CLASSIC IMAGE: DEADLY APPRENTICESHIP!

Not my idea of perfect adoptive parents or role models, those very dangerous bounty hunters, the Trandoshan Bossk and lithe but deadly Aurra Sing pose for a "family photo" alongside their new recruit, the revenge fuelled teenage Boba Fett (once more voiced in the series by EPISODE II actor Daniel Logan) in this specially created image by LUCASFILM ANIMATION for the very enjoyable Fett story arc that made up the final three episodes of Season Two in early 2010. Those and three other earlier episodes make up that last batch of tales now available in compilation discs from the ambitious Season Two and it's mostly successful umbrella theme of RISE OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS. This WARNER BROTHERS DVD only release, out next week (22nd), will surely be welcome by completist collectors, but is also aimed primarily at the younger family/audience mark. And a welcome release it is too, with enough imagination, diverse creatures, visual excitement and colour to keep everyone thoroughly entertained during the Summer holidays.

The second part of the Fett arc, R2 COME HOME, made our top five episodes of that season. Check out our mini- review here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO. SWA's TOP FIVE EPISODES. NO 3: "R2 COME HOME", as did the excellent GODZILLA-homage THE ZILLO BEAST STRIKES BACK, also included amongst this batch of impressive tales from the STAR WARS universe. Check out that review here: STAR WARS AFICIONADO MAGAZINE: "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO. SWA's TOP FIVE EPISODES. NO 5: "THE ZILLO BEAST STRIKES BACK"

THE CLONE WARS Season Two, Volume Four- out August 22nd in the UK.

And watch out! Those cruel and ruthless baddies will return for more conflict during the upcoming CLONE WARS Season Four, with it's umbrella title of BATTLE LINES!

AFICIONADO REVIEW: "CLONE WARS GAMBIT - SIEGE"

Anakin and Obi-Wan's secret mission on Lanteeb has been shot to hell. They're injured and exhausted, on the run, and its looks like time is running out to stop the development of the Separtist's deadly new biological weapon. Can a small village of enslaved miners help the Jedi stage a miraculous fight back against their enemies?

Check our our review of the second and final part of Karen MIller's CLONE WARS GAMBIT novel SIEGE (released in the UK from 26th May in paperback from ARROW books) here: CLONE WARS GAMBIT: SIEGE

THE CLONE WARS: SECRETS REVEALED

Our synopsis/review guide to Season Three of THE CLONE WARS has been completed. Head over to the link below and enjoy some of our best opinion and notes on the current series.

THE CLONE WARS YEAR 3 EPISODE GUIDE

AFICIONADO REVIEW: FATE OF THE JEDI - VORTEX

The galaxy is once more in crisis, and Luke and Ben Skywalker may be the only hope at restoring peace within the New Republic. Check out our review of the recently published FATE OF THE JEDI series sixth book, VORTEX, by Troy Denning, published by CENTURY in the UK, here: FATE OF THE JEDI. BOOK SIX: VORTEX

OLD FRIENDS, NEW ENEMIES. "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON FOUR

A young Admiral Ackbar, joined with Ahsoka, leads his underwater forces into battle. 

Anakin captured by Dooku!

Padme (in her EPISODE ONE Naboo battle outfit) to the rescue?

Dooku wants revenge on Naboo and the Senator.

The battle re-joined. Anakin versus Dooku part three.

The attack on Naboo continues as the Gungans and Captain Tarpals (?) takes on Grievous... 

And it looks like the General may get his butt kicked!

A mighty space battle above Naboo.

Another dangerous mission to come for our Clone Trooper heroes...

And Rex takes on a dangerous new opponent.

AFICIONADO REVIEW: NEW BATTLEFRONTS

Season Three of THE CLONE WARS may almost be over but you can relive all the excitement of the previous Season Two action with the recently released DORLING KINDERSLEY large format Visual Guide: NEW BATTLEFRONTS, compiled and written by Jason Fry.

Check out our review here: http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/new_battlefronts.html

MONSTER AUCTION!

My good buddy Chris Baker recently got in touch with me on an event from last year that I wasn't previously aware of, and which I thought I'd pass the info and photos on. Here's what he said:

“These (attached) images are from a PIH Hollywood Auction Catalog I found online yesterday. The Auction actually happened back on December 17 & 18th of 2010, from the Saban Theatre in Beverley Hills. Phil Tippett added several pieces from his personal collection, These are the 'SW' ones from his lot

 

... wish I had a few extra hundred thousand just sitting around (lol)

    

(the images-click to blow up for more detail and caption info- are numbered in the order they were presented in the catalogue)”

Thanks for the info, Chris.

AFICIONADO REVIEW: "IT'S A TRAP!"

Forget what's his name Ford, Peter Griffin is Han Solo! Image: FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT.

With the release of IT'S A TRAP! on DVD and Blu-ray (also available as part of a special Trilogy box set release (wonderfully titled LAUGH IT UP, FUZZBALL!)), did Seth MacFarlane and his talented FAMILY GUY team deliver a great finale living up to its parody predecessors?

Check out our review to find out. Here's the link. http://www.starwarsaficionado.com/family_guy_its_a_trap.html

Please note: the review contains adult language that may be unsuitable for younger readers.

REVIEW: "THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO DVD / BLU-RAY



The cast of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Season Two, out now on DVD and Blu-ray. All images: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

 Review by Scott Weller

The term “Second Best” takes on a whole new, more positive meaning with the release of George Lucas’s sophomore season of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS being released today on Blu-ray and DVD from WARNER BROTHERS.

With its improved animation and a bold new direction of storytelling, bigger risks are taken this year on the episode front, and now has never been a better time to enjoy the action, honour and heroics of our favourite STAR WARS heroes as well as the grand ambition, evil and all round destructive power of the dark forces they fight against.

On Felucia, the Clone Troopers provide cover fire for the Jedi in the season's opening episode THE HOLOCRON HEIST.

Resplendent, especially on the Blu-ray format where everything is so crisp and alive, presented in their correct aspect viewing ratios, with piercing sound design, this unique series feels even more remarkable and individualistic than ever. And, despite what could have been a heavy continued war backdrop (which is marvelously realized in the epic four part attempt by the Jedi to re-take the weapons factory world of Geonosis, starting with LANDING AT POINT RAIN), the beauty and wonder of the STAR WARS saga is as evocative as ever, made by a production team whose love for the subject matter shines through. Supervising Animation Director Dave Filoni and his team continue to build on what has been developed with the shows successful premiere season cementing further the building blocks of a series that will last a few more years yet, and getting to indulge themselves in an exciting new arena for STAR WARS adventure and characterization. Just as excited with the possibilities of the show is the series creator, George Lucas, who contributes many of its overall storylines this year, even getting to make a personal tribute to his late iconic film-making friend, Akira Kurosawa, with his unique STAR WARS take of the Japanese film THE SEVEN SAMURAI (known in the US as the ever classic THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN) that’s worth checking out. And there’s all kinds of other storytelling to keep the pot warm, too, from humour to comedy, and from action to horror (check out the yucky parasites in the episode BRAIN INVADERS or the undead Geonosian insects in LEGACY OF TERROR. Yuck!)

A little quality time together for the Skywalkers in SENATE SPY.

Readers of the AFICIONADO Blog will already know what our top five episodes were of this season, but special nods must also be given to CHILDREN OF THE FORCE, BOUNTY HUNTERS, CAT AND MOUSE (set before the events of the 2008 pilot movie), and WEAPONS FACTORY for their great storytelling and fast paced adventure. There’s also some intriguing, if not perfect, individual stories to compliment the epic battles, with several tales set on the political homeworld of the Republic, Coruscant, and involving Padme Amidala (nicely voiced by Catherine Taber) as she investigates murder, corruption, and deceit within the political system (look out for a STAR WARS variation of the classic Hitchcock movie NOTORIOUS when our favourite ex-Queen gets caught up in spying on an ex-lover). Despite the occasional story flaws of these quieter tales, these episodes are still generally more enjoyable than most other dramatic series on real-life TV!

The Mandalorian warriors known as Death Watch make their first appearance in Season Two.

The series also bravely, if sometime confusingly, starts to play around with its own time frames, setting some episodes from Season Two before certain episodic events seen in Season One. And adding to the general acclaim of the storytelling are a lot of innovative firsts, including premiere appearances in the animated format for the young evil-to-be Boba Fett (voiced by original actor Daniel Logan), with his continuing story arc in wanting revenge for the death of his father from the movie ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and the introduction of numerous bounty hunters (including the classic THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK reptilian villain, Bossk). This seasons overall title: RISE OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS effectively covers its first and last quarters with some very enjoyable episodes and the new set of villains, including last years freshly introduced, fiendishly clever and adaptable rogue Cad Bane, who proves a serious challenge to our Jedi heroes, and equally provides the shows writers with some valuable breathing space whist they plan bigger and bolder stories for the previous seasons existing line-up of baddies so as not to make them feel stale. Sadly, bald female assassin Asajj Ventress makes no appearance this year, but cyborg Jedi-killer General Grievous makes up for this and returns for more foul deeds in a very exciting and highly effective two part adventure. Overall, there’s a little bit more darkness thrown into the mix this season, what with the extra bounty hunter threat, which the production team have obviously initiated so as to make the animated series occasionally a little bit closer to the harder edged sequel movie, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, rather than the fantasy of STAR WARS.

Outside of the conflict of Jedi/Clones against Separatists there’s also destruction on an even bigger scale with the fun homage to the monster movies of the fifties and sixties, with the GODZILLA/ KING KONG like Zillo beast rampaging and striking terror into the citizens of planets Malastare and Coruscant in another memorable two parter that’s especially fun to watch for the younger audiences.

Our heroes use their abilities to find the missing Jedi-to-be in CHILDREN OF THE FORCE.

With Year Two there are also more attempts to have different characters interacting with each other, and less stories of Anakin and Obi-Wan together than previously. This year we see tales with Jedi pairings like Ahsoka Tano with new Jedi characters like the marvelous old timer Tera Sinube (in the episode LIGHTSABER LOST) or with her ex-Master, Plo Koon (for a LETHAL TRACKDOWN), plus intriguing combos like Mace with Anakin, or Obi with Adi Gallia, which helps keep the series fresh and interesting whilst stimulating the series writers more.

Boba Fett and his new Bounty Hunter allies get ready for a LETHAL TRACKDOWN.

Die-hard STAR WARS fans will also find out a little bit more about the race who constructed the armour later worn by the enigmatic Boba Fett - the people of Manadalore, a planet almost wiped out by war years before, and whose Monarch is struggling to stop the return of her people’s war-faring ways. Called in to help, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s past relationship with the alluring Duchess of Satine is plutonically re-kindled in a three part tale which has some good moments. In this more serious season, another plus is that, for haters of comedy character Jar Jar Binks, they’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief that he’s not in this second year, though I personally thought there were a couple of new irritants far worse in replacing him, namely the Seth Green voiced droid Todo and Republic Police Inspector Divo, the latter I found particularly despicable and out of place in the series.

The Duchess Satine: one of many intriguing new characters in THE CLONE WARS Season Two.

Beyond my individual preferences, though, Lucas and his empire continue to create stories that appeal to the broad spectrum, and that’s the ultimate key to STAR WARS evergreen success in films, TV and beyond. This particular series is deservedly popular with four generations and has now uniquely reached the point where selected classic characters, translated into animation from both movie trilogies, now seamlessly interact with the new series cast (like Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, herself an emerging character with a healthy fan base), with more additions on the horizon, from not only the films but the STAR WARS Saga’s vast history in the Expanded Universe media of publishing, too!

Following on from the animated adventures, on the extras side of things, sadly there are no extended episodes as seen with the Season One boxset, as the production team pretty much have the episodes running lengths constructed to a key art form now, with little plot and character wastage, though some brief extended scenes do appear here and there in the special features area, alongside 2 and 3-D animation, key interviews with some of the artists/designers, animatics and character templates. There’s also several enjoyable, if still too short, documentaries on key episodes of Season Two, like the Holocron Trilogy that opened the year, the Geonosian saga, the Zillo Beast and the return of Boba Fett.

Overall, the extras are very good, high quality and value for money (including a lovely 68 page production journal book with selected notes and info linked with key artwork of the developing series and characters), but there’s still not enough of them and I wanted to see and know more, in addition to things like stills galleries, episode commentaries, and putting out all the original episodic trailers done for the US CARTOON NETWORK. Especially more from the production side (in both the US and Singapore) would have been very satisfying. As with all Lucasfilm STAR WARS related extras, we always get a good amount of them, but never as much as we’d hoped. Let’s hope the upcoming Blu-ray set of the movies breaks that tradition and gives us much more than we could ever have dreamed!

DVD release trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMv3cBOfKdk

STAR WARS AFICIONADO RATING: Overall season rating 3.5 out 5. Special features content overall rating: 3 out of 5

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Season Two-out now in the UK on Blu-ray and DVD from WARNER BROTHERS.

"THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO. SWA's TOP FIVE EPISODES. NO 2: "CARGO OF DOOM"

Jedi Trap! Ahsoka Tano: prisoner of Cad Bane in CARGO OF DOOM.

"Almost there!"

Yes, Red Leader's words are in our heads as we're about to reach Pole Position as to the Top Five episodes of Season Two of THE CLONE WARS (out on UK DVD and Blu-ray from 15th November, from WARNER BROTHERS), and it was a toughie to make the final selection, but CARGO OF DOOM, despite much worthy consideration, is ultimately Number Two.

1. Cad Bane. At his most intimidating, dangerous and cunning, this Bounty Hunter without remorse is ruthlessly and efficiently determined to fulfill his current mission for the Separatists, and he proves one slippery customer for our brave Anakin and Ahsoka in trying to corner and battle. Its a shocking moment later in the episode when he captures and electrifies Ahsoka, then threatens to blast her into space if Anakin refuses to co-operate. Voice actor veteran Corey Burton truly brings this unique character - who would have been marvellous in a live action STAR WARS film - to animated reality, whilst the Durosian Bounty Hunter's overall design, with that amazing DEADWOOD-style hat, is superb.

2. Death of a Jedi. The grim, tortured demise of Rodian Jedi, Bolla Ropal, is quite a shocking and sad moment in the series, subtly underplayed and sensitively handled for the series younger audience by the production team. Despite Bane's lack of concern, even the Battle Droids in the episode join us in our sorrow at his loss.

3. Zero G battle. Kudos for the inspired opening space conflict with the Republic Walkers on the Separatists cruisers hull, but its the superb Zero Gravity battle interior sequence that is the highlight for me, which apparently proved quite a challenge to choreograph and edit to the right length during the production process. Love the moment when Skywalker almost has Bane and the stolen Holocron before Artoo restores the hangar to normality, the ceiling walking Clone soldier with the heavy weaponry and the balletic but deadly movements of Ahsoka.

4. Amping up the tension. George Krstic's script is a winner: full of incident and building up the menace and the threat of the damaged and destructing Separatist cruiser as the episode progresses. Its an action/ adventure set within a race against time disaster movie, as Anakin and co. have to rescue Bolla, get the captured Holcron and Kiber crystal, capture or take out Cad Bane if they can and get off the exploding enemy vessel. And there's that great ending where everybody presumes Bane is dead. Think again. CARGO OF DOOM is pure STAR WARS, executed with style and visual flair by the much missed Rob Coleman. And on the humour front, how can we not make special mention of the fun little moment where Captain Rex bangs his head ala the Stormtrooper in EPISODE IV. Nice touch!

5. The Jedi Holocron/Kybur Crystal. They've been the stuff of legend in the Expanded Universe (with the Kybur Crystal having been at the very dawn of the printed STAR WARS world with 1978's Alan Dean Foster fun tale, SPLINTER OF THE MIND'S EYE), and here we get a brief but intriguing look at how they operate, demonstrated in a mysterious and fascinating scene (with nice accompanying sound design) involving Anakin's forced opening of them. I imagine we'll see more of these devices, and what else they store, at further points in the continuing series.

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Season Two, available in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray from November 15th.

"THE CLONE WARS" - FACING MANDALORIAN "CORRUPTION"

Padme observes the Duchess Satine and her honour guard in the new CLONE WARS episode CORRUPTION. Image: SKY. Copyright: LUCASFILM ANIMATION.

SKY MOVIES HD have very kindly sent us their latest press release for this weeks UK premiere screening of THE CLONE WARS Season Three episode CORRUPTION, which sees the return of the Mandalorians and their Duchess Satine.

Here's the info:

Mandalore's Peace Is Threatened In All-New Episode Of Star Wars: The Clone Wars

On a diplomatic mission to Mandalore, Senator Padmé Amidala uncovers a sinister plot lurking beneath the pacifist planet’s serene façade. With the help of Duchess Satine, she investigates a mysterious illness spreading among Mandalore’s children, discovering corruption that extends into the highest levels of the Mandalorian government. An all-new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, “Corruption,” airs at 5.30pm Saturday 13th November on Sky Movies Premiere/HD.

“Corruption” explores a system divided. Deep in the midst of an identity crisis made even worse by the widespread turmoil of the Clone Wars, the people of Mandalore find themselves torn between their violent past and their leader’s promise of peace for the future.

“It’s a fascinating culture at a really interesting time,” says Dave Filoni, Supervising Director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “Mandalore has a long history of violence, and they’re trying to move away from that. But this is all taking place in the middle of a galaxy-wide civil war, so it’s difficult for Satine to make a case for peace when there’s so much violence all around. And that’s exactly why peace is so important to her.”

While Season Two’s visit to Mandalore saw the schism reflected in the explicit aggression of the Death Watch, the latest plot indicates a far more subversive threat – reaching into the highest echelons of the Mandalorian power hierarchy.

“There are bigger threats to peace than the Death Watch,” says Filoni. “We’ve seen their approach in Season Two; they used violence as their message. But political corruption can be far more damaging in the long run. The scale’s so much broader here, and the stakes are system-wide. Ultimately, Mandalore’s allegiances are key to the Clone Wars, so every little transgression can have ripple effects throughout the war. Corruption can spread, and it’s threatening to poison Satine’s best efforts.”

Without the explosive threats of the Death Watch, the story necessarily takes an altogether different tone. Teamed with Padmé for the investigation Satine sets out to uncover the threat to her power – and to Mandalore’s peaceful future. Though they come under fire as the investigation heats up, the two women face dangers with far-reaching consequences even greater than mere threats to their own personal well-being.

“Whenever we visit Satine, we’re going to see a war of ideals,” says Filoni. “She’s very steadfast in her beliefs, and that’s what makes her a good leader. She’s got a tough job, though. She is often undermined by her own people, and her core beliefs are even at odds with the beliefs of the other Clone Wars heroes – including the Jedi and the Senate. Ultimately, they all want the same thing – peace – but they have different thresholds. With an endgame that is so important to the entire galaxy, compromises can be difficult – even when it comes to the means by which peace is achieved.”

"THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO. SWA's TOP FIVE EPISODES. NO 4: "GRIEVOUS INTRIGUE"

Dark versus Light: the clash of lightsabers in GRIEVOUS INTRIGUE.

The DVD and Blu-ray release celebration countdown to my favourite Season Two episodes continues with GRIEVOUS INTRIGUE.

Here's my top five reasons as to why its on the list:

1. General Grievous. After a months Xmas break, the second season resumed with the kind of explosive start it needed and deserved, with the re-emergence of the vile and cowardly Cyborg bully, who has nothing on his mind but conquest and the destruction of the Jedi. And in this episode he has a veritable stable of its top members to fight against, starting off with an epic duel, alongside his nasty servant Magna Droids with Eeth Koth, who he captures and viciously tortures, followed by one of several early pre-EPISODE III face-offs against Obi-Wan, and then Adi Gallia. After his absence for over a year, Grievous's re-introduction, always carefully planed for by the series producers so that he doesn't get over-used, added more well deserved menace and action to the series. And, like the JAMES BOND villains of old, he just doesn't play to the rules of combat at all, giving him an unpredictable edge, ready to sacrifice his droids and anyone else, against his Jedi enemies that's fun to watch.

2. The lightsaber battles. The lightning fast opener between Grievous and Koth was terrific, as was the great Obi-Wan battle (I loved the sparring conversations they have: pure STAR WARS), and then that battle with Kenobi, Gallia and the Clone Troopers (I always like to see a force of our bucket head troops get stuck in for some brute force, hand to hand combat against the general. I think Nick Gillard, Stunt Co-ordinator on the Prequel films, would have been proud of some of the choreographed action on display here.

3. More Jedi. Great to see Koth (no longer dead from the Expanded Universe) and Gallia finally become realised in animation form and in action. Overall, it was one of the strengths of this season that we got to see a lot more of the other Temple Jedi, too (like the fun Tera Sinube, who gets a nice showcase in the enjoyable LIGHTSABER LOST). Too bad about the unused Sistine Chapel overhead shot, though (recently mentioned on the Blu-ray release by Dave Filoni-he's promised it will apprear one day!).

4. Anakin in action! Another chance to see our baddie to be in some fine heroics and daredevil piloting, it was a great scene where he uses his ship to board Grievous's upside down, followed by a cool duel against the Tactical Droid and its Battle Droid acolytes (as well as those rather deadly and very cool Commando Droids) in order to rescue the bridge held Koth.

5. Great staging. Taking a beat from the previous CARGO OF DOOM, the pace of the adventure story never flags in its plotting (nicely written by Ben Edlund) and execution, with some cool retro references to Classic STAR WARS thrown in (like the homage to EPISODE IV's opening boarding battle, but with Clone Troopers as the goodies!). GRIEVOUS INTRIGUE is extremely well edited and directed (the latter by series regular Giancarlo Volpe).

STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Season Two - out in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray from November 15th.

"THE CLONE WARS" SEASON TWO. SWA's TOP FIVE EPISODES. NO 5: "THE ZILLO BEAST STRIKES BACK"

Watch out Palpatine, the Zillo Beast is coming after you!

With next weeks release in the UK of the DVD and Blu-ray box sets of the complete Season Two of THE CLONE WARS, I thought it would be nice to do a mini-countdown celebration by listing, on a day to day basis, my top five personal favourite episodes of the season, and my top five personal reasons as to why I enjoyed them so much.

First off, it's number five: THE ZILLO BEAST STRIKES BACK!

1. The Zillo Beast. A marvellous design and beautifully realised creation, and its scenes of sympathy, nobility, anger (loved that look it gives Palpy!) and destructive strength are a fine homage to the GODZILLA and KING KONG films of yesteryear. Its a genuinely sad moment when the beast, trying to survive against the adversity its faced with, is finally felled.

2. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Ian Abercombie clearly relishes his voice acting skills as the evil Republic leader determined to mine the natural defensive strengths of the beast for his own personal intent (and another weapon to use against the Jedi-a story avenue perhaps to be explored in a later episode of the series?). Deliciously evil throughout, its a great finale scene where he cruelly and happily orders the cloning of the dead animal.

3. Yoda and Aayla Secura on top of the Zillo Beast! Considering he was a last minute inclusion to the episode its really cool to see old frog face leaping in, out and around the creature. And Aayla's pretty nimble, too!

4. Together Again! Its great to pretty much see all the film series core main cast re-united in one episode- a very rare opportunity indeed, and especially fun when its for a terrific episode (particularly nice to see Artoo and Threepio back as a duo, too!).

5. Coruscant battle damaged. The city planet's centre looks more devastated in this episode than it did from the huge space battle that takes place in the skyline/atmosphere above it in EPISODE III! Who doesn't love a monster on the rampage bit of carnage, especially when its a great showcase for the writers and animators to have a bit of spectacular fun with/for the audience.

THE CLONE WARS Season Two, out on DVD and Blu-ray from WARNER BROTHERS DVD on November 15th.