Cult Classics Series 5 - Hannibal Lecter 7" Action Figure Review

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(More customer reviews)Hannibal Lecter is a figure we were told we would never get.
In the late 1990's McFarlane Toys was the go-to company that paved the way to figures like this, by producing toys like Freddy and Jason when no one else did. It was under a mature action figure series called Movie Maniacs that eager horror fans received 7-inch versions of their favorite boogeymen.
However, as the years passed McFarlane sadly dropped the ball somewhere, no longer producing new and highly demanded figures, and simply rehashed ones we'd seen countless times before.
Although today McFarlane does still make impressive and quality figures, NECA is the company to keep an eye on if your interests lie in horror, science fiction, and cult films (as mine do).
I will not claim to know how they did it, but somehow NECA convinced Anthony Hopkins to sign over his likeness rights for this figure, and I thank Toy God they did. For the first time ever, Hannibal Lecter is presented here, as he did in that extremely memorable segment of Academy Award winning film, The Silence of The Lambs.
He is sporting the classic straight jacket, blazing prison orange pants, face restraint/mask, and dolly cart.
With only cut ankles and a ball-jointed neck, his articulation is rather limited, as you might imagine. However the attention to detail is astonishing. The mask is removable, to show off that eerie Anthony Hopkins likeness that I was rather impressed by, despite the negativity of others.
Take it from me, the eyes on this figure resemble that of the eyes of Dr. Lecter so well, it's frightening. The figure is made to stay attached to his cart, which has the ability to pivot back and forth, but he can be removed and stand well on his own. His jacket has a nice wash of dark grey over it, highlighting all the creases and wrinkles, establishing a nice gritty feel. All together, his clothing hangs off his body frame well, and gives off a realistic appearance.
The sculpting and paint application are very impressive, and accurate to the film. However I do have a few minor complaints. The straps on his mask are very small, soft, and difficult to secure when putting the mask in place. It gets very aggravating, especially if you have big fingers and small patience.
Also, in keeping with the likeness of the amazing Anthony Hopkins, the figure features some balding on the back of his head. However, rather than sculpting a nice comb-over look by clearly separating hair from bald skin, there is simply flesh color painted in a square patch directly over the full head of hair. This doesn't look right, and sticks out when looking at the figure from any angle other than straight forward. Fortunately it can be fixed rather easily, with any kind of black paint or pen. A few strands of hair can be highlighted in black to resemble a more natural look.
I have to hand it to NECA, they began as the wannabe company, producing figures here and there, that barely rivaled the likes of McFarlane's older work. Today they are first-class, producing a wide assortment of figures and collectibles that are constantly putting their predecessors to shame. NECA knows what the fans want, and Hannibal was on the top of that never-ending wish list.
Truly an amazing figure, with only a few minor problems. It makes me proud to add the grand Dr. Hannibal Lecter to my collection.

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Name: Cult Classics Series 5 Action FigureManufacturer: NECARelease Date: September 2006Figure Height: 7 InchesDetails (Description): The Cult Classics line of Action Figures has been a hot topic amongst film fans and collectors alike since it's first series, and the future of the line shows to be no different.

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