Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) - SW [S - P2] - Basic (’03 #02)

Ten years after the fight to save Naboo from invasion, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi, thousands of solar systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic. A courageous Jedi Knight, his impulsive and headstrong apprentice, and a queen-turned-senator are drawn into the heart of the conflict... and the beginning of war.

Realizing how far the Separatist conflict has degenerated, Mace Windu decides the time has come for swift action. He personally leads a Jedi battalion to Geonosis in an urgent rescue attempt, where he must put aside his diplomatic stance and call upon his finely honed Jedi fighting skills in battle.

How does one describe what in theory is a terrible action figure, but actually possesses some endearing qualities when you look at it in a different light, perhaps as anything BUT an action figure? (How does one even do that?) This line of thought is absolutely oxy-moronic, but we’re not sure how else we can explain the craziness that befits Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation). An action figure that looks like a complete train wreck from some angles, and a angel in others, Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) may be the metaphorical bridge Hasbro will need to sell to collectors to make them bite. We’re not so sure if that’s possible however. There is no denying that the 2003 lineup of the Star Wars “Saga” line has some really abrupt entries into it. Hasbro clearly wanted to engage the kids with the follow-up year after Attack Of The Clones, and that may be working. But one thing is for sure. Collectors are beginning to doubt whether Hasbro still has them in mind. Making very scene-specific characters is a collector driven directive obviously, but how do you look at action figures based on these scenes when they’re riddled with action features you’re dog wouldn’t even touch? Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) is a far way off to what collectors may find acceptable, but we will do our best to focus on some of its charm. And then we’ll bash it. Or vice versa. Evidently not a figure for everyone, Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) is as much of a head scratcher as it is fun and believable.

Advertised under the guise of an action figure with “total control”, we have to tell you that this sentiment isn’t very far off at all. But before we delve into the part of the action figure that we have to admittedly give props for, let’s talk about the horrifying aspects of this action figure first. Yes. It has a nightmarish tab on his back. The soft-goods look alright, but cover up the sculpt of the action figure so it’s very difficult to appreciate what has been sculpted underneath of it. Mace Windu’s facial expression is similar to what we have seen before in the basic figure line. He has a surreal dopiness etched into his features and instead of possessing a sense of rage or determination, he looks happy to wield his uniquely purple lightsaber. He can really only hold one pose thanks to the action feature, but again, if we can persuade you in any way to not consider this an action figure by textbook definition, you may be surprised by the versatility it does hold. Hasbro threw out the good aesthetics for this action figure out with the bath water. As a standalone piece in a diorama, there is really almost nothing about this piece that you’ll find pleasing to your eye. Maybe that won’t stop you from buying it, but we have to tell you that it has done more harm to the sales of this action figure than help it. Collectors are completely over “blatant” action features after the 2002 Star Wars “Saga” line. So why bring them back with a vengeance in 2003?

Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) does indeed have total control of his lightsaber thanks to a quirky, yet efficient action feature system. The obtrusive tab on his back works his arms in a variety of ways, up to and including almost any pose possible. The arms have been case in a very rubbery material which provide for the right amount of flexibility to make this work. The tab on the back will allow you to push his lightsaber forwards and backwards, plus you can turn the tab left and right and twist his arms in the respective directions. The lightsaber blade is removable. While it is sort of pointless to use the action feature without it, the option exists nonetheless. He comes in a slightly hunched over position and this posture allows for a great deal of realism with the action figure Hasbro decided to place inside of this action figure. Obviously this is a gimmick at best, but if you actually watch how the arms move while activating his “magic wand” on his back, we believe you’ll be eerily impressed with how realistic the effect looks. Clearly, this action figure needs two hands to function, and we’re not so sure how well that will go over with kids wanting to fight in or recreate Geonosis Arena battles, but the option is there. Mace Windu (Arena Confrontation) might only be considered an abomination to you and we are empathetic with your interpretation of it. But it’s not free from all coolness.