Christopher Lee as Count Dooku

in Star Wars, Episode II Attack of The Clones

Art Design: This is the standard Star Wars Episode II box in the various shades of blue. Count Dooku (rhymes with doo-doo) can be clearly seen through the window box, and he really looks bad. Perhaps to reflect his old age, or bad sculpting; it seems that Christopher Lee has a sort of washed-up, weather-beaten look. It is hard to explain, but it was predictable to see this figure on clearance at every store that carried it.

The Headsculpt :How can anyone mess up Christopher Lee? Hasbro can, and they did. His face looks like a withered prune. Sure, Lee is a really old man, around 80. But he still has a menacing chin. Hasbro gave him the Snuffy Smith look, while it is not completely awful, it could have been a lot better. Christopher Lee has a big English face, and Hasbro did not do him justice. However, once you pull the poor guy out of his box, he tends to grow on you. I guess Hasbro wanted it to look like Christopher Lee if he was already dead. Perhaps since he is so old they were anticipating that he might die while the action figure was still on the shelves. It is appropriate that the Count is marketed in a coffin-box.

The Figure: At least Hasbro did not use the rubbery Hall of Fame body! This is a new GI Joe no-waist body with Gung-Ho hands. The skin tone is unique, very light. The elbows and knees bend, which is a plus for this series.

The Outfit: The brown cape is great. It looks very nice and is well tailored. The black outift and cape could go towards a Dracula figure, if you could find a good headsculpt. The boots are soft black rubber, and hardly impressive.

The Gear: Yes, Virginia, There is A Santa Claus! Count Dooku is armed with his unique bent-rod lightsaber. This lightsaber even has some kind of stimulator prong on the side of the head of the hand-held section, and what looks like a cap for the "C" batteries. But there is no YODA included. The little Ewok wanna-be is in another set humping Luke Skywalker's back in the name of THE FORCE. I guess you can tell that I was greatly underwhelmed by the first two prequels to the Star Wars saga.

The Price: The original MSRP for this figure was $19.99 but it is on clearance at KB Toys for $9.99. At that price, it is a worthwhile for fans of Christopher Lee.

Grade: C