PADMÉ AMIDALA Secret Ceremony
The Saga Collection Basic Figures
Item No.: Asst. 84861 No. 84989
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #0322
Includes: Display base, flowers
Action Feature: n/a
Retail: $4.99
Availability: Spring 2003
Appearances: Attack of the Clones

Bio: With her life threatened by assassination, the young Senator retreats to her home planet of Naboo. Assigned to protect her is Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker, who stirs feelings within Padmé that she is quick to deny-- feelings that if realized could lead to a destructive course. Yet, when the Separatist threat erupts into war, Padmé and Anakin choose to defy his Jedi vows and unite in a forbidden marriage-- one destined for a tragic end. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam Pawlus' toy room.

Commentary: She might be a 10 on Naboo, but this Hasbro action figure is a Los Angeles 2. Padmé Amidala as a toy has traditionally been treated fairly poorly. Heck, Leia has had better luck with decent figures, and some of those were made centuries ago back in 1978. This figure just doesn't make a good collectible-- and here's why. One, the wedding dress looks a little homely. In the movie, lace could look like lace-- and while the plastic's texture is really pretty astonishing, plastic doesn't look like cloth too well. The figure had adequate articulation, but really, there's not much here to write home about. If Hasbro did a better job on the face's paint, she might look slightly less like a dude. Better eyebrows, perhaps some eyeshadow, maybe a bit of blush... there's a fine line between looking whorish and like some guy in a dress.

I think this figure could have been salvaged by being made a few years later, or perhaps in a time where more attention could be played to her decoration. I mean, you can kinda see her hair through her little hat/veil thing in the movie, but the toy just looks sort of like some medieval do-rag thing. The figure has a pretty nice display base, which has decent deco, great sculpting, and it shows that Hasbro really could make a playset to knock your socks off if they ever wanted to do so. Also, the figure's bouquet can be "planted" in the railing of the stand, which is a nifty dual use of the accessory. There are very few figures where I would say in all seriousness that the accessories outshine the figure, and this is one of those times.

Collector's Notes: I saw a bunch of her on clearance. I was tempted to get extras just to get more of the stand so I could connect them together into some nifty display base but I decided I'd be happier with the dollar. I would not suggest you get this figure unless you're a Natalie Portman stalker, a completist, or someone who doesn't think Hasbro might revisit this figure between now and the time the line becomes unprofitable. ( MORE IMAGES )

Day 620: January 16, 2008