The Good: Good sculpt and balance, Good coloring, Decent detailing, Collectible value
The Bad: Expensive
The Basics: Cool, but incredibly specific, the First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 Hallmark ornament is likely to delight hardcore Star Wars fans, but underwhelm general audiences as it lacks a "wow" factor!
Hallmark ornament season is upon us and 2017 is looking to be big right out of the gate. Star Wars is a franchise that is getting a huge amount of attention from Hallmark's ornament department this year and the obvious chase ornament for the franchise for Ornament Preview Weekend is the First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199. The First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is a limited edition Hallmark ornament that is not part of the usual numbered series of Star Wars character ornaments and, if past precedent holds, fans of the Star Wars franchise will make it an instant sell-out at Hallmark Keepsake stores. Despite the almost guaranteed commercial success of it, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is well-sculpted, but lacks a real hook.
For those unfamiliar with it, in The Force Awakens (reviewed here!), when Han Solo, Rey, Finn and Chewbacca are attacked by the First Order forces on the outlaw planet of Takodana, Finn finds himself attacked by a very specific Stormtrooper. The Stormtrooper has almost ninja-like skills with a baton-style weapon. Finn fights that Stormtrooper, who is officially designated FN-2199, with Luke Skywalker's lightsaber and is about to be killed by him when Han Solo rescues him. FN-2199 had one line and (presumably) one scene, but his skill with the weapon that could hold off a lightsaber seemed to catch on with fans enough to make him a breakout character.
Hallmark made First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199, generic outside the baton weapon he holds, in his new First Order Stormtrooper style armor in an action pose.
Basics
The First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament recreates the villain who wields a distinctive baton weapon in solid plastic. The ornament, released in 2017 as a limited edition ornament, is the popular adversary in his distinctive armor, with the baton weapon extended from his right hand! First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 in ornament form is 4 1/8" tall, 4" wide and 2" deep, making it one of the widest Star Wars character ornaments Hallmark has ever made. Hallmark charged $17.95 for the ornament originally and, honestly, that seemed a bit steep to me.
The Hallmark First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament is made of a durable plastic and it is well-sculpted. First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is basically a new-style of Stormtrooper from the villainous First Order. First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199's armor is expertly sculpted and the ornament includes decent detailing on the hands which make it look like the fingers could let go of the baton the character holds, without there being a noticeable seam there. Outside the weapon, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is essentially a generic stormtrooper ornament with the new First Order Stormtrooper style helmet and a pose that makes the character look more dynamic than most.
First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is very light on any coloring details. The armor is the typical Stormtrooper black and white, but all of the painted lines are sharp and the character looks crisp and clean (not like someone in the middle of an active war zone). The only additional colors are pinprick sized red dots near the business end of the baton weapon that are so subtle a casual glance might cause one to overlook them! Despite the simplicity of the coloring, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is colored with perfect accuracy to be instantly recognizable to fans.
Features
As a Hallmark Keepsake ornament, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 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 First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 and he simply hangs on the tree.
Balance
As with all ornaments, the intent of the Hallmark Keepsake First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament is to be hung on a Christmas Tree. And for those creating the ultimate Star Wars Christmas Tree, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is very much a luxury. First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is pretty forgettable to those who are not part of Star Wars fandom and internet memes; he is the The Force Awakens equivalent to the Stormtrooper who bumps his head on a door in A New Hope. Die-hard collectors and fans will definitely want one, but this is a limited edition fan with no real appeal to more casual fans. The ornament has a steel hook loop embedded into the top left (when looking at the ornament's face) of the character's helmeted head. From that hook, the First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament hangs perfectly level; it is like Hallmark figured out the mathematically perfect place to offset the balance of the extended baton weapon and they got it 100% right!
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 First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament is limited and has the potential to quickly appreciate, despite its pretty steep original release price.
Despite my apathy toward the low "wow" factor of First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199, other ornaments of characters who have had quick deaths, but more resonance - Greedo comes instantly to mind - have appreciated in value. If fans have a similar response as they had to prior limited edition ornaments, the First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 ornament will sell out very fast and they climb in collectible price until about November 2017, when it will level out. Given how many high-end Star Wars ornaments are being released in 2017, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 seems like one that fans might easily cut from their want lists should their budgets get tight. My bet is still on the idea that the ornament sells out and appreciates, if for no other reason than the high-end ornaments Hallmark is releasing for Star Wars are all (essentially) re-releases of prior ornaments, whereas First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 is a unique sculpt.
Overview
Like most Star Wars ornaments, First Order Stormtrooper FN-2199 has nothing to do with the Christmas holiday and while the ornament quality is high for the sculpt, coloring and balancing, its initial price seems to discourage anyone but the real die-hard fans from hunting it down.
This is an ornament I happily sell in my online store! Check out my current inventory at: Hallmark Ornament Inventory!
For other Hallmark ornaments of Star Wars characters, please check out my reviews of:
2016 Death Trooper Rogue One
2016 Imperial Stormtrooper
2016 BB-8
2016 Han Solo The Force Awakens
2015 Captain Phasma The Force Awakens
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
8.5/10
For other holiday ornaments, please check out the Ornament Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2017 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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