I'm not a big fan of writing huge reviews, so i'll try to get to the point as quickly as possible. Venator has a great value for money if one could still find it for a standard price. If You consider getting it, better do it sooner than later, cause it's price is getting higher every day. Building is fun, a bit repetitive, as with all symmetrical structures. However, it's not noticable with so many pieces. AFOL will find the building experience challenging, kids will have fun with lots of playability it posseses. The only thing I don't like about this set is that cancellors senate room in the center of the ship. There was no such a place in the movie counterpart. That's the only reason for 4 points for playability instead of giving it 5. As for the value for money part, the set has got a really nice price per piece ratio, but it still is expensive. Overall I strongly recommend this set to every fan of Lego, and I give it my personal quality mark.

This set includes two Senate Commandos, Chancellor Palpatine, a Clone Gunner, and a Clone Pilot. Its features include a small bridge, a bomb compartment that can release them, four small turrets on both sides, opening front that reveals the Chancellor's chamber, and a large turret with flick-fire missiles that is maned by the Clone Gunner. Over all this is a outstanding set!

Replace this text with your introduction.

Pros

• Large ship
  
• Concealed carrying handle is very nice
  

Cons

• None, great kit

So as a recent returning AFOL, this one only one a few sets I've bought. I was surprised that the core of the ship is all (what I consider anyway) Technic LEGO bricks.

Fun and awesome ship, very large. The handle to pick up and carry it around is really nice, and hides well.

I got it from Target on sale for like $76, and at this point, a very good deal

Ok, let me start off by saying that any pictures you see on the web of this or even on the box, do NOT do this model justice. The cruiser is a little too tall and it doesn't have a perfect shape, but you have to trust me on this: when you have finished the set, you will NOT care about such minor details. It is massive! (unless you have 10030 on display too, which unfortunately I do.) The engines have got to be my favorite part because they just look so cool.

I was at legoland california, at the star wars days 2010 event, and I had a ton of extra money, so I bought the turbo tank, slave 1, arc-170, and a bunch of other stuff at the store. I didn't even want to buy this set, because it didn't look very good, but I had the cash so I thought what the heck.

When I finished building this thing, it was by far the best set I bought that day, better than the turbo tank, and everything else. It totally passed my expectations and the finished product was massive.

THE MINIFIGURES:

You get a really ugly looking chancellor palpatine, which is okay, but kind of wierd looking.

The two senate commandoes are awesome, with special helmets, but clone faces inside.

You get a clone gunner operating the cannon, which is pretty cool, you can never have enough clone gunners.

Last but definitely not least, you get a clone pilot, which is pretty rare.

THE BUILD:

The build was awesome, lots of pieces, and it comes together really well. It took me a few hours, but I'm a fast builder! First you build the bottom piece, then the engines, then the main structure, and finally the two bridge towers and the armour plates. When you first build the bottom plate, it doesn't seem very big, but the engines and the nose protrude out quite a bit, so the finished model is bigger than you'd expect.

PLAYABILITY

The set is pretty playable. There is a gunner who slides out of either side and has a big cannon (like an SPHA/T, I think). There is also a little knob on the side that you can turn, and bombs drob out. You can also slide the bomb mechanism out to reload it (there are five bombs total). I'm not so sure about the Chancellor's office, because it doesn't make good use of the space, and it's supposed to be in the senate building anyway. Instead, you could easily modify it to fit in a troop deck or something.

The value for the money is good (for nowadays anyway). You get 1170 pieces and 5 minifigs for $120 US which is almost 10 cents per piece. Unfortunately in Canada (where I live) it costs $150, which is ridiculous. But luckily I bought it when I went to California.

Overall, this is an awesome set, and if you have the cash, you should definitely get it over anything else.

This set is AMAZING! People are saying that they don't like it because it is kinda small, but I think that the size is perfect. The build is great and I have no idea what people are talking about when they say that it is fragile. The minifgs, including new Palpatine and new Senate Commandos.

The Venator includes many features:

-Escape pod(which no one can actually fit in and the Chancellor can't even get to)
-A cannon manned by the clone Gunner
-8 swivel turrets and 2 repeating blaster turrets
-A bridge with the clone Pilot
-A room for the Senate Commandos and the Chancellor(with special desk and swivel chair)
-Bomb dropping mechanism
-Hangar type area that can fit certain mini models

Overall this is a great set and is a SERIOUS must buy!