Noble Collection - JOKER Robbery mask

[GeneralFROSTY]

I was delighted to see that the Noble collection will be offering a full-scale replica of the Joker's Robbery Mask, complete with authentic movie weathering and a neat display stand.
At under $200, I was very excited and worried that it may not be wearable because it is advertised as a 'display mask'.
So I emailed them to ask....and I got my happy balloon shot down quickly.
The mask is made of cold-cast porcelin....anyone else think this is a bull-crap move on thier part?
I emailed them back saying I felt they chose the wrong avenue for this mask as most collectors and fans would want a mask that not just LOOKED like the one in the movie, but could also FUNCTION like the one in the movie - meaning you can pick it up and not say 'what the ****, this is glass or some s**t?!' and put the mask on.
I really hate when these companies get a great licence and screw it all up by putting out products that don't quite meet the standards of a true prop replica.
Take Sideshow for example. They make a scaled down version of the Crystal Skull...why not do the whole 1:1 scale prop? What's these peoples defects? Are they retarded or something?
And lets not forget about the completely ugly and totally innacurate Iron Man helmets by Windlass Studios.

 

[Jawafive]

I ordered one of those Joker masks. It will be fine for display, since I would never wear it out anyway. As long as it looks good, I don't really care if it's made from the same material as in the movie or not.

 

[PHArchivist]

I think you need to consider their perspective as a business.

And keep in mind, us uber-collector/builder fan boys are not their only clientele. Also, when you really consider Noble, a lot of their offerings are more along the "gifty" type stuff - sort of like the pewter and gold TOS phasers from the Franklin Mint.

Understand their business model prior to offering blistering critiques.

 

[nickytea]

It will still sell.
Not to me, but it will sell.

Here's hoping their other Dark Knight props are great. :thumbsup

 

[PHArchivist]

I hope my post makes sense, and I don't mean it to sound harsh on your opinions.

But to illustrate by example, its sort of like saying, "Why didn't they make this like a realistic skull with an actual fabric bandana?" or "Darn it why'd they have to make this a stupid pen, and not a true replica of an actual shard of Kryptonite?".

Because Noble's approach is to provide gift/display type items that extend slightly beyone mere 1:1 prop replicas as we know them.


http://www.noblecollection.com/catalog/product.cfm?id=NN0637&catid=54

 

[Polsnulspace]

I like it and am really tempted to buy it. If its the same one I'm looking at, its showing at $129.00!! :confused

 

[defyitall]

Another thing to consider is it may be harder to get a functional mask to display correctly without sagging etc. Obviously a base for a porcelain mask would be a lot easier to construct.

 

[allosaur176]

and would last a hell of alot longer than a latex piece would.... Plus, its made to display, not to wear

 

[KnightAsylum]

Although I would not get this item either way, it would not matter to me that it is not wearable. My various helmets & masks spend 99% of their lives sitting on display, so what if I can put a couple of them on, I don't dress up anyway, I just want a nice display piece.
But that is just me.:rolleyes

 

[GrenadeKing]

and would last a hell of alot longer than a latex piece would.... Plus, its made to display, not to wear

The movie mask was hard plastic, not latex.

 

[MattMunson]

My guess would have to be that it's a licensing restriction that forces them to do it that way. They probably don't own the license for wearable costume masks from the movie. Rubies has that honor. From my conversations with license holders, my understanding is that companies don't grant licenses for directly competing or identical products. You don't want two or more of your licensees producing like products, as that would be unfair competition.

I guess.

Just my educated guess, but it sort of fits with all available facts.

 

[Hecubus114]

could be - but NC is notorious for making things innacurate for no good reason...

LOTR swords - raised patterns on the handles on GOLD rather than simply painted silver

Galadriel Phial - made of a solid piece of plastic, although no mention in their description (price and photos make you think its glass)

Those are just off the top of my head. Its almost like they change things JUST so the version they sell will be different.






As for the Joker Mask - be weary - the image they have up isnt even of a product - its a cropped still from the film.






-

 

[CTF]

Meh, better offerings elsewhere.

And who'd want a 1:1 crystal skull, anyway? :confused

I want a scaled fridge.

EDIT: You said it best yourself.

Just look at it this way - if Master Replicas screws this one up, we will always have the very talented independent prop makers here at the RPF...

 

[coofunkcurly]

My guess would have to be that it's a licensing restriction that forces them to do it that way. They probably don't own the license for wearable costume masks from the movie. Rubies has that honor. From my conversations with license holders, my understanding is that companies don't grant licenses for directly competing or identical products. You don't want two or more of your licensees producing like products, as that would be unfair competition.

I guess.

Just my educated guess, but it sort of fits with all available facts.

Bingo! Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

Wow, I didn't even realize that the mask was a cropped movie image - now that sends up a pretty big red flag!
I know my tastes may be very specific and I hope I am not alone here, but if a company can do a replica of a prop, my feelings are that they should do a replica of the prop and not just an innacurate product.
Rubies could have made thier masks a little less lax, but then again, there are many independent prop artists out there and on this board than will make the kind of replicas that these license holders can't or won't.
I don't want to sound *****y - I just take prop collecting very seriously and alwase strive for accuracy and authenticity.
Anyone agree??

 

[nickytea]

Anyone agree??

I don't know if anyone really disagrees with your tastes, just your expectation of excellence from a mass produced licensed item from a trophy company. :lol

 

[GeneralFROSTY]

That's true.
It's a relief though that there are individuals out there who offer unlicensed prop replicas that actually live up to the original prop.

 

[bleyd]

Well, I'll be waiting to hear from anyone here that has bought one. I'm sure they can do a pretty accurate version if they are given access to the digital images of the original. Just hope it's a wearable version and half as good as the photos they are posting. (Didn't Don Post do the same with the X-wing helmet using still shots?)