love the articulation and still no abs-crunch but its ok, also the way the arms are hindered Jor-El cannot make a flying pose. I really don’t mind because Jor-El doesn’t fly in krypton but the cape I really want. I give it a 4.5/5.

Paint:

Paint is awesome for this figure, it’s not as bland as it thinks coz, the bronze armor has those little shadowing details, inner suit is lighter and details are distinguishable. The skin tone is better than my Superman figure and facial hair is well applied, no smudges, shadowing is also applied to a certain extent but does justice to the figure. I give it a 4.5/5.

Overall : 4.5/5

It’s a must have for Superman Collectors given this rare chance of having to own a Jor-El Figure. I really with a Lara, Lois and Perry White figure would come out but sources say these are the listings of Man of Steel Movie Masters Line.

That’s all for now, will be posting more picture when I finish the cape modification for this figure and some shots of them together.

Jor-El Crest Base

Copyright Njvelasquez 2013

Superman: Man of Steel and all related characters are trademarks of DC Comics & Warner Bros. Inc.

No copyright infringement intended in the making of this article.