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Lord of the Rings | ||||||||||
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he Lord of the Rings, by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, is one of the most popular and well-respected genre works in recent history. The epic fantasy, about a dark wizard's search for a lost ring that will secure him supreme power, is rich, deep, complex and intensely interesting. It contains elements of traditional fantasy, such as elves and dwarves, and includes many original and inventive elements that have captured the imaginations of millions of readers for nearly 50 years.
The first of three highly anticipated films based on Tolkien's masterwork opens in December. The Fellowship of the Ring, which is the first part of a trilogy of books, deals with the travels of Frodo Baggins, a Hobbit, who is chosen by the wise wizard Gandalf to carry the ring to the volcano in which it was forged to destroy it before the dark lord Sauron gets his hands on it and pulls the entire world of Middle-earth under his control.
Sideshow Toy has been preparing for the release of this film by producing a large series of incredibly detailed and accurate miniatures based on weapons, armor and characters from the upcoming film. Some of the most interesting items it is making available are several sets of 1/4 scale miniature helmets.
These miniatures are sold in sets of four. Sculpted by the same metalsmiths who created the original helmets for the film, these helmets are incredibly detailed and well crafted.
Series I consists of four helmets worn by the orcs of Middle-earth, creatures bred from elves and who live under the rule of the dark wizard Sauron. The set includes an Orc Hide Helm, an Orc Squinter Helm, an Orc Crowfaced Helm and an Orc Trapjaw Helm. Other sets include helmets worn by elven warriors and other characters.
The review model is of the Orc Hide Helm. The model sits on a turned chessman-like pedestal, and stands on display at approximately 5.5" tall.
So ugly they're beautiful
At first glance, this helm has a very alien look, similar to the face of the creature from the film Predator. The helmet is sculpted to show creases and seams sewn from sinews in stretched hides. The paint work depicts brown, deeply tanned and treated hides, with black bone protrusions, spattered with subtle specks of gray.
Ironically, this miniature, meant to depict an alternative to heavy metal helms, is cast from metal, and is quite heavy. The pedestal base contains the signature of its sculptor, Shaun Bolton, along with other information.
This helm is a detailed piece. In an open-faced design, the wearer's mouth and nose are guarded by bone ribs. Protruding from the rear of the helmet are eight crudely placed bone-like spikes. The back of the helm is divided, connected by a buckle-strap at the rear. The model is molded with the chin strap open, but the buckle and strap almost look as if they could easily fasten together.
Beware, though—do not to attempt to bend the straps, as metal fatigue could result, and they might break. This piece is meant for display, and it is well suited for that purpose.
With only the one helmet from this set of four to review, commenting on the others seems a little disingenuous, but photographs of this helmet at Sideshow's Web site (www.sideshowtoy.com) portray the item very accurately, and there is little doubt that the remaining models in the sets can be trusted to strongly resemble their promotional materials.
There has never been a better time for fans of Tolkien's classic tale. With a movie coming, and items like these, they can now hold in their hands replicas of helmets as they will appear in the film, and that is an enviable thing for a fan group that has been craving exactly this sort of thing for nearly half a century.
The fact that these helmets are sculpted to reflect the actual helmets used in the film is a sure draw for fans of both the book and the film. There is a certain grotesque pleasure in displaying these items, and they are an absolute guaranteed conversation starter! — Sean
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