[2000]
Designed by Unknown | Featuring Boba Fett & Han Solo | Piece Count: 166
I can’t quite put my finger on it; but something about classic LEGO just looks better to me. Newer sets, although often times more accurate and realistic, tend to look like a jarring mess of smooth curves and jagged corners. Plus, the over-use of stickers as of late is nothing but frustrating. I’ve never liked model kit stickers for multiple reasons (small size, lack of long term reliability, unmatching colors…) and, while LEGO has generally gone above and beyond to ensure their stickers look nice and will last – inevitably they won’t. Plus, an off-center sticker is truly atrocious – especially for brickfilmers.
While some might not like the pre-2004 sets because of their different and more limited color pallet, I find them charming. I’m a big fan of the LEGO system look, and have tended towards purchasing sets from this period over more recent ones. Sure, every once in a while a great new set is released (Dimensions had some great figure grabs, the Tardis set, the Scooby-Doo line) however, for the most part, recent LEGO has just been a let-down for me. Sure, it’s nice and sparkly, but every set seems to come with a new piece in a new color, and I honestly can’t see the company continuing on like this very much longer without eventual finding themselves financially dehabilitated again. Especially with a rumored switch from oil-based plastics to recycled organic ones upon the horizon. That’s not gonna be a cost saver.
The LEGO of the 90’s and early 00’s had to save every penny they could. Although licensed themes like Star Wars and Harry Potter generally got the better end of the deal, city, adventurers, and pirates got the boot. The less commercially viable themes were generally phased out or severely cut back during this period. However, even the big licenses didn’t make it out unscathed. Looking back now, especially in comparison to the numerous re-makes and re-releases as of late, these older sets certainly show their age. But I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
I believe that creative limitations bring about better end results, and you can really see that in these classic sets. The original Star Wars line, for example, had ships consisting generally of very blocky builds. But, a la Minecraft, the designers made it work. And, the small piece counts and easily reusable pieces are really something to be in awe over. Could you design a fairly accurate vehicle recreation with as few parts? How many tries would it take for you to get it right?
A big plus of this original LEGO Star Wars run – George Lucas had a small role in the designing and release of the sets, characters, and ships. Although LEGO was a popular toy brand, they were still relatively small in comparison to Kenner and Hasbro’s Star Wars action figure lines of the previous two decades. Going with LEGO wasn’t always a sure-fire hit. Plus, LEGO’s own refusal to make sets based on military and war, per their founder’s wishes, didn’t make the LEGO camp any more eager to snag up the license either. Both parties were treading lightly in this experiment.
An experiment that proved to be very fruitful!
I’m presently on a quest to own every 1999 – 2004 LEGO Star Wars set. I’d like to compare them to the re-releases that have come out in the years since, as well as get a window into what the LEGO design aesthetic used to be. Growing up on 1990’s LEGO and video games like LEGO Island 2: The Brickster’s Revenge [2001], I’ve a soft spot for this simpler age. Plus, it’s kinda neat to own some of the old, yellow, Star Wars minifigures. Although LEGO has always had yellow minifigures, (since they introduced minifigures in the late 70’s, anyway) they’ve used more accurate flesh tones for any intellectual property, or IP, based figures – often recreations of real actors and sports stars, since 2004. I’m become so accustomed to this norm that, going back is a little jarring – although neat.
Every journey starts somewhere, so for my quest, I thought I’d start out with something fairly easy. Thus, I picked up the original Slave 1 from 2000.
In comparison to the more recent Slave 1’s, this one is admittedly a little small and a little blocky. But, I really dig the aesthetic. Immediately calls to mind the days when LEGO wasn’t for permanent model building, but rather a fun recreation for a weekend, and then some extra parts to utilize any which way was pleased.
Of note: there are actually a lot of really cool features on this set. The front guns (here represented by wand/bar pieces) can swivel up and down at any angle, and pivot freely – allowing for a broad range of motions. Later Slave 1’s sacrificed this feature and instead utilize pegged swivel connections – which only allow for certain ‘locked in’ movements.
Here are the included minifigures and accessories. Although limited; the set comes with really all you need. You’ve got a vintage Boba Fett, (I’ve always preferred this one – attached jetpack aside) a stud-less blaster, (they’d begin adding colored studs to the end of blasters later) and Han Solo frozen in carbonite. Ok, maybe the carbonite block shouldn’t be considered a ‘minifigure,’ but I think it’s pretty cool.
I love that top connection piece (even if, now, it is largely overused in way too many space and sci-fi themed sets) and, the block is a fairly decent recreation. It’s neat to pose it up along with the feared bounty hunter and recreate scenes from Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back [1980]. (A review for another time)
I just couldn’t resist putting a ‘loading’ shot in here too. The cargo bay door can open up and allow storage of objects carbonite sized or smaller. Unfortunately, a minifigures couldn’t walk up the ramp without bumping their head. (perhaps an intentional design choice?) For such a small build, though, they really pulled off features like this well.
And, of course, a shot of Boba flying away. The cockpit is rather large, and, unlike later releases, is actually accurate to the films in that the seat moves with the wings. As shown in Star Wars Episode II – Attack of the Clones [2002], when the Slave 1 is landed, the cockpit points upwards. Unless you raise yourself up, you’re stuck looking at the stars until the keys are in the ignition.
Another thing to not here: the wings can actually rotate a full 360 degrees, meaning if you wanted to film with this, or something, you’d have to either secure them down in the position you want, or guarantee the ship is exactly perpendicular with gravity.
Also, the window canopy is actually two separate pieces – both attached by hinges. This allows for the cockpit to only be opened half-way, or fully. I don’t really know what the benefit of this would be – but it’s certainly cool. Later Slave 1’s either had unhinged, fully removable windows, or hinged ones with only one connection. A dual bending window is actually pretty neat.
Zoom! Boba Fett is off into hyperspace!
I just had to show the back of the model. Although it leaves a lot to be desired, it gets the job done well enough. Adding some light flairs in post would certainly make this light up a bit more like the original miniature/model as used in the original film.
I’ll try and end all of these reviews on my favorite angle of said set. And, in the case of 7144 here, this would be it. Something about this ‘over the shoulder’ (if you will) view really makes the ship look majestic in my opinion. I wish we could have seen a shot like this in one of the Star Wars films. I think it’s fantastic.
It also showcases just how blocky the model is. But again, I tend to prefer this over the newer releases that are jarringly smooth and round and then flat and bumpy. This is more uniformly designed – playing to the naturally blocky nature of LEGO bricks, while also capturing a good likeness of the original ship.
Overall, I’d give this set a 4 stars. For the original retail price of twenty bucks, this really can’t be beat. You get two minifigures, a blaster accessory, and one of the most iconic Star Wars vehicles – presented here in a space-saving tight little bundle. If you can get your hands on one, for the right price, I’d definitely recommend it. While surpassed by later versions, this original is a nice collector’s item – as well as a great toy for kids. Really neat!
The CinematiCritic 