Packaging..........
External: The NECA Epic Scale Figures of Legolas and Aragorn are packaged in some very sweet brown, leathery, canvas, looking-packaging. This new color scheme is somewhat new to Lord of the Rings (as far as toys are concerned), but give a very nice fresh look to the Lord of the Rings Toy collections. The artwork on the box front and back has very large images of the heads of the figures showcasing the detailed sculpt work done by the team at NECA.
Internal/Unpacking: The packaging within the box is rather complicated with literally tons of the littel plastic twisties and little plastic tabs that ensure that every piece of loose accessory or moving part of the figure is securly strapped down to the box. While this makes for a nice aesthetic looking display, it is a nightmare to remove from the box. Forget about putting it back in the box to store or save for later uses.
Molding/Sculpt:
Legolas..........
Legolas: The sculptors working on the NECA team did a very good job on the 
Legolas figure. The major problem with this figure is the likeness to 
Orlando Bloom. While the team captured the coloing and detail to pretty accurate measures, the likeness just seem off from Orlando's Legolas. Tough to tell where the inaccuracies begin, but looks like the cheek bones, chin, and perhaps partions of the lips and nose just aren't right. Secondly, the articulation for this figure is poorly designed. While the shoulders are fully articluated with ball joints, the sculpted shirt and cape prevent the shoulders from moving freely. Also, the cut elbows allow for SOME movement, but prevent needed movement to put the figure in alternate poses:
The accuracy of the outfit and the detailed sculptwork make this figure a must have. The Elven Leaf Brooch looks amazingly detailed for something so small on the figure. The detail on the shirt and feet truly make the figure look exactly as intended...slightly worn, Elvish clothing with a snug fit, made for fighting in close quarters while maintaining the air of elegance known to the Elvish race.
Aragorn..........
Aragorn: The sculpt for the Aragorn figure is much better than that of the Legolas 
figure. The likeness and accuracy appears to 
be a bit better with the Aragorn figure. This figure simply looks REAL and looks nearly exactly like Viggo Mortensen as Strider! The windswept hair looks as it did on Weathertop when Aragorn defended the Hobbits from the Ringwraith assault. The paint scheme is top notch and the likeness to Strider is quite exquisite and warrants this figure as a MUST HAVE in any LOTR collection. The articulation for this figure is sufficient (more is almost always better), but you can see from the images that this figure can be posed in a number of decent ways including holding his BOW. The shoulder articulation works well. About the only drawback to the articulation is the legs...very limited poseability with the legs.
The outfit looks nearly identical to that of Strider from the Fellowship of the Ring. About the only inaccuracies are the fact that there is a whole in the cloak to make room for the ON/OFF switch for the FX Sound Effects. The detail on the outfit is quite amazing as well with accurate Brasers and Accurate shirt detail.
Accessories:
Legolas..........
Legolas' Accessories: The Legolas figure comes with everything he carried in his jourines with the Fellwoship through out Moria and into Lothlorien. This include his Elven Bow, Daggers, Arrows, and Quiver/Dagger Scabbards. The detail is quite amazing on the accessories down to the fine Elvish script on the blades of the Daggers:
The figure also has a plastic belt that looks amazingly like a leather strap that is perfectly made to hold the Quiver and Dagger Scabbards on the back of the figure.
Aragorn..........
Aragorn's Accessories: The accessories that comes with the Epic Aragorn figure are simply amazing. This figure includes everything but the kitchen sink as far as accessories go. Not only does this include a lengthy satchel (holding what we can only imagine...perhaps the shards of Narsil?), but this figure has a REMOVABLE scabbard knife. Also included are Aragorn's Bow, Arrows, Quiver, Sword, and his trusty Elven Knife used to stick bad-boy Uruk, Lurtz:
The details on the accessories are again, like Legolas, something to behold in person. The scripting on the Elven Knife is accurate and highly detailed, while the scabbard for his Ranger sword is very accurate as well. Truly awesome accessories for a figure of this scale and magnitude!
The FX Effects....
Legolas: The voice chip is somewhat annoying on this figure as the sound bytes come across as comical in a sense. The voice is a bit tinny and a little too high pitched for Orlando Bloom. While it appears that the recording is directly from the movie, it appears that whatever was used to synthesize the sound clips was a bit off in maintaining the accuracy of the clips. Listen for yourself and you decide:
Legolas: The voice chip for the Aragorn figure is a bit better, but again, the quality of the recording is somewhat lacking. For one, you can hear background noise in some of the clips for this figure...especially when there is a pause as he speaks. The lines are decent lines, but better ones probably could have been chosen...like lines spoken to Boromir at his death, etc. In general, however, the voice clips for Aragorn are better than the Legolas clips and do not appear as tinny and high pitched. Check them out for yourself:
OVERALL:
Legolas..........
Aragorn..........
FINAL NOTES: The Epic Scale Figures of Legolas and Aragorn from NECA are very nice and a super part of any Lord of the Rings toy collection. The 
Aragorn figure is better in just about every catagory listed above and it appears that is is just a better figure. Detailing, Articulation, Accessories, Sound Clips...all parts of some very good figures. Looking forward to what NECA has coming in the near future? Well, stay tuned for an Epic Scale BALROG that will absolutely AMAZE! Also rumored as "in the works" are Epic Figures of Gandalf the Grey and a RINGWRAITH!!!
