This version of Movie Starscream's F-22 Raptor alternate mode isn't quite the MOST accurate of the various molds this character has gotten, but it's pretty close, and visually definitely the most impressive due to the sheer wingspan and size of said jet-- he's actually more-or-less in scale with a lot of the deluxe-class Autobots now, heheh! Before I get to the plethora of good stuff about this mode, though, let's get this out of the way-- yes, his alt mode does have a it of a "belly" made up of is robot mode appendages. However, unlike on a lot of TF jets, they tuck away and conform to the general "silouhette", only become really obvious if you look at him from a straight-on side view-- otherwise the wings tend to cover up the most unseemly parts. (From the rear you can fairly plainly make out Starscream's waist piece, however.) So although it's THERE, it's not downright as obvious as many jet mode TF extras, and I honestly don't mind it tha tmuch. Another slight proportions problem is that the main wings are a bit smaller than they should be, but they're still close enough where, again, it's a small matter. The color scheme is outright bland-- thank goodness that all that gray and dull brown plastic has those "tattoo" paint apps on the top of this mode to keep things interesting, as a Starscream of this size without all those intricately detailed tats would just look really darn boring-- but the mold detailing is excellent. Flight "panels", turbines, a seat molded inside the cockpit-- it's all there. His two missiles can store underneath his wings in this mode (though they can't fire like that), and he also has three fold-out landing gear pieces to keep him level. In addition, as you'd expect from a toy of this size, he's got electronics-- press the Decepticon button to the left of his cockpit, and his transparent parts will blink red a few times while a flying "whoosh" sound emanates from the toy. (During transformation, the classic G1 transforming sound will also play, though sometimes you can accidentally activate it multiple times, making it mildly annoying.)
    Starscream's transformation is difficult in the sense that it involves a lot of steps, but it's not frustrating beyond perhaps the first time when you're trying to get the hang of it. It's not nearly one of those "everything has to be in EXACTLY the right place to fit together all at once" transformations, whether you're going from vehicle to robot or the other way around. Only one of the parts-- when you're trying to tab together all the bits and pieces on Starscream's lower chest-- can it get a tad confusing. (Speaking of which, two of the tabs that connect the shoulders to the main body are a bit brittle, to the point where both have broken on mine after only a small handful of transformations. This is by no means toy-breaking-- it just means that you have to push one extra part backward manually when Starscream moves his arms back-- but it is certainly worth noting.) In robot mode, Starscream has-- by far-- the most accurate depiction of his movie model that's ever been realized in toy form. I mean, the way the wings in particular figure into the transformation is simply ingenious. Oh, there's a few minor differences, like his shoulders being slightly lower than they should be and just a TOUCH more backpack kibble, but those are both pretty minor. Generally his proportions and all that wonderful mold detailing is exactly spot-on. He's about up there with RotF Leader class Optimus Prime in terms of movie accuracy, which is simply astounding given his designs. Starscream's articulation is also definitely something to write home about, given his unique body structure-- he can move at he neck, the shoulders (at FOUR points), the elbows (at two points< at the wrists, at the base of each of the two thumbs on each of his hand, and at the base of his three fingers on each hand (all as one piece). He can also move at the hips (at two points), knees (at three points), and at the ankles. The shoulders are the most impressive part-- when you move them forward like Starscream's going to "point" at something, the ENTIRE THIRD of the body on that side of the body moves with it, really linking the body with the shoulders in a very nice way that doesn't make his poses look odd. Given his "chicken-like" feet joints and decently-sized feet, he's also surprisingly stable, so you can get a nice number of poses with him. As you'd expect, he also has plenty of gimmicks-- press down on the red tab on the cockpit on his chest, and he is jaws will open up temporarily, his eyes and cockpit will light up, and he'll say one of two phrases-- "No one can defeat Starscream!" or "The Decepticons will crush the Autobots!". Unfortunately, they're not done by the voice actor for Starscream in the movie, or even a close approximation of it. It's basically like just taking someone randomly from your buds and asking them to do an impression of Starscream-- it's that bad. Yeah it's whiny and fairly high-pitched, but that's about the extent of it. As such, I prefer to just not play those sounds. Pressing forward slightly on the red levers on the bottom of each of Starscream's lower arms will automatically cause his lower arms to split open, a weapon extending forward in a "firing ready" position. (His left arm has a double-barreled cannon, his right a rotary machine gun.) Neither can actually fire missiles, but Starscream also comes with a missile-hand attachment that can be put on either hand by folding said "real" hand back against his lower arm. This makes his arm look like it does when it "auto-converts" to its "weapon mode" in the movies, and you can plug either of his missiles into it and fire it, spring-loaded, at an enemy. All three parts can store if you're not using them, though-- the missiles on Starscream's lower back, the missile-hand attachment in the center of his upper back. Pretty cool gimmicks, all around, and more important ones that don't really detract from the toy's design at all.
    Leader class Starscream is a great figure. His jet mode may have a bit of undercarriage (though it's not TOO obvious), but the real star of this toy is the robot mode-- it's just SO unbelievably accurate to the movie model, and it comes with some pretty nice gimmicks on the arms, along with some impressive articulation and incredibly accurate mold detailing. My favorite Movie Starscream mold (although the RotF Voyager's jet mode is SLIGHTLY better than this guy's).

Review by Beastbot

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