Author: jawajames

San Diego-based Jawa.
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There’s Something About Lois? Family Guy: ‘Something Something Something Dark Side’ on DVD

somethingThe second installment of Family Guy‘s retelling of the Star Wars saga comes out today on DVD and Blu-Ray (bypassing a TV broadcast). Entitled ‘Something Something Something Dark Side’, the Griffin family slips back into their Star Wars roles to retell The Empire Strikes Back. Does Darth Vader (Stewie) tell Luke (Chris) that he’s his father, or his brother?

  • Crave Online calls it freakin’ hilarious and a truly deranged spin on the Star Wars universe, and posts the trailer.
  • Metromix Atlanta says that it is worthy of purchase, but sums it up:

    “Now, this doesn’t have as many of those insightful moments as the “Blue Harvest,” nor is it as funny as the “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” episodes, but that isn’t to say you shouldn’t get this if you love either “Family Guy” or “Star Wars.” Especially since, at the moment, there are no plans to air this on TV (and even if they did, it would be without some of the best lines, if you know what I mean).”

  • Cinema Blend points out that a deluxe edition featuring a lunchbox and t-shirt (of the chicken as Boba Fett) is available at Best Buy.
  • Monsters and Critics has photos of the stars who came out for the Something Something Something Dark Side release party. Nathan Fillion?
  • Geeks of Doom ponders the potential of Family Guy spoofing Indiana Jones next, after they finish the Return of the Jedi parody, ‘We Have a Bad Feeling About This’.

So, need a last minute Christmas present for the Family Guy or Star Wars fan? This might be a winner!

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The Clone Wars: ‘Legacy of Terror’ leaves a legacy of reviews

When defending against Geonosian zombies, the lightsaber is mightier than the blaster. When reviewing Geonosian zombies, the pen (or the keyboard) is still mightier than the saber. Here’s what survivors of the great bug zombie attack of Star Wars – The Clone Wars: ‘Legacy of Terror’ are saying:

  • MTV Movies blog calls it, and the whole Geonosian story arc, exceptional, enjoying the new queen as a villain.
  • BigShinyRobot enjoyed it as well, though calls it the weakest in the Geonosis arc so far, and points out the similarities betweeen the Geonosian queen and the queen from Aliens
  • IGN gives it a 9 out of 10, relishing in the whole zombie aspect, and liking the banter between Obi-wan and Anakin.
  • TFN calls it light on plot but heavy on other redeeming elements, such as focusing on the different Jedi approaches, and the ick factor.
  • Joseph Lewis cheers for some genuinely heroic moments, and the lack of the annoying sidekick characters.

Was I just expecting too much of a Geonosian zombie storyline in my review? (Tune in later today to read it.) After all, while I enjoyed Death Troopers, I wished it were a bit more zombie horror-ific.

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The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition gets rated

Slipping out last week was The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition video game, a re-release of 2008’s The Force Unleashed game, with additional content (the exclusive Hoth level, and 2 levels previously only available as downloadable content), and also finally, a PC version. Here’s what gaming reviewers are saying about it:

  • TheForce.Net gives the XBox 360 version a 4 out of 5, while cautioning those who already own the original game (and downloadable content) to consider renting instead of buying.
  • IGN gives it 7.5 out of 10, liking the new content, but again pointing out that this version really is for people who didn’t get the game the first time around.
  • Gamespot gives the PC version a 5 out of 10, calling it a mediocre port of the game, with frustrating graphic frame rate issues, and bland level design on Hoth, which is the only actual new content.
  • About.com gives the PC version 3 of 5 stars, and still enjoys the storyline and new levels, but finds the controls fidgety.

But don’t worry, I’m sure all of these issues on the PC version were fixed in the v1.1 patch. Judging from these reviews, stick to the PS3 or XBox360 version, but if only you don’t already have the original game.

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‘Landing at Point Rain’ lands positive reviews!

Always with the smirking.

Last week’s Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode ‘Landing at Point Rain’ has been garnering the praise from the usual reviewers. (Don’t forget our review!)

  • Eric at TheForce.net calls it “Best. TCW. Ever.” with words like “cinematic”, and says the “episode shines because of the visuals”.
  • IGN gives it 8.8 out of 10, while noting that it is light on content and heavy on gritty and intense action, and pushing the envelope on content and POV.
  • BigShinyRobot calls it an all out half-hour battle straight out of WWII movies, and praises the camera work, but calls out Cartoon Network on their special airtime – on a school night.
  • Joseph Lewis points out that only real risk-your-life-on-behalf-of-your-fellow-soldiers is done by the clones, twice saving Jedi, while the some of the Jedi seem to be more interested in their kill scores.

And as a general caution to the parental types, TV Squad points out that while the new episodes of The Clone Wars are stunning, they are veering away from its kid-friendliness with greater intensity of violence. Joseph Lewis ponders whether that line for carnage has been crossed for what he feels is a franchise meant for children.

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The Clone Wars S1 DVD/BLU-Ray rakes up good reviews

Now that season one of The Clone Wars has been released for a week on DVD and Blu-Ray, here’s what they’re saying:

  • Wired’s GeekDad likes the featurettes looking at the artwork, and says it is “definitely worth picking up.”
  • HD Room reviews the Blu-Ray, gives it 8.5 out of 10 with great video and replayability, thinking that this show has the best prequel-era stories.
  • iF Magazine selects it as DVD pick of the week, with the characters that you love, and new characters that are as fascinating as the familiar faces.
  • Blu-Ray.com gives it a 4 out of 5, with near-perfect video transfer, awesome featurettes, and says “the series itself has proven to be far more captivating, inventive, and entertaining than the feature film that bears its name.”
  • Den of Geek doesn’t review it, but shows off some exclusive concept art.

Looks like the release of season one is getting a good thumbs-up!

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Reviewing The Clone Wars: ‘Landing at Point Rain’

Things that go boom

After the political intrigue of ‘Senate Spy’, ‘Landing at Point Rain’ put both the clones and the war back into The Clone Wars. This episode serves as the opening chapter in a Geonosis-based story arc much in the same way that the invasion of the beaches of Normandy starts off Saving Private Ryan – lots of dirt and death. Could the episode title be an oblique reference to the Spielberg movie? Continue reading “Reviewing The Clone Wars: ‘Landing at Point Rain’”

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New Clone Wars makes an early ‘Landing’

Landing at Point Rain

Just a reminder of tonight’s special showing of the new Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode, ‘Landing at Point Rain’ – the first of a four episode arc – debuting a few days early on Cartoon Network tonight at 8 PM (ET/PT). DVR users: My DVR didn’t have the updated scheduling from Cartoon Network, so be prepared to record whatever your schedule says is in that time slot (possibly “Destroy Build Destroy”). Or, if you’re patient, it’ll rerun on the regular time Friday.

StarWars.com sheds some light on this opening chapter in a larger story arc, hoping that the action to retake Geonosis is “intense as any live-action movie about the assault on Omaha Beach.” Leading into this story is a prelude script set before ‘Landing at Point Rain’, read at the Fan Days in Dallas and now available online. In addition to setting the stage for ‘Landing’, it wraps up the events of ‘Senate Spy’ with some wry banter.

Starwars.com also has put up the conclusion of the S1 box set tour. (Grant Imahara fed his box set to the rancor!)

Or, you can just say screw it all, stay on the computer, and become a fan of Dave Filoni on Facebook.

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The Clone Wars returns early next week – on Wednesday!

The next episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is coming two days early next week! ‘Landing at Point Rain’ will be airing on Wednesday, November 4 at 8 PM, according to Leland Chee’s twitter feed and TheForce.net. Dave Filoni gave the Today show several online interview pieces, some of which tie into the episode:

Meanwhile, Newsarama takes a look at the stealthy revival in Star Wars, thanks to The Clone Wars helping to give the prequel era the feel of the original trilogy, and looks at the push and pull between Dave Filoni and George Lucas. Meanwhile, Hollywood Outbreak asks Lucas why behind The Clone Wars?

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The Clone Wars S1 DVD and Blu-Ray coming Tuesday!

The box set containing the complete first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray this Tuesday. StarWars.com starts a tour of the box set, looking at the contents of disc 1 – and showcasing the full cinematic aspect ratio used on this release, versus the broadcast version. There’s more picture to these moving pictures! The four disc set contains all 22 episodes of season 1, as well as seven extended director’s cuts, and a concept art book. The Blu-Ray version also comes with the Jedi Temple Archives bonus feature.

  • CinemaBlend has got some clips, including a trailer and some episode clips.
  • Monsters and Critics also takes a look, with a clip of their own.
  • BigPictureBigSound gives the Blu-Ray version 3.5 out of 4 stars, and says about some of the extended director’s cuts: “I was surprised more than once by the level of intensity… It’s not the Star Wars I grew up on, but taken on its own, The Clone Wars is a captivating long-term adventure.

So add it to the holiday list, folks!