Hasbro Star Wars - The Princess Leia Collection: Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker Review

Although most of Kenner/Hasbro's Star Wars action figures are marketed almost exclusively for guys (either kids or guys who were kids when Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope premiered in May of 1977), the marketing division figured out that the films also appeal to girls, so why not release a few collectibles that, while still having "guy approval," might please them as well.

The result of this reasoning (or Jedi marketing meditation) was The Princess Leia Collection, a quartet of two-figure sets pairing off the formidable Rebel leader and Luke Skywalker's twin sister with other characters from the Classic Trilogy.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker

 The beautiful Princess Leia, Senator and Cell Leader for the Rebel Alliance, rewards the young Luke Skywalker for his heroic role in the destruction of the Imperial Death Star.

Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker features both of the Skywalker twins as they appear at the end of Episode IV: A New Hope during the award ceremony in the Massassi temple on the fourth moon of Yavin.

In this two-figure set, the Skywalker twins - not that they know they're twins at this point in the Star Wars timeline - are wearing their Ceremonial Outfits from the brief dialogue-free coda in which Luke and his friends Han Solo and Chewbacca are awarded the Alliance's Medal of Honor for their roles in destroying the Empire's dreaded Death Star.

Weapons and Accessories:

Although Hasbro would later re-do Princess Leia in Ceremonial Outfit as a 1998 "plastic only" action figure in the Flashback Figures line and a 12-inch Collector's Doll version, this was the first rendition of the character in the simple but more elegant ceremonial gown.

Her long hair is still braided, of course, but no longer in the infamous "cinnamon buns" hairdo even the most ardent Star Wars fan shakes his or her head at. Instead, the hair has been elegantly coiffed and the resulting single braid, which is made from a hair-like fibrous material, runs down all the way to the small of her back. (I'm not sure what fabric was used for the cape and skirt, but it's a gauzy, taffeta-like material. Hasbro/Kenner's artists did replicate John Mollo's original classic-but-elegant costume design, giving Leia in Ceremonial Gown a metallic-looking necklace with matching belt.)

Luke Skywalker's figure is essentially an updated 1996 Luke Skywalker in Ceremonial Outfit variant, although his yellow uniform jacket is now made out of cloth rather than being sculpted/painted from the plastic of the figure. It's a somewhat jarring detail, since the workmanship of the jacket looks a bit sloppy, with a baggy aspect to the fabric and a somewhat rumpled, unmilitary look to it even in the carded bubble pack.

Luke's only extra is the Medal of Honor that he was awarded as a result of his actions at the Battle of Yavin. It's made out of a rubber-like plastic and can be hung around the figure's neck.

Other than that, I believe that Hasbro used the same basic mold as for the original Luke Skywalker in Ceremonial Outfit figure; Luke's facial features match the 1996 toy's "all-new likeness" to a tee, and, although his DL-44 blaster pistol seems to be molded-painted into its holster, the figure's costume details vary very little from the first Ceremonial Outfit Luke variant. (One small difference: Luke's fast draw holster has no silver "buckle" on the thigh strap in this figure, while there's definitely one on the all-plastic variant.)

The articulation points on the Princess Leia Collection figures are somewhat rudimentary, being limited to the basic head/neck, shoulders, and hips.

As with all the Star Wars action figures, Hasbro recommends this toy for children 4 and up since the small parts pose a clear and present choking hazard, especially for children under 3 years.