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.

Leviathan Book Review

Let's Play I-Spy!

Leviathan has an interesting premise.  It is set in the early 1900's and portrays a fantastical version of World War I in the which the Central Powers (Germany, Autria-Hungary, etc.) have sophisticated, walking war-machines that have earned them the name "Clankers."  Conversely the Allied Powers (Britain, France, etc.) are known as the "Darwinists" for their use of genetically modified creatures.  While both of these technologies have yet to be reached even today, the fact that the book takes place in the past gives it a nice "retro meets future" type of feel, and also makes it one of the more interesting works in the alternate history genre.  Having learned about World War I last semester in history it was interesting to see how the world of Leviathan connects with the actual events that led to the war.  That said, knowing your history isn't required to enjoy the story, but it certainly enhances the experience.
     The story follows two characters; Deryn Sharp, a Scottish girl who poses as a boy in order to get into the navy, and Prince Alek, the fictional son of Archduke Ferdinand who is on the run after his father is killed.  I'm really glad that there is a main character for each side of the war, as it gives the reader a well rounded view of Leviathan's universe, both politically and technologically.  While the Germans are unceremoniously referred to as the villains, it was still nice that the point of views and concerns of both the Clankers and the Darwinists are given an equal amount of depth.
     The book switches between the adventures of Deryn and Alek almost every chapter, and while it isn't until the end that they finally meet, it still feels pretty satisfying when they do.  That said, it is a bit disappointing that the war is the only thing tying them together, and even that connection is blurred since they are on opposing sides.  Fortunately this is the first book in a series, so there's plenty of time for their characters to grow off one another.
Conclusion:  Leviathan is a nice sidetrack from the typical fantasy and sci-fi's that constantly swarm the bestseller lists and bookstore shelves.  It has an original take on World War I that historians should appreciate, and some interesting characters to boot.  If you're sick and tired of starships and magic than you owe it to yourself to check this out.
Rating:  9/10 "Awesome"
Favorite Moment:  The book's namesake comes from a Darwinist airship that is actually a gigantic living organism.  It was fun whenever the book explained how the Leviathan actually worked, with all of the fabricated creatures that lived on it doing everything from feeding it to acting as weapons during battle.  The Clanker's mechs are cool and all, but you have to give the Darwinists credit for originality.

Best of 2010 Awards

2010 is gone, so I decided to put together a year end review of the best movies, video games, and books to come out this year.  Please note that this list only includes the things that I myself have read/played/watched.
Best Animated Film:  Toy Story 3

We all remember Toy Story and its sequel.  I grew up with those movies, so it seemed impossible for Pixar to live up to my lofty high expectations.  Fortuanately they did that and more; Toy Story 3 was an epic (yes epic) ending to a childhood obsession, with great characterization and one of the most fulfilling ending sequences in the industry.
Runners Up:  How to Train Your Dragon, Megamind
Best Video Game:  Super Mario Galaxy 2

I played a lot of Wii games this year, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 comes out on top of them all, no question.  The game has some truly brilliant levels, my favorite being a faithful recreation of one of the worlds from the greatest video game of all time, Super Mario 64.  Yes, Galaxy 2 doesn't quite compare to the N64 classic, but it is still unique enough to stand alone.
Runners Up:  Goldeneye 007, Donkey Kong Country Returns
Best Book:  Fablehaven:  Keys to the Demon Prison

While I did read a lot of books this year, not many of them were published in the year 2010.  Even fewer deserve to be on a "Best of 2010" list.  Keys to the Demon Prison does however.  While it wasn't the strongest book in the series, and at some points a bit repetitive, the fifth book in the Fablehaven series still managed to bring a strong conclusion to the fantasy saga.  For those who haven't read the Fablehaven books yet, I recommend that you do so ASAP, especially if you're of the Harry Potter crowd.
Runners Up:  none
Best Live-Action Film:  Inception

Inception is what every movie should be.  Engaging, thought provoking, well acted, well written, and everything else that you can think of.  That's positive, of course.  Since it's also the only movie that I've reviewed so far to score a perfect "10", you can bet that it will take quite an extraordinary movie to earn a similar award.  If you only see one movie in your lifetime, make sure that it's Inception. 
Runners Up:  Salt, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

That concludes my Best of 2010 Awards.  Whether you agree with me completely (good mindless minion, you!) or absolutely hate my guts for not choosing the thing that so obviously won over my feeble, pathetic excuse of an opinion, let your voice be known and comment below!  (For better or for worse.)