Category: review

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‘Murder’ by critics

Catching up on the reviews of ‘Senate Murders’ (the episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars from two weeks ago):

  • IGN gives it a 7.8/10 with praise for having a fun Padme episode sans Jedi & clones, but as for the mystery – not too great.
  • Big Shiny Robot called it a mixed bag (Peter Lorre, that’s who I was thinking of!) with a flimsy macguffin, but with a good takeaway point early in the episode.
  • Dauntless Media gave it an “A”, calling it exceptional, and dove into studying the complexities of the characters, including Onaconda Farr’s search for redemption through the senate bill.
  • MTV liked the noirish dock action scene, but felt that the writing, needed especially for a more political episode, was weak.
  • TheForce.net gave a positive review, having enjoyed the politics and intrigue, calling it a welcome departure from the front lines.
  • Television Zombies gave it 3.5/5 lightsabers, feeling that it was somewhat enjoyable, but also a bit of filler. And points out a plot hole: Wouldn’t the Jedi get involved in investigating such a prominent murder?
  • Pendragon’s Post found it lacking, with the new characters being over-the-top, yet falling flat – ultimately, the moral complexity presented got lost in the packaging.
  • Broken Frontier opined that the episode introduced heavy ideas, but fell flat at the end.

And don’t forget the Club Jade review of ‘Senate Murders’ – and sound off with your own feedback.

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Review: Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth

Karen Miller’s high regard and curiosity concerning Obi-Wan Kenobi is quite charming. In her second Star Wars book, Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth, every character has a lot to shoulder in the war, even (and especially) Obi-Wan.

Ahsoka has more to consider as Anakin’s Padawan than the teachings of the Jedi Order. She cares for his well-being and has learned how to read her Master’s emotions to help herself navigate and deal with his temperament. Anakin struggles with the responsibilities of being the Chosen One. What he feels they should do, what he should do as such a prominent figure, conflicts often with the wider doctrine of the Jedi, not to mention how delicately he juggles his forbidden relationship with Padmé. Obi-Wan still wrestles with his misgivings as a teacher and his emotions over the health of a dear friend. It’s clear, though, that as Bail Organa brings a frightening new element in the war to the Jedi’s attention, this cast of extraordinary beings have rather ordinary problems.

All things considered: Obi-Wan and Anakin, for as much as they remain larger than life figures, symbolic of the Jedi Order and its potential, are still forced to deal with their very human emotions and drama. After a harrowing skirmish on Kothlis, Anakin and Obi-Wan are forced to realize they both need some much needed rest. Obi-Wan is still running a bit ragged from his encounter on Zigoola; Anakin and the entire galaxy agree. The pair are sent to Lanteeb anyway–a planet of no consequence until recent Separatist actions pique the Republic’s curiosity. Their physical wounds may be healed, but Anakin and Obi-Wan learn the hard way: some scars never go away. Continue reading “Review: Karen Miller’s Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth“

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Review: Aaron Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Backlash

Luke and Ben seemed to have abandoned their mission to uncover the murky truth of Jacen’s turn to the Dark Side during the third FOTJ book, Abyss, when a weird new tribe of Sith caught their attention. In Backlash, the adventure continues.

Luke’s on the prowl, metaphorically sniffing out Vestara Kai like some crazy bad ass Jedi hunting dog. With his blood splattered on her person after a lightsaber battle that ended with the death of her Master, Vestara is unaware she’s even being tracked, but you can bet she’s looking for a place to hide. Ben, aware of his father’s exhaustion and despite Luke’s protests, elicits the help of the Jedi via an encrypted, sneaky, and very under-the-radar message intended to make absolutely clear it isn’t Luke who’s asking (which would violate the terms of his parole.) Eager to help and reminding us the “good thing about the Solos and Skywalkers” is they “never run out of things to do” (p. 6), Han and Leia pack Allana and her pet nexu aboard the Falcon and head to the place Luke and Ben guess is the most likely location Vestara would land: Dathomir. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is where the fun begins. What follows is a witty and wild adventure in which Daala realizes she’s in over her head, Han gets a flamethrower, and a nexu manages to elicit more pathos out of me than Allana ever will. Continue reading “Review: Aaron Allston’s Fate of the Jedi: Backlash“

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Duking it out with ‘Duchess of Mandalore’

Last week on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Duchess Satine unraveled a plot to trick the Republic into occupying her planet while she and now-just-friends Obi-wan try to clear her for being framed for murder. Here’s the buzz around the galaxy about ‘Duchess of Mandalore’ -making political intrigue fans happy:

  • TheForce.Net called it “really good”, and liked the political intrigue of Palpatine but saw the murder implication and Obi-Wan’s fight as implausible.
  • IGN goes 7.8 / 10, also liking the intrigue, but wished for more near the end, especially after the intensity of the first two episodes in the Satine arc.
  • Big Shiny Robot goes the other way, thinking the beginning to be boring, but enjoying the Hitchcockian suspense through the middle and end.
  • MTV Movies Blog is mostly neutral, but points out that the murder charge plotline simply poofs at the end.
  • Dauntless Media gives it an “A”, calling it the “most mature, allegorical story” so far as a cautionary tale about the abuse of power, but found the ineffective assassin to be the weak element.
  • Pop Goes the Culture likes the visuals of Coruscant and the political lessons, but hits a little snag of the plot – in the middle of a giant war where troops are stretched to the thinnest, is the stability of one neutral planet really of key interest to the Senate?
  • Prequel Appreciation Society snarks up a summary, and wishes the visually impressive episode was longer, because there was so much going on in the plot.
  • Pendragon’s Post likes the reversal of the The Phantom Menace storyline to show a different philosophy but wishes that the Satine arc was a smoother in overall plot.

And don’t forget our own review on the episode!

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The Clone Wars review: ‘Duchess of Mandalore’

The three-episode Mandalore arc in Star Wars: The Clone Wars wrapped up with ‘Duchess of Mandalore’ as Satine and Obi-Wan fight to protect Mandalore in the Senate, and the Duchess in the streets of Coruscant. The plot to set the stage for a Death Watch coup on Mandalore is defeated, and once again, Satine and Obi-Wan see the world from different points of view, which strains their relationship, which at this point is, as she puts it, “friends and nothing more.” Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Duchess of Mandalore’”

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All aboard the ‘Voyage of Temptation’

Always start your voyage with a jaunty hat.

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip
That started from a Mando port aboard this upright ship.
The clones were a mighty fighting men, the Jedi brave as bros.
Five passengers set sail that day
For a half hour show, a half hour show.

We interrupt this theme song parody for some reviews of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars episode, ‘Voyage of Temptation’. Song will continue after these important messages:

  • IGN gives it a 9.1, with high marks for developing Obi-wan’s character as someone who chose one path, but felt some remorse, and the horror of the spider droids.
  • Big Shiny Robot liked Obi-wan’s backstory, and how it fit with Attack of the Clones, and was pleased with the super battle droid boarding action.
  • Prequel Appreciation Society called ‘Voyage’ amusing and entertaining, and likes Anakin’s prodding into Obi/Satine, and ponders on what is and isn’t out of character for Obi-wan Kenobi.
  • TheForce.net ventures to say that TCW is handling love better than the prequels. Although really, all we see is love through the bitterness of remorse. Also examined are the role of the villain Merrik, and nods to the films.
  • MTV Movies Blog points out how Anakin’s action fit into a larger pattern of falling toward the dark side.
  • Pendragon’s Post hails this episode as being The Clone Wars in top form, surpassing the movies in its ability to have dialogue and characters in a love story.
  • Television Zombies gives it 3.5 of 5 sabers, liking the action, but finding it a bit cheesy and pushing the boundaries of a kid’s show.

Continue reading “All aboard the ‘Voyage of Temptation’”

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The Clone Wars review: ‘Voyage of Temptation’

Obi's wants

Love… exciting and new… or in the case of Obi-Wan Kenobi, repressed and a little scary.  The latest Clone Wars may have been pitched as Titanic in space, but it plays out a bit more like an episode of The Love Boat.  Old flames reignite, different plotlines intersect, and romance is simply assumed.  All that, plus a Special Guest Appearance by R2-D2 – right after these messages. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Voyage of Temptation’”

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Reviews of ‘The Mandalore Plot’ a columnist plot?

For last week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it seems from the reader comments to our review that ‘The Mandalore Plot’ is really ‘We Demand-more Plot’ or more something. Here’s what other online reviewers have to say:

  • The Star Wars Prequel Appreciation Society picks up on the Obi-wan/Satine rawr moments, and points out that Vizsla comes from the Cobra school of villainy.
  • Television Zombies gives it 4 out of 5 sabers, liking sort of flirty Obi-wan, and makes a BSG reference but doesn’t acknowledge the EU revision.
  • TheForce.net liked having all the new elements: new world, new conflict, new characters, and especially the dynamic between Satine and Obi-wan, but has some nitpicks about the Duchess, and discusses a lot of Mando continuity issues.
  • MTV Movies Blog‘s reviewer called it an “entertaining piece of fiction” that brought a smile to his face, even with the heavy changes to the EU.
  • Dauntless Media gives it a B, liking the exceptional visuals, but feeling the plot a bit questionable and poorly paced.
  • Big Shiny Robot liked it but found the ending lacking, and points out the EU shockwaves – prompting a reader to leave an rambling comment.
  • Pendragon’s Post points out the coolness of seeing Mandos in action but also picks up on the racial disparity between the Fetts and the ‘Plot’ Mandos.

We’ll see how Obi-wan and the woman he once loved fare in the continuing storyline, in tonight’s ‘Voyage of Temptation,’ when Anakin learns that his mentor has a love life. On the official site, series writer Henry Gilroy looks at Obi-Wan, Satine, Jedi romance, and differing ideals. Meanwhile, Dave Filoni talks to the Insider about bringing in the Mandalorians. Seriously, shouldn’t ‘Voyage of Temptation’ that be the title of a FOX or VH1 reality show on a cruise ship?

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The Clone Wars review: ‘The Mandalorian Plot’

Yoda once told Luke Skywalker that you have to unlearn what you have learned. Certainly true in order to enjoy last week’s episode of The Clone Wars, ‘The Mandalore Plot’. Even knowing it was coming from Karen Traviss’ departure from the EU last summer, the modern history of the Mandalorian people took an abrupt revision. My first viewing of the episode left me focusing more on picking out what had been kept and tossed from previous continuity than on the actual story. But after letting it all go, I watched it again to see what was actually there. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘The Mandalorian Plot’”