Post by Sgt. AWOLaLot on Jun 19, 2017 18:52:43 GMT -5
I just finished watching a story arc from the show Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Battle of Umbara. I liked this show when it came out and was happy to see it was still good when I started it again. There was also another animated show called Star Wars Clone Wars that was hand drawn from 2003, but that one is different. And I like that one too.
This should technically be put in the TV section, but I'm going to put it here. Unless a clan member moves it lol.
"I think I'm going to change it up a little and review something a little different today. And that is Star Wars: The Clone Wars. That's right, the CGI cartoon that came out back in 2008. Judge me all you want, hehe. In all seriousness though the show is actually pretty good, with some episodes being better than others. And with it being TV-PG, it can get away with more violence and some more mature themes that other shows may not have. The story arc I'll be talking about is the Battle of Umbara, which lasts over 4 episodes. It's probably the best story arc I've seen from the series thus far, and could honestly make a decent spinoff Star Wars film.
In these episodes, the Clone Army of the Republic is tasked with taking over the planet of Umbara. Umbara is a very dark planet, with no sunlight reaching its surface. The natives on the planet also side with the Separatists, making a very tough enemy for the Clones. In the opening the 501st Legion, under the command of Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex, are tasked with occupying enemy reinforcements to keep them from going to the capital (which is Obi-Wan Kenobi's main objective). Shortly after achieving a foothold however, Anakin is called back by the Jedi Council and the 501st is put under the command of Jedi Pong Krell. Krell is a hard commander, having little trust in the intelligence of the Clones and preferring straightforward, linear assaults on his targets. He even refuses to call them by their nicknames, instead referring to them by their designation numbers. He also completely disregards Rex's opinions or objections, believing the Clones shouldn't think for themselves. This leads to severe casualties for the Clones, and Rex, Hardcase, Arc Trooper Fives, and others begin to question his command.
One of the best things about the Clone Wars series that I (and many others) love is that it humanizes the Clone Troopers. The episode "Rookies" was the first one to really show that, and it's one of the strongest parts of the show. Despite the fact the Clones look the same, they each have their own separate personalities and idiosyncrasies that set them apart. It is that humanity in the Clones that made these episodes so interesting. Their bond is also something they hold dear, referring to other clones as brothers and Kamino as their home. Rex, Hardcase, and Fives were all raised to be warriors first, to die in service to the Republic if need be. But most of the Jedi still treat them as equals in combat, so when a prejudiced Jedi like Krell comes in and doesn't flinch at taking heavy losses, the clones start to consider what the difference is between following orders and doing what is right.
These episodes were also filled with big, cinematic moments and impressive visuals. The battles feel big and chaotic, with explosions going off, blasters firing away, native creatures wreaking havoc on the clones, and the clones screaming in pain. It's easy to see the animators put a lot of time and effort into creating the worlds and environments in this show, and Umbara is one of the more memorable environments.
The dialogue is something else I really like. Again, even though it's technically a kids show, it does allow room for more adult themes and dialogue. It's not like there are overly clever scripts or anything like that, but they're good enough. The exchanges between Rex and Krell offer some of these moments, with Krell often putting Rex in his place and reminding him of who's in command. And as for the clones in general, man the screenwriters have given them great lines over the whole series, with these episodes having some good ones. Dee Bradly Baker is the voice for the Clones, and he gives them a lot of life and charisma. You can tell he has fun being the clones. Hardcase probably has the best lines in this storyline, but there are plenty of good moments as well. There's also actually a rather sad moment for the clones too, where an act of deception leads to a tragic accident.
With this being a TV show, I can't imagine anyone being overly interested unless you're a big Star Wars fan. I liked it when it first came out (I was only 12... wow) and still find enjoyment out of it now. I love that it adds to the lore of the Star Wars universe, as well as adding more depth to the Prequels and the characters of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and even more minor characters. And whether you like the Prequels or refuse to acknowledge their existence, there's no denying they've allowed for a lot of great material for the Expanded Universe.
This should technically be put in the TV section, but I'm going to put it here. Unless a clan member moves it lol.
"I think I'm going to change it up a little and review something a little different today. And that is Star Wars: The Clone Wars. That's right, the CGI cartoon that came out back in 2008. Judge me all you want, hehe. In all seriousness though the show is actually pretty good, with some episodes being better than others. And with it being TV-PG, it can get away with more violence and some more mature themes that other shows may not have. The story arc I'll be talking about is the Battle of Umbara, which lasts over 4 episodes. It's probably the best story arc I've seen from the series thus far, and could honestly make a decent spinoff Star Wars film.
In these episodes, the Clone Army of the Republic is tasked with taking over the planet of Umbara. Umbara is a very dark planet, with no sunlight reaching its surface. The natives on the planet also side with the Separatists, making a very tough enemy for the Clones. In the opening the 501st Legion, under the command of Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex, are tasked with occupying enemy reinforcements to keep them from going to the capital (which is Obi-Wan Kenobi's main objective). Shortly after achieving a foothold however, Anakin is called back by the Jedi Council and the 501st is put under the command of Jedi Pong Krell. Krell is a hard commander, having little trust in the intelligence of the Clones and preferring straightforward, linear assaults on his targets. He even refuses to call them by their nicknames, instead referring to them by their designation numbers. He also completely disregards Rex's opinions or objections, believing the Clones shouldn't think for themselves. This leads to severe casualties for the Clones, and Rex, Hardcase, Arc Trooper Fives, and others begin to question his command.
One of the best things about the Clone Wars series that I (and many others) love is that it humanizes the Clone Troopers. The episode "Rookies" was the first one to really show that, and it's one of the strongest parts of the show. Despite the fact the Clones look the same, they each have their own separate personalities and idiosyncrasies that set them apart. It is that humanity in the Clones that made these episodes so interesting. Their bond is also something they hold dear, referring to other clones as brothers and Kamino as their home. Rex, Hardcase, and Fives were all raised to be warriors first, to die in service to the Republic if need be. But most of the Jedi still treat them as equals in combat, so when a prejudiced Jedi like Krell comes in and doesn't flinch at taking heavy losses, the clones start to consider what the difference is between following orders and doing what is right.
These episodes were also filled with big, cinematic moments and impressive visuals. The battles feel big and chaotic, with explosions going off, blasters firing away, native creatures wreaking havoc on the clones, and the clones screaming in pain. It's easy to see the animators put a lot of time and effort into creating the worlds and environments in this show, and Umbara is one of the more memorable environments.
The dialogue is something else I really like. Again, even though it's technically a kids show, it does allow room for more adult themes and dialogue. It's not like there are overly clever scripts or anything like that, but they're good enough. The exchanges between Rex and Krell offer some of these moments, with Krell often putting Rex in his place and reminding him of who's in command. And as for the clones in general, man the screenwriters have given them great lines over the whole series, with these episodes having some good ones. Dee Bradly Baker is the voice for the Clones, and he gives them a lot of life and charisma. You can tell he has fun being the clones. Hardcase probably has the best lines in this storyline, but there are plenty of good moments as well. There's also actually a rather sad moment for the clones too, where an act of deception leads to a tragic accident.
With this being a TV show, I can't imagine anyone being overly interested unless you're a big Star Wars fan. I liked it when it first came out (I was only 12... wow) and still find enjoyment out of it now. I love that it adds to the lore of the Star Wars universe, as well as adding more depth to the Prequels and the characters of Anakin, Obi-Wan, and even more minor characters. And whether you like the Prequels or refuse to acknowledge their existence, there's no denying they've allowed for a lot of great material for the Expanded Universe.