Showing posts with label The Clone Wars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Clone Wars. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

A New Direction

There's some big news circling around the Star Wars world, and it's most definitely worth keeping an eye on.

As all of you (hopefully) know, Disney recently bought the Star Wars franchise from George Lucas, including all of novels, merchandise, and television series.  While Disney is working on giving us another Star Wars trilogy - which, by the way, will also have Mark Hamil, Carrie Fisher, and Harrison Ford reprising their iconic roles from the original trilogy - it's also putting The Clone Wars and Detours on new tracks.

After an absolutely wonderful fifth season, Disney has sadly decided to wind The Clone Wars series down.  This doesn't mean that they're just stopping with Season Five (there are still a  few more story arcs left for them to tell), but it does mean that the series is slowly drawing to a close.  It's really sad, particularly for big CW fans like myself, but I guess I also realize that Disney would rather focus its creativity on making an amazing new trilogy of Star Wars films.  I suppose I would rather have them devote more of their efforts to that, no matter how much I love CW.

For more information on the CW issue and to see a really exciting clip from one of the upcoming story arcs, check out this video: http://starwars.com/watch/the-future-of-star-wars-the-clone-wars.html

As for the animated comedy show Star Wars Detours, Disney has decided to postpone the series release until an unspecified later date.  Their reasoning is that it doesn't "make sense" to release a comedy series before the release of Episode VII.  Honestly, that logic doesn't "make sense" to me, but I guess Disney will do what Disney will do.  Hopefully the series will release fairly soon because I, for one, am really looking forward to it.

So whether you love or hate or are indifferent to Disney's purchase of George Lucas' iconic franchise, now is still a great opportunity to support that wonderful galaxy far, far away.  Change is most definitely hard and many people (myself included) hate change, but the potential for Star Wars' growth as a franchise is very real and very possible.

Let's rally around Disney and Lucasfilm, Ltd., and encourage them to make this the greatest century to be any type of Star Wars fan!  Viva la Star Wars!




 - Edessa, signing off


Friday, February 1, 2013

Hangout with The Clone Wars on Google+

Something big will be happening this Saturday, and I think all of you fellow Clone Wars fans are gonna love it!

Because the new episode "The Lawless" will be changing the show forever, the cast and crew at the CW have decided to do a Google+ hangout, something that may even become a regular thing one day. Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano), Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), supervising director Dave Filoni, and Sam Witwer (Darth Maul) will all be hanging out live tomorrow morning to discuss the show, and you're invited to join them.

And I think that sounds uber-super cool!

The hangout starts on Saturday Feb. 2nd at 10:30 a.m. PST (that's Pacific time, people, so do the math accordingly if you don't live in that time zone), and there isn't an official end time. If you would like to be part of this hangout, make sure you have a working G+ account and then simply RSVP for the event at this link. To ask your questions during the hangout or to fangirl like crazy or even to just say "hi" , simply hashtag #CloneWarsHangout during the actual event to make your thoughts known.

If you don't have a G+ account but you would still like to watch the proceedings, the event will be livestreamed to YouTube at youtube.com/starwars.

But remember, if you want to have a voice during this event you have to RSVP ASAP. It should be a lot of fun and will definitely be memorable! So join if you can, watch the livestream if you can, and maybe this will become a new CW tradition!




 - Edessa, signing off


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

More "Clone Wars" Season 5 Clips!

More Clone Wars Season 5 clips!
 
Remember that the new Season starts this Saturday morning at 9:30/8:30 Central on Cartoon Network.
 
I can't wait! =D
 
 


 
 
 
 
 - Edessa, signing off
 
 

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Bring On The Commandos!

You want to know one thing I'm really, really, really, REALLY looking forward to in Season 5 of The Clone Wars?

One word.

Commandos!



The only thing I'm wondering is... why is there only one commando? Usually they're always in squads of four, not alone....

But, either way, there's going to be at least one episode with a commando, so I'm happy!

What would make me even happier would be a whole arc (or at least just one episode) totally devoted to Delta Squad.....

Please, Lucasfilm? Please, Mr. Filoni?

Pleeeeeeeease?????




 - Edessa, signing off

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Clone Wars Week: Top Ten Clone Wars Episodes

Continuing on with the theme of this week (everything Clone Wars), here is a list of my top ten most favorite Clone Wars episodes.



#10. Season 4 - "Revenge": This was the second part of the Season 4 finale, showing Darth Maul getting his sanity back and a new sense of purpose. The lightsaber battle of Ventress and Kenobi vs. Savage and Maul was frenzied and fast, with the Jedi and the ex-assassin barely making it out alive. It was also a good cliffhanger episode, leaving everyone (or at least me) sitting on the edge of their seats and yelling, "Don't let the Season be over now! I don't want to wait until September. That's impossible! Nooooooooooo!"


#9. Season 2 - "Brain Invaders": This was kind of one of those "dumb" episodes but, hey, it was still crazy fun to watch. One of the best scenes was just moments after Scythe released the Brain Invaders into the clones' sleeping area and you watch the infected troopers sit up in perfect zombie-ish unison. And then, after two infected clones murdered the craft's pilots, Scythe's droning of "We have the bridge" just gave me the willies! *shudder*


#8. Season 3 - "Ghosts of Mortis": Even though I'm not a huge fan of the "uber spiritual" CW episodes, the "Mortis" trilogy was still very good, with the last installment being my favorite. There are a lot of things that happened in this episode that are worth mentioning: Anakin finds out that he will become Darth Vader and briefly turns to the Dark Side before being "cured" by The Father, Ahsoka is turned to the Dark Side and almost dies, the Mortis Dagger comes heavily into play, and honestly The Son is pretty cute. *giggles* =D


#7. Season 3 - "Clone Cadets": The best episodes, in my opinion, are the ones that are totally devoted to the clone troopers. My siblings claim that I have a crush on every trooper in the GAR (even though I don't), but getting back on topic.... This episode was good because it brought back Domino Squad, the trooper squad that saw most of its members die on the Rishi moon. In "Clone Cadets" we get to see what Domino Squad was like when they were still in the last week or so of their training on Kamino. We watch them as they struggle with who they are, what roles they have in the group, and to trust one another as not only a team but as true brothers. I smile every time I see this episode. It's just that awesome.


#6. Season 3 - "ARC Troopers": This episode aired soon after "Clone Cadets" and showed us the Battle of Kamino, which happened a few months to a year after the events of "CC." Not only do two of my favorite troopers, Fives and Echo, really shine here, but the character of the deformed clone - 99 - is also greatly expanded. Watching the older, veteran troopers watch out for their still-in-training younger brothers was absolutely touching. And the ending will leave you both happy and sad at the same time.


#5. Season 1 - "Rookies": This is the episode where we are first introduced to Domino Squad, and it's one of the most popular CW episodes (if you can believe iTunes statistics). Overall this one was a very tragic episode because most of the clones in Domino Squad die in one gruesome manner or another, but it was also ended on a hopeful note as we see the two surviving members striding confidentally towards us. It's kind of like "ARC Troopers" in that it'll make you feel both happy and sad.


#4. Season 4 - "The Box": This was part three of a four-episode arc in which Obi-Wan goes undercover as an assassin to stop a group of mercenaries from kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine. All of the episodes in that arc were good, but this one was my favorite. Granted, I would have liked more shots of what happened in the Box and if they hadn't made it look so easy, but it was still very cool to see all of the tests the mercenaries had to go through in order to get the job.


#3. Season 3 - "Padawan Lost/Wookiee Hunt": I could decide which one of these I liked better, so they both tie for #3. Both of these episodes comprised the Season 3 finale, and it's awesome for many reasons. One, there are lots and lots of Trandoshans. Two, Chewbacca debuts on CW in these episodes. Three, Ahsoka learns to be a good leader through this time. And, four, it's a lot like watching a video version of The Most Dangerous Game (if you haven't read it, please do. It's a short story, and it's amazing!). So if you like Hunger Games/Battle Royale/Ender's Game-ish survival/death match stuff, then you would likely love both of these episodes.


#2. Season 2 - "Innocents of Ryloth": This is such an amazing episode! When the Republic sends forces to help free the world of Ryloth, two troopers - Waxer and Boil - encounter a little Twi'Lek girl who quickly befriends them. It's so touching to watch them keep her safe, to see Waxer holding her hand, and both of them hugging her comfortingly when she starts crying over her lost family. When they have to leave to continue waging war against the Seppies, their farewell to little Numa is so touching that I almost cry every time I see it. Sometimes I think that if Waxer had survived Umbara that he might have gotten married and would have been a wonderful father. Maybe - hopefully - Boil will still have that chance. *fingers crossed*


#1. Season 4 - The "Umbara" Arc: Yes, there are four episodes in the "Umbara" story arc, but they all feel like just one long, totally EPIC show that I just couldn't single one out. There is so much to love and cry and rage over in this arc (raging at the bad guy, not at the episodes themselves, I mean). There are battles, but interspersed in there are conversations between the troopers, the kinds of talks they have with each other when no one else is around. You get to see how they think of themselves, each other, the war, everything. These episodes also do an amazing job fleshing out different troopers' characters, showing us that they may have the same face and basic training, but they're all unique and special in their own ways. The end of the last episode is very satisfying (though Krell could have expanded more on his rather lame excuse, but I guess he doesn't have to if he doesn't want to), and there are twists and turns around every corner. I always feel sad and horrible when a clone dies, but when you see them die in "Umbara" you feel like standing along beside them, crying over fallen comrades, everything. Plus the cinematography is also extremely well done, arguably the best ever. There is more I could say, but you really just need to see it yourself. It's that mind-blowing.



What are your favorite CW episodes? Which Season has been your favorite so far?




 - Edessa, signing off

Monday, August 27, 2012

Clone Wars Week: Top Ten Things I Want To See In Season 5

With Season 5 of The Clone Wars just around the corner, I'd like to introduce you to a very special week here at HNED.

Instead of writing according to my usual schedule, every post this week will be totally devoted to The Clone Wars. The posts will mainly be in "Top Ten" format, though I may include some other peices of news and such tidbits.

So, without further ado, here is the list of the Top Ten things I want to see in Season 5 of The Clone Wars...



10. Longer Story Arcs: Usually CW episodes are placed into trilogies, which is all well and good, but sometimes the stories they told would have been even better if they had devoted maybe four or five episodes to each story arc. Season 4 did introduce two four-episode-long arcs (Umbara and the Kenobi-undercover one), and I'm hoping that the Season 5 story arcs will not only be longer but that they'll also splice into each other as well.


9. Resolution For Darth Maul: Since the infamous Sith Lord returned "from the dead" in Season 4, I'm really excited to find out how it will end. Will Maul become disillusioned with the Sith and go into exile? Will he escape Darth Sidious's grasp and establish a Sith Academy on some distant planet (maybe Korriban or Dromund Kaas)? Will Savage kill him, or vice versa? Will Sidious kill him? Will Kenobi kill him "again?" Will he survive Season 5 and move onto 6, or does it all end here? There are a lot of possibilities, but I guess I trust the guys at Lucasfilm, Ltd., to make the right choice.


8. Stability For Ventress: After being denied the position of "official Sith apprentice" by Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress was almost assassinated by agents of Dooku. She went into hiding with the Nightsisters, but when they were destroyed she became a bounty hunter and was last seen escaping Maul and Savage in a mangled ship. She's been in an unstable position for so long that I'd like her to finally find her place in the galaxy. What that is, I have no idea, but I just want her to finally be comfortable in her own skin and sure of what she should be doing.


7. Confirmation: DO LUX AND AHSOKA ACTUALLY LIKE EACH OTHER AND GET INTO A RELATIONSHIP??? Speculation is all well and good, but right now I'd really, really, really like to know if they get together or not. If you want my opinion, I think they should, but that's just me.


6. Discovery: I know that Anakin kept his marriage a secret for about three-ish years, but I'd honestly like somebody to find out. What could be really cool would be a story arc in which someone find out about Anakin and Padme and threatens to expose the secret unless Anakin does something for him. Blackmail, basically. Or what would also be good would be if Ahsoka found out. That would be a great opportunity for us to see more of her character since she would have the option of either saying something and doing what the Jedi Order says is "right," or by staying silent. Either way, somebody besides Sidious and a handful of other in Episode III need to find out.


5. More Bounty Hunters: Dengar's not my favorite hunter, but definitely bring back Bossk, have a bunch of good Cad Bane episodes, and even bring in 4-LOM and Zuckuss. Bounty hunters are just too awesome to ignore.


4. More Underworld: While we're talking about bounty hunters and whatnot, I'd like to see more of the galaxy's underworld. I'm sure Lucasfilm is saving most of their ideas for both Star Wars 1313 and Star Wars: Underworld, but they could still give us even more of a taste of what the crime world is like.


3. More Boba Fett: Everybody knows that Boba Fett is awesome. I know it. You know it. And I know he's only about twelve or thirteen during the Clone Wars, but that's almost an adult in Mandalorian terms. What I'd really, really, REALLY like to see would be Boba wrenching control of Mandalore away from Duchess Satine and returning it back to the warrior world it used to be. I know from the trailers that Death Watch is planning on doing that, but wouldn't it be cool if Boba blasted Vizsla in the head and took charge, saying that his dad would have wanted him to? I know I would be totally geeking out if that happened. For a tween, this kid is pure AWESOME!!


2. Bring On The Commandos!: There were a few shots of Republic Commandos (or RCs) in the extended Season 5 trailer, but I hope they give the commandos lots of screen time. Not just that, but I hope that Filoni figured out a way to squeeze in Delta Squad and maybe even Omega Squad (Delta's better, though... =D). Sure, Delta Squad had a brief cameo in the Witches of the Mist episode, but that's not the same as giving them their own story arc. I want Delta Squad, and I want them now! Please???? =D


1. Clone Arcs: And I mean a lot of clone episodes. Umbara was AMAZING, arguably the best CW arc to-date. And it made me want more. Especially since we're coming up on Order 66 and the clone troopers have been fighting for about three years, we need to see more of them. And I don't just mean fighting (though Captain Rex does have some cool moves). I mean that I want to see more of their day-to-day life. I want to get into their thoughts and hear what they say only in the presence of their brothers. This is, after all, the Clone Wars. Let's see more of the boys in white, please!


And that's my list. What would you guys like to see in Season 5 of The Clone Wars? =)




 - Edessa, signing off

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

New Season 5 "Clone Wars" Preview

Check out this new sneak peek of an episode from Season 5 of The Clone Wars. I must say, I'm really impressed with it, and I can't wait to see the whole episode this fall! What do you all think of the clip?








 - Edessa, signing off

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

"Clone Wars" Season 4 on DVD and Blu-Ray

Season 4, arguably, was the best season of The Clone Wars TV show, and on October 23, 2012, you can own this amazing season on DVD and Blu-Ray.

"Bonus materials include a collectible poster and five new video commentaries, which include director, cast, and crew interviews. Exclusive to the Blu-ray disc, the Jedi Temple Archives provides in-depth access to an extensive database of creative materials -- including early test animations, concept art, 3D turnarounds and more than twenty deleted/extended scenes" (Star Wars.com). The five video commentaries include The Battle of Mon Cala, Darkened World of Umbara, Obi-Wan Undercover, Slaves of Zygerria, and Darth Maul Returns.

Look for Season 4 at your local video store, retail stores, and online on October 23rd, and don't forget to watch Season 5 of the Clone Wars on Cartoon Network or online this fall!


(Trailer for Season 4 on Blu-ray and DVD.)




 - Edessa, signing off