Editor’s Note:  This review has been updated with a second look…

Original Review:  Chris 1/31/2014 06:09 AM

There was a crime committed here.  We marked five 50 dollar bills with a red x.  Err.  Sorry.  Wrong movie.

There was a crime committed here.  The appearance of Pablo-Jill is a complete rip off of the Zandu-Zan from the movie The Last Starfighter.  But that’s not the crime.  The crime is that George Lucas also didn’t rip of the script of The Last Starfigher when writing Attack of the Clones.  It would have been a much better movie. 

The Ongree species is just another thing I hate about the way Attack of the Clones was made.  Just because computer generated graphics allows you to slap together a bunch of random weird features does not mean it makes a compelling alien design.  It just a hodge podge of random weirdness with no subtlety.  Upside down face.  The weirdly articulated faun-like legs.  Hunchback.  Ape arms.  Stapled together in an unimaginative Frankenstein’s monster. 

But we’re not here to review one of the worst movies in the history of western cinema.  We’re here to review the Pablo-Jill figure and with that, I can’t hold Hasbro accountable for LFL’s design.  As a figure, I can certainly appreciate what they have done here.  I don’t think it’s perfect by any means, but it’s neat.  I’m not thrilled with the range of motion of some of the joints.  The hips are ball jointed, but have minimal range of motion.  The elbows can’t even bend to ninety degrees and that’s a little frustrating.  The figure’s right hand is sculpted somewhat open, so it cannot hold the saber.  The CEO of Hasbro must be left handed because there’s definitely a disproportionate number of sinistral figures in the line.

These gripes are balanced out by the articulation that does work to include the ever brilliant rocker ankles.  The ankles compensates for the somewhat limited hips to help the figure achieve some nifty dueling poses, which is something that I consider important in Jedi figures.  Another noteworthy positive is the detailing on the head both in the sculpt and the paint applications.  The sculpted folds are brought to life with the dark wash given to the figure’s head.  The detail painted into the mouth is almost a wow factor at this scale.  8 out of 10.

Updated Review:  Bret - 11/02/2018 07:05 AM

I’m not as hateful on AOTC as my ol’ pal Chris, but yeah, the movie did kinda suck.  The key, though, is that so much of the prequel characters, beasts, and vehicles lended themselves to really fun looking action figures and toys.  I really do like most of Hasbro’s stuff from the prequel era.  Despite the objections Chris had towards the LFL design, I don’t have the same issues.  I like the design.  But we are on the same page as far as the figure is concerned.

This isn’t the first version of Pablo-Jill.  There was one that came out back in 2004-ish for in Original Trilogy Collection packaging.  It’s in the comparison pic above.  That was actually a nice looking 5POA figure.  It was really cool at the time.  And the sculpt itself (minus the lack of articulation) is pretty good.  If you strongly prefer the plastic sculpted robes to the soft goods on the new figure, then you have to give that figure a second look.  The pre-posed look is actually pretty accurate to the few seconds of screen time that Pablo-Jill has when the Jedi Strike Team attacks at Petranaki Arena.  But that’s all it offers.  Or is it?

This figure was originally intended to be releases in the weirdly handled Legacy Collection 2 Droid Factory line.  It wasn’t part of the group that was rescued by Amazon, but it was one of the few samples that made it out to discount retailers like Hank’s House of Handy Dandies (not to be confused with Frank’s House of Dandy Handies), Just Ask Paul Reiser (seriously, do it), The Flimsy Wallet (which is huge in Indiana), and This Place is Gross!, where I don’t have to dress up all fancy like I was going to Walmart.

If you’re looking for a little more “action” in your action figures, then the Black Series version here is your best bet.  However, there are some major flaws.  First, the figure has an outstanding sculpt.  And it looks great posed as in the film.  But then you can really pose the hell out of the figure…or can you?  The shoulders and elbows are ball jointed.  Even the wrists are actually ball jointed.  and not the ball and hinge type we’re used to, but more like an actual ball and socket joint.  The range is limited, but it’s still there.  After that, we run into some real trouble.  The head is ball jointed, but the sculpt restricts movement beyond swirling to the left and right.  The legs are real complicated.  There are ball jointed hips, but they have very limited range.  The knees have greater motion, but are rendered nearly useless by the lack of range at the hips.  But in an attempt to make up for this nonsense, the figure has the glorious rocker ankles.  Yes, CJ.  ROCKER ANKLES!  It’s too bad, because although they’re great, they barely rescue the lower body range of motion.

The figure comes with a huge Jedi robe.  It’s all too common that it looks like a Snuggie on most Jedi figures, and this one is no different.  Pablo-Jill also comes with lit saber, but no unlit hilt. Again, this is weird because he does have a peg hole in the belt, but is rendered useless.  Meh.  One other issue, the hands aren’t sculpted well-enough with regard to tightly gripping the hilt.  It can be done, and he can perform a meager THWG, but it’s not great.

Chris gave the figure an 8. I’m not going to change it because the unique design, in my opinion is pretty cool and the figure does look great in a Geonosis display.  But you know what, for all intents and purposes, the extra articulation does very little for the figure.  It’s almost not worth it.  I think this figure could be better.  But I really don’t think it deserves the effort of an upgrade.  And while there is room for improvement, this is the Pablo-Jill you’ll want.  Let’s call it definitive, because an update is simply unnecessary.  Flaws an all, it’s still a cool looking figure, and I’m happy to have it in my collection.

Verdict: No Action 

The figure goes for a decent premium on the Bay.  The OTC version shown above is MUCH cheaper.  If you’re a terrible collector, you might grab that one up instead of the TBS version.  But if you’re not a terrible collector get this one.  Just don’t pay a lot.

Verdict Guide:
Re-sculpt = The figure is not definitive, and a new version should be developed.
Re-issue = This version is definitive (or close enough), and shows sufficient secondary market demand to warrant a straight repack.
No Action = This release does not require new attention.