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reddingofish
09:54 AM

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
I watched the cartoon's first season with the belief that the entire 100 episodes had been planned out into an arch. I was disappointed that season 1 did not have an arch. It did have a couple of two and three parters but no arc. Season 2 on the other hand seems to be arced. The first 5 shows have mostly impressed me. I agree that "Landing At Point Rain" was a bit harsh for Cartoon Network but it is shown during the Adult Swim time slot so I guess the network gave the writers some lea way.
I hope they keep the story line moving along and don't get mired up in the whole Aniken and Padmae love affair too much. It is an easy trap for the writers to fall into. #starwarstheclonewars
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bonniegrrl
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
Great review Graeme! Thanks for taking time to dissect the DVD box set!

Did you find the Easter Eggs? #starwarstheclonewars
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Platypus Man
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
OK, so I watched the movie that came out before the series started, and I wasn't too crazy about it, so I didn't watch any of the series. Where would you consider the movie on the progression? Worse than the series started out as, better than it got in the season, etc?

I'm a Star Wars fan and I was wondering if it was good enough to get, considering I haven't seen any episodes of this series. #starwarstheclonewars
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Makarnak
07:58 AM

@Platypus Man: I wasn't thrilled at the movie when it first came out, but I think it did have a few moments of brilliance: the chaos and panic as we follow Ahsoka into her first battle (which was filmed as if someone was carrying a hand-cam and jumped off the transport) is just one example.

The tone felt a bit uneven: the dialogue was clearly aimed at young children, but some of the action was shockingly violent (a droid picking up a clone by the head and blasting him through the chest before discarding him always sticks out in my mind).

But the TV show has exceeded my expectations, even though it has similar problems of tone. It's aimed at kids, but there are moments of shocking violence and action.

That said, I think they're finding a voice once again. The action is fun (especially in certain episodes if you're missing the fun and actual PLOT in the starfighter/space battle scenes--I'm looking at you Ep. 1-3). The dialogue is much better than in Ep. 1-3. Anakin's acting (voice acting at least) is better.

You know all that Anakin-Padme dialogue that just made you cringe? There's actual, real, interesting dialogue between them in this series.

Someone complained earlier that the Clone Wars is meaningless because we knew how it turns out. Wasn't that true about Ep. 1-3? Actually, I think that the Clone Wars series fills in the gaps. We see Anakin being both an upright Jedi, but we see him start to risk everything and, from a Jedi standpoint, do really stupid things because of his connection to Padme. His hubris and weakness are highlighted instead of forced.

So, the short answer would be yes, I think the series is much better than the movie. There will be moments that you're not fond of, and you have to let yourself be a bit of a kid again (the action and light plot moves fast and is a bit serialized -- this is a comic book, not a technothriller), but you should at least give it a chance. Season 2 is turning out to be fairly impressive, with a much darker tone and a more over-arcing plot.

BTW, I also have to say that I surprisingly enjoyed Bombad Jedi (mostly because the entire tone of the episode was so comedic--if it helps, think of it as a comedic interlude, turn off the Jar Jar hate for 22 minutes -- he's not touching the battles and not interfering in the mood after the death of a Jedi -- and just let it be slapstick).
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cylon_conspiracy
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
I'm enjoying season two. Very hesitant to get into season one, but I'll give it a shot.

I actually do not like shows that are non-stop action and explosions. The last episode of Season Two was like that and I'm hoping the shows that were more about character are not going to be abandoned.

I do not care about battle droids, and the "dirt/mud planets" of Mustafar (sp?) and Geonosis are really starting to get old, and I've really disliked that palette ever since episode 2.

Star Wars to me is more than battle droids fighting on reddish brown planets. #starwarstheclonewars
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Shiryu
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
Definitely buying it day 1 of it's release over here in Portugal. I'm still surprised how quickly this show grew on me. Last Fridays episode was the possibly the greatest thing I have seen in TV for the past months. #starwarstheclonewars
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Bill-Lee
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
I just couldn't get into this show. The episodes I did watch were fun but tuning in every week just started to seem like a chore. Maybe I'll enjoy it more on DVD when I can watch it at my own pace. And did you say booklet of concept sketches? #starwarstheclonewars
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Jeremy Tapsell
11/08/09

@Bill-Lee: Sigh, why do they always give us booklets and not proper books? I can't stand booklets because I always lose them! #starwarstheclonewars
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GreyHammer
11/08/09

In reply to Clone Wars Grows Up In Front Of Your Eyes In New Box Set
no thanks. #starwarstheclonewars
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gorehound
11/07/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
Yes they should let Astrid out into the field once in a while would be nice.she is smart and is a great sidekick.
I loved the effect in this show.The shadow effect and the death effect was great.People dissolved to ash.
Was like a creepy b-movie. #fringe
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aubreyf
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
I will never understand the love for Astrid that I continually see in discussions around this show (on io9 at least). What am I missing about her that makes her so interesting? #fringe
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Ghost_in_the_Machine
11/07/09

@aubreyf: I've always been fond of good sidekicks/buddies. Astrid is smart, competent and an island of normalcy in Walter's lab. With Charlie gone (another great buddy character BTW) she's the only one there that's firmly grounded and not lugging a lot of personal baggage.

That's my two cents anyway. #fringe
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lukeoneil47
11/07/09

@aubreyf: Agreed. She doesn't do anything. She's cute, is that it? #fringe
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aubreyf
11/07/09

@Ghost_in_the_Machine: Thanks for the cents. :) I do think that she'd probably be just as weird and baggagy as the rest were she given more screentime. #fringe
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Bigdamnhero
11/07/09

@aubreyf: I'm basically curious. She's part of the team, but all we really seem to know is that she's good at science, and babysitting Walter. I simply want to know more about her. #fringe
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Indigen
11/08/09

@Bigdamnhero: I think they're saving her for later. We see her a lot, every episode, but know nothing at all about her. I think she's being saved as a reveal. Some sort of double agent, or some nasty shit'll happen to her, or she'll save everyones ass big style with hitherto unseen ability or powers... something like that. #fringe
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Bigdamnhero
11/08/09

@Indigen: "she'll save everyones ass big style"

I like that one. They better not pull a Charlie on her. #fringe
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DrMathochist
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
Not much to say except, "Happy anniversary, honey. I dusted." #fringe
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Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H.
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
We for sure need more looks at Russian Fringe science -- you know they'd have gotten into it even more than we did. Who is the Rooski Walter? Or was it a cadre of relatively normal folks, under tighter supervision than Walter and Bell? #fringe
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acrobatic rabbit
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
this was a a good episode. I especially liked the Russian involvement. And I really liked the ash effects. But I'm ready to take on more of the arc and less of these standalone eps. I am still curious about Olivia's mind powers from Cortexiphan. And where William Bell fits into all this. Alas, knowing J.J. Abrams, these questions are answered slowly and far between eps in any given season, only raising more questions along the way. #fringe
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Bigdamnhero
11/07/09

@acrobatic rabbit: Yeah... what I liked so much about the first season is how the stand-alone eps all pointed to The Pattern in some way, so you didn't get the feeling you were leaving the main story arc.

Now, the stand-alones feel like filler. I mean, it's good filler, but still. If I want filler, I'll eat a bran muffin. #fringe
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psychiccheese
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
RE: Scream Queens
While I'm aware that some men will be compelled to emit a high-pitched scream at something like this, I doubt most would. Personally, I'd probably jump back shouting "holy shit", if anything.
Although the same could probably be said about quite a few women, in that they will not emit a high-pitched wail in such a moment of surprise. #fringe
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J_Frank_Parnell
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
Overall I'd say the ep was solid, if not action packed. I do hope that we see some more CIA shenanigans in the future. Broyles' meeting with that mysterious guy at the end seemed a bit too ominous to be a throwaway event.

On another note, I was quite impressed with the crumbly ash effects, even if the way they did Mr. Shadowman was a bit meh. #fringe
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mattycakes
11/06/09

@J_Frank_Parnell: Did somebody say "shenanigans"?
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Ruthless, If you let me
11/06/09

In reply to Commie Fringe Scientists Bring Back Deadly Space Souvenir
DAMNIT! Moving blows. I missed this last night. I guess I'll have to try to find it online.

I enjoyed the recap that much more than usual today Lauren. #fringe
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