The figures fit into a wedged shape base. At the front of the base was a lever shaped like the One Ring. Pressing on the lever would activate sound (located within the base) or light (located either in the base or in the figure). The back of each base has a pin/peg like protuberance and another smaller lever.

The gold One Ring is held aloft by yellow flames. The top part of the flames are translucent and light up [magpie: I'm not sure what the mechanism is, I don't have mine handy.] The flames are emerging from a bed of red lava. This base is circular with 18 notches around the perimeter of the circle. The One Ring can turn [magpie: add in description 'in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction'? I don't now if it's one of those or both.] On each side of the red base are heat activated words. They read:

• "Legend tells of a ring believed lost for centuries, it has now been found..."

• "This is the One Ring. An object of unspeakable power which must be destroyed."

The peg at the back of each Figure base will fit into a notch of the One Ring's base. As the Ring is rotated, it presses, each in turn, the levers at the back of the Figure bases. This lever activates the sound and/or light within the base or Figure.

• sound: none
• light: necklace lights up red
• articulation: moves at waist

• sound: "The Ring must go to Frodo."
• light: none
• movement: none
• articulation:
• longish hair
• shorter hair, receding hairline.

• sound: "You carry the fate of us all, little one."
• light: none
• movement: moves at left shoulder and very slightly at neck
• articulation:
• cloak covers his feet up to his toes
• dark gray cloak, silver buckles and chain mail (visible at elbows)
• light gray cloak, gold buckles and chain mail (visible at elbows)
• cloak exposes boots
  

• sound: none
• light: the base lights up red illuminating cracks in the ground
• movement: moves at neck and both shoulders
• articulation:
• narrower face, loincloth
• wider face, no loincloth

• sound: none
• light: a light in the base travels up through the figure to illuminate Celeborn's translucent inner garments.
• movement: none
  
• articulation:
• silver/gray inner garments
• green inner garments.
  

• sound: "You shall be the Fellowship of the Ring."
• light: none
• articulation: none

• sound: "Power can be held in the smallest of things." [magpie: who's voice is this? I don't think my sound works and I don't remember Frodo saying this.]
  
• light: a light in the base travels up through Frodo's transparent left food (as if becoming invisible).
• articulation: none

• sound: none
• light: a light in the base travels up through Galadriel's transparent gown.
  
• The light activated by pressing the One Ring at the front of the Figure base is white.
  
• The light activated by pressing the lever at the back of the base (accomplished by turning the One Ring at the center of the assembled set) the light is pink/yellow [magpie: this info is from a website. I don't have my bases handy and can't verify it.]
• articulation: none
• versions:
• [magpie: I'm pretty sure there are variations of this figure but I only have one of my Galadriels in front of me. To my recollection, some had transparent gowns and some had a frosty white, translusent gown.]

• sound: "Speak, friend, and enter."
• light: a light in the base travels up the shaft of his staff to illuminate the crystal (at the top) and the top portion of his staff.
• articulation: none

• sound: "Well, what are we waiting for?"
• light: none
• articulation: moves at waist

• sound: "The Ring must be destroyed."
• light: none
• articulation: moves at waist

• sound: none
• light: a red light shines through the emblem of the White Hand on his shield and the White Hand glows in the dark.
• articulation: moves at right shoulder and neck

• sound: none
• light: a red light illuminates the lantern in Merry's hand
• articulation: none
• versions:
• blond hair, green jacket,
• brown hair, green jacket,
• brown hair, tan jacket.

sound: none
light: a red light illuminates the top portion of the Orc's helmet (his eyes?)
articulation: moves at his neck (somewhat)

• sound: none
• light: a red light illuminates the yellow torch in Pippin's hand
• articulation: head can be turned very slightly

• sound: none
• light: a red light in the base simulates a campfire on the ground
• articulation:

• sound: none
• light: a red light illuminates the purple Palantir in Saruman's hands
• articulation:

• sound: none
• light: a red light illuminates the yellow flaming brand in Strider's hand.
• articulation: moves at neck

[magpie: I haven't described the bases. My bases are packed away at the moment.]

"The variations in the toys occurred due to changes made during the production of the toys. They were not intentional, but were corrections requested by New Line, the studio producing the film." quote from Raving Toy Maniac. I drew heavily on this site for information.

• If you weren't able to get all the figures during the promotion, you're left collecting through online resale sites, or by scouring thrift stores and garage sales. Unfortunately, the bases often became separated from the figures and it's hard to find bases at thrift stores and garage sales.

• The paint chips fairly easily and if the figures are packed away, they should be wrapped.

• The levers in the bases activate the lights (found in the figures) by pushing up on a button at the bottom of the figure. The lever doesn't always push the button up far enough, however, and even if the light is functioning, it doesn't always turn on. Sometimes the front lever will turn it on but not the back lever, or visa versa.

• The figures don't always stay put in their bases. I've tried every thing short of epoxy for some of them and they still fall off.

• When assembling the Figure bases around the One Ring base, one must carefully consider the figures. The position of some figures conflicts with the position of other figures.

• The sound in the bases is powered by a small battery and this battery can go dead. To open the case, one must have a special triangular shaped 'screwdriver'. (This is to prevent the cases being opened at home since the batteries are toxic if swallowed) My husband ground a small screwdriver down into the proper shape for me so I could open the bases. Then, if one has extra bases, one can swap out one battery for another. Or, one could try buying and replacing the batteries. I would caution you that it is difficult to reassemble the bases, however, since there are moving parts that operate the levers.

• I love the look of the assembled set. I've found lovely wooden turntables (such are used on dinner tables) that it fits on nicely. But it is large and my house is small. Although I did display the set when I finally completed it (after scouring thrift stores and garage sales for years), I took it down soon after. I find it easier to display just the figures on a small shelf (I use old spice racks). They are difficult to dust, as well although... most figures are. And I do believe I have the dustiest house in the world! Not good for a person with magpie tendencies.
  

comprehensive information and pictures

review of product with pictures

time warner announcement of promotional deal with New Line

info about promotion

pre-promotion information

BK announcement of winner of promotional sweepstakes

goofing on LOTR & the BK promotion