I think August 1st is the street date on this.
I don't think Hasbro has as much of a slam dunk with this vehicle as they did with the MF, but to make this thing as movie accurate as we would like would probably mean only one figure would fit in the head or the body would be so big that it wouldn't be in a price range any kid could have. I think we have to compare it with what we have already and ask ourselves is it an improvement? I don't think any of us can objectively say it isn't an improvement on the old mold. I for one am still excited to get my hands on it.
I think they did a good job. Of course I wish it was more accurate but I understand their reasoning being that this is a toy. Like I said, I will probably rework the interior a bit. I can see how troop seating wouldn't be that exciting for kids but I would have liked to have seen it. Something like in this photo:
http://www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk/static/html/features/starwars/technology_gallery/images/AT-AT%20Cutaway.jpgOh, and if you're a walker fan you'll love this 3D walker page:
http://www.scifi3d.com/wip_details.asp?intGenreID=10&intCatID=8&key=85I guess you can't please everyone so it looks like a decent compromise. The walkers were a huge attraction for me when I saw ESB, as they were with most people. I'm just glad they gave it an upgrade. On a side note, and a little bit of a rant, when I saw AOTC and the clone army landing their walkers and troops I always wished Lucas would have gone back and created a scene like that in ESB for the invasion of Hoth. I know it doesn't drive the story that much but since he has the capability with the special effects and he did it for AOTC it seems fitting that they would want to show how massive the Empire still is and how they want these rebels wiped out for what they did to the Death Star. It wouldn't even add too much extra time to it spliced into the attack scene, say, right after Leia's pilot briefing. It can show the Imperials landing on the other side of that fog that the rebel troops are looking at right after that scene. Then, there's sooo much room for additional CGI troops, speeders and other Imp warcraft when they first spot the walkers. It's a blank slate. Also, showing Imperial infantry advancing on foot would help give meaning to when you see the rebels armed with only rifles firing from the trenches. What exactly are they firing at? The walkers? Also, when the AT-AT is downed and the rebel foot soldiers cheer and run out of the trenches what are they running towards? Walkers?
Here is a cut scene from Force Commander. Just imagine a bunch of these scenes but during the Hoth invasion instead...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YXXQ3I2fxQ&feature=relatedAnyway, end of rant. As you can see I just love walkers and I'm glad they upgraded this bad boy.
