PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

 

Years before McFarlane redesigned the classic Universal Monsters it released a series of playsets based on the creatures, with a couple of ariculated figures, accesorys and a background diorama in a tiny scale, this first step into the McFarlane Monsters was relaly memorable and a lot of fun for us kids from the 90s and put the brand name in our radar.

After some beautifull displays like the Sea Creature, Dracula and the Werewolf, and other not as spectacular, like the Mummy, they close the line with the Phantom of the Opera, a character that many forget is one of the main Monsters (McFarlane himself forget him at all on later lines) and just like the Sea Creature, they chose to go with a vertical aproach.

The main monster is similar looking to dracula tough his suit have stiches all over and have a giant Jack Skellington vampire tie on front. Like Dracula, his cape is made with real clothe in propule but his face is much more hiddeous. I dont know if he looks like a mummy or a victim of a masive burn, but he is bald and his skin is grey, and totally distorted.

He can stand perfectly and is articulated on the neck and shoulders and comes with a sword that fits on a sheat on hsi waist and a mask that cover the entire top half of his head more like a bandana. The mask have golden and pruple paint on it and while it fits perfectly on the Phantim´s head, is not as detailed as his actual face. I mean, this is a tiny figure yet i can see his eyes and teeth perfectly painted.

His play companion is the Vicomte Raoul de Chagny, havig the same scale as the creature and the same articulations, his outfit is much more elaborated (looks like a pirate for me) but have the same odd anatomy of the humans in this line: chuby limbs and a short torso and big head. Also paint is not as perfect as with the Phantom since the brown of his hair and mustache invades his skin and viceversa.

He comes with a heavyer sword that can got on his hand perfectly or in the sheat on his waist and a mask, since the action take places durong the Bal Masque de la Opera. Raoul mask is pretty odd tugh since looks like a golden goat with jade green eyes and it makes him looks very demonic, much more than the actual Phantom.

There is not a whole lot of room to play with in here tough despite this is the tallest playset from the serires, there is the Phantom layer at the bottom with his pipe organ, and a balcony in top as well as a wood beam on top to balance the gold chandelier at the center. Despite that the result is extremelly good looking and very dramatic, this is actually the most theathrical of all the playsets.

The pipe organ is really fantastic looking, full or ornaments and cravings on the bottom and dozens of silver pipes, its loosk a lot like an evil villian hideout and the balcony is as heavy intrincate as the bottom part with elegand golden design, rock columns and a golden arch on top that reads "OPERA HOUSE" as well as red velveth curtains made with actual clothe.

The beam is not too playn either since it have some golden details as well as a rope around. The chandelier have real chain tough the candles looks kinda silly since they are just white plastic pieces. Push the chandelier top a little bit and it falls as a deadly trap over any of the characters on the bottom. But you can also put the Phantom on the chandelier to escape or have a sword duel on the air with Raoul, soo there is a lot to do in this tiny space.

Overall, i think this was one of the most spectacular looking playsets on the line, with a great use of space, loads of fancy details and unique features and was a pefect end for such a fun serires. Now day McFarlane Toys are making playsets that looks like boring maquetes from Lego soo in the end i apreciated this sets much more.