Garindan - POTF2 [FF/TKC] - Basic

Garindan, a Kubaz informant, works only for the highest bidders – usually the Empire or Jabba the Hutt. Garindan followed the young Skywalker and his mentor Ben Kenobi through the alleys of Mos Eisley.

Collectors were able to overlook many of the issues of the inaugural Star Wars modern figures because of releases like Garindan [Long Snoot]. Longtime collectors often envision what it would have been like if the vintage Kenner line had never ceased. At their leisure, they could return to all three Original Trilogy films and produce action figures that were never produced during the line’s original run. Just like Grand Moff Tarkin, Garindan [Long Snoot] was long-desired by many. It's nice to see the repack of the first offering in the modern line. Originally marketed as “Garindan (Long Snoot)” in the green phase of The Power Of The Force “2” line, Kenner/Hasbro eventually dropped the “(Long Snoot)” portion of his name for the Freeze Frame phase. They probably did this to stay in better alignment with the Expanded Universe and distance themselves from the nicknames these Mos Eisley characters were given by production staff working on the films (as well as Kenner employees). Garindan [Long Snoot] is about as equally exciting as he is disappointing. A great sculpt and likeness is diminished thanks to a cloak that not only hides most of his body but also completely encumbers his movement. It’s a bittersweet release, but we have to say that this character doesn’t have to do much so maybe all is not lost here.

Garindan [Long Snoot] comes with six points of articulation. However, most of it is utterly useless thanks to a thick plastic cape that not only is long but also wraps around most of the figure like a sleeping bag, only to inhibit this figure’s articulation points more. Aside from some hip movement and a little bit of arm movement, the only really useful point of articulation is the head – and even that is a bit difficult to articulate with ease. (It’s that dang cape. It is too bulky, thick, and wonky for this figure.) The sculpt of Garindan [Long Snoot] is quite nice. Some have felt that his likeness is much too cartoonish. We see that just a little bit here, but between the enhancements added from the paint operations and the nice sculpt, we still strongly feel that Hasbro could have done a whole lot worse here. Because of that, we have to say that this is a pretty decent action figure. What kills us more than the cape strangling this figure, however is the poor center of gravity. Kenner/Hasbro didn't sculpt the figure's feet well. Sadly, they force the figure to lean backward. As you can imagine, it makes standing him up extremely frustrating. Unless you hunch him over, you’re going to have great difficulty keeping him in an upright position. Action figures, no matter the license, should not have this issue ever. All action figures should possess the ability to stand unassisted. Sorry, but that’s the way we feel.

Another bittersweet addition to this figure is the comlink sculpted into the figure’s right hand. We love that Hasbro added this detail and are thankful that they didn’t neglect it, but why couldn’t this be a separate accessory? With all of the silly and screen inaccurate extra guns they pack with figures in The Power Of The Force “2” line, why couldn’t they sculpt an actual accessory that appeared in the film with Garindan [Long Snoot]? (Editor’s Note: Hasbro released an excellent update to this figure as 2006’s TSC Garindan (SAGA 034) which not only includes a separately sculpted comlink, it comes with a soft-goods and removable cloak and well as enhanced articulation and sculpting. It’s an excellent release.) Garindan [Long Snoot] comes with a blaster pistol that may or may not have been in A New Hope, but the gun does fit nicely in the figure’s left hand. (It’s your only option.) Garindan [Long Snoot] was carried forward into the Freeze Frame phase of POTF2 and comes with a nice action slide that captures what looks to us a promotional shot or Garindan (and not a still from the film). We adore these pack-in premiums and are so glad that we can capture stills and promotional images from the Original Trilogy because of them. You may be on the fence with Garindan [Long Snoot], and we would understand that. It needed a great deal of work before Hasbro finalized it. They have to remember to keep “action” in their action figures.