Tag: reviews

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The Clone Wars review: ‘The Zillo Beast!’

Did you notice that I added an exclamation point to the title?  That’s because ‘The Zillo Beast,’ while not perfect, is easy to get excited about.  It’s the first Clone Wars episode that I seriously wished I could see in a movie theater – and that’s including the theatrical pilot.  This is impressive, exciting, big-screen material, and if I was looking to get quoted, I’d call it “Monstrously Entertaining,” or “The Beast is Best,” or perhaps “A Smashingly Good Time!”  Thankfully, I’m above some trivialities. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘The Zillo Beast!’”

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The Clone Wars review: ‘Bounty Hunters’

Both Stooge and James have skipped out on us are on vacation, so this week our Clone Wars review is a guest post from The Broox. Enjoy! -D

‘Bounty Hunters’ takes the tried and true approach of opening the episode with our heroes bickering like an old married couple before quickly throwing them into danger.

Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka drop out of hyperspace above Felucia in order to investigate the disappearance of a medical station. Thanks to the omnipresent, propaganda style voice over the audience is aware that the dastardly Separatists have destroyed the station before our heroes’ arrival. Furthermore, the Separatists left some Vulture Droids behind to dispatch anyone who would come to investigate. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Bounty Hunters’”

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Video: Phantom Menace reviewer takes on Clones

The RedLetterMedia folks return with another multi-part takedown. And just to make things clear, in their own words this is: “Part review satire, part parody, part commentary, all prequel hating vitriolic comedy.” (I guess my percentages were off last time.) You’ve been warned.

I’m only embedding part 1, but here are the links to the rest: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

(There’s also a two-part Avatar review.)

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The Clone Wars review: ‘Cat and Mouse’

Every now and then, The Clone Wars throws me for a loop.  That happened a few times during this episode, starting with the setting.  We’re back on Christophsis, the abandoned warehouse planet, and apparently there are some civilians in trouble.  High above the planet, in outerrrrrrrrrr spaaaaaaaace, Anakin Skywalker leads a squadron trying to deliver humanitarian (alientarian?) aide.  Naturally, I figured that he was returning to the site of his great victory from the Clone Wars movie.  I figured wrong. Continue reading “The Clone Wars review: ‘Cat and Mouse’”

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Playing ‘Cat and Mouse’-droid with the reviewers?

Last week’s episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, ‘Cat and Mouse’ took the view back in time to just before the Battle of Christophsis that kicks off the series – and has Anakin and Admiral Yularen teaming up for the first time as they square off against a Separatist fleet tactician. While waiting for the Club Jade review, here’s what others have to say about ‘Cat and Mouse’:

  • Galactic Binder enjoyed getting a fine space battle, and a worthy and visually appealing adversary in the arachnid Admiral Trench.
  • Star Wars Clone Wars Reviews gave it 3.75/5 stars, calling Admiral Trench memorable, and succeeding where Season 1’s ‘Storm over Ryloth’ fell.
  • TheForce.Net enjoyed the WWII submarine movie style of the episode, and the relationship between Yularen and Trench.
  • Dauntless Media gave it a B, with love for the action, but found it needing more character and story depth.
  • Big Shiny Robot called it top notch, enjoying the submarine style, and Admiral Yularen’s time to shine.
  • Television Zombies gave it 3.5/5, calling ‘Cat and Mouse’ straightforward.
  • MTV got excited over clear writing for this fun adventure, and Bail Organa’s one-liner to Obi-wan, referencing A New Hope.
  • Pendragon’s Post called it solid, but not spectacular, and wished to see more of Trench in the future.
  • Prequel Appreciation Society picked up on the submarine vibe and was glad to see some wars again in The Clone Wars.

Check back this afternoon for Club Jade’s own 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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EUbits: Catching up with Karen Miller’s Gambit

Gambit: Stealth cover teaseStealthiness. Our pal Mandy at TheForce.Net interviewed author Karen Miller this week, touching on the writing life, tie-ins and (naturally) subtext.

On that note, while I’d like to start doing review roundups for the books, but they can sometimes prove difficult. Witness: Even at almost a month out, I was only able to find two for Clone Wars Gambit: Stealth. NJOE’s MizzeeOH found that she enjoyed the book, but not as much as Wild Space; Hendel D’bu found it engaging, and especially praises the battle sequences. There’s always the review thread on the TFN boards if you’re dying for more.

More interview. Star Wars Books catches up with John Jackson Miller

Fanboy games. StarWars.com has a peek at Pablo’s Head to Head, pitting Chewbacca up against a wampa.

The Old Republic is starting up a new webcomic and adding Belsavis, aka the planet from Children of the Jedi. Random!

Poll. io9 asks which expanded universe is most unnecessarily. I suppose it depends on what you consider necessarily… I mean, I can’t for the life of me get excited about some nice-sized chunks of the Star Wars EU, but I could also care less about BSG or Lost outside of their primary formats. To each their own, I suppose.