Rivendell Minifigure Comparison! 2012 vs 2023

[@raspberrymilkshake5782]

I think the problem with Legolas is the strands of hair infront of his face, Bloom has them in the movies but it's a small innocuous detail that's less defining of his hairstyle than the long back. The new hairpiece is big and chunky so by including them it distracts from the whole shape of his hair, it's an example of when trying to adapt everything into a figure falls flat instead of just the important details.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Definitely can agree with that. I don't think any of the elven minifigs look good with it in front because of that chunkiness.

[@nelly5954]

it also seems to visually broaden his shoulders, which kinda screws with his silhouette

[@jamesw3413]

It's kind of like if they made a new Boba Fett minifigure with the wookie hair tassel molded into the helmet piece. Honestly they could've just kept the old face and hair and maybe printed the strands onto the torso if they really wanted.

[@nelly5954]

@@jamesw3413 I think printing on the torso would have limited its usage in custom figs

[@schnitzeldog2000]

@@raspberrymilkshake5782 so I actually think I have a really nice swap for that hairpiece! If you’ve got the haldir minifig from the helms deep set try swapping his standard elf hair with the new Legolas one! Suits both characters much better that way!!

[@Pk-glitch]

I really like how the newer figures have removed the visible skin from the torso pieces, since it is always really discoloured, and removing it makes it possible to attach the torsos to heads of any colour

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah! That's a great point. Makes the torsos so much more versatile

[@jacobjade66]

20212 my favorite year

[@Farmer_Rat]

20212??

[@pixelfire86]

TBF it is currently 12023 HE

[@alexlegoprod]

​@@Farmer_Rat it's because cheesy said twenty twenty twelve when he talked about Legolas

[@WilliamsPartyOf4]

20212 is my favorite year to lol

[@princeleafazriel8657]

Honestly I prefer the year 20006

[@SW_Bricks]

Ive gotta say theres a lot to love in both, and it creates a weird situation where you've gotta buy both to get the best combos!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Indeed. I bet you see the same thing in Star Wars all the time too!

[@bewilderbeastie8899]

@@CheeseyStudios As someone who will be buying a few sets just to update their Mando minifigs... yeah 😭

[@cricketben6742]

The new Hairpiece is a big letdown for all of the new elven characters. Using only one mold for all the different characters just because they all have long hair feels a little cheap, because the styles are very different nontheless, as you can see with the old ones.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Indeed. I'm not sure it fits any character well. If they had only the budget for one new hair element, I wish they would have nailed one character rather than an attempt to make a hairpiece that would fit them all.

[@ethanvillage78]

@@CheeseyStudios “One hairpiece to fit them all, one hairpiece to find them…”

[@evanbradley8283]

Still blows my mind that there's no LEGO Eowin set. Maybe we can get a set some time of her and Mary duking it out against the Witch King of Angmar on his Fell Beast. That would be SICK

[@CheeseyStudios]

Dream set right there!

[@asc3nded397]

I’ve always thought that would make a great set. It would be a perfect mid price set and give us both Eowin and the Witch King which we definitely need figures of.

[@antonfriberg4964]

They could also include Theoden! Maybe a bit dark because he dies at that scene, but 3 figures with the witch king’s dragon would be sick. They maybe even could include an alternative head piece for the witch king when the helmet gets wrinkly and destroyed by Eowin?

[@thegreatpiginthesky3904]

If you're intrested firestar has a custom Ewyen fig

[@littleaudity]

lovingly, new elves bald love all the detail on these figs! it was such a fun set to build!!

[@se7ente3n]

can you do a vid combining the different versions to make the most accurate figs? i think it would be really cool to see

[@savageopress1753]

That would be amazing!

[@F1stzz]

Exactly, lol! Just take 2012 torsos, 2023 dual-molded legs & new heads for some of the figures - and there ya go 😁

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'll see what I can do! That'll be fun to experiment with

[@jakoofnerogue]

I prefer the old ones almost every time. Mostly because I feel like the new heads just feel way too cartoony.

[@TheCcjOf1997]

Agreed. The old faces read way more like the actors to me, and I honestly prefer the old torsos in almost every case too.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Definitely see the same thing happening in Harry Potter too. I think it works better there than for LotR. I miss the uber level of detail those 2012 figures had!

[@clarksmith8830]

I way prefer the older ones. Hobbits, gandalf and the humans barely improved. The elves got ruined badly since legolas often had his hair tied back and new ones make the hair look too thick. Gimli def no.

[@RaccRune]

I feel like most of the minifigures are a step up from the 2012 set, I disagree on Gimli tho. The medium legs make him better to pose and the helmet looks better. I do see your point on the squatness tho. I still think both are great figures.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'll have to experiment with mixing and matching a bit on Gimli I think! The posable short legs definitely are a nice touch

[@majora56]

@@CheeseyStudios I agree with the moulded detail on the helmet being better on the older one (good catch).

[@CheeseyStudios]

@@majora56 Credit where credit is due, it was actually my wife who pointed that out to me! And once she did, I was sold on that helmet right away.

[@Mr.POTF2]

I met Viggo once. The band just was in was playing a show pretty close to my house. The band that was on tour had a videographer which was Viggos son. So he came to the show lol.

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's epic! Quite the coincidence

[@steph4559]

What’s the band name? Don’t gatekeep

[@Mr.POTF2]

@@steph4559 skating polly

[@BrotherhoodWorkshop]

Maybe it's just nostalgia, but I like the old ones better pretty much across the board.

[@CheeseyStudios]

For the most part, I think I'd tend to agree. I know it's not for everyone, but the extra torso details has always been a huge plus for me. Glad to have a few new costumes though, and things like the sitting features of the newer figures is great too. But yeah, if I could only have one set of figs, I'd take the 2012 ones too!

[@BrotherhoodWorkshop]

@@CheeseyStudios I also have mixed feelings with the new Rivendell cause I started a bit LOTR brickfilm in 2020 and have been working on it slowly but steadily since. So when I'm halfway done (and already shot the Rivendell scenes), LEGO goes and releases a new set, but I'm already committed to using the old versions 😆😫

[@CheeseyStudios]

Oh dang, that sounds pretty cool though. O_O I've gotta ask - did you ever see LEGO returning to LotR? I can't say I did, but it's a most pleasant surprise.

[@BrotherhoodWorkshop]

@@CheeseyStudios Absolutely not. When I saw the Rivendell reveal, I felt like an ex-girlfriend who had dumped me was trying to get back together. " I loved you but you left! I mourned and got over you! What do you mean you're back???" 🤣

[@CheeseyStudios]

LOL! That's a great analogy xD

[@jameshunting730]

Hi, very small criticism but i think it would be nicer to put older Minifigure on the left during the comparisson. Thats just more conventional and, at least for me, easier to follow. Loved the video either way 😊

[@CheeseyStudios]

Appreciate you saying so! That does make a lot more sense. I'll remember to do that in the future :)

[@The_Worst_Warlock]

“If I were a rich man…”

[@CheeseyStudios]

Praying for some regular Lord of the Rings playsets with equally epic figs

[@johnnysharp2899]

I definitely agree on the 2023 hobbits looking better.Actually,I agree on all your opinions except Gimli.I personally like the mid-legs.This video was very entertaining,thank you!!!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Glad you enjoyed! The mid-legs are definitely going to be great for getting some poses out of the character - I can't argue with that!

[@petergoodmann9034]

Hey Caleb! I’m 99% certain I have a spare Merry head. It would be an absolute HONOR to donate it to your collection as a way to say THANK YOU for all of the joy your videos give me. Shoot me a DM and we can arrange it :)

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's really kind! I'll get in touch with you after Brickworld. Thank you so much! ❤️

[@petergoodmann9034]

@@CheeseyStudios yes please do! I would be an honor :)

[@lordarbys3676]

Perfect timing to finish one of my finals!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Woot woot!

[@ArthurCowboy06]

I’ve been waiting for this video, and i am getting my Rivendell in a few days! Cannot wait!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yooo! That's epic. You're in for a treat. It's a beautiful model!

[@angelomedeiros493]

I love this set, one my fav of all time, but i agree about elrond and arwen, i replaced the new heads and hairpiece for the old versions, it looks much better, i also like that the old hair make them look more exclusive, i also replaced the head and hair of legolas, i gave their hairpieces to background elfs

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's a good plan!

[@fe4rlicia540]

life has been hard. i needed some relaxing video's to watch so I came here thank you

[@CheeseyStudios]

❤️

[@ABrickDreamer]

Such beautiful minifigs! Some of the originals are still better than the new ones

[@CheeseyStudios]

They went all out back in 2012. They hold up so well!

[@henrirobbins2343]

I grew up with the original LOTR sets, and i honestly prefer the majority of changes TLG made, like Samwise's new hair color. The simplicity of the new prints feels more conducive to the lego art style and color scheme, making it less an exact recreation of the films and more a re-interpretation of their visuals into a much more playful and casual medium. I will say, though, that both Gimli and Legolas look far batter in their original forms - it feels to me like they bit off more than they could chew with giving Gimli a separate hair piece, and I really wish they hadn't cheaped out with the singular hairpiece for Legolas and the other elves.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Glad to hear you like the art style change! I think it is much more faithful to LEGO at the end of the day. Hopefully if the theme continues we can see some different elven hairpieces. Imagine a LotR CMF!

[@StanKirby-w8]

I like the old Lego Gimli a lot better because of the better colored beard.

[@StanKirby-w8]

Please do more lotr videos like this! 👍

[@CheeseyStudios]

Glad you enjoyed it! I'll definitely be covering the new LotR set when it comes out later this year 👀

[@StanKirby-w8]

Awesome!@@CheeseyStudios

[@StoneDomino]

Spoiler alert - the tv show also failed because Amazon thought they could write better than Tolkien ;)

[@CheeseyStudios]

A bold assumption on their part lol...

[@KomeRad]

Huh, I didn't expect Merri to be 40$.. I still gotta get him and Aragorn to complete the fellowship

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah, the OG figures are all crazy expensive now 😭

[@VorpalSlade]

Wow, definitely feels like the 2012 figures (besides things like accessories and dual-moulded legs) are far superior and more detailed! It seems like the only redeeming qualities the 2023 ones have are small things like "the expression fits slightly better" while the 2012 ones have far greater advantages over the updated versions, like more moulded detail on helmets/hairpieces.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah, if I could only have one set of figs, I'd still choose the old ones

[@Scar-Predator]

In my opinion, with the Hobbits, just get an extra pair of the dual molded short legs (and swap Sam and Merry's hairs for the 2023 versions) for each of the 2012 versions and they both actually do perfectly represent each character, just at different times during their journey. The new ones work for their looks from The Fellowship of the Ring with the old ones working for them in The Two Towers to The Return of the King, with the exception of Frodo without his jacket and vest.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Ah, very true!

[@Scar-Predator]

@@CheeseyStudios the new ones look a lot cleaner and happier, which embodies them in Fellowship, after that, they're all more dirty and stuff. Aside from Merry and Pip getting high at the end of The Two Towers into the start of The Return of the King.

[@majora56]

I'm tempted to buy the Tower of Orthanc so when Barad-dur arrives I can have the "Two Towers", however, I'm not sure if/when LEGO might remake the Tower of Orthanc. I'm sure if/when they do it'll have new minifigs and look slightly better as all new sets do. I suppose when you think about it a minifig is only as great as the set it comes in otherwise your better off turning to Bricklink to get it. Rivendell has the best of both worlds and that is probably why it is selling like hotcakes.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Orthanc is amazing. Wish I had had the money when it came out, and I'd love to have Grima! But now he costs a small fortune of course. Fingers crossed we see a remake in the future! Oh, imagine a LotR CMF!

[@steph4559]

I’d hope they make a UCS Helms Deep or Orthanc soon but I doubt it

[@bo2universe]

I love cheesey. I feel like he embodies what it it what true lego collectors/builders care about. He appreciates quality and detail that is clearly reflected in his video making and passion for lego. Thank You Cheesey!!❤

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's my pleasure - glad you enjoy what I'm doing here!

[@StanKirby-w8]

Hey, I’m wondering if for Legolas you should use the Kevin Feige minifgure head from the Avengers Tower! It might look good!

[@CheeseyStudios]

That would be interesting. I'll have to look at his face print again!

[@StanKirby-w8]

@@CheeseyStudios okay, because I have the Kevin Feige minifigure but no Legolas, but I thought it would be interesting, because he has that sort of smile

[@notthatsamsmith]

I feel like you may have got a misprinted boromir head in the new set, the pupils look tiny, may just be me though

[@CheeseyStudios]

I might have to take a closer look at that :o

[@bingungnamanyaapa2662]

I don't like how they use the same hairpiece for the elves

[@CheeseyStudios]

Me neither. Guessing it was outside the designers' control though

[@someone2436]

I am getting this set for my brother. (He like lord of the rings)

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's awesome! He will love the set - it's incredible.

[@codman4372wx]

Yeah I love the set and figures, but after I recently finished the ps2 game Drakengard, I can not see elves in the same way ever again

[@edikid1206]

So cool to see how much Lego has changed

[@CheeseyStudios]

It's crazy! Comparisons between old and new Star Wars or Harry Potter figures I think are especially telling too.

[@Qubold]

2023:🙂😀 2012:😠😐

[@CheeseyStudios]

I kinda noticed that too xD

[@Pheonix_Squad]

Love this! Was so pumped to buy Rivendell day one; really hoping Lego makes more lord of the rings! Would absolutely love to see a golden hall 🤩

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yes! There's so many amazing potential sets and minifigures to be made yet

[@Rbbrickzz]

I've always been a fan of the More resent one's. They have more accurate details❤

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's fair! It is interesting to see how in this case though the older sets have more accurate details. Lord of the Rings figures were on a different level back in the day!

[@Rbbrickzz]

agreed in this case so far, I suppose I'm going off of other movie characters.

[@RavenclawBrix]

To be honest, I'm not that big of a Lord of the Rings fan. In fact I barely made it through the films. But damn this set is spectacular, i picked mine up on release day.

[@CheeseyStudios]

You may need to give those films another shot - they're spectacular :)

[@RavenclawBrix]

@@CheeseyStudios If you say so

[@SurrenderContinuallyToHisWill]

@@RavenclawBrix Having seen both versions of the films (and read the books an embarrassing amount of times) the Extended Editions are the way to go. Unfortunately, there aren't any online platforms you can Rent them on (that I know of). But if do get your hands on them you might try watching one disk per viewing (i.e half of each film) so as to watch the trilogy in six parts (who has the time or stamina to sit down for 4 hours very often anyway).

[@Fadedthanahoe8]

The new Arwen and Legolas deserves to be flushed down the toilet

[@Jaymat_flix]

In comparison between the two Frodos, the 2012 looks like the time he was stung by Shellob, and the 2023 one looks like he was being lead astray by the ring.

[@CheeseyStudios]

There's definitely good uses for both! I like that distinction

[@Abbyga1e]

Overall I like the new ones, but that standardized elf hair kinda ruins every figure it's slapped on. I definitely love that we finally have lotr back, I just wish it was more accessible to lower incomes. (Still more accessible than buying all the original figures....yikes)

[@CheeseyStudios]

The prices on LotR figures are so painful D,: Glad I had the sense to pick up the sets back then. Hopefully *hopefully* we get regular playsets, and maybe even battle packs here in the future.

[@Kirby-qf2dr]

The face print used for Legolas is the same one used for Han in a lot of the Solo sets

[@CheeseyStudios]

That makes sense!

[@max-mkl]

Honestly I just want the line to return just that I can get my hands on the mini figures without selling both of my kidneys ... already spend way to much on eBay. I do have to say that I like the old facial expressions a lot more less cartoony especially Arwen is much more recognizable. (The old eleven hair piece was magnificent) great comparison

[@CheeseyStudios]

Thank you! I sure hope we get a full-on theme revival too. That would be imcredible

[@cass7448]

I really wish the new Arwen came with her riding outfit. It's probably my favourite costume from the films. But I understand they wanted owners to be able to recreate the love scene on the bridge.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'd love to get more outfits for her. Hopefully we get some LotR playsets eventually...

[@TheFirstCurse1]

Still waiting for a minifigure scale Sauron's Tower that costs like $10,000.

[@CheeseyStudios]

true lolololo

[@izer0z]

Is 2023 Gimli's head pushed down all the way? His face seems to ride up above his beard a little bit.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'll have to double check that! That could help make him look better

[@treybrydon6566]

You have eomer and the Rohan soldier’s heads swapped! But they both have beards so it still looks good!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Oh RIP lol! I'll be sure to get that fixed. I wonder how long it's been like that

[@ChipsDubbont]

My mom prefers ROP to the LOTR by Peter Jackson. Can you disown your own mother?

[@CheeseyStudios]

mom wth

[@Cazozozop]

Cool, I am subscribed!

[@CheeseyStudios]

Awesome! Thanks for subbing :D

[@stehlik]

I’d love to see some smaller sets depicting other famous scenes, I’d really like River horses - with some nice unique horse type there.

[@isaiahkepner8078]

I dont see why one has to win, I plan on mixing and matching parts to make the ideal figs.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Same here!

[@cronodoug]

This video is proof that LEGO in the past was superior. 🤣

[@CheeseyStudios]

They don't make them like they used to!

[@whysitthat3515]

4:42 not to be that guy…. but it’s a CRIME you didn’t show us this 😂

[@CheeseyStudios]

In retrospect that was a big mistake yes 🤣 I still haven't even tried it myself lol

[@Fadedthanahoe8]

The only fig that’s better in the new set is boromir and merry imo

[@CheeseyStudios]

Honestly, yeah xD I was very underwhelmed with a lot of these.

[@Epacana5]

Imo the old Lego guys are better

[@CheeseyStudios]

For the most part I'd agree, yeah

[@Justin_Neagle]

I haven't cracked open this set yet, but I will definitely be 'frankensteining' together the new and the old for characters like Gimli, Elrond, Legolas, and Arwen Also LEGO has my wallet in a vice for any future LOTR releases lol

[@CheeseyStudios]

lol! Same here. Lord of the Rings and LEGO work so well together - probably in part because of LEGO's many ties to fantasy through the years. I hope we see the theme expanded on in the next few years! This might just become a LEGO Lord of the Rings channel xD

[@DTTC666]

The old ones looks 100 times better :O

[@CheeseyStudios]

They don't make 'em like they used to...

[@jamiesworld1690]

Love yiur channel

[@CheeseyStudios]

[@louisbogli1804]

Impressive how the old figures look as good if not better than the new ones

[@CheeseyStudios]

They poured everything into the original figures. It's amazing to see!

[@jimwar211]

The old ones were impressive for their time but I feel like it's more sad that they haven't made any major improvements over the last 11 years. Minifigures skyrocketed in quality through 2000-2012 but then just kinda stopped, even though profits have soared.

[@dumb_1dot]

Can you make a custom LEGO power miners MOC?

[@CheeseyStudios]

I would love to at some point. I wish I had more time to build xD

[@dumb_1dot]

@@CheeseyStudios ahhh yes. Y'know, I'm working on one myself! Even thinking about pitching it to LEGO ideas! I call it Power miners: the aftermath

[@ethseblau]

Nice video. What’s the spacey orchestral song in the background? Sounds good.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Thank you! I believe the one you're talking about is called "Step" from the album Motion by Non-Stop Producer Series!

[@raimeii.]

I love newer the newer minifigs but I don't like the new elf hair for arwen and legolas, specifically arwen. She looks like a generic elf here rather than the beautiful older minifig.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah, it's a pity really. I'm not sure the new hairpiece works well for ANY of the elves honestly, which is unfortunate since we seem to be stuck with it xD

[@jackstearn9049]

Gandalf looks a bit odd in the new set. Elrond and Arwin were also wayy wayy better in the original set, 100%. I wish I had this set but as a 17 year-old, I have no funds in which to buy this.

[@CheeseyStudios]

Hopefully we get some more affordable LotR playsets soon too

[@potassiumlover22]

Can't wait to get this set

[@CheeseyStudios]

You won't be disappointed!

[@Maztronebuc]

Awsome nice 😊

[@CheeseyStudios]

Appreciate it! :D

[@kanjiklubskywalker4951]

tbh the only good thing that came out of rings of power was this lego set

[@CheeseyStudios]

FACTS

[@jacksonrugh2343]

Ran into you at the Mall of America this week! And now I found your channel! Been a great week lol

[@CheeseyStudios]

That's too funny! It sounds crazy, but you're one of the only people to have actually ever recognized me at the LEGO Store - I've been recognized far more often at Ikea or at the grocery store lol!

[@jacksonrugh2343]

@Cheesey Studios that's hilarious. Still its atrocious you don't get that discount lol my wife was like wow your first time meeting a celebrity 😂

[@bewilderbeastie8899]

I don't know why they just didn't reuse what they already had because wow some of the updates are not only unnecessary, but ugly, like reusing the SAME Elven hair piece for character who all have different hair. What cost could that have possibly driven up?!

[@CheeseyStudios]

LEGO's cost-cutting practices do boggle my mind...

[@andrewraddatz3099]

The new legolas looks so strange

[@CheeseyStudios]

Yeah, he really misses the mark for me unfortunately.

[@VorpalSlade]

​@@CheeseyStudiosironic for an archer!

[@Nikok1]

Amazon LOTR sucks

[@ewencampbell3773]

Sorry to bug you but when is the next Lego minecraft episode I am dying for it thank you

[@CheeseyStudios]

New episodes are released on the first of each month!

[@bricksingeneralnospaces]

what a sad name lego less

[@CheeseyStudios]

true D,,,,,,,,:

[@slipperysqueef5284]

You gotta push Gimli's head down pretty hard to get it all the way down. Took me a second to notice.

[@CheeseyStudios]

I'll have to double check that. Thanks for pointing that out!