The Good: Good sculpt and balance, Generally good coloring
The Bad: Expensive, Some of the detailing
The Basics: The second Hallmark ornament focusing on Star Wars: The Force Awakens is Captain Phasma and it's all right, but not incredible.
The final Star Wars ornament this year from Hallmark is upon us! The November release features another preview ornament from the new film Star Wars: The Force Awakens! The new ornament is Captain Phasma and the role is one of the mysterious characters featured in the new film that has a lot of people excited due to the Game Of Thrones actress who is portraying Phasma. While the actress who plays Phasma is (obviously) a woman, the gender of the character at this point remains unclear (whether or not we see her out of her armor/hear her natural voice, etc.).
Captain Phasma is a new-release Hallmark ornament that is not part of the usual numbered series of Star Wars character ornaments. Captain Phasma is well-sculpted, but expensive making for something of a mixed bag for fans.
Hallmark has Captain Phasma, masked in First Order Stormtrooper armor that is colored silver and covered in a cloaked with an action pose.
Basics
The Captain Phasma ornament recreates the villain (?) who wields a standard blaster in a two-handed grip in solid plastic. The ornament, released in 2015, is the currently unfamiliar adversary in a black cloak and armor! Captain Phasma in ornament form is 4 1/2" tall, 2 1/2" wide and 1 1/2" deep, making it one of the biggest Star Wars character ornaments Hallmark has ever made. Hallmark charged $17.95 for the ornament originally and it is bound to sell-out come the November release. While that is $2.00 less than the originally-advertised price, it still seems expensive.
The Hallmark Captain Phasma ornament is made of a durable plastic and it is well-sculpted. Captain Phasma is basically a new-style of Stormtrooper from the villainous First Order. Captain Phasma's armor is expertly sculpted and the ornament includes pretty incredible detailing on the hands which make it look like it has fingers that could actually let go of the blaster the character holds.
Captain Phasma is very light on any coloring details. The cloak is colored in monotones and the armor is almost universally, monotonally silver. The silver is the same color as the blaster, so the definition between the hands and the firearm.
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Captain Phasma could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a comparatively high-priced ornament compared to other Star Wars character ornaments. This is Captain Phasma and it simply hangs on the tree.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Captain Phasma ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Star Wars Christmas Tree, Captain Phasma might be essential (we don't yet know how important Captain Phasma is in the new Trilogy), but it remains a tough sell given its scale and lack of coloring accents that make it look as real as many of the other Star Wars character ornaments. Die-hard collectors and fans will definitely want one, if for no other reason than it's Star Wars and it is from the new film. The ornament has a steel hook loop embedded into the top center of the character's helmeted head. From that hook, the Captain Phasma ornament hangs perfectly level.
Collectibility
Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition original U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (reviewed here!). Since then, they have branched out into other popular franchises like Star Wars and The Wizard Of Oz. The Captain Phasma ornament is somewhat limited and has the potential to quickly appreciate, save that it has a pretty steep original release price.
This is tough to speculate on for its collectible value. One suspects that if Captain Phasma is essential and vital in The Force Awakens and its subsequent sequels, Hallmark will make another version of the characters (much like they did with Darth Maul). If a better one is made, especially one with better detailing and in scale with the other Star Wars character ornaments, then this one will surely depreciate. But, if Captain Phasma develops into a fan-favorite villain, there's the potential that it will explode in value. But, while it may not be overproduced, it starts with a higher initial price than many comparable ornaments. The result is one that is tough to recommend as an investment piece.
Overview
Like most Star Wars ornaments, Captain Phasma has nothing to do with the Christmas holiday and this ornament is incredibly well-sculpted, even if it is a little less impressive on the coloring front.
For other Hallmark ornaments of Star Wars characters, please check out my reviews of:
2015 Kylo Ren The Force Awakens
2015 C-3PO and R2-D2
2015 Admiral Ackbar (Limited Edition)
2014 Yoda Peekbuster Ornament
2014 Imperial Scout Trooper
2013 Jango Fett
2013 Wicket And Teebo
2013 Lego Yoda
2013 Boushh Limited Edition
2012 Lego Imperial Stormtrooper
2012 Sith Apprentice Darth Maul
2012 General Grievous
2012 Momaw Nadon Limited Edition
2011/2012 Lego Darth Vader
2011 Jedi Master Yoda
2011 Bossk Limited Edition ornament
2010 Lando Calrissian Limited Edition ornament
2010 Luke Skywalker X-Wing Pilot
2010 Boba Fett and Han Solo in Carbonite mini-ornament set
2009 Greedo Limited Edition ornament
2009 Han Solo As Stormtrooper
2008 Emperor Palpatine ornament
2005 Slave Leia ornament
2000 Darth Maul
1999 Max Rebo Band mini-ornament set
1998 Princess Leia
7/10
For other holiday ornaments, please check out the Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2015 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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