Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) - SW [S - P1] - Basic (’02 #41)

After a rough first release with Padmé Amidala (Arena Escape) ('02 #02), collectors began to worry about what future versions of Padmé Amidala they could expect in the Star Wars "Saga" line and how Hasbro would approach them. But when Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) was released, many of us felt a sense of relief and hoped better figures were on the horizon. While imperfect, Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) assured collectors that things were looking up with action figure interpretations of our favorite heroine in the Prequel Trilogy. Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) brought a significant articulation to the action figure and appropriately scaled proportions. To make the action figure release a little more interesting, Hasbro added a large, bulky, and fun accessory to make the whole package more enjoyable. Not screen-accurate, the radar dish cannon was a creative and perfect choice by Hasbro. We suppose they included it to recreate, as best as possible, the explosive attack on Queen Amidala's starfighter as she landed on Coruscant. Hasbro added deco to the cannon's interior cylinder, which recreating that it's on fire, almost as if it was the source of the explosion. Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) sadly comes with an action feature, and a large button obstructs the back of the figure. It's a significant disappointment. Honestly, it's a bit more subtle and better hidden than the one we saw forced into the Padmé Amidala (Arena Escape) ('02 #02) figure. Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) is not half-bad except for the action, so it's a real shame here.

Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) comes with an impressive 12 points of articulation. Granted, most of it is swivel articulation, but she does come with hinge-jointed knees. The articulated knees give you a little bit more mobility than one with static swivel articulation. Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) possesses the ability to achieve some interesting action poses, and Hasbro designed the figure's left hand to accommodate and hold the helmet while not wearing it. We've discovered that this figure also attains a few other exciting positions that make it a worthwhile addition to any Star Wars collection. Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) has enough flexibility to be placed inside a Naboo Fighter cockpit. The figure wields the included blaster pistol as needed to fend off pending attacks. The head sculpt isn't perfect either, but it has a fair likeness to actress Natalie Portman. Overall, we don't feel the need to complain about this action figure incessantly. It hits all the right spots for our Star Wars collection, and aside from the annoying action feature, we enjoy it. The figure comes with a blaster pistol and removable helmet, but Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) also comes with a radar dish cannon that breaks down to an astonishing seven individual parts. That is a great deal of extra plastic to include in the MSRP of $4.99. It almost takes away the sting of the included action feature. At the very least, perhaps it temporarily distracts you away from the negative qualities or aspects of the action figure.

Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) has an excellent paint job. The facial makeup isn't over-accentuated, and the paint operations have clean lines. The hairline, in particular, is neatly applied, and the figure's features are feminine and pretty. The best part of the paint job, however, is the outfit. Naboo security pilots wear green leather jackets, and Hasbro has applied a red-colored wash, giving it a leathery-grained texture. Let's also not forget that the sculptors at Hasbro also added the appropriate folds and creases to create a natural leather aesthetic. While we are indeed happy with the effort put forth into Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack), we must admit that we would love to see Hasbro redo this particular version of the senator with super-articulation and without the inclusion of an action feature. Almost all of the pieces are in place here. But the parts out of place affect the overall quality, and collectors are a picky bunch. What they deem acceptable on an action figure has gotten more stringent over the years. There is no denying that Padmé Amidala (Coruscant Attack) comes with plenty of bells and whistles. Still, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that a full range of premium articulation with a decent portrait and fantastic paint job are some of the winning components to win over the Star Wars collecting community. We have a way to go before we arrive at that point, but no way anyone can say this action figure isn't enjoyable.