Toy Review - Human Alliance Jazz w/ Captain Lennox
Toy Review - Human Alliance Jazz
Series - Autobot Alliance (movie)
Sub-line - Human Alliance
Size/class - Human Alliance (approx. Voyager sized)
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - September 2010
Approximate Retail Price - $35-$60
Approximate Size - 20cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Pontiac Solstice
Main Features/Gimmicks - human figure, motorcycle becomes blaster, retractable visor, launchable missile
Main Colours - silver, black, bronze
Main Accessories - 1 missile, motorcycle, human figure
My Comments:
Components: Jazz comes with a motorcycle, human figure, instructions and a HFTD code, the box is the bigger HA type, which wastes a lot of space.
The figures:
http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/8599/components.jpg
Vehicle: Vehicle mode is amazing, it just looks tons better than the deluxe, although I do feel it is a bit short and stumpy/chunky (but that's minor). He's covered in silver paint, so it doesnt look cheap or anything, a fairly good size, he's about the same size as a standard voyager.
Vehicle (front and back):
http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/5...hiclefront.jpg
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/6026/vehicleback.jpg
Size Comparison:
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/4...comparison.jpg
(I only had Ironhide in alternate mode)
His interior is cleaner than HA Skids, as he doesnt have anything in the middle blocking, the downside is that he has no seats. His seats are his feet, and it's very obvious that's it's not a seat, but this is something I dont think many people would mind (I dont), he does have a steering wheel though. The human figure Captain Lennox can sit inside, pegging into the backrest, nothing spectacular or special. His doors though, since they're also his arms in robot mode, you can see his hands on the inside (again this is something minor).
Interior (with and without Lennox):
http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/6...leinterior.jpg
http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/9...clegimmick.jpg
The car mode does have some clearance issues, straight out of packaging and I tried rolling it on a smooth surface, but bits stick out underneath just a little bit too much, enough so he cannot roll without scrapping something. Overall, a really nice vehicle mode and makes a great display piece.
Motorcycle: Jazz comes with a silver motorcycle, wished it was Elita-1 or something so we could have all three Bikes in HA form, but this bike doesnt turn into a robot. It's alright in motorcycle, a bit elongated, you can plug in the included missile onto it's left side to store, it stands alright, and Lennox can ride it (although just like Arcee, he just rests there).
Motorcycle (with Lennox, and side view):
http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/4476/motorcyclev.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3...rcycleside.jpg
Transformation: He pegs really well in vehicle mode, it took me some force to pull the back part of the roof off, it didnt help that the joints are all a bit stiff (but this is a good thing). I felt that the transformation was a bit boring but does what it has to do, I've seen some people have issues with the fact that at one point in the transformation, Jazz is only held together with his transparent windshield, I dont think it's any problem though. His backpack compresses really nicely, and honestly, he doesnt really have much kibble on his back (unlike Skids), it's only three panels.
Robot: As usual with most transformers, Jazz really really shines in robot mode, he looks a whole lot better than the 2007 deluxe and really accurate to the screen model. As said, he doesnt have much kibble or a backpack, his legs are a bit weird, since his feet are brought forward (again, you dont really notice it). He's amazingly tall (standard voyager size), I like to turn his forearms so that the silver on the door panel shows, as I feel the standard configuration makes his forearm too skinny.
Robot (front, back and side):
http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/5892/robotfront.jpg
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/3650/robotback.jpg
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3641/robotside.jpg
His visor is retractable which is a nice touch:
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9545/robotvisor.jpg
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2...botnovisor.jpg
His motorcycle turns into his shield blaster, although looking good from the front, the side is a bit dodgy as the motorcycle wheels take away from the look (but it is the motorcycle's better mode). Jazz has three places to place the human figures:
1) On either of his feet, (with flip out guns for the human to handle)
http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/8...leggimmick.jpg
2) On the shield blaster, again the human just rests there and doesnt plug in, the missile launcher takes some force to fire
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7618/robotgun.jpg
3) On his shoulder with a flip down gun (notice the vehicle back panels can fold either to the front or the side of his thighs, here I have put it in front)
http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/382...dergimmick.jpg
Finally, a size comparison with some other movie toys:
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7...comparison.jpg
Overall: A great toy, although I havent gotten any other HA toys other than Skids, I think this may be the best of all the HA's, in terms of looks at least. He's fun, more as a display piece than anything, but I am not sure if he is worth the $60 asked by TRU, personally, I'll wait until Kmart gets it at year end.
