I made this post on Rebel Scum in response to the prototypes shown at SDCC. I realize that they are a collectors forum and not really knowledgeable when it comes to props/costumes, but as unpopular as it was, I had to add my .02.
I look around these collector boards and I see them filled filled to the brim with those with such low expectations, that they will shell out big money for anything with an official SW seal on it.
What is wrong with you people. Please wake up.
Just because a company makes something better than it's predecessor doesn't mean they hit a bullseye. That should not be the standard that their success is measured by.
From where I stand, they have failed miserably and squandered an immense amount of potential.
I constantly hear you guys say, well it's close enough for me, or I don't need it to be 100% screen accurate to be satisfied.
I just don't understand. Don't you want the most for your money?
It doesn't always have to cost more to be more accurate.
All of these pieces cost enough that there is no excuse for not being WAY closer to the mark.
Last I checked, the marketing campaign for MR is ALL ABOUT promising identical replicas of the screen used pieces. I don't know how they can say that with a straight face. Maybe it is because they count on no one either checking it out for themselves, or just not caring. Both of which I've found seems to be the case, but it shouldn't be.
All this access to the archives makes no difference if the pieces you churn out turn out worse than what the average fan can do with extremely limited resources (less money, less access). It is a crying shame.
And don't give me that, "we have to make it affordable, or LFL made us make it less accurate" because that is all BS. It doesn't cost any more to make sure the patterns are cut to the correct shape. And despite the myth, LFL has never stood in the way of a more accurate product.
Just as an example, I made a quick comparison using the Luke ROTJ costume. Do these look like screen accurate reproductions to you?
The cut of the patterns are not the same, nor are the fabrics, nor are the colors. I don't know how you measure 'accurate' but those aspects tend to matter to me.
And if you think that the production pieces are going to turn out better than these prototypes, then you are in for a major disappointment. MR is known for their production pieces to turn out nowhere near as good as their prototypes. And these prototypes aren't very good to begin with.
From what I understand, every fabric, part, material, etc.. is sourced in India, and produced in India. Why, because it is cheap to do so.
The quality is sacrificed, but it doesn't have to be.
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