Cartoon Network's Clone War Ep. 20

Silver Moon · Apr 11, 2004

WayneLigon said:
I just saw the Cartoon Network minimarathon; all the Season One episodes in blocks of five.

I missed it. Does anyone know if or when they will be airing it again?

Crothian · Apr 11, 2004

They weren't bad. I felt they went a little too far with some things even for Star Wars. At times it was almost like I was watching Heavy Metal, but the space battle and the underwater battle were really good.

Chain Lightning · Apr 11, 2004

blindrage said:
OMG! The new big bad droid general was great. Why can't Lucus let some else do the writing for the prequel movies instead of himself?

Heh heh, I guess he still thinks he's the most qualified. I'm sure Die-hard fans would agree. But y'know...it's not just his writing that's bad....its also his directing now. If he had any wisdom or modesty, he would've realized before this whole thing started, that after being absent from the director's chair for so long....he would'nt have the sharpness to jump back into it. He should've just been a producer and let other's write/direct it while he oversees the overall thing. Or at least practiced on some short films first....or sought the help of Spielberg to make him sharp again (like how Apollo helped train Rocky after he got soft so he can fight Mr.T

).

.....oh well. Its all too late now. He's done all 3 films!

Thank goodness for Clone Wars from Cartoon Network and Knights of the Old Republic.

Kai Lord · Apr 12, 2004

Silver Moon said:
I missed it. Does anyone know if or when they will be airing it again?

You can watch them all here: http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/clonewars/

DragonOfIntellect · Apr 12, 2004

I think people are way too critical of Geoge Lucas. The man created Star Wars, after all, and he really deserves credit for that. I was dissapointed in Episode II, as a Star Wars movie, but I've seen much, much worse. The overall theme of the movie was good, but the failure was in the execution, particularly the acting and the dialogue. I don't know if Lucas can really be blamed for Hayden, but even if so, his previous accomplishments more than merit an excuse for one lapse in an overall incredible work of art.

PS

I loved Episode I.

Chain Lightning · Apr 12, 2004

DragonOfIntellect said:
I think people are way too critical of Geoge Lucas. The man created Star Wars, after all, and he really deserves credit for that. I was dissapointed in Episode II, as a Star Wars movie, but I've seen much, much worse. The overall theme of the movie was good, but the failure was in the execution, particularly the acting and the dialogue. I don't know if Lucas can really be blamed for Hayden, but even if so, his previous accomplishments more than merit an excuse for one lapse in an overall incredible work of art.

PS

I loved Episode I.

Any mistakes I point out that Lucas made during Episodes I and II are to be hopefully taken as just that. By no means do I invalidate his previous works or achievements. Which many were great.

But by that same thinking, no matter how great his previous works were, his current quality in film-making must stand on its own. As standing on its own, both Ep.I and Ep.II are poor films.

Are they as bad as "The Muskeeter", "Dreamcatcher", "Tomb Raider II" ? No, they're not. But let us realize there are degrees of bad. And while Ep.I or Ep.II aren't as bad as the above films I've mentioned, they're still bad. Why do people scream in agony about it though? Its not we've never seen bad movies, people seem to rake George over the coals as if he's committed some crime or something.

Well, there's the thing. Make "The Muskeeter" or "Tomb Raider II" and its not to much skin off our back. Just another bad movie. But these were the Stars Wars movies. We've waited years and years for them. Its a big part of pop culture for many people. The responsibility of doing the next films was huge. Not a task that should be taken lightly. I do agree that a certain amount of leniency should be given toward Lucas because, how could a man...no matter how skilled live up to so much hype? I personally would've been happy if he just made a solid film. But he didn't. He made Ep.I and Ep.II come out looking like a fan film with an extremely huge budget.

Man I could go on and on and site every mistake he made from Ep.I to Ep.II, but that would take a LONG time. And I've already gone off track.

Back on track: Clone Wars is awesome. Let's see if Lucas redeems himself with Ep.III - - He's now had 2 films to warm up. Let's see if he can pull a win. So far, 0 for 2.

p.s. Please don't divert blame on Hayden. Actors can only perform as well as the dialogue written for them...and as well as the Director lets them. You don't know what being on the set was like. If I had to guess, I think Lucas wanted those performances to be the way they were. In stays consistant with the "Flash Gordon" cheeze style he's trying to recapture. Plus, look at all the other fine actors/actresses in the cast. They do great work outside Star Wars. It is only within Star Wars that their performances and line dip in quality. Gee.....I wonder why? Hmmmm....... :uhoh:

DragonOfIntellect · Apr 12, 2004

The only character that really irked me in Episode II to the point I couldn't watch it again was Anakin. The others were tolerable, but every scene with Hayden I couldn't stand. It came off as if he had no maturity or self control at all, rather than being an iron willed person who could barely hold back his rage, which is what I was expecting. I disagree about Episode I, as I thought that was a good film, which I really enjoyed.

Overall, I think that Lucas created a strong setting, good characters, and universe in the prequels, but the execution of those details was badly implemented in the second movie. I think what's really annoying (as you mentioned) about Episode II is it could have been fantastic, but fell short of the mark. My point is, however, that without Lucas, it wouldn't have even had the possibility of being great. Which would make it a much more tolerable movie, ironically.

Back on subject, the Clone Wars series shows that the Star Wars setting, characters, and universe still possess amazing potential. The sabers hissing in the rain was absolutely brilliant.

stevelabny · Apr 12, 2004

to all of you who thought this was better than the movies.
CRACK i say. youre all on CRACK.

the movies at least tell a coherent story.

this mish-mash bounced all over the universe and did NOTHING to tie all the parts together.

while the anakin-sith chick fight was good, EVERY other battle was ridiculously over-the-top and made no sense. the Mace Windu episode was the worst, as his abiltiies seem to rise and fall with each frame. First he dodges the unexpected "earth ripple" then he gets hit by the second one when he knows its coming. first he gets surrounded by the droids and things look bleak, then he just starts using super-bad force powers to annihilate an entire army singlehandedly. (sure woulda come in handy during ep 2)

how did they escape the sometimes campy/sometimes ridiculous dialogue of george lucas?
BY NOT HAVING ANY DIALOGUE AT ALL
there was what? 6 completely dialogue free episodes and another 8 or 10 with only a line or two?
yikes. if i wanted this much mindless action with no substance or story behind it....well, i wouldnt ever want to watch something that mindless.

this was bad on all levels. and inferior to the movies in every way

Chain Lightning · Apr 12, 2004

stevelabny said:
this was bad on all levels. and inferior to the movies in every way

Awesome. I like reading a good heated thrashing.

Anyways, I wonder if I shall make a retort? Would it matter? Probably not. Aw heck...I'll do it!

First of all, "Clone Wars" comes to us in a different manner. Its a different type of entertainment altogether. Just as different as music videos are to half-hour sitcoms are to hour dramas are to 3-parters are to feature films.

These Clone War episodes are made to just give us a little slice of things that happen during the Clone Wars. They're not meant to tell us point for point like comic book issues would, or half hour cartoons would. These things are 3 minutes long each! They are more like little abstract occasional peeks into the Star Wars world. Quick, entertaining, vignettes of Star Wars.

They're like little mozzarella sticks for us to nibble on till the main course arrives. So, expecting them to be full fledged hold your hand start to finish, A to B, stories is to misinterpret the nature of these 3-minute shorts.

while the anakin-sith chick fight was good, EVERY other battle was ridiculously over-the-top and made no sense. the Mace Windu episode was the worst, as his abiltiies seem to rise and fall with each frame.

Interesting thing about Jedi and their powers are: many have different ideas on what qualifys as over-the-top or not. In one camp, we have people saying this is what they imagine Jedis are like at full strength. Then in the second camp you have the ones that say its too much...about the amount used in Attack of the Clones is appropriate.

But, if Clone Wars is guilty of not making sense....then so does Ep.I and Ep.II

-Phantom Menace: Jedis are shown to have bursts of super running speed. Yet, Obi-Wan doesn't use that power to go through the energy curtain to catch up and fight alongside his Master.

-Attack of the Clones: Its been proven from ESB that Yoda can telekinetically lift an X-Wing. And that he is wise. Dooku ruptures a mechanical tower thing to fall on the prone bodies of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Which would be faster? Use force to pull/push Anakin and Obi-Wan's bodies out of the way? Or use A LOT of concentration and time on the heavier mechanical tower? Obviously wisdom back in the old republic meant taking that route that let's Dooku get away as well. If Yoda had just simply pulled the lighter human bodies out of the way, he could've had enough time to still stop Dooku. Force push him as he's running up the ramp....force sprint over and re-engage in combat......force sprint over and wack and engine with a lightsabre....geez...all sorts of things.

-Oh....and how about I bring up Midicholorians?

Clone Wars also does some things that Ep.1 and Ep.2 never gave us. Remember this line? "He was the best star pilot in the galaxy." I'd say major feature about Anakin. Yet, the movies never show off how awesome he is at flying starships. Pods don't count, speeders don't either.....so I guess the only time we see him piloting starships is when he accidentally blew up the Federation Ship. Or...most likely in the upcoming third movie < when Lucas said, "oh yeah...I gotta show him fly really great and all - - I guess should've written a flying sequence in Ep.II for Anakin instead of Obi-Wan"....>

Ankh-Morpork Guard · Apr 13, 2004

Chain Lightning said:
-Phantom Menace: Jedis are shown to have bursts of super running speed. Yet, Obi-Wan doesn't use that power to go through the energy curtain to catch up and fight alongside his Master.

He was exhausted already? It does take energy to use the Force.

-Attack of the Clones: Its been proven from ESB that Yoda can telekinetically lift an X-Wing. And that he is wise. Dooku ruptures a mechanical tower thing to fall on the prone bodies of Anakin and Obi-Wan. Which would be faster? Use force to pull/push Anakin and Obi-Wan's bodies out of the way? Or use A LOT of concentration and time on the heavier mechanical tower? Obviously wisdom back in the old republic meant taking that route that let's Dooku get away as well. If Yoda had just simply pulled the lighter human bodies out of the way, he could've had enough time to still stop Dooku. Force push him as he's running up the ramp....force sprint over and re-engage in combat......force sprint over and wack and engine with a lightsabre....geez...all sorts of things.

Can't explain that other than saying...hey, its a MOVIE. And a movie that was made in the style of Saturday Matinee things, so its not going to make all that sense. I'd say the Yoda thing is a matter of style.