This is always a discussion that interests me so much. When it comes to Catwoman, I agree- I think she's one of the best not only in the wave, but maybe the entire line. But then there'll be, say, Ledger Joker figures- McFarlane or otherwise, that I'll see people praise as looking just like Heath, but to me it looks nothing like him. I always feel like I'm missing something, but then I'll see people mention that figures I think are spot-on look nothing like the actor in their eyes.
It may not be entirely fair to say about Catwoman, since it's only the eyes and mouth that's really "likeness"; if he had done an unmasked head or even the torn up one, I may feel differently, but as-is, it does really look good. It's the same reason why a lot of times I'll reserve judgement on likenesses for Batman figures, since you're basically just judging eyes and a mouth in a cowl (which certainly can still be messed up, don't get me wrong), but since he's primarily trying to capture a cowl, it feels a bit easier to nail than an actor's full head.
I think about this a fair bit.
IIts like illustration and painting and of course, sculpting: there are people who marvel at detail and think the detail is the work. Artists know that for portraiture, you need to land the broad proportions and shapes, then features, then the details. If you don't get Anya Taylor Joy's eyes, nose, forehead, chin to mouth correct, it's gonna look off.
But based on my time in artist alley and social media, I know not everyone has an eye for this, as a viewer or artist lacking foundations, and snap judges things to be Great or Shit, whereas a lot of artist friends can narrow down what works, what doesn't, and at the end of the day, "Does it achieve what it needs to?" You could even argue "artist interpretation", but Hell No when it's actual Likenesses, unless you're doing those NECA figurines.
Within that, I have tolerances like Hasbro vs Import (that gap is tightening by the figure), price point (I think we can all agree the more you pay, the more you demand out of the figure), scale (also tightening). Another tolerance is that I get up in the face, most review cameras this as well, but I realize most figures are viewed on a shelf, at a few feet, and that changes things. So, can you tell that's ScarJo, did they do ScarJo dirty, is it good enough, is it impressively and creepily ScarJo? Lately, I think Hasbro since Marvels or Ant-Man is making great domestic strides, and Mafex is not keeping that lead. McFarlane, I think if he had the Hasbro (or Spinmaster) face prints, it would carry a lot of the likeness.
Inart has suddenly devastated the entire playing field with Bale and Hathaway.
Whenever you see people repainting McFarlanes or Hasbros or, rarer, Mattel, you'll often see the sculpt is there, it was the paint holding it back. They all have their in house quirks. And sometimes you'll see Hasbro exaggerated Brie Larson's head too much in 2019 and paint ain't gonna do it. Mezco, in particular sabotages a lot of their head sculpts with what is now outdated painting that kills the "life".
All that said, I think Catwoman is Todd's best likeness work. He got the proportions and shapes and placement correct. I even like the paint. Skintone you can debate, I find it changes scene to scene, and on a personal "tolerannce" I prefer it to the snow white skin. Kind of like cel shading, I'd prefer to let me solve that with my own lighting and photography rather than potential ruin it with factory execution.
The only hangup I had with her was evident right at the EB Counter: if you look at her included card/back of the box, the mask is fitted differently over her face. I watched movie footage, and it shifts, but I haven't seen where it's riding as high as it is on the figure. I'm sure it does, but when you've got that promo shot right there on the box and card, it makes me wonder.
Re Heath, I agree. You mention the eyes in general. It's always the eyes. Especially with Ledger who has that subtle sardonic smirk and light in the dark of his eyes. I think if you can carry the eyes, or at least smoke and mirror it with good paint apps, you can fudge the rest of the likeness. It's what we gravitate to first as people, every time.
