2012 Must Have Been A Disappointing Year For Snoopy Ornament Fans . . . “In The Spirit” Flops!

The Good: Good sculpt, Often can be found dirt cheap!
The Bad: Balance issue, Coloring is a little off, Seems small for the price, Underdetailed
The Basics: The 2012 In The Spirit ornament is an unremarkable Peanuts ornament that is more likely to make fans feel like they are being exploited than truly please them.


With the clock ticking down until the 2013 Hallmark Ornament Release Weekend, it is hard not to wonder just what franchises will be the most exploited this year. Last year, Star Wars fans were taken to the cleaners on exclusives and Hallmark blew out the Barbie line with enough ornaments to keep most fans looking for years. They also learned that exclusives from The Wizard Of Oz might not be the best way to go. For my money, I’m betting that the Peanuts ornament line churns out more ornaments for buyers to flesh out the Hallmark 2013 ornament line-up. The reason for my bet in that direction is simple: no likeness rights to be concerned with and, if 2012 was any indication, Hallmark seems happy to churn out Snoopy ornaments as filler, regardless of their inherent quality (or their lack thereof).

I find myself considering that whole idea as I look over the 2012 In The Spirit ornament, an ornament that was one of the few still on clearance at my local Hallmark shop now, eleven months after its initial release. Having closely inspected this ornament, its remaining on the shelves in not really a surprise.

Basics

The In The Spirit ornament features Snoopy from Peanuts wearing a reindeer antler hat with lights and holding a mug of egg nog. Woodstock sits perched atop his antlers, looking like he is finishing stringing the lights upon them. The sculpt is all right and the concept is fine, it is the execution of it that is comparatively less remarkable than many of the other ornaments, even the Peanuts ones.

The Hallmark In The Spirit ornament is made of a durable plastic and has the characters cast in very bright plastic. The sculpting is very simple; the antler horns are very wavy and (appropriately) not very sharp. The lights are very simple in their detailing and the most impressive aspect of the ornament might well be that Hallmark took the time to mold a straw into the egg nog mug.

However, what really lowers the In The Spirit ornament is the lack of sophistication to the coloring of the ornament. For sure, Peanuts fans have to expect monotones – no real depth or shading or attempt at realism to the coloring. But the In The Spirit ornament looks coloring book-simple. The colors are simple in an indescribable way that make the ornament look even more simple and less color-sophisticated than either the comic strip or the animated television show. If this were the coloring for an ornament based on a live-action work, I would probably say that it made the character look animated. In this case, it makes the animation-based character look like a parody of itself.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, In The Spirit could have a sound or light function, but it does not. This is a very basic ornament intended to be one of the more affordable options without flair. In that regard, it is fine; it does not need a light or sound function.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake In The Spirit ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Peanuts Christmas Tree, the In The Spirit ornament is mediocre at best on its own and poor when balance is added as a factor. Hallmark has the standard metal hook at the logical point, the top of Snoopy's head. However, from there, the antler upon which Woodstock is perched weighs the ornament down, causing the ornament to pitch awkwardly.

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 made ornament replicas of virtually everything that has ever had collectibles associated with it (and some that Hallmark has pioneered). The In The Spirit ornament seems like it would appeal well to Peanuts fans, but it did not connect with collectors. Given that I could find it now for 90% off, it seems unlikely that this will be a good investment piece any time in the foreseeable future.

Overview

The lack of exceptional detailing, coupled with the price and the balance issue, make the In The Spirit ornament an impossible one to recommend.

For other Peanuts holiday ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2012 Onstage Antics
2012 Fisherman Snoopy
2011 Snoopy Claus
2011 Ho! Ho! Ho! Tasty Snow!
2010 "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"
2009 Just The Right Tree

3.5/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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An Additional Barbie Ornament, The 2012 Barbie Provencale Is A Strangely Undervalued Ornament!

The Good: Fair sculpt, Vivid coloring, Decent balance
The Bad: No flexibility, Strangely low collectible value.
The Basics: The 2012 Barbie Provencale is a stunningly well-made ornament that for some reason did not reach its audience.


2012 was the final year for the Barbie Hallmark ornaments and blowing out their license, Hallmark Keepsake went all out. In fact, some of the best ornaments in years for the Barbie line were released last year. Arguably the best made Barbie ornament of 2012 was the Barbie Provencale ornament. I was absolutely baffled, though, by the fact that this ornament was one of the ones I could easily find before and after the holidays. I was surprised because the Barbie Provencale ornament was well-made, the only redheaded one last year, and was not from the main Barbie line of ornaments.

For those unfamiliar with them, Barbie dolls have been a leading trademarked doll (and model for unrealistic female bodytypes!) from Mattel for over sixty years. Hallmark Keepsake picked up the Barbie license in order to produce Christmas ornaments and Barbie Provencale is one of several Barbie ornaments produced for 2012!

Basics

The Barbie Provencale ornament recreates the Barbie Provencale doll with Barbie looking like the queen of a manor. She is magnificent and regal looking. The ornament features Barbie with a very elegant look to her. She has a bubble cut haircut and is a redheaded version of the popular doll. This Barbie ornament is 4 1/4" tall and very wide because of the skirt on her dress.

The Hallmark Barbie Provencale ornament is made of a durable plastic and glossy embroidered fabric. The ornament features the icon with a wrap over her shoulders, elegant silver-blue gloves, and her left arm behind her and her right hand on her hip. Her facial expression is a neutral to faintly smiling one. Her bright red lips offset the coppery red hair of the character.

The Barbie Provencale features a silver and blue dress with an ornate pattern that look almost like curtains. The silver-blue gloves on the ornament lend it a very classic beauty queen look. She has bright blue eyeshadow and that raises the level of apparent elegance of the character.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Barbie Provencale could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for fans of Barbie. I think it's disappointing that Barbie Provencale does not have any articulation to her limbs. It was well within the abilities of Hallmark to make the ornament articulated at least at the shoulders or neck, but they opted for an ornate statue look for the ornament. At least the cloth and plastic elements blend well.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Barbie Provencale ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Barbie Christmas Tree, the Barbie Provencale ornament is a great addition. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top of the character's head. From there, one hangs the ornament and this Barbie ornament is perfectly balanced! Unlike the doll itself, which is almost impossible to get to stand up, the Barbie Provencale ornament has great balance and hangs perfectly!

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 every major franchise from Barbie to Gone With The Wind to Twilight. The Barbie Provencale ornament sold surprisingly coldly, despite the fact that it is one of the better in the Barbie ornament line. It remains especially easy to find on the secondary market even after the holiday. If I were betting on it, I would lay good odds that this is one that will eventually become exceptionally sought-after and thus more pricy. It’s not there yet, though!

Overview

The Barbie Provencale ornament is a well-made, well-balanced, exceptionally affordable ornament worthwhile to anyone who loves Barbie dolls or ornaments!

For other Barbie ornament reviews, please check out:
2012 Brava, Ballerina! Barbie
2012 Holiday Celebration Barbie (Black)
2012 Holiday Celebration Barbie (Caucasian)
2012 Matinee Fashion Barbie - Final In The Series!
2012 Tweed Indeed Barbie
2011 Celebration Barbie (Black)
2011 Campus Sweetheart Barbie
2011 Prima Ballerina Barbie ornament
1996 Enchanted Evening Barbie ornament
1995 Barbie Debut (Brunette) - Club Exclusive
1994 Barbie Debut ornament

9/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Toy And Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Two Years Of The Same Crap: Hallmark Strikes Out With The Lego Darth Vader Ornament!

The Good: Looks like it is supposed to
The Bad: Overpriced, Ridiculous subject, Poor balance, Terrible collectible/investment value.
The Basics: For two years, Hallmark Keepsake has tried to sell of its stock of Lego Darth Vader ornaments, with decidedly mediocre results!


Even as someone who enjoyed the Lego Star Wars video game, I think some of the merchandising around it is ridiculous. After all, fans of Star Wars hardly need Star Wars Lego’s, though they have been quite the cash cow, as I understand it. But, it seemed pretty ridiculous to me when Hallmark Keepsake released the Lego Darth Vader ornament in 2011. It was even worse when they re-released it in 2012 . . . the exact same ornament. Having, before now, only reviewed the Lego Stormtrooper ornament (here!), I was somewhat unsurprised that the Lego Darth Vader ornament suffered from many of the same issues. Even worse; because it was so vastly overproduced and released for two years running, the Lego Darth Vader ornament has managed to decline in value because it could not hold its collectible value!

From the Star Wars line comes the Lego Darth Vader ornament, the first in the series of character ornaments from Lego Star Wars. Fans of the Star Wars Legos and, perhaps as important, the Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga video game (reviewed here!), will easily recognize the Lego variation on the villainous Darth Vader. Hallmark captures the Darth Vader, in Lego form, with his little Lego lightsaber in his hand, marching boldly forward!

This is a very typical, very average Star Wars ornament with no bells and whistles, but given that it is based on a video game, based on a toy, based on the movies, it seems far too many degrees of separation to be worthwhile.

Basics

The Lego Darth Vader ornament recreates the Lego Sith Lord in solid plastic on a black and gray plastic Lego block base. The ornament, released in 2011 and again in 2012, is the leader holding a glowing red lightsaber in his right hand, or socket given how rounded the hands on Lego characters are. Hallmark managed to get $14.95 originally for this ornament and it was one of the ornaments I could find after the holidays both years! This character ornament is 3 1/4" tall, 2” wide and 2 1/8” deep. Given that the ornament was designed for fans, this is an ornament that appeals to collectors, though I suspect it is not nailing it with either of its target demographics. It is not detailed and realistic the way most Star Wars fans like their collectibles and it is not small enough or versatile enough to actually appeal to fans of Lego block toys.

The Hallmark Lego Darth Vader ornament is made of a durable plastic and has him holding a lightsaber in his right hand. His feet are arranged in a dynamic-looking stance, with one leg behind the body, though both are attached to a Lego block base. This is a very simplified sculpt of a Lego Darth Vader, but the essential parts are there: the helmet, the cape, the Lego-style open hands.

The Lego Darth Vader ornament is also detailed with the coloring to back up the sculpt. The front panel is made to look like a classic Lego toy sticker, but it is painted on, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, the Lego Darth Vader is a pretty basic character and so there is not much that can be done in terms of detailing, so Hallmark does not need to try to add depth, shading or anything else to the color palate to get this ornament right. It is a bland character and a pretty bland ornament! The fact that the lightsaber is made of translucent red plastic, like the ones in the Lego toys, is pretty cool, though.

Unfortunately, the ornament does not have any articulation to it, so fans who want to turn the helmet or move the arms will be disappointed.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, the Lego Darth Vader could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for those who might not want to shell out for the ship or diorama series' of Star Wars ornaments. This Lego Darth Vader simply hangs.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Lego Darth Vader ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Star Wars Christmas Tree, the Lego Darth Vader is very much a luxury; this whole concept is more ridiculous than realistic, so this is very much a “luxury” ornament for the serious die-hard fans. The ornament has a metal hook loop embedded into the top center, slightly back, of the character's helmet. From that hook, the Lego Darth Vader ornament is front heavy, from the way it is holding its lightsaver out. As a result, it leans constantly forward, further diminishing its coolness (especially given that the forward pitch is made more obvious by how the block base does not hang level as a result!).

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 (click here for that review!). Since then, they have branched out into other popular franchises like Star Wars and The Wizard Of Oz. The Lego Darth Vader ornament is very common and locally sold more on clearance than at full price, largely due to lack of consumer interest.

This is not a great investment piece and it is unlikely to appreciate for quite some time, if ever.

Overview

The Lego Darth Vader ornament is a bad idea, executed well on the sculpt, but without the balance, collectible value, or fan interest to make it a success. One hopes that Hallmark Keepsake will not release it again for a third year in a row and perhaps learn their lesson: the Lego Star Wars ornaments are not worth producing because collectors do not find them to be worth buying!

For other Hallmark ornaments of Star Wars characters, please check out my reviews of:
2012 Sith Apprentice Darth Maul
2012 General Grievous
2012 Momaw Nadon Limited Edition
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
1999 Max Rebo Band mini-ornament set

3/10

For other ornament reviews, please be sure to visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Barbie Ornaments Dance Into History With The 2012 Brava, Ballerina! Barbie Ornament!

The Good: Good sculpt, Decent use of mesh, Decent balance
The Bad: No flexibility, Coloring is a little off, compared to artwork
The Basics: In its final ballerina release of a Barbie ornament, the 2012 Hallmark Keepsake Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament looks good, but not as vivid as the artwork indicated!


With 2012 being the final year for the Barbie line of the Hallmark Keepsake ornaments, I was surprised to learn that for the last several years, there has always been a Ballerina Barbie ornament offered. I suppose it shouldn’t have surprised me, as many little girls want to be ballerinas and the popularity of The Nutrcracker makes the ballerina a pretty common Christmas image worldwide. Fortunately for fans of the Ballerina Barbie ornaments, the line went out on a pretty high note with the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament.

For those unfamiliar with them, Barbie dolls have been a leading trademarked doll (and model for unrealistic female bodytypes!) from Mattel for over sixty years. Hallmark Keepsake picked up the Barbie license in order to produce Christmas ornaments and Brava, Ballerina! Barbie is one of several Barbie and Barbie-themed ornaments produced for 2012!

Basics

The Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament recreates the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie doll with Barbie up on her left toes, with her right leg bent at the knee and the toe pressing out from the left knee, as if in the early stages of a pirouette. The ornament features the recognizable visage of Barbie with her blonde hair pulled back, but then cascading behind her. This Barbie is uncharacteristically wearing minimal make-up (which is ironic considering how much make-up stage ballerinas actually have to wear! The ornament has Barbie wearing a simple pink tutu with flared skirt. The skirt is webbed, pink and made of nylon. This Barbie ornament is 4 1/2" tall by 2 1/4" wide and deep because of the skirt.

The Hallmark Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament is made of a durable plastic outside the nylon skirt and has the feminine icon standing alone, holding her hands before her, as if she is beginning a complicated dance move. Her one-piece is colored dull pink with darker pink accents for the toeshoes and skirt. This Barbie is distinctive in that she has decent depth and shading on her skin tones in her face. Her hair is a little less impressive and the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornaments I picked up for review (I went back a couple times to confirm it) all had a duller, more pale color palate to them than their box photography presented. While there is something to be said for the photographs on the boxes being for reference purposes only, the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament is noticeably more pale than the artwork on the box.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Brava, Ballerina! Barbie could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for fans of Barbie. I think it's disappointing that Brava, Ballerina! Barbie does not have any articulation to her limbs. It was well within the abilities of Hallmark to make the ornament articulated at least at the shoulders or neck, but they opted for a boring statue look for the ornament and that disappoints some.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Barbie Christmas Tree, the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament is a great addition. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top center of the character's head. From there, one hangs the ornament and this Barbie ornament is perfectly balanced! Unlike the doll itself, which is almost impossible to get to stand up, the Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament has great balance and hangs perfectly!

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 every major franchise from Barbie to Gone With The Wind to Twilight. The Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament sold well and seemed to meet customer demand. While there were none locally available after the holiday, I noticed that this is not one that has not moved in price much since the holidays. I suspect that if one can find it at clearance prices now, this will be a decent investment piece for the future, especially with it being the final release.

Overview

The Brava, Ballerina! Barbie ornament might not color match to the pictures on the package, but it is still a decent release and a worthwhile ornament for Barbie or ballerina fans!

For other Barbie ornament reviews, please check out:
2012 Holiday Celebration Barbie (Black)
2012 Holiday Celebration Barbie (Caucasian)
2012 Matinee Fashion Barbie - Final In The Series!
2012 Tweed Indeed Barbie
2011 Celebration Barbie (Black)
2011 Campus Sweetheart Barbie
2011 Prima Ballerina Barbie ornament
1996 Enchanted Evening Barbie ornament
1994 Barbie Debut ornament

8/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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The Best, Vastly Overpriced, Worthless Ornament Hallmark Made For 2012: Gigi!

The Good: Good balance, Amazing detailing
The Bad: Incredibly overpriced, No collectible value, No “bonus feature.”
The Basics: The Gigi Gigi ornament is an overpriced would-be dud that flopped in the consumer market, but it objectively one of the better movie-related ornaments in 2012 from Hallmark!


Every now and then, not frequently, I hold off buying a Hallmark ornament for review because I see that the ornament I want to review is so tragically overpriced that I will be able to get it easily after the holiday (if Hallmark ever wanted to send me the crop of genre ornaments in advance for review, I could get through a whole lot more each year!). This year, that is the exact way I bet on the Gigi ornament from the Best Picture winner Gigi. I took one look at the Gigi ornament in November, gagged at the $17.95 initial price tag and walked away from it. Right now, Gigi is the only genre-themed Hallmark ornament I can find in any of the four nearby Hallmark stores, even after being marked down 50%!

For those unfamiliar with the film, Gigi (reviewed here!) is a remarkably unmemorable romantic comedy winner of the Best Picture Oscar. It focuses on Gigi, who is courted by Gaston, who wants to be a kept woman and finds her way to that.

It is Gigi, in her classic white dress, that is the subject of the Gigi Hallmark Ornament.

Basics

The Gigi ornament includes only Gigi, in her white dress, sweeping around her. The ornament, released in 2012, is incredibly well-sculpted with realistic lines of force making it look like the young woman is caught mid-twirl. Her coloring is exceptional as well and she looks like one of the most lifelike ornaments of the 2012 season.

Measuring four and a half inches tall, the Gigi ornament is a decent-sized Hallmark ornament. Unfortunately, at the original issue price of $17.95, it is quite bit expensive for what it is. On the sculpting front, the Gigi ornament is deceptively simple. This is just a lone woman in a white dress, but the white dress features black “feathering “ on the shoulders that is incredibly finely detailed. While it looks quite breakable, Hallmark manufactured the Gigi ornament out of strong, hard plastic and I found none locally that were broken.

The facial sculpt of the Gigi ornament looks exactly like Leslie Caron, who had a fairly round face and an innocent demeanor. The ornament features a tiara molded into her hair and the hair is detailed with enough fine etching to look like hair, as opposed to a crappy helmet of some sort. What really took me back about the Gigi ornament was the coloring. The red in the cheeks and the gloss on the lips make Gigi look startling realistic and easily one of the best-colored people ornaments Hallmark has done in a while.

This ornament remains fairly easy to find at Hallmark stores, even in the after season, so there is no reason (yet) to look for it in the secondary market.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Gigi could have a sound effect or light effect, but she has neither.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Gigi ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate movie nostalgia Christmas Tree, the Gigi ornament is a very expensive option that looks good beside ornaments from The Wizard Of Oz and ornaments like those from Gone With The Wind, though she is a slightly larger scale. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top back of Gig's head and it is pretty much the only option for the ornament, though it looks unfortunately obvious there. The Gigi ornament hangs level when hung properly, which is good because the sweep of the dress would make it terribly obvious if this ornament was off-balance.

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 (click here for that review!). Within a few years, virtually every classic film franchise jumped on the bandwagon and began merchandising with Hallmark as well. Classic properties like Barbie, Disney, The Wizard Of Oz and Gone With The Wind have been made into Hallmark Keepsake Christmas ornaments. Gigi is, to date, the only Gigi ornament on the market and made its debut in autumn of in 2012. Vastly overproduced, the Gigi ornament tanked in the primary market and was widely available after the holidays on clearance. Given how many remain available, it has no real hope of being even a marginally good investment piece.

Overview

To be clear, the Gigi ornament is not at all bad; it was a good ornament that was exceptionally detailed for its obscure source material. But the initial price tag on it was so stiflingly high as to scare away buyers and collectors, making it one of the big failures of the 2012 ornament season. Fans buying now, after the value has plummeted will find that they can get a great deal on a superb ornament, provided they are purchasing for the quality of the ornament and not on the hope that the value will ever appreciate . . . or even bounce back.

For other 2012 film-related Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
Scarlett Meets Her Match Gone With The Wind ornament
Gandalf The Gray The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ornament
Captain America The Avengers ornament
The Bat The Dark Knight Rises ornament

6.5/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2013 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Even More Impressed With The Detailing, The 2012 Black Celebration Barbie Hallmark Ornament Is Worthwhile!

The Good: Good sculpt, Cool gem accents, No cloth, Decent balance, Great skin tones!
The Bad: No flexibility
The Basics: For it final Barbie Celebration ornament, the black version of Hallmark’s 2012 Celebration Barbie Hallmark is the way to go!


Every year, when Hallmark releases its Christmas-themed Barbie ornaments, the only one it replicates for different ethnicities is the Holiday Celebration Barbie. This year, the final year Hallmark will be making Barbie Christmas ornaments, is no different. However, this year’s black Celebration Barbie has skin tone highlights that make it the superior Celebration Barbie ornament to pick up!

For those unfamiliar with them, Barbie dolls have been a leading trademarked doll (and model for unrealistic female bodytypes!) from Mattel for over sixty years. Hallmark Keepsake picked up the Barbie license in order to produce Christmas ornaments and black Celebration Barbie is one of several Barbie ornaments produced for 2012! It is worth noting that there are two versions of the Celebration Barbie, a Caucasian (reviewed here!) and a black Barbie. The black is the exact same sculpt as the Caucasian, but with different color skin, eyes, and hair. Both wear the same festive red dress and the black Celebration Barbie is one of the highlights of the 2012 ornament line.

Basics

The black Celebration Barbie ornament recreates the black Celebration Barbie doll with Barbie in her rich red Christmas dress. The ornament features the ethnic version of Barbie with black hair, smooth chocolate-colored skin, and vibrant brown eyes. She looks like a glamour model and in pretty much any toy store in an integrated neighborhood, the black Celebration Barbie may be easily found (before it sells out!). The Celebration Barbie is the latest in the series that replicates the popular doll in ornament form.

The ornament has Barbie wearing a flowing red Christmas gown with silver jeweled accents to her dress and neck. This Barbie ornament is 4 1/16" tall by 2 5/8" wide and 2 1/2” deep because of the solid bell form to the dress. The Hallmark Celebration Barbie ornament is made entirely of durable plastic, save the faux-fur stole on her biceps and has the feminine icon standing alone, with her arms out at her sides, slightly raised, as if she was caught in the first movements of a hug. Her dress is colored two very close shades of red and has a front panel on the skirt that has jeweled accents. The slightly different shading and texture to the dress makes it look like real fabric and that is pretty impressive! She does not have feet molded on, so the bottom of the ornament is a single, flat piece.

This Barbie has less make-up than the usual doll or ornament which makes her look less garish and more natural. However, the black version of the Barbie Celebration ornament features highlights to the cheeks that make her look slightly flushed. This has the effect of giving the ornament startlingly real fleshtones and makes the ornament look less doll-like and more realistically fabulous. The contrasts of her skin tones set off the different reds in the dress as well and that looks great!

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Celebration Barbie could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for fans of Barbie. I think it's disappointing that Celebration Barbie does not have any articulation to her limbs. It was well within the abilities of Hallmark to make the ornament articulated at least at the shoulders or neck, but they opted for a boring statue look for the ornament and that is disappointing.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Celebration Barbie ornament is to be hung on a Christmas tree. For those creating the ultimate Barbie Christmas Tree, the black Celebration Barbie ornament is the superior addition for 2012. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top back of the character's head. From there, one hangs the ornament and this Barbie ornament is fairly evenly balanced.

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 every major franchise from Barbie to Gone With The Wind to Twilight. The Celebration Barbie ornament is selling fairly well, probably because it is the last of the line. I suspect that this will be a strong investment piece and the Celebration Barbie ornaments are a Christmas-themed line, with all thirteen (or, is it 26?) pieces being reasonably obtainable. That none of them have exploded in value is an enticement to collectors and first and last in a series have a tendency to appreciate faster than most, so this should be a strong “buy” to anyone looking to complete the set or invest after the holidays!

Overview

If you’ve never added some diversity to your Barbie ornament collection, there is no better time to start than now with the 2012 Celebration Barbie Hallmark ornament!

For other Barbie ornament reviews, please check out:
2012 Matinee Fashion Barbie - Final In The Series!
2012 Tweed Indeed Barbie
2011 Celebration Barbie (Black)
2011 Campus Sweetheart Barbie
2011 Prima Ballerina Barbie ornament
1996 Enchanted Evening Barbie ornament
1994 Barbie Debut ornament

8.5/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Toy And Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Unfortunately Underdetailed, The Gandalf The Grey Hallmark Ornament Is Still Cool!

The Good: Good sculpt, Generally good coloring detail, Good balance
The Bad: Minor coloring issues, Lack of effect/gimmick
The Basics: The 2012 "Gandalf The Grey" ornament is a weird blend of amazing detailing and underwhelming attention to coloring for the hero of The Hobbit.


As fans flock to theaters this weekend to see the first of the new The Hobbit movies, Hallmark is hoping that enthusiasm translates to sales in the franchise it has not been able to exploit effectively for almost a decade now. When the Lord Of The Rings Trilogy was released, Hallmark dabbled in ornaments, but this franchise has a pretty steep fall-off in merchandising when there is no film out to support it.

For those unfamiliar with the idea of the ornament, Gandalf The Grey features the wizard from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (reviewed here!) or, I suppose, The Fellowship Of The Ring (reviewed here!). This is Gandalf The Grey in an action pose, sword drawn, staff held heroically out before him.

Basics

The "Gandalf The Grey" ornament recreates Gandalf The Grey holding his sword in his right hand and his wizard’s staff in his left. The ornament is just Gandalf The Grey, looking like he is lighting the way and preparing to fend off whatever he sees in the diminishing darkness. The ornament, released in 2012, is a very cool and accurate sculpt of Gandalf The Grey, as portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen. He is not wearing his hat and from his belt hangs his sword’s scabbard.

Hallmark clearly made quite an effort on Gandalf The Grey as he has decent detailing like the buckle on the belt. Measuring five and three-quarters inches tall, three and a half inches wide and one and three-quarter inches deep, the "Gandalf The Grey" ornament is one of the larger Hallmark character ornaments this year. At $14.95, the Gandalf The Grey ornament is also one of the more affordable genre ornaments this season, suggesting that Hallmark is betting low on the viability of merchandise surrounding The Hobbit.

The Hallmark "Gandalf The Grey" ornament is made of a durable plastic and sculpted to look like Sir Ian McKellen in his recognizable role. Hallmark detailed the staff and scabbard well and the cloak even has decent lines of force to make Gandalf look like he is swirling around. The coloring detailing is inconsistent, though. This Gandalf The Grey has realistically rosy cheeks and his hair is finely detailed with grays and browns that looks incredibly accurate. However, the sword is monotonal – it looks like a cartoon in a real person’s hand! – and the cloak is entirely too clean to be at all believable. The inconsistency robs this ornament of anything approaching perfection.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, "Gandalf The Grey" could have a sound effect, but it does not. Instead, this is a less-expensive option that is just the character.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake "Gandalf The Grey" ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate movie nostalgia Christmas Tree, the "Gandalf The Grey" ornament is a great option that can only enhance the tree of those who love fantasy characters. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top center of Gandalf The Grey's head. This is fairly obvious and necessary for the ornament. Hanging there, the ornament is absolutely perfectly balanced. The cool scabbard he has hanging from his belt helps keep the ornament in right balance and Gandalf The Grey is well-engineered in that regard.

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 (click here for that review!). Within a few years, every major franchise from Star Wars to A Nightmare Before Christmas to Indiana Jones started making Hallmark ornaments. "Gandalf The Grey" is one of only a few Middle Earth ornaments on the market and at least the second of Gandalf The Grey. Sir Ian McKellen fans and fans of The Hobbit movies are very happy about the "Gandalf The Grey" ornament. They have a lot to be happy with in regards to this one. However, the track record for Middle Earth-related merchandise has been poor; investors might want to wait until this is half price before stocking up!

Overview

Fans of the Middle Earth franchise, Sir Ian McKellen, and Hallmark ornaments are likely to be excited by this ornament, and the promise of more to come. Gandalf The Grey might score, objectively, as a little more average than great, but it is still better than many of the ornaments on the market this year!

For other Hallmark genre ornaments released in 2012, please check out my reviews of:
The Final Battle Harry Potter ornament
On Stranger Tides Pirates Of The Caribbean ornament
Edward And Bella’s Wedding Twilight ornament

7/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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A Strong Finish To The Celebration Line, The 2012 Barbie Celebration (Caucasian) Hallmark Ornament Is Pretty Cool!

The Good: Good sculpt, Cool gem accents, No cloth, Decent balance, I like the hair!
The Bad: No flexibility
The Basics: For it final Barbie Celebration ornament, Hallmark’s 2012 Celebration Barbie Hallmark ornament helps the line go out on a high note!


As the final wave of Hallmark ornaments crosses my desk, I am trying to prioritize some of the most noteworthy of the ornaments. As a pleasant surprise to me and to actual fans of Barbie, the 2012 Celebration Barbie ornament, which recreates the limited edition Christmas Barbie doll in ornament form is a pleasant surprise from Hallmark Keepsake. It is well-established that Hallmark has lost the license for Barbie and this will, barring a sudden reversal from Mattel and Hallmark, be the final year Hallmark Keepsake produces Barbie Christmas ornaments (investors, be forewarned!). The red dress 2012 Celebration Barbie ornament will be the final one in the line.

For those unfamiliar with them, Barbie dolls have been a leading trademarked doll (and model for unrealistic female bodytypes!) from Mattel for over sixty years. Hallmark Keepsake picked up the Barbie license in order to produce Christmas ornaments and Celebration Barbie is one of several Barbie ornaments produced for 2012! It is worth noting that there are two versions of the Celebration Barbie, a Caucasian and a black Barbie. The Caucasian is the typical blonde Barbie in a festive red dress and she is pretty well-executed.

Basics

The Celebration Barbie ornament recreates the Celebration Barbie doll with Barbie in her rich red Christmas dress. The ornament features the recognizable visage of Barbie with her long blonde hair cascading down over her shoulders. She looks like a glamour model and is pretty much exactly what one expects when they think of Barbie; thin waist (though in this outfit that is not as exaggerated as one might expect!), busty (also, not as exaggerated on this ornament) and a pleasant smile on her face. The Celebration Barbie is the latest in the series that replicates the popular doll in ornament form.

The ornament has Barbie wearing a flowing red Christmas gown with silver jeweled accents to her dress and neck. This Barbie ornament is 4 1/16" tall by 2 5/8" wide and 2 1/2” deep because of the solid bell form to the dress. The Hallmark Celebration Barbie ornament is made entirely of durable plastic, save the faux-fur stole on her biceps and has the feminine icon standing alone, with her arms out at her sides, slightly raised, as if she was caught in the first movements of a hug. Her dress is colored two very close shades of red and has a front panel on the skirt that has jeweled accents. The slightly different shading and texture to the dress makes it look like real fabric and that is pretty impressive! She does not have feet molded on, so the bottom of the ornament is a single, flat piece.

This Barbie has less make-up than the usual doll or ornament which makes her look less garish and more natural. Her hair is actually incredibly colored. This Celebration Barbie has a slight shimmer to her blonde hair, so she looks like a platinum blonde and that is a nice touch! That adds depth to the ornament’s head and actually makes it look more distinctive than many of the other Barbie ornaments.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Celebration Barbie could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for fans of Barbie. I think it's disappointing that Celebration Barbie does not have any articulation to her limbs. It was well within the abilities of Hallmark to make the ornament articulated at least at the shoulders or neck, but they opted for a boring statue look for the ornament and that is disappointing.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Celebration Barbie ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Barbie Christmas Tree, the Celebration Barbie ornament is a good addition. The ornament has the standard brass hook loop embedded into the top back of the character's head. From there, one hangs the ornament and this Barbie ornament is fairly evenly balanced.

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 every major franchise from Barbie to Gone With The Wind to Twilight. The Celebration Barbie ornament is selling fairly well, probably because it is the last of the line. I suspect that this will be a strong investment piece and the Celebration Barbie ornaments are a Christmas-themed line, with all thirteen (now!) pieces being reasonably obtainable. That none of them have exploded in value is an enticement to collectors and first and last in a series have a tendency to appreciate faster than most, so this should be a strong “buy” to anyone looking to complete the set or invest after the holidays!

Overview

Fans of the Barbie franchise can be thankful that the 2012 Barbie Celebration ornament takes the collection out on a high note, ending their affiliation with Hallmark with dignity.

For other Barbie ornament reviews, please check out:
2012 Matinee Fashion Barbie - Final In The Series!
2012 Tweed Indeed Barbie
2011 Celebration Barbie (Black)
2011 Campus Sweetheart Barbie
2011 Prima Ballerina Barbie ornament
1996 Enchanted Evening Barbie ornament
1994 Barbie Debut ornament

8/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Toy And Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Worst Marvel Ornament Yet, The The Avengers Captain America Is A Loser!

The Good: Not overly expensive.
The Bad: Terrible animated look, The “hook” is lame, Balance issue, Lack of subtlety in coloring
The Basics: The 2012 Captain America from The Avengers Hallmark ornament is an unfortunate rendition of the film version of the Marvel hero character that does not live up.


There is something seriously wrong with Hallmark’s lack of ambition at times. While there are frequent times that they execute ornaments from current film projects expertly, when they fall down, they really fall down. Holding off their gimmick-based Captain America ornament from The Avengers until the autumn release may have been a sales ploy; I suspect it was the only way they could get it to sell. As fans of The Avengers likely already purchased the two ornaments that connect with the Captain America ornament, Hallmark banked on fans buying the third ornament “blind.” Those who do will be completely disappointed.

As I sit inspecting the Captain America ornament with complete disappointment, I wonder how offended the die-hard Marvel movie fans are. Captain America looks nothing like Chris Evans in this ornament. This is absolutely baffling, as Hallmark had plenty of lead time to get this ornament right.

Captain America is a common-release, mass-produced Hallmark ornament that is one of three The Avengers ornaments and one of four Marvel comics ornaments produced by Hallmark this year. The base helps indicate that it is designed to coincide with the DVD release of The Avengers (reviewed here!), but this is basically identical to the character who appeared in Captain America: The First Avenger (reviewed here!), so it should look like it. Alas, it does not.

Basics

The Captain America ornament recreates the American war hero in solid plastic. The ornament, released in 2012, is a poor recreation of the heroic character as he appears in the cinematic rendition of Captain America from The Avengers. Most notably, the coloring and sculpt do not resemble the Chris Evans Captain America. Far more rounded than angular like Evans, this Captain America is unfortunately unsatisfying for fans of either the comics or the film.

Captain America is the hooded character in a running pose, with his iconic shield in his left hand. His right hand is molded in a raised fist. The detailing on the ornament Is fair, but includes the requisite stars and stripes and the detailing on the hood.

It is not enough to make it worth the $14.95 original issue price, at least for fans of the cinematic Captain America. The Hallmark Captain America ornament is made of a durable plastic and has him in an action pose, but on a detachable stand so those inclined to set the ornament on a desk or the like will find it can stand up when on the stand. This Captain America ornament measures out at 3 3/4" tall, 2" wide and 2 3/4" deep.

The coloring for the ornament is done in monotones. In other words, Captain America’s skin is one color, the blue on the uniform is one shade, the reds are another. There is no subtlety or shading that makes this ornament distinct.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, Captain America could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for those who might not want to shell out for the more expensive ornaments. This Captain America simply hangs or stands on a desk thanks to the base.

The base detaches from the ornament and connects to the bases from Iron Man and Thor, both ornaments are also released this year. They create the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo and have the slogan “Avengers Assemble” on it, but it’s a pretty cheap looking base and it looks pretty silly on its own.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Captain America ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Marvel Universe Christmas Tree, Captain America is essential, but not this version. The ornament has a brass hook loop embedded in the top center of the back of his head. From that hook, the Captain America ornament hangs in such a way that he leans heavily forward. This makes it look like he is perpetually falling downhill. There, the base makes it impossible to cheat for the ornament; it does not hang level! The ornament sways when rocked, but otherwise sits stable, noticeably off balance, looking like Captain America is running or falling forward!

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 (click here for my review of that!). Since then, Hallmark has gotten into every major franchise from Disney to Twilight to the Marvel Comics universe. This Captain America ornament was not at all limited. I would not bet, given how the other Marvel ornaments have met demand without leaving a lot of people wanting, and how little it looks like the cinematic version of Captain America, that this will not be an incredible investment piece.

Overview

Only those who insist on finishing the ridiculous base from the other The Avengers ornaments will truly want to shell out the dough on the Captain America ornament.

For other Marvel Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2012 Iron Man The Avengers ornament
2012 Thor The Avengers ornament
2012 The Amazing Spider-Man ornament
2011 Spider-Man ornament
2011 Thor ornament
2010 Defender Of Justice Iron Man 2 ornament

2/10

For other ornament reviews, please check out my Ornament Review Index Page!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Utterly Unnecessary: The Lego Star Wars Stormtrooper Ornament Is An Obvious Cashgrab!

The Good: Looks like it is supposed to
The Bad: Overpriced, Ridiculous subject, Poor balance
The Basics: The saving grace of the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is that it looks exactly like what it is supposed to.


This year, I feel sorry for the Star Wars ornament collectors. The reason is simple: this year, they got fleeced by Hallmark. Big time. For every major possible exclusive opportunity, Hallmark rolled out a new, exclusive Hallmark ornament geared to separate Star Wars fans from their money. So, in addition to the four general release Star Wars ornaments this year, there was: sneak preview weekend exclusive, San Diego and New York Comic Con Exclusive, October release Peekbuster exclusive, and if that weren’t enough, a very quietly released Celebration exclusive. To make Star Wars fans feel even more taken advantage of, with the October and November ornament releases from Hallmark, the company made one last stab at the Star Wars fans’ wallets by releasing a Lego Star Wars Darth Vader (perhaps identical to last year’s?) and the Lego Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper. My local Hallmark was already sold out of the Lego Darth Vader, so I only had the option of picking up the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper and my recommendation is pretty firmly that fans not do that (why encourage Hallmark to keep making Lego Star Wars ornaments?!).

From the Star Wars line comes the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament, the second in the series of character ornaments from Lego Star Wars. Fans of the Star Wars Legos and, perhaps as important, the Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga video game (reviewed here!), will easily recognize the Lego variation on the classic Imperial Stormtrooper. Hallmark captures the Imperial Stormtrooper, in Lego form, with his little Lego imperial blaster in his hand, in the process of firing!

This is a very typical, very average Star Wars ornament with no bells and whistles, but given that it is based on a video game, based on a toy, based on the movies, it seems far too many degrees of separation to be worthwhile.

Basics

The Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament recreates the Lego soldier in solid plastic on a black and gray plastic Lego block base. The ornament, released in 2012, is the soldier holding an imperial blaster in his right hand, or socket given how rounded the hands on Lego characters are. Hallmark managed to get $14.95 originally for this ornament and it is selling slowly locally, which might well mean it is not catching on with collectors. This character ornament is 3 1/4" tall, 2” wide and 2 1/8” deep. Given that the ornament was designed for fans, this is an ornament that appeals to collectors, though I suspect it is not nailing it with either of its target demographics. It is not detailed and realistic the way most Star Wars fans like their collectibles and it is not small enough or versatile enough to actually appeal to fans of Lego block toys.

The Hallmark Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is made of a durable plastic and has him holding a blaster in his right hand. His feet are arranged in a solid stance, attached as they are to a Lego block base. This is a very simplified sculpt of a Lego Imperial Stormtrooper, but the essential parts are there: the helmet, the rounded blaster, the Lego-style open hands.

The Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is also detailed with the coloring to back up the sculpt. The front panel is made to look like a classic Lego toy sticker, but it is painted on, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper is a pretty basic character and so there is not much that can be done in terms of detailing, so Hallmark does not need to try to add depth, shading or anything else to the color palate to get this ornament right. It is a bland character and a pretty bland ornament! They did add a red laser bolt (in Lego style) to the front of the blaster pistol and that is a nice touch.

Unfortunately, the ornament does not have any articulation to it, so fans who want to turn the helmet – which is a slightly different shade of white than the body of the toy on mine – or move the arms will be disappointed.

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper could have a function like a sound chip or light effect, but does not. This is just an ornament, a low-cost (comparatively) option for those who might not want to shell out for the ship or diorama series' of Star Wars ornaments. This Lego Imperial Stormtrooper simply hangs.

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Star Wars Christmas Tree, the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper is very much a luxury; this whole concept is more ridiculous than realistic, so this is very much a “luxury” ornament for the serious die-hard fans. The ornament has a metal hook loop embedded into the top center, slightly back, of the character's helmet. From that hook, the Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is front heavy, from the way it is holding its blaster out. As a result, it leans constantly forward, further diminishing its coolness (especially given that the forward pitch is made more obvious by how the block base does not hang level as a result!).

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 (click here for that review!). Since then, they have branched out into other popular franchises like Star Wars and The Wizard Of Oz. The Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is very common and one suspects more will sell on clearance after the holiday is over.

This is not a great investment piece and it is unlikely to appreciate for quite some time, if ever.

Overview

The Lego Imperial Stormtrooper ornament is a bad idea, executed well on the sculpt, but without the balance, collectible value, or fan interest to make it a success. It is certainly not one to run out to the store to get excited about.

For other Hallmark ornaments of Star Wars characters, please check out my reviews of:
2012 Sith Apprentice Darth Maul
2012 General Grievous
2012 Momaw Nadon Limited Edition
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
1999 Max Rebo Band mini-ornament set

4/10

For other ornament reviews, please be sure to visit my index page by clicking here!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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Severely Undervalued, The 2012 The Bat The Dark Knight Rises Ornament Is Very Cool!

The Good: Good sculpt, Most of the detailing, Proportionally inexpensive, Very cool, Investment potential
The Bad: Balance issue
The Basics: To coincide with the Blu-Ray/DVD release of The Dark Knight Rises, Hallmark quietly released The Bat in 2012 for their October/November ornament push!


I am thrilled by the fact that there are still some times I manage to be surprised when I am out hunting for collectibles. The last time (before now) that happened was on my birthday when I was downstate and saw the Prometheus Engineer (Chair Suit) action figure (reviewed here!) in the store and that clued me into the existence of the toy line! Similarly, after a pretty lousy job interview upstate last week, I stopped at the small Hallmark store I noticed on my way home and was delighted to discover a new Hallmark Keepsake ornament that really impressed me. It was The Bat from The Dark Knight Rises and the only thing more surprising about it for me was returning home to learn that this limited edition ornament has had almost no play in the secondary market. In fact, I’ve already found The Bat discounted some places and that surprises me given the quality of this uniquely sculpted, limited edition ornament.

Is it possible that The Dark Knight Rises really soured fans on Batman and Batman collectibles that much? Or, is it more likely that fans simply did not know of the existence of this Ornament Release Weekend exclusive ornament?

Seen near the beginning, and at the climax, of The Dark Knight Rises (reviewed here!), The Bat is the flying vehicle built by Lucius Fox for Batman. The hovering vehicle with multiple cannons is unique to The Dark Knight Rises and looks like the Batmobile, but without the tires.

Hallmark clearly took some time and care in having The Bat sculpted. After a long string of exclusive event ornaments that were simply recolored versions of prior ornaments, The Bat stands out as an exclusive that should be exploding in value.

Basics

The Bat ornament faithfully recreates the flying vehicle from The Dark Knight Rises in black and clear plastic. The Dark Knight Rises came with an original retail price of $14.95 and several Hallmarks still have them, so it is possible they might even be around after the holidays!

The Hallmark The Bat ornament is made of durable plastic, though it is tough to take too many chances on the strength of the plastic on the gun turrets. The Bat is sculpted to look precisely like the flying vehicle with the clear canopy, sharp angles, and the gun turrets pushed forward from the main body of the vehicle a significant amount. The guns end in very thin, very fine barrels that look like they would snap with unfortunate ease. So far, mine have not!

On the coloring front, Hallmark chose wisely with The Bat. This is a stealth vehicle that is cast in a glossy black plastic and requires no markings or paint highlights in order to make the vehicle match the one in the film. Hallmark got the coloring and sculpt absolutely perfect on this ornament!

Features

As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, The Bat could have a sound chip or a light-up function. He has neither, but frankly, this is a cool-enough ornament on its own to be well worth the money without any function or gimmick!

Balance

As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake The Dark Knight Rises ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate superhero Christmas Tree, The Bat ornament is decent supplemental piece. Unfortunately, The Bat is a tough ornament on the balance front. In order to not have the hook going through the canopy (which is the point that would have been ideal for balance purposes), Hallmark smartly embedded the hook loop behind the canopy. That puts a lot of weight on the front from the gun turrets. The leverage of the frontweight causes The Bat to lean forward. While this has the effect of making it look like it is lifting off, or descending for a strafing run, it makes it impossible for the ornament to hang level, if one wanted that.

Collectibility

Hallmark Keepsake began delving into the collectibles market in 1991 with Star Trek when it introduced the exceptionally limited edition U.S.S. Enterprise ornament (reviewed here!). Since then, they have made ornament replicas of almost all major franchises like DC comics, The Wizard Of Oz and Harry Potter. The Bat is a limited edition ornament that sold during the October Hallmark release event and while some places sold out of it, not everywhere did. As a result, its value has been comparatively depressed for a limited edition Hallmark ornament. However, it is hard not to want to bet on the future investment value of this ornament. As Christopher Nolan’s final chapter in The Dark Knight Trilogy gains more appreciation, it seems like this one would appreciate in value.

Overview

Fans of Batman, Christopher Nolan’s vision of Batman, action movie vehicles, and DC comics characters will find The Bat to be a quality ornament worth hunting down to add to their collections, especially now, before they are all bought up and you have to pay a premium for it!

For other DC Universe superhero Hallmark ornaments, please check out my reviews of:
2012 Catwoman ornament
2012 "Beware My Power" Green Lantern ornament
2012 The Dark Knight Rises
2011 Batman Takes Flight
2011 Green Lantern
2010 Limited Edition Harley Quinn
2009 Wonder Woman ornament

9/10

For other ornament reviews, please visit my Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!

© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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