First off, let's get the price out of the way. Yes, it's expensive. But like the scene it depicts where Leia/Boushh threatens Jabba to pay more on the bounty for Chewbacca, you just have to laugh like Jabba, say "Lego is my kind of scum, fearless and inventive" and pay a high price--it's just too good to pass up. When I saw this set, I had to have it!

First the minfigures. Jabba is amazing and way better than the past version. His colors are nice and his tattoo is a great touch. Bib Fortuna is a highlight for me, as I always liked his character. He looks sinister standing beside Jabba as his adviser. The Gamorrean Guard is perfect and excellently detailed. Boushh/Leia is amazingly detailed and her helmet is especially a great piece. I love the detail on her thermal detonator piece as well. Oola is a fun figure to have, even if you can see her mouth from her alternate face peeping out the back. Salacious Crumb and looks convincingly nasty. The B'Omarr monk is a creative build, using Ninja swords and the distorting clear piece makes the one stud look like a brain. Han Solo is pretty much the same as that from the most recent Slave I, but the "blind" face really makes it look like he came right out of the carbonite. Chewbacca is pretty plain, but nice to have.

The model itself is outstanding. From the backside, it is a greater representation of the palace as seen from the outside. My favorite feature is the gate. If you have C3PO and R2D2 from another set, you can re-enact the scene where they knock and the door and talk to the gate-droid, and then the door ominously opens.

The interior is a nice representation of Jabba's throne room. The top comes off and the back opens to better get inside. Jabba's hookah with the frog snack is a great touch, as is the display of Han in carbonite with the accurately detailed control panel. The little stove and secret compartment with guns and gold is also nice. The sliding throne and trapdoor are a lot of fun, even without the Rancor pit below (yet!). The tower, with its weapons, bionculars, and bottle add to the playability.

So in conclusion, Lego may have borrowed a page out of Jabba's playbook by extorting us with the cost, but I'm glad I paid the bounty!

This set is amazing and I am very surprised Lego would release a set at this price point with so many highly desirable minifigures, a classic Star Wars vehicle (that is a nice size), and an iconic Star Wars beast. I hope it's not the last "mistake" Lego ever makes!

As has been mentioned, the first highlight of the set is the minifigures. The Boba Fett from Slave I in 2010 was an excellent figure, but this one tops it with leg printing and a nicer, more sleek gun. In this set, his cape is a also a slightly different color and I believe his face has a bit more scruff. Luke in his classic black RotJ outfit and short, parted hair is a must have and this set seems like one of the easiest ways to get him. Kithaba is a pretty standard looking skiff guard with an old pirate bandanna and a new type of face that looks a bit a like a dog. Some have complained about his bright red pants, but that's what he wears in the movie, oddly enough. In my opinion, Lando in disguise as Tamtel Skreej really steals the show. He has great printing, but his helmet is one of the most nicely detailed Lego head accessories I have seen. The face also really captures the character nicely. I also like the two-piece axe--much better than the old single piece castle axes.

The sarlacc pit is the next highlight on the list. It's a pretty simple and symmetrical build, but the end result is great. No matter what surface I put it on, it makes me think that it continues down "underground." The beak appears to be made from two usually clear cockpit pieces (such as on last years V-Wing), but colored tan--a clever touch. The way the tentacles curve looks lifelike enough as well. Of course, it's just plain fun to throw minifigs into the beast's maw. One note, if you are not a fan of the "special edition" sarlacc (where George Lucas added the CGI beak), then it still looks ok without the beak.

Finally, the vehicle itself--the Bantha II Cargo Skiff, or desert skiff. I was quite surprised at just how long the vehicle was. It has a nice little control deck, storage area for pistols, and of course, the plank for pushing the minifigs into the pit (yeah!). The plank itself is two plates thick because of the flat plates on top. My only complaint is that this makes it impossible for a minifig to hang from the plank with his hands like Luke does to spingboard himself in the movie. The clear pieces on the bottom of the skiff do a nice job of creating a hovering effect. The entire build is simple, yet enjoyable.

Overall, this is a must-have set at a great price. It's a great way of filling essential gaps in your cast of major characters if you haven't already, it has two nice models, and great play value. It also complements this years Jabba's palace set nicely. Chewy and blinded Han from that set complete the movie scene on this skiff. Likewise, Lando and Boba Fett hang out in Jabba's palace (Kithaba fits right in too) in the movie, and Luke comes to visit. So yeah, get this set!

I got this guy as a gift from my wife, who got him for free when ordering other stuff from Lego.  I must say, I love him and he made me no longer desire the larger Hulk in the Helicarrier Breakout set (sorry Lego Group!).  He's a brilliant green with nice bright purple pants--he really pops and stands out.   The two facial expressions are very appropriate for Hulk in a cartooney way. And yes, that is Harry Potter hair, but it adds to his goofy charm. He complements the other Avengers nicely in a comical way as well--it's more entertaining in my opinion to have him be a little angry guy smashing people/things than a big monster. So for a giveaway figure, I am thoroughly pleased!

I got this set recently for 40% off at a local toy store and it was well worth. The ship, Soulless One, is nice and large, and very swooshable. The play-features are well-done, but not obtrusive: the flick-fires fold away and are hidden perfectly and the large bomb nestles nicely underneath. The sliding cockpit works like a charm, and I especially was impressed how the rubber piece was used to keep the cockpit cover in place when closed. The end result is quite accurate to its appearance in Episode III and the Clone Wars. I used to play a lot Battlefront II, and this ship serves as the CIS bomber as well. The ship itself is reminiscent of a 1950s automobile in it general shape, and the side exhaust pipes are similar to that of some hot rods.

The build is quite interesting with a variety of techniques employed. The two side thrusters, while mirrored, are complex enough to not feel repetitive.

The "lair" is good for what it is--basically a dentist's chair. The chair looks nice and Grievous sits in it well. The storage for his gun and lightsabers is helpful.

The minifigs in this set are quite well-done. General Grievous is amazing and very detailed. You can adjust his arms enough so that he can hold his lightsabers at different angles as if he is spinning and swing them. Since Grievous does only deploy two-arms often, it is good that that look is an option (the two-arm look is also necessary for him to fit in the cockpit of the starfighter). When not using the two extra arms, I clip them on the side bars on the chair, and fold them behind the chair-back where they are not even noticeable.

Nahdar Vebb is a pretty standard Jedi, but with a rare and well-sculped Mon Calimari head. A4-D seems to be a pretty unique droud. The legs are standard battle droid legs, but I'm not sure how the torso has been used before--it's more robust than a battle droids. His sticker, while not ideal, works well enough. I've found that he stands quite well if you arrange pose his tool arms in such a way to hold the lights and round tray where he might actually use them.

Overall, this set is a must-have for any General Grievous fan and is a welcome addition to any lineup of Lego starfighter models.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Castle Advent Calendar last year, so when I heard there was going to be a Star Wars one, I had to have it. I was a little worried that the mix of mini (micro?) vehicles and minifigs would not mesh as well as other Calendars, but Lego did a great job of relating them to each other. All the mini vehicles are as spot on as possible given the size (and cost) restraints and most of the minifigures are pilots related to the vehicles. Even the mini-fig accessory gifts are decent and useful to a collection. I for one like the mecho-chair for Nute Gunray. As you can see from my brick ratings, I definitely found this Calendar better than the sum of its parts.

I have still seen this set on clearance at local stores and I definitely recommend picking it up and saving it for next year if you didn't get it this year. It looks like it will be better than next year's offering.