Ahsoka has finally come into her own. Not as a Jedi, mind you – she actually seems to be getting less mature as time goes on, no doubt due to prolonged exposure to a Skywalker. But in terms of her status as a character, ‘Lightsaber Lost’ marks a definite turning point: it’s the first episode where she’s really on her own, with the action following her the entire time and not cutting away to any of the “classic” movie characters. Yes, Jocasta Nu puts in a cameo, but she’s hardly one of our regular heroes. Anakin also makes an appeareance for the first minute or so, but after that, he ducks out for good. But is it for good? Ahsoka, without Anakin for support and/or moral confusion, turns out to be a mixed bag. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Lightsaber Lost’”
While ‘Grievous Intrigue’ threw in a lot of action without much plot, ‘The Deserter’ combines story, character, and action to make a stronger episode. While Republic searches for a crash-landed Grievous, an injured Rex comes across something that forces him to rethink his life: a farmer and father, who happens to be a clone deserter. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘The Deserter’”
The second episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars last week, ‘The Deserter’, about Rex’s discovery of a clone deserter-turned-father while Obi-wan and Cody try to apprehend a crash-landed Grievous, turned out to give the fans something to enjoy:
TheForce.Net thought ‘The Deserter’ truly shined, with its philosophical debate, domestic scenes, and zombie-like feel to the final battle at the farmhouse.
Pendragon’s Post calls it solid, and likes getting into the psychology of clones.
IGN gives it an 8, but wishes that the Grievous/Obi-wan plot had been lessened, as well as the cuteness of those Twi’lek kids.
Big Shiny Robot loved the final battle at the farmhouse, being reminded of the end of L.A. Confidential, and can’t get enough of those commando droids.
Galactic Binder sees a “well executed storyline” and looks at Rex’s growth as he sees different notions of bravery.
Broken Frontier thinks ‘Grievous Intrigue’ to be more entertaining, but ‘The Deserter’ to end up as one of the better dialogue-focused episodes.
General Grievous finally makes his Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 2 grand entrance after lurking in the shadows last fall. In the first season, Grievous mostly came out as a mustache-twirling villain whose sinister plots would be undone by the Jedi and the ineptitude of his own droids, and the hacking cyborg would escape at the last second to try another dastardly plot. In ‘Grievous Intrigue’ he again shows his ability to cook up a caper, but this time, we see a glimmer of purpose behind the mask. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Grievous Intrigue’”
‘Brain Invaders.’ Just say it to yourself a few times. Brain Invaders, Brain Invaders, Brain Invaders. Those two words remind me of so much… arcade games, Star Trek II, dewy summer morns relaxing at Grandma’s farm. Alas, the title is never seen on-screen, nor spoken within the episode. Still, we have it here, on the internet, and in the future, on DVD menus. It is enough. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Brain Invaders’”
With a title like ‘Legacy of Terror’, you could expect almost anything that could inspire a fright, and yet while there’s the horror of the walking dead in an underground labyrinth and Ceti eel-inspired mind control, the Jedi protagonists act without fear, defusing the tension in this episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Continue reading “Reviewing The Clone Wars: ‘Legacy of Terror’”
So we’re sticking around Geonosis for a while, huh? I suppose it makes sense. Season 1 included a little virus-fueled trip to Naboo, and now that we’re in Season 2, it’s time to mine those Attack of the Clones locales. At this rate, the Ewoks will show up in Season 6, in what will be billed as their triumphant return to animation. Yub nub, Cartoon Network. Yub nub. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Weapons Factory’”
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’”
If you’re still waiting your turn (or trying to decide if you want to spend the money on an upcoming show), it is SO worth going! I won’t spoil it. (Although really, can you spoil it?) But the multimedia is mind-blowing. The montages really make you look at the story in a different way. And hearing a live symphony so obviously well-rehearsed on the music is magical.
Anthony Daniels spins a magical tale. Yes, we all know the story. But the way he tells it is a wonderful take on the individual characters and the overarching saga. And, as anyone who has seen him at a convention knows, he knows how to work a crowd.
The only negative I would give (at least at our show) was that the micing for the choir was a bit off. Admittedly, I’m a bit of a choir snob, but there was a mic near one tenor that made him stick out SO much. (Thankfully, he was correct and in tune the whole time.) But they sounded amazing, even for all that.
Some tips:
Seating Recommendations – If you have yet to buy tickets (and Atlanta was only half-full, so you may not be too late), I’d go with the floor, but in the second or third section back. Too close to the stage and you won’t get the full effect of all the, um, effects. Plus, there is fire, people. Major fire. I was in the back floor section and it was hot back there!
If you can’t afford the lower seats, go for closer to the stage. The way it’s set up, you’ll still see everything, but still get to see some detail.
Get there as soon as the doors open. – This is people-watching at its finest. I saw everything from toddlers to someone who had to be in his mid-80’s. Every five minutes or so, a kid would excitedly yell out, “Star Wars!” (And we adults happily took up the call.) There are also archive set-ups featuring stuff I have never seen at the many exhibitions I’ve been to. With the crowds, it will take a while to see them all. Plus, watching the 501st work the crowd is always amusing.
Save up your pennies for the store. – There are some wonderfully clever designs to be had that don’t come across on the website. Having tried on all of my goodies, I would recommend buying up one size if you don’t like tight-fitting shirts or jackets.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It did my little geeky heart good. I will end with a quote from my friend (and Dragon*Con Star Wars track director) Brandy Roatsey: “Every time you watch the Saga or hear the music it’s like renewing your vows and falling in love all over again!”
Admit it. You’ve always wanted to see Steve Sansweet’s collection. I mean he has the World’s Largest Star Wars Collection. (I’m sure that has to be trademarked, by now. But it’s true.)
The book is divided into sections based on the type of collectibles. Sections like “Wear It” and “Eat It” are particularly amusing.
The photography by his curator and co-author, Anne Neumann, really allows you to see the detail in each of the selected pieces. This is particularly useful for some of the more insane collectibles that just have to be seen to be believed.
For me, though, the best part of the book are the stories. You can find out how he started. He tries to answer all the usual questions he gets when he’s giving a tour. But the captions for each of the items are the most entertaining. They’re often a large paragraph long and include fun stories about how they were created and the odd ways in which some of them came into his collection.
This is like getting to take a tour of Rancho Obi-Wan without having to go there. And even though you don’t get to be washed over with the full show, the sheer volume of the book will help make up for it.
If you’re looking to add this to your holiday wish list, tell your loved ones that they can find it in the collectibles section of the bookstore.
