Tyrannosaurus vs. Indominus (Jurassic World Limited Edition Gift Set)

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Regardless about how you ultimately felt about the movie one of the most exciting prospects behind the release of Jurassic World was the toys and other merchandise that would inevitably be released alongside the film. The old Kenner Jurassic Park toys are some of the best movie action figures ever produced and although Hasbro dropped the ball on Jurassic Park 3 there were still those that hoped they might do better for Jurassic World. But they didn’t do better, quite the opposite. Cheaply made and poorly designed, the Jurassic World toys have become legendary examples of how NOT to make a toy, no wonder Hasbro lost the license to the Jurassic Franchise. For those of us who actually enjoyed Jurassic World (and I’m among the few on the DTF that did) Hasbro’s failure was that much more devastating. While some just wanted cool dinosaur toys, there were actual fans of the movie that wanted something more.

Enter the Jurassic World limited edition gift set. Two statues packaged alongside multiple formats of the movie.  Originally released for $120 there were those of us who wanted it, but not enough to pony up the cash. Recently, however, the gift set has experienced a dramatic price drop, now it sells on Amazon for $36.49. Is it still worth the price? Let’s take a look.

We’ll start off with the film’s big baddie, the fictional hybrid dubbed Indominus rex. Measuring 9” from nose to curved tail and standing 5” tall this is an impressive and heavy piece. The packaging advertises that these models can be used as bookends and I believe that’s true based on their weight.

The level of detail on the Indominus is stunning and if I had to compare it to a popular company I would say it compares well to Papo. It’s a faithful rendition of the movie’s character with a lot of bony scutes, prominent scales, and small quills along the arms.  The feet are nicely padded and bird-like and I particularly like the long, slender “Freddy Kruger” fingers. The teeth are individually sculpted, cleanly painted, and sharp! The inside of the mouth is impressive in its detail and painted with a glossy, wet looking finish.

The two statues are posed in their battle stances with the Indominus supporting itself with one of its hands. In this posture, with its crocodile-like scales, I find that the Indomimus actually resembles a rauisuchian perhaps more so than it does a theropod. The model is painted in various shades of gray and although the eyes, teeth, and mouth are all painted the nails are not.

Moving on to old Rexy we find that overall it’s not as well made as the Indominus. This is a pity because Rexy has long been a fan favorite of the franchise and has a pivotal role in Jurassic World. That said, this is probably still the best officially licensed depiction of this Tyrannosaurus that first appeared in Jurassic Park back in 1993. And it’s not a bad sculpt, just not as good as the Indominus and more similar to a toy than proper statue. The Tyrannosaurus also measures 9” from head to tail but is still a bit smaller than her nemeses. She’s less detailed overall but still movie accurate right down to the scars on her neck and shoulder.

Rexy is posed in a tripod position with her tail touching the base. Why this is I’m unsure because with how well they’re attached to their bases I don’t think it was necessary. I suppose it does reduce the risk of breakage.  She’s depicted lunging forward, mouth agape, about to engage in bloody combat. She’s particularly intimidating when viewed head on, with her piercing forward-facing yellow eyes and darkened eye sockets.

The paint application on Rexy is sloppier than on her counterpart. The teeth are particularly bad with quite a bit of white paint bleeding onto her mouth, much like toys by the likes of Safari and Carnegie. The statue is painted with various shades of brown like her character in the movie and although the nails are painted on this one the nails on the hallux toes are not.

The bases are about the same size on the two models, between 7 and 8 inches. They’re flat gray slabs that resemble the setting of the fight in the actual movie and cushioned on the bottom with rubbery pads. Since the statues are on separate bases they can be positioned however you like but look pretty good facing off with each other.

Considering how cheap these now are on Amazon I think these statues are absolutely worth the price, even if you already own the movie like I do. The highly detailed Indominus alone is worth the price and although the Tyrannosaurus is not quite as good it’s still a sufficient and accurate rendition of the movie character. Obviously this is a set that only true Jurassic World fans will appreciate. If, like me, you’re a fan disappointed in what Hasbro has produced then I recommend seeking these out. As of this review they’re still cheap on Amazon and although they’re marketed as limited edition, and come with a certificate, there is no production number on it. Although they might be around for a long time, I would get them while you can.