Star Wars the Clone Wars "Padawan Lost" TV Review



I got a bad feeling about this...

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001250.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

Season 3 has finally reached it's end, and to kick off its two-part finale we get "Padawan Lost," an episode that excellently sets the scene for the final episode, "Wookie Hunt."  The show starts off with the classic Clone Wars set up; the heroes are off fighting some battle, when all of the sudden things take an unexpected turn, and then we get our story.  In this case it's Ahsoka, Anakin, Plo Koon, and their respectively squads of clone troopers attacking a Separatist outpost on the jungle world of Felucia.  However, just as it seems like things are going as planned, Ahsoka gets captured by a Trandoshan (read: lizard people) band of rogues and stranded on a distant planet to be hunted for sport.  Thus she's forced to survive with the help of other Jedi younglings who are in the same predicament.
     The Clone Wars has gone dark places before, but the hunt marks brand new territory.  We've seen people die on the show several times, heck, almost in every episode, but in each instance it was in the name of war, honor, and all of that.  Now we see them getting shot in the name of....fun.  Pretty heavy stuff.  Obviously this sets the Trandoshans up to be quite the abominable antagonists, with their animalistic chants and rallies.  All of that is set up perfectly with the sub-plot of young Dar, who's about to go through his first Jedi hunt.
     Meanwhile, watching the Jedi fight for survival can be very tense, leading to some awesome action sequences.  The Trandoshans' clumsy but powerful fighting style combined with the Jedi's dexterity to form great choreography.  One gripe that I do have is the lack of proper hunting action.  Stealth, tracking, and invisible-predator moments are notably absent, which is a real bummer, as the Trandoshans looked like they could have fit the part easily.  Anybody who has watched any of the Jurassic Park movies will know what I mean.  Unfortunately the lizards resort to flying around in their hover craft while shooting up everything they see with a gatling gun.  Hardly hunt worthy material.
     In terms of visual effects, this episode really stood out.  While the planet that the hunts take place on is a jungle planet just like Felucia, it managed to avoid feeling just more of the same by adding a great sense of claustrophobia.  Whereas Felucia has beautiful foiliage that probably inspired Avatar, the planet Wasskah is composed of prickly vines that twist and bend in an unsettlingly way.  I also noticed that for the first time in my memory the Clone Wars used insects and dust effects to add to the choking atmosphere.
Conclusion:  While proper hunting is nowhere to be found, "Padawan Lost" was still a fun and, in several instances, very dark.  It's bitter ending leaves the audience wondering what will happen next in the final episode of this epic season, "Wookie Hunt."
Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"
Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  The ending in many ways reminded me of that of The Empire Strikes Back.  Kalifa's death added a lot to the sense of danger and despair, and reminded the viewers that there's still a whole lot of trouble to be had before this thing is over.

Tron Legacy Movie Review



I want one

     Tron Legacy stars Sam Flynn, the son of the legendary Kevin Flynn who disappeared twenty odd years ago working on the revolutionary computer system called the Grid.  Following a friend's advice Sam visits his father's old arcade shop and accidently enters his father's world.  However, instead of finding the technological utopia that his father promised, Sam discovers a world in the tyrannical grip of Clu, a digital copy of his father working towards the perfection of the system.  Thus begins Sam's journey to find his father and escape the Grid.

     This movie is a sequel to a 1982 film called Tron.  Fortunately for those who haven't seen it (myself included), Legacy does a pretty good job at introducing you to the world and filling in the back story.  It's also good that the protagonist is just as new to the world of Tron as the audience is, as it keeps the feeling that your missing out on something down to a minimum.

     While Legacy has some interesting characters and plot points, obviously the biggest draw will be it's spectacular special effects that compliment awesome action scenes.  The entire world of the Grid is composed of neon lights the line everything from the streets to the suits that the people wear, which includes the futuristic weapons called "Light Discs."  Said light discs are used in combat frequently, and they look awesome, shooting around the room and causing satisfying shatter effects when making contact with their target.  Also cool are the Light Cycles, sleek motorcycles that emit streams of energy behind them that can shatter any enemies that drive into to.  All of this cybernetic awesomeness is complimented by a sweet techno track that subtly adds to the atmosphere.  And I'm not even a fan of techno.

     With all of the shiny spectacles happening on screen it's important not to forget the story, which fortunately proves to be just as strong as the visual effects.  The world of the Grid has a pretty interesting backstory, and it's pretty rewarding to see it connect with the main plotline.  I also liked how Kevin Flynn had created the Grid in the pursuit of perfection, and how that drive for prefection resulting in the tyranny of Clu, a nice moral conflict that gives some dimension to the villain.  Unfortunately, there are a few places where the story falls short.  First of all, the dialougue can be a bit cheesey, which I guess is a rule by now for all Disney movies that don't involve Jack Sparrow.  Second, the movie's namesake, Tron, proves to be nothing more than a secondary character.  The film tries to give him some depth with his story of fall and redemption, but it just feels detached from the main storyline.  Maybe if I watched the first movie his character would have a bit more emotional depth for more, but as it is, he feels almost tacked on, which is a shame considering that it's "his" movie.

Conclusion:  Despite not having seen the original I still enjoyed Tron Legacy very much.  It was a fun rollercoaster of special effects that was complimented by a solid story and cool characters.  The ending left room for a sequel, and considering how good this one was, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Rating:  8/10 "Great"

Favorite Moment:  The Light Cycle battle was awesome.  Like, really really awesome.  Pixalated explosions and sweet action.  What more could you want?

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Citadel Rescue" T.V. Review



Droid Surfing

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001238.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

     While the Clone Wars series has quite the treasure trove of great stories, one thing that the series has struggled with is giving those stories a strong ending.  Half of the time the ending either comes too quickly, is anticlimactic, or a combination of the two.  However, the Citadel manages to hit it big with it's conclusion, "Citadel Rescue," which not only did continue the trend of raising the stakes as seen in "Counterattack," but also set the stage for further Anakin/Tarkin team ups.

     The story continues with the team making their way to a landing site where Republic ships and evacuate them safely.  The final push was done remarkably well with the sense of impending doom as the droids closed in.  I was also surprised to be a bit sad to see the reprogrammed battle droids destroyed, making a final stand against the Separatists in defense of our heroes.  Sure, they're goofy, with their cries of "all for one and one for all!", but it still would have been cool for them to survive the trip and continue serving as R2's personal army.  Just imagine all of the pranks on C-3PO that now will never be...

Spoilers Being Here: 

     One scene that I really liked is when Osi Sobeck prepares to throw Tarkin in the lava, only to by stabbed in the back by Ahsoka.  It was a doubly dark move, both for killing a guy and saving the future destroyer of Alderaan.  It was also a nice touch when Tarkin remarks that Anakin trained her well, bringing to light the fact that he was the one who taught her such impulsive behavior.

Spoilers End Here...ish

    Like I said, the ending was done almost perfectly.  Anakin's handshake with Tarkin seemed to seal their fates, with the lightest hint of "Imperial March" decorating the scene.  Hopefully we'll see them work together again soon.  My only nitpick about their relationship is that the episode never took the opportunity to confirm Tarkin's suspicions that the Jedi's moral code was hampering the war effort.  It would have been nice to see the Jedi stumble here, and watch how both Anakin and Tarkin react.

Conclusion:  When this story arc first started I assumed that it would be nothing more than fun but mindless action sequences.  Fortunately this episode, and in part the previous, gave this story line relevence both in the Clone Wars series and Star Wars as a whole.

Rating: 9/10

Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  I always assumed that Even Piell would survive to the end, so it was kind of a shock to watch him die.  While we didn't really know him before hand, there was still some emotion in the scene in which he gives Ahsoka the information that he's been keeping, followed by a visually striking scene in which his body is ceremoniously lower into the lava.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Counterattack" TV Review

Somebody's in trouble...

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001234.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.
     As a follow up to "The Citadel," "Counterattack" doesn't do much special.  All of the things that were great about the first episode are pretty much true with it's sequel, with only a few differences.  Just like last time, the plot is pretty straightforward; having rescued Master Even Piell, Obi-Wan and Anakin split up with their respective squads as they try to escape the surface of the planet.
     Just like the previous episode, "Counterattack" has several fun nods to the original Star Wars films.  The biggest one is, of course, the addition of Captain Tarkin to the escape team.  It was great to see the future Grand Moff of the Death Star join Anakin's group, leading to some interesting character development between the two, perfectly setting the stage for their alliance in A New Hope.  I liked how Tarkin got Anakin agreeing with him that the Jedi's peace-keeping methods were slowing the war effort, and how that mutual agreement managed to spawn their respect for one another.  It was also funny to watch Tarkin snub Ahsoka just because she was young.
     In terms of action scenes, this episode managed to deliver, although the majority of them weren't up to par with the shootouts in "The Citadel."  That said, one thing this episode did better than "The Citadel" was ratch up both the tension and the sense of peril.  To this end were three deaths, each bringing something new to raise the stakes.  For those sensitive to spoilers, I recommend that you skip to the end of my review.  The first death involved a clone trooper getting sliced in half - it was cleverly played, and managed to be grisly without actually showing it happen.  The second was carried out by Osi Sobeck, the warden of the Citadel, as he mercilessly executes one of the clones.  While his character was a bit annoying at times, this scene fortunately made up for that.  The final death is the one that I want to talk the most about.  You know how I complained about the lack of tension in the previous episode do to the overuse of "redshirts?"  This episode managed to break that crutch by killing off Echo, a clone trooper that we've gotten to know over the series, most notably from one of the best Season One episodes, "Rookies."  His death did seem a bit contrived, but in the end the effect was the same.  Everbody is vulnerable.
Conclusion:  In many ways "Counterattack" could be dismissed as just more of the same, but it managed to stand out for it's increase in tension, and the awesome inclusion of the soon to be Grand Moff Tarkin.
Rating: 8/10 "Great"
Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  With some reservations, I'm going to have to choose Echo's death.  There was a good sense of tragedy with his charred helmet lying on the ground and the background music, but it did feel a bit cheap, considering how he blindly ran for the ship even as he saw the turret fire coming towards him.  It's also a bit sad that Fives is now the sole survivor of the Domino Squad.  My heart's out for ya, buddy.

Trailer Tuesday #6 Clone Wars Gets a Hairy Visitor, + Spider-man and the Oscars

What's that?  Today isn't a Tuesday?  Well, it is in.... Narnia....   Actually, the real reason is that there wasn't a Clone Wars episode to review from last Friday, so you get to celebrate Trailer Tuesday early!  Yay!  Speaking of the Clone Wars, you'll never guess who's making an appearance in the upcoming season finale.  For maximum excitement, please scroll down slowly.

Wait for it...

Wait for it...


Wait for it...




Wait for it...




AND......

ROOOOOWWRRR!!!!

Yep, our favorite walking carpet is making a return to the galaxy far, far away.  See him in action in the following two previews.





As an added bonus, here's a behind the scenes video with the developers of the show working with the guy who originally played Chewbacca in the films.  They even got him to do the voice!  Awesome.



Yep, pretty awesome.  While the next thing isn't a trailer, I just thought that it looked cool.  Apparently they're rebooting the Spider-man movies with a fresh cast and storyline.  Here's an intriguing photo that I found of Spidey's brand new suit, which looks pretty sweet.



Spidey's back!

     If you look closely the suit has a more gritty feel to it than the old one.  I also like how the gloves seem to spiral out of the arms of the suit, with the red and blue.

     Well, not all things are awesome in the world.  I never watched the Oscars last night, but apparently the film that won "Best Picture" decidedly didn't start with an "Ince" and end with an "ption."  Yep, Inception, the greatest movie ever, lost the grand prize to some puny little film called "The King's Speech."  Shocking, I know.

     However, to ease the pain, here's a not-so-serious look at the nominies, courtesy of our friendly neighborhood howitshouldhaveended.com.  Enjoy!

True Grit Movie Review



Wanted:  This Awesome Movie

     Calling True Grit a western immediately leads one to assume that it will be riddled with gun fights and cut-throat outlaws, and while True Grit has those things, the focus of the film is instead on developing its characters.  The movie begins with fourteen-year-old Mattie Ross entering a western town seeking revenge against the man who killed her father, outlaw Tom Chaney.  She enlists the help of Rooster Cogburn, a notorious mercenary, and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf to help her track down her father's murderer and bring him to justice.

     The meat of True Grit isn't action packed shoot outs (of which there are only a few), but rather watching the characters grow off of each other.  As a young girl Mattie is initially dismissed by the older, more experienced men; Cogburn tries to set out without her and LaBoeuf goes as far as to beat her for slowing them down.  Thus it becomes really satisfying when you watch the characters bond as they are forced to struggle through the same challenges together.  It was also fun to watch the rivalry between Cogburn and LaBoeuf play out, yelling at each other one moment and saving each others lives the next.

     Unfortunately, there is a bit of a missed opportunity when it comes to Tom Chaney.  He comes off as a brutish and not too bright thug, with no irredeemable qualities whatsoever.  It could have been a nice moral dilemma for Mattie if she discovered that the murderer wasn't so bad after all, but this idea isn't even touched upon.  Chaney is the villain and deserves to die, and that's about all there is to it.

     One reason True Grit succeeds despite this is because it isn't afraid to have a sense of humor.  It's amazing how one moment the movie is gut-wrenching and the next moment crack a joke or three.  For a movie dealing with such serious subject matter it surprised me just how many times I laughed out loud throughout the duration.  It's also great to see how the movie shifts from serious to light-hearted and back again in a series of contrasts that make both moods equally poignant.  One moment we witness the grisly murder of a rancher and the next the tension is diffused with Cogburn remarking "the ground's too cold-if he wanted a proper burial he should have died in the summer."

Conclusion:  Those looking for an action packed joy ride should look elsewhere-you can count the number of shootouts in film on one hand.  While the slow pace may disappoint some, it definitely pays out in a big way by delivering some of the best characterization that I've seen since Inception.

Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"

Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  Watching Cogburn race through the wilderness to saze Mattie's life was an emotional ride, made even more so once he ditches the exhausted horse and runs forwarded on foot while carrying her.  This is the moment that defines their relationship.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "The Citadel" TV Review

Good Times...

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001229.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

     After the Mortis Trilogy which delved into the deeper aspects of the Star Wars saga, "The Citadel" takes the series back to its roots with a classic, action-oriented prison escape.  Jedi Master Even Piell is taken hostage by the Separatists, placed under close scrutiny of the Citadel, an impenetrable fortress specifically designed to hold Jedi.  It thus falls on Obi-Wan and Anakin to form a crack team of Jedi and Clone Troopers to infiltrate the Citadel and rescue Master Piell.
     "The Citadel" chooses a minimalistic approach to the story, focusing instead on action sequences.  The lack of a deep story line could have harmed this episode, but fortunately classic feeling that it envokes of the Original Trilogy, specifically the Death Star sequence of A New Hope, more than makes up for it.  The adventure begins with several nice touches as Anakin and his master develop a plan for breaking into the Citadel.  Anakin suggests that they carbon-freeze themselves to avoid detection by the droid's scanners, resulting in a nice scene that draws parallels to Han Solo's freezing in The Empire Strikes Back.  It was also fun to see R2-D2 take control of a squad of reprogrammed battle droids to help out with the mission.
     The Citadel itself felt like a classic villain lair from a batman cartoon, full of dangerous booby traps that the Jedi have to navigate around, setting the stage for some awesome action scenes.  That said, the feeling of danger is a bit lacking.  A couple "red-shirt" clones die along the way, but for the most part the team rescues Master Piell with relative ease.  I know that there's plenty of stuff thrown at them before hand, but for a prison that's specifically meant to hold Jedi, I was hoping for a more perilous experience.
     The episode does try to throw in some characterization, but it isn't much.  Ahsoka disobeys Anakin's orders and tags along with the rescue mission.  And that's over with before the episode's even half way through.  The warden of the Citadel does turn out to be a somewhat interesting villain, but he's got nothing on Hondo.  There is an exciting character reveal towards the end of the episode, which I won't spoil here, and while the episode ends soon after, I'm excited to see where they'll go with him for next week.
Conclusion:  "The Citadel" scales back the story and effectively delivers an action packed experience with several fun nods to the Original Trilogy.  The simple plot does show through at times, but it was still a great episode in which to enjoy the simple pleasures of classic Star Wars.
Rating:  8/10 "Great"
Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  It was cool to see the deadly Commando Droids make an appearance in this episode, and my favorite action sequence with them was when a giant magnet disarms the clones and Jedi, forcing them to fend off the attack with only their bare hands and the Force.  Oh, and seeing Skywalker dangle from the magnet by his robotic arm was also a plus.

Waterworld Move Review



The actual movie is significantly less epic than this

     Waterworld is a perfect example of a movie with an awesome premise that unfortunately fell flat thanks to its poor story and boring characters.  In this sci-fi adventure the polar ice-caps have melted, leaving Earth's surface covered completely with water, forcing humans to adapt to this new, harsh environment.  The movie itself follows the exploits of a nomad traveling the seas who teams up with a young girl and her guardian in an attempt to escape a band of pirates called the "Smokers," who believe that the tattoo on the girl's back is the key to finding dry land.
     The biggest problem with Waterworld is its characters.  The nameless Mariner is your typical rogue who likes doing things his own way, and in the end turns out to be a complete jerk.  He kills an entire ship full of innocents without batting an eye and make two attempts to kill the annoying little girl that he's forced to take with him.  Sure, in the end the become friends, but until then he makes for a poor protagonist.  The other half of the problem is that the little girl is annoying, and you'll find yourself wanting to throw her into the ocean as well.  So when they finally do become friends you could hardly care less.  The film's villain is also boring.  A bald pirate with an eye patch and affinity for shooting people?  Yawn.
     Waterworld also has the disadvantage of being set in a world in which there is nothing but water.  Yes, there are floating villages and such that pop up here and there, but after a while the big blue gets monotonous.
     So, what did this movie get right?  Well, it did have an interesting premise, with the whole myth of dry land built up fairly well, and it was interesting to see how the humans survived on the ocean.  There are also a handful of action scenes scattered in between watching the boring sea, that are fun, but not particularly creative.
Conclusion:  Waterworld could have been a cool post-apocalyptic science fiction if it weren't for its unlikeable characters and lackluster story.  There are a few cool bits scattered here and there, but they aren't worth waiting for in the sea of mediocrity.  The potential is there, but it never blooms.
Rating:  5/10 "Mediocre"
Favorite Moment:  I'm wondering whether or not I should even put this here since I'm not even recomending the film....  Okay, you know what, I'm right.  No "Favorite Moment" section for anything below a 7 from now on.  Maybe I should start doing a "Least Favorite Moment" section for movies like this...

Trailer Tuesday #5 Superheroes Galore!

Superhero movies seem to make up half of the theater listings now days, so I thought that I'd show off a few recently announced comic book flicks.
The first trailer is pretty short, but oh well.  Captain America:  The First Avenger is set during World War II and apparently there were both supervillains and superheroes during that time period.  Who knew?


The next one is X-Men: First Class, a prequel to the X-Men movies set during the Cold War.  This actually looks pretty cool even though I'm not a big fan of X-Men; it looks like the movie is taking place during the Cuban Missle Crisis, which could set the stage for some awesome alternate history/historical fiction goodness.


And since we're on the subject of superhero movies I'm pretty much required by law to at least mention the upcoming sequel to the Dark Knight, which has the confirmed title "The Dark Knight Rises."  Yeah, not the best title in the world, but keep in mind that it's Christopher Nolan, the genius behind not only the last two Batman movies but also the phenomenal Inception.  I wouldn't expect anything less than awesome.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Ghosts of Mortis" TV Review



Oh yes they did!

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001226.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

     The "Mortis" trilogy of episodes has done some pretty bold things, but "Ghosts of Mortis" really takes the cake.  In what seems to be a direct violation of the films, the Son captures Anakin and shows him a vision of his future.  I'm not talking about a possible "Oh, maybe this will happen, maybe it won't" future, but a "holy cow are they serious he's totally showing him Darth Vader" type of future.  Obviously the canon of the films requires the Father to erase Anakin's memory of the whole ordeal, but fortunately there's plenty of meat before then in which we get to see how the Chosen One reacts to such a startling revelation.  His brief stint with the Dark Side is temporary just like Ahsoka's, but this time it feels more authentic.  It's also interesting to see his reasons for doing it, and how they compare and contrast with his reasons in Episode III.  While there's evidence that the Son has poisoned him to a certain degree, you can still see the old Anakin come out several times; the Son may have pushed him over the edge, but Anakin is still Anakin.

     Speaking of the Son, he was great in this episode.  "Altar of Mortis" did a great job of building up his character, and this episode made it even better by showing a more vulnerable and compassionate side to him.  There's a great scene in which he pauses for a brief moment while raiding his sister's tomb to reflect upon her death, showing that even though they are on opposite sides of the spectrum they are still brother and sister.

     Not so great, unfortunately, is Ahsoka's character.  You'd think that after her possession in the previous episode that she would open up some more, or at least reflect back on it, but no, she's still plain old Ahsoka, which is a bit of a wasted opportunity.  The only thing this episode does to build upon her character is to reveal that apparently she's just as much a mechanic as Anakin.  Go figure.

     This is where the main problem of this episode comes in.  In the previous episodes we had the characters go off on separate ways frequently, with each piece fitting together into the overall story.  This time around, however, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka seem to do little more than be dragged around from one point to another.  As Obi-Wan remarks, he and Ahsoka wouldn't have been brought to Mortis if they weren't meant to participate.  So why don't they?

Conclusion:  It's pretty clear that this episode was meant to revolve around the Son, the Father, and Skywalker, and in that regard, it does fantastic.  "Ghosts of Mortis" is a bit slow in some parts, but in the end it shapes up to be a great, if not outstanding, conclusion to this remarkable trilogy of episodes.

Rating:  8/10 "Great"

Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  The scene with the Son in the tomb is touching, but the final confrontation between him and his father is even better.  His plea to his dying father is powerful, even if there may be selfish reasons behind it.

Genesis Alpha Book Review

Guess what genre this is, I dare you

Genesis Alpha is not the kind of book that I would normally read.  The only reason that I stumbled upon was because I was bored and while browsing a Top 20 Reads list I found both the title and a short synopsis about computer games and genetic alerations.  Those two things and the cool name were what sold me, and five minutes later I had checked it out at our school's media center.  Why is it not something that I would normally read?  It's a thriller, and a pretty gritty one at that.  There's a lot of existential stuff and ethical questions about stuff like genetics and murder.  Yeah, this book is built around murder, and while it leads to some pretty shocking revelations I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the ride.
     Josh is an average kid who has an awesome older brother named Max who plays a computer game called Genesis Alpha with him all the time.  Then one day Max is charged with the murder of a teenage girl, a mystery around which the novel revolves.  At first Josh is adamant that his brother is falsely accused, but eventually evidence begins to crop up that challenges his views of both his brother and himself.
     As a thriller, this book is laden with "gotcha!" moments, most of which-heck, practically all of them-are strategically placed at the end of a chapter, forcing you to start a new one in a hungry race to see what happens next.  I literally couldn't put the book down, I was reading in between classes, on the bus ride home, and then for like four hours just lying down on my bed, reading page after page until I reached the end.  If that ain't the sign of a good story, I'm not sure what is.  There are a few artificial cliffhangers though.  I remember at the end of one chapter something unbelievably shocking happening and then I turn the page and the author's like "nope, just kidding!"  Geeze, my nerves were already up tight, no need to break them in two for no reason whatsoever other than to keep me reading to the next chapter, which, by the why, I was already more than willing to do in the first place.
     Yes, the adrenaline rush is great, but fortunately Genesis Alpha provides more than momentary thrills.  Like I said before, there's some pretty heavy material addressed here, from the moral dilemma of cloning to the questioning of our ability to make choices, and I liked how the book manages to deal with these subjects while still leaving the answers fairly ambiguous.  They also aren't just there just to be there, they are interwoven with the story pretty well, and even connect to each other sometimes.
     As you have probably guessed by now, characterization is pretty important to me.  Great characters are what make a story, and fortunately Genesis Alpha has some, with a few hiccups here and there.  Josh is a solid protagonist; even though he's mostly a force to be acted upon rather than act, he's still interesting to watch at the emotional level.  He has to struggle with a lot and it shows.  Is his brother really guilty, and if he is does that make Josh capable of the same evil since he is Max's brother and therefore has the same genes as him?  As interesting as Josh is, there is one character whom I find completely ridiculous.  A thirteen-year old paparazzi?  I think not.
Conclusion:  Genesis Alpha is not for the faint of heart.  It's got some pretty intense stuff, both emotional and physical.  If murder and moral dilemmas are too much for you, you better sit this one out.  If that sounds like the makings of great literature, dig right in.
Rating:  8/10 "Great"
Favorite Moment:  That would have to be the part when the family is sitting down watching the news, and the attorney points his finger at the t.v. camera, exclaiming "Josh is a -----!"

Side Note:  What's up with all of these positive reviews?  Am I simply a fountain of praise spewing out onto everything I read/play/watch?  Never fear, pessimists, your day is coming....tomorrow....

Trailer Tuesday #4 How It Should Have Ended

Internet Land is full of spoofs and pardoies and popular movies.  My favorite site to go to for this type of entertainment is howitshouldhaveended.com.  Here are some of my favorite spoofs that they've done.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Altar of Mortis" TV Review

I don't know, for some reason I just don't trust this guy...

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link. http://starwars.com/video/view/001220.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

     "Altar of Mortis" picks up right after the events of "Overlords."  The trio are heading back to their galaxy when suddenly the Son captures Ahsoka, forcing Anakin and Obi-Wan to pursue.  The result is a solid episode in its own right, but not quite on par with last week's adventure.
     Once again Anakin and Obi-Wan split up, although this time the reasons are mind boggling.  Anakin wants to head straight to the Son's tower and rescue Ahsoka whilst Obi-Wan chooses to seek the Father for guidance instead.  I know that the show is trying to emulate Anakin's dogheadedness from the films, but what baffles me is why Obi-Wan lets him go off alone, when he obviously has no clue as to how to reach the Father.  Oh well...
     Anyways, while Anakin's going off on his foolhardy adventure Obi-Wan enlists the help of the Daughter, who takes him down to the Altar of Mortis where a cool scene plays out that harkens back to the Sword in the Stone.  While the concept of a magical sword is a bit cliche, it didn't feel out of place, since these episodes are devling more into the mythological side of Star Wars.  It's also interesting that it's Obi-Wan who recovers the sword and not Anakin.  It will be cool to see how this plays into the whole Prophecy of the Chosen One thing.
     As I've stated previously, the Clone Wars has been swamped with fantastic villains, and it looks like yet again we're getting one in the Son.  The Son in many ways is like the Emperor, manipulating the characters and putting all of the pieces perfectly in place in order to achieve his ends.  He isn't a carbon copy though, which I like.  He has a roguish sense of humor and attitude that really stands out-yes, he's evil and cunning, but he's also arrogant and young.  I wonder if this is what Palpatine was like as a teenager.
     This episode also played the relationship between Anakin and Ahsoka quite well.  The Son briefly possesses her with the Dark Side, consequently revealing what might be lying underneath her psyche, with her anger at her master's lack of confidence in her and her insistence that she doesn't need him anymore.  Unfortunately this is broken when she childishly objects to him calling her "Snips."
Conclusion:  Obviously there are still a lot of questions left unanswered, but at least "Altar of Mortis" avoids becoming just a bridge between the beginning and end of this trilogy by heightening the stakes and playing on some interesting character dynamics.  Needless to say, I can't wait for next week's episode, "Ghosts of Mortis."
Rating:  8/10 "Great"
Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  The duel between Anakin and the possessed Ahsoka was pretty instense, not to mention well choreographed.  It also had a sweet finish with Anakin briefly hugging her in relief after she was healed.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Overlords" TV Review



I'd hate to be the guy having to stare down that thing...

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link http://starwars.com/video/view/001217.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

Star Wars the Clone Wars has been a collection a self contained stories that focus on either the finer aspects of the Clone Wars or the character development of some of the minor characters like what we got with Asajj Ventress in the Nightsisters story arc.  This strategy has led to some awesome story telling  and all, but sometimes you wish that the series would try harder to make a direct connection with the actual films.  Until now.

     "Overlords" sets out to achieve some very bold things, not only for the show but for the Star Wars saga as a whole.  The most obvious thing is that it deals with the very nature of the Force and Anakin's destiny as the Chosen One, even going as far as to challenge what that title even means.  This results in a very compelling episode, one of a kind really, that's only shortcoming is that it's leaving a satisfying ending up to the next two upcoming episodes.

     The story begins with Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka heading off into deep space in search of the source of a Jedi distress signal.  Instead they find a gigantic monolith which sucks them up and transports them to a mysterious planet (which by the way sounds more like something that would happen to the crew of the USS Enterprise).  They soon discover that the planet is inhabited by three powerful beings, who are referred to as the Daughter, the Son, and the Father.  Each of the family members has a mystic, almost god-like quality to them, giving "Overlords" a mythological tone that is like what was seen in the original trilogy times ten; there's also a great deal of symbolism as well.  The Daughter represents the Light Side of the Force and the Son the Dark Side, with the Father being the balance between the two forces.  At the Jedi's arrival the Father is dying, leading him to petition Skywalker to take his place in keeping the balance in order to fulfill his destiny as the Chosen One.

     Right there a big question pops up.  Before this episode, we assumed that Anakin had brought balance to the Force by killing the Emperor at the end of Return of the Jedi.  Now it seems like at the very least there is an alternate interpretation to the prophecy.  What if keeping the balance between the Son and Daughter is  meant to be a metaphor for what Skywalker's supposed to do with the Light and Dark Sides of the Force?  It's a real head-scratcher, and unfortunately the episodes ends with it unresolved.  Ah well, that's what sequels are for, I guess.

     While the story is focused on Anakin, there is also some neat insights into the other characters as well.  Obi-Wan gets a vision from his old master Qui-Gon, which while cool doesn't reveal anything new.  Ahsoka on the other hand dreams of her future self, who warns her that to stay Anakin's apprentice will send her on a path that will eventually lead her to the Dark Side.  Boom.  Ahoska's future is the big question mark in the series, and having a tease like this is driving me nuts.  Yes, the Father establishes that the dream was probably sent by his Son, but does that necessarily mean that it's wrong?  Only time will tell.

     On a final note, this episode was a presentational masterpiece, both visually and audio...ly.  The transformations of the planet were beautiful, and the vocal overlays that occured whenever the family talked were well done and had some nice easter eggs here and there.  Try to guess which Sith Lord the Son emulates after Anakin subdues him.  Yep, your ears aren't playing tricks on you.

Conclusion:  I thought that the Nightsisters trilogy was phenominal, and to my surprise I'm finding this three part series even more exciting.  "Overlords" has opened the door to some great Star Wars lore, and is a much see if you consider yourself a Star Wars fan.  My only nitpick is that the ending left me a tad confused as to how this will all fit together.  Until next week then!

Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"

Favorite Moment (Spoilers):  Anakin's test against the Son and Daughter was, to say the least, epic.  Seeing the sky rapidly shift from night to day was jaw dropping and the power the Anakin was harnessing was pretty potent.  Maybe that was his destiny after all.

Trailer Tuesday #3 Clone Wars Villains 101

As I've said in my review of "Monster," the Clone Wars series has had some great villains.  Here are my favorites.
First up is the bounty hunter Cad Bane, a cold-hearted mercenery with a distinctly Western flair.  Awesome hat, by the way.


Next up is the Seperatist Spider, Admiral Trench.  Whoever thought up of this guy deserves a cookie.



Speaking of villains right out of the days of black-and-white monster films, the Zillo Beast is up next.  Star Wars + Godzilla = a match made in heaven.



And finally, my personal favorite, the roguish space pirate Hondo Ohnaka, the only person in the galaxy who managed to capture allusive Sepratist commander Count Dooku.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Witches of the Mist" TV Review



The Epic Finale



Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link http://starwars.com/video/view/001212.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

"Witches of the Mist" is the finale of Nightsisters trilogy, and while it does sport some of the best action scenes seen in the series, it did have a distinct lack of, well... finality.  Let's start with the good.  The episode begins with Jedi Knights Anakin and Obi-Wan puzzling over the murder of the two Jedi from the last episode, before setting out to find the killer.  Meanwhile Dooku trains Savage to become the ultimate Sith warrior.

     While we only get to see snippets of Savage's training, it's still interesting to see how Savage struggles to control his anger.  This is the first time that we've seen how the Sith train, and it envokes a suitable sense of brutality.  There was also a surprising parallel to Luke's training with Yoda, when Savage insists that he can't lift something with the force, after which Dooku replies that the only reason was because he had already given up, before shocking him with lightning.

     I think that this episode contrasted Savage's weaknesses and strengths perfectly.  He may be a powerful warrior, almost as powerful as Dooku, but he lacks control over his anger, eventually leading to him accidentally killing a politician that he was sent to capture alive.

     There are a few places where "Witches of the Mist" falls flat, however.  Anakin and Obi-Wan served no purpose other than lightsaber dueling Savage twice.  Their lack of any meaningful involvement is highlighted when Obi-Wan remarks "Well, I guess there's no reason for us to be here anymore" after Savage excapes capture.  There's also a bit of a head scratcher when Mother Talzin helps the Jedi find Dooku's assassin.  Just who's side is she on anyway?

     Fortunately things are better on the Dark Side of the force.  Ventress finally springs her trap on Dooku, leading to some fierce lightsaber action (rivaling the duels seen in the movies, even) in which Dooku proves just how powerful a warrior he can be.  It was also cool to see Savage turn against both Ventress and Dooku out of anger for a brief moment, showing just how fed up he is with being a pawn.

     There's just one final critique that I have of this episode.  It has a fantastic climax with the duel between the three Sith and all, but in the end not much happens (this is heading into spoiler territory, by the way.)  Ventress is back where she started, stranded on Dathomir biding her time for revenge.  Savage's story also lacks finality, but in this case it's kind of a good thing, with a tantalizing teaser in which Mother Talzin sends him off to seek a long lost brother.  We get a brief glance of him in Talzin's crystal ball, and I'd say that he looks very familiar to a certain Sith Lord was cut in half by Obi-Wan in the Phantom Menace.  Yes, it sucks that we have to wait for at least a month or two before we get to find out what happens next, but in the end I have a feeling that it will be worth it.

Conclusion:  "Witches of the Mist" left me a bit disappointed.  We don't get to see how the Dooku/Ventress fued gets resolved and the Jedi characters seem to be little more than more guys for Savage to fight.  However, every action sequence was gold, and we also get a delicious preview of what's to come in Savage's journey through the Dark Side.  Seeing Darth Maul's head looming ominously was more than enough to bump this up to an 8.

Rating:  8/10 "Great"

Favorite Moment:  This one is a two way tie between the five way duel between Savage, Ventress, Dooku, Obi-Wan, and Anakin and the aforementioned preview of Savage's supposed brother.  Really great stuff.

Trailer Tuesday #2 Explosion of 3DS Info

Nintendo just released a bunch of videos and overviews of their upcoming handheld, the 3DS, which looks like it's going to be awesome, by the way.  Here's some of the most notable videos to come out.
The first one is a basic run through of the 3DS's hardware and software features, with few surprises.


Now on to the good stuff.  Here's a video showing off some of the game that will be coming out either at launch date or soon after.



And, finally, here's the trailer for the launch title that I'm most looking forward to, Super Street Fight IV 3D Edition.  The online functions look awesome, and the trophy battles look like fun.



Well, those are the highlights. Other 3DS games that I'm looking forward to are Legend of Zelda Orcarina of Time 3D and Kid Icarus: Uprising. If you want to see more follow this link to Nintendo's official 3DS page: http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Monster" TV Review



Awesome

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link http://starwars.com/video/view/001208.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.

"Monster" is the second episode in the Nightsisters trilogy, and is also the first time that we get to see the Clone Wars' latest villain, Savage Opress.  Let me start off by saying that I was really looking forward to this episode.  The Clone Wars has had some pretty cool villains (I'll talk more about them tomorrow), but Savage looked like he was going to be one of the best.  Thankfully, this episode delivers.

     "Monster" picks up where the last episode left off.  Ventress, in seeking revenge against Dooku, goes to the far side of Dathomir to select an assassin who will pose as Dooku's new apprentice whilst secretly plotting to kill him.  This results in a gladiatorial contest in which Asajj picks the candidates off one by one until the victor has emerged.  Of course, Savage Opress is among those forced to enter the arena.

     I really liked how this episode introduced Savage, mostly because it was so unexpected.  Instead of seeing him as the fully formed killer that we see in the trailers, he is shown to be an honorable warrior whose only concern is protecting his brother, Feral.  It isn't until he is selected and brainwashed by the Nightsister's magic that he does anything truly evil, and that adds a powerfully tragic tone to his character.  It makes the audience wonder if any part of his original personality is stil intact, and if there's any hope in saving him.  That's what makes Savage a great villain.  Whereas Dooku and Ventress more or less chose to join the Dark Side, Savage has been forced into submission, a true Frankenstein story.  This is where it is evident that a one-dimensional villain isn't much of a villain at all; Darth Vader wouldn't have been so iconic if he wasn't Luke's father.

     While Savage gets most of the limelight, it's still Ventress's story of revenge.  In sharp contrast with "Nightsisters" here she is shown to be dangerous and manipulative, with no remorse for enslaving Savage.  While I would have liked to see more of her vulnerable side, it's still good to see how far she's willing to go to defeat Dooku.  And while we know from Revenge of the Sith that she won't succeed, it's still interesting to ask what she would do after she did so, she's been serving Dooku for most of her life.  Probably something worth exploring in the next episode.

     On a side note, the atmosphere of the contests was done perfectly.  I loved how the red sun in the sky and the sound of Asajj's scythe combined to create the creepy atmosphere.  It's also the first time that we get to see some classic predator/prey perspective shifts in the Star Wars canon.

Conclusion:  As an origin story, "Monster" hits all of the right notes.  We get to see what Savage was like before his transformation right from the get-go, unlike having to wait until last week's episode for an in depth view at series regular Asajj Ventress.  While Ventress's story was told well, I think that Savage's was done better because from now on everything that he does will echo of what he did before he was turned into a monster.

Rating:  10/10 "Spectacular"

Favorite Moment:  There were a lot of great scenes throughout this episode, but my favorite would be when Savage offers to sacrifice himself for Feral, resulting in some intense hand-to-hand combat between him and Ventress.

Trailer Tuesday #1

So, basically what this is is that I'm going to being sharing some videos that I found on the 'net that I thought were either cool or funny.  We'll see how well this works out.
     Okay, first trailer.  This is for an animated movie called Rango, which stars a gecko who finds himself in the middle of a town of critters that look like they came out of a speghetti western.  The jokes in the trailer fall a bit flat, but maybe I'll be able to look over it if they manage to hit the right notes with the story.  I'm digging the visual stlye though-that rattlesnake looks fierce!

Here's some leaked footage of Kid Icarus: Uprising as it's being played on the 3DS.  The video's low quality so it's hard to tell, but the game looks like it has the same graphics capabilities as the Wii, which is impressive considering that it's a handheld.  One more thing, this video was pulled from a Japenese convention, so if you're happening to take Japenese 101 or whatever, you're in luck.  Everybody else will just have to settle for watching the gameplay.

Star Wars the Clone Wars "Nightsisters" TV Review

The Joker meets the Wicked Witch of the West

Want to watch this episode?  Head over to Starwars.com or follow this link http://starwars.com/video/view/001176.html.  Episodes are put on the website the Monday after they air on TV, and are taken down two weeks later.
Since I'm a big fan of the series, I've decided to start writing reviews of each of the episodes of Star Wars the Clone Wars, starting with last week's episode, "Nightsisters."  Nightsister is a departure from the norm of the series in that it focuses almost entirely on the villain's side of the Clone Wars.  It also signals a shift in the series as we get closer towards the events of episode 3, a shift which is made obvious by updated character models for Obi-Wan and Anakin which more closely resemble what they look like in Revenge of the Sith.
     "Nightsisters" is also the first time that we get an in depth look at Asajj Ventress's (Count Dooku's apprentice and assassin) background and character.  At the beginning of the episode Darth Sidious instructs Dooku to kill his apprentice in order to show his loyalty and to prevent Ventress from becoming powerful enough to overthrow the Sith Lord.  In the end Dooku complies, but it's still interesting to see him argue with his master in an attempt to save Ventress's life.  Maybe he isn't the souless pawn that we thought him to be.  Anyways, Ventress's ship is blown up around her and she barely escapes with her life, leading her to seek refuge with the Nightsisters of Dathomir, a tribe of witches with their own unique set of Force powers.
     First off I thought that this episode did a great job at showing Ventress's human side.  The moment Dooku betrays her is done quite well, showing how vulnerable she is despite her powers.  Additionally, in a series of flashbacks we get to see where she came from and why she fell to the darkside.  Sure, it's a bit annoying that the flashbacks are in rapid succession and jump around the timeline frequently, but they help the audience understand why she's a villain and worked with Dooku in the first place.  This is a good thing since the rest of the episode focuses entirely on her and her efforts to exact her revenge on her former master.
     Another touch that I liked was how the leader of the Nightsisters, Mother Talzin, manipulates both Ventress and Dooku.  While she is helping Ventress along with her plan for revenge she is also allying with Dooku by promising to supply him with a new apprentice.  This leaves her motives in the dark, and also sets the story up nicely for the next episode in which we get to meet Dooku's new apprentice, Savage Opress.  Conclusion:  "Nightsisters" did a great job at showing the Star Wars universe from the villain's point of view, and also set the story up nicely for the next episode where we finally get to meet Savage Opress.  Don't let the cheesey name fool you, this guy looks awesome.  If you don't believe me, check out the second video below.
Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"
Favorite Moment:  This episode had two great lightsaber duels, but my favorite part would be the opening space battle, which is reminiscent of the beginning of episode 3.

Salt Movie Review



Let the blonde jokes commence!  Oh wait...

Disclamer:  This review is based off of the ClearPlay'd version of the film

These days spy movies are a dime a dozen.  With a wealth of movies from James Bond to 24, it almost seems like the genre is on the verge of running out of original ideas.  Fortuanately Salt has an interesting enough premise to hold the audience's attention, even if it does faintly echo that of the Bourne Trilogy.  The movie follows Evelyn Salt, a CIA agent who is accused of being a Russian spy part of a worldwide conspiracy that will end in Russian dominance.  Instead of turning herself in she makes a break for it, leading to a series of chase scenes and undercover sequences in which the CIA tries to track her down, all the while trying to stop the impending murder of both the Russian and American presidents.

     What's interesting about this movie is that until the very end the audience is completely left in the dark.  Is Salt a Russian agent or isn't she?  Even when you think you know the answer the movie takes another twist that keeps you guessing as to what her motives are.

     One of the weaker parts of this movie is its characters.  While Salt is interesting for the mystery surrounding her, practically all of the other characters are as shallow as a shot glass.  Part of the problem is that Salt is the only true main character.  All of the others are introduced and then killed off or never seen again like ten minutes later, with the exception of the two CIA agents tracking her down.  Yes, this might be a bit of a nitpick, but when you look at movies like Inception where practically every character has depth to them, Salt seems a bit underwhelming.

     So, what did I like about the movie?  While at times it was a bit unclear, it was still cool to see all of the pieces of the puzzle fit together at the end, even if a couple pieces get ignored here and there.  I'm also glad that Salt's character wasn't just defined by her ambiguity; the flashbacks did a great job at showing what she's been though and ending in particular showed just how much she was suffering.  It was also cool to see inside the Russian spy network, even if at times it was a bit unbelievable.

Conclusion:  Salt is a solid spy movie that manages to stand out in the crowd with its strong lead character and intriguing plot.  While it does suffer from the fact that it depends solely on Evelyn Salt for good characterization, it's still worthwhile, especially if you're a fan of the genre.

Rating:  8/10 "Great"

Favorite Moment:  I thought that the scene at the Russian ship was done pretty well, as it makes you question Salt's motives even if you thought you knew the truth before.