Clone Wars "Front Runners" Review.

*Full Spoilers for the episode.*
After last week's set-up episode, "A War On Two Fronts", I was hoping that the next would deliver something great and overall it mostly accomplished it. The action was good, however the Battledroids were annoying and dumb as always. "Front Runners" opened with a series of terrorist attacks by Onderonian Rebels using clever tactics, which were cool to see. It dealt with the issue of the people being afraid of Rebels because they do not know that they could win was an interesting topic. Since one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter, unless there are civilian casualties, therefore they are just terrorists. Some of the dialogue felt a little unnatural between Saw, Steela and Lux while stealing the tank. The attack on the Federation base was well animated and the expositions looked great. The animation of the lighting was better than usual adding an excellent dynamic to the look of the city. Also the structure of the is kept very similar to how it has in Knights of the Old Republic video game, which as a fan of game was glad to see. Hopefully next week's episode will build upon what "Front Runners" set-up with the addition of the new Federation droid general. While this seems to be a solid story arc, it lacks the quality that many of the truly amazing story arcs, unless there is some great reveal in the next two episodes. But it is much better than last year's "Mon Calamari" season opener. I am really starting to like Steela as a character; she has grown fast as a character in just two episodes.
One of the key highlights of the episode was the final scene talking to Obi-Wan and Anakin; it really ended the episode well with the reveal that Saw is Steela's brother. It was unexpected, I am sure Lux is feeling like Han did after the battle of Endor (video below) after Leia told him that Luke was her brother. Although it is unclear if he actually heard Steela said it or not but Ahsoka was definitely not happy. Another interesting line was Anakin's saying that he knows what it feels like, which really seemed to catch Ahsoka off-guard. Hopefully it will lead her to discovering Anakin and Padme, which should be a good episode.
Overall 8.3/10- Overall "Front Runners" delivered in both the action as well as the characters and was a mostly rewarding pay-off to last week's episode.

Here is something Jacob thought of as kind of a pardoy of the song "Call Me Maybe" while watching the episode: "Hey droid I just met you, and this is crazy, but call a tank, so I can hijack-it maybe?"
What did you think of the episode? Please comment below.

  

 

 

 

 

  

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Trivia Friday.

Congratulations Jamie at Through Two Blue Eyes and Padmé Arya Éowyn Istalrí Skywalker at The Ultimate Star Wars Blog, ya'll answered correctly. Sometime next week I will have another "Name That Movie Soundtrack" post as well as the answer to last week's soundtrack on Sunday.

Here are this week's questions. Also congratulations Rex's Girl at Fangirl On The Farm, and In the Depths of Gotham, for answering today's trivia questions so quickly that I decided to add more quotes. These should not be all too difficult if you have seen the movies that there were in.

 

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"A black cat went past us, and then another that looked just like it."

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"Your subconscious is looking for the dreamer; me. Quick, give me a kiss."

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"Uh, no, I'm afraid not. But, you have me at a loss. You know my name but who are you? Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne? Rambo? Marshal Dillon?"

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"We are gathered here today to pay final respects to our honored dead. But it should be noted that this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world; a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish. He did not feel this sacrifice a vain or empty one, and we will not debate his profound wisdom at these proceedings. Of my friend, I can only say this: of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... human."

 

 

Eariler Today's Answers

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

See, I'm a man of simple tastes. I enjoy dynamite, and gunpowder, and... gasoline!"

Answer: The Joker, The Dark Knight

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"All right. I understand. Fine. When he comes back, I won't get in the way."

Answer: Han Solo, Return of the Jedi

 

 

 Last Week's Answers 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

“Look, good against remotes is one thing, good against the living, that’s something else.”

 Answer: Han Solo, Star Wars (1977)

 

Name the movie and character that this quote is from:

"I'm not saying I'm responsible for this country's longest run of uninterrupted peace in 35 years! I'm not saying that from the ashes of captivity, never has a Phoenix metaphor been more personified! I'm not saying Uncle Sam can kick back on a lawn chair, sipping on an iced tea, because I haven't come across anyone man enough to go toe to toe with me on my best day! It's not about me. It's not about you, either. It's about legacy, the legacy left behind for future generations. It's not about us!"

Answer: Tony Stake, Iron Man 2

 

What is the exact year and date that Marty McFly travel back in time in Back to the Future?

Answer: November 5, 1955

 

 

 

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Funny Lord of the Rings Pictures!

Because everyone likes funny pictures, here are some various ones about the Lord of the Rings that I found around the internet. Be sure to check back tomorrow for Friday Trivia! I was originally planing on posting "How Han Made the Kessel Run in Less than 12 Parsecs" but I have something special planed for that post.

I my wizard could use guns.

This might just be my favorite of these pictures.

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Book Review: Star Wars: Darth Plagueis

The votes from the Reader's Choice were in and you voted for Darth Plagueis.

Thoughts: I have heard many great things about this Darth Plagueis book, and it did not disappoint. The book is basically a prequel to The Phantom Menace. It explains just about everything leading up to Episode I. Since the book is relatively new, the story tie into some of the story arcs form The Clone Wars. Also it contains many references to other Star Wars continuity, my favorite being, references The Old Republic. For those of you who hate The Phantom Menace and Midichlorians read Darth Plagueis, it explains things much better and makes it an even better movie. The books relies on the reader's knowledge of the Star Was Universe to some degree, therefore for someone new to the Star Wars universe could become lost in some areas of the book but that was not really a problem for me. The book's plot plays out like a history book from Palpatine's and Plagueis' point of view. The audio book I listened to was better than most audio books but it was not as high quality as Heir to the Empire or The Old Republic Revan (more about the audio book below). There were many cameos by different characters from the prequel era, which were great to see. Some of Darth Maul's origin was explained and Count Dooku's path to the Dark Side was explored briefly. Palpatine's character is developed and I have more interest in him now than I did previously. Darth Plagueis is also one of my favorite Expanded Universe characters now and I hope the next season of The Clone Wars will make a few references to Darth Plagueis and this book. It also possibly explains the birth of Anakin Skywalker. The book starts in the year 67 BBY and ends at the end of Episode I in 32 BBY.
Darth Plagueis also explains the Sith's plan and why they started the war.

Author: James Luceno
Genre: Sci-Fi, Star Wars,
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Audiobook Running Time: 14 hrs and 49 mins

Plot: The novel begins just after Darth Sidious kills his Sith Master Darth Plagueis. The Sith Lord experiences a moment where he feels a dramatic shift in the Force, which promises him that its dark side will use him as a tool just as he will use it as a tool for his own purposes. This moment in the Force is what promises Sidious that he will have a great impact on the galaxy in the future.

The book then cuts back 35 years, as Darth Plagueis and his Master Darth Tenebrous arrive on the world of Bal'demnic to examine its cortosis supply, which is being mined unbeknownst to either the Republic or the Jedi Order. Tenebrous plans to take advantage of the cortosis' natural resistance to lightsaber blades for his future attempts to overthrow the Jedi and replace the Republic with an empire ruled by the Sith. During the examination, the mining probe droid begins digging at a pocket of explosive lethane next to a cortosis deposit against orders, leading Tenebrous and Plagueis to rush back to their ship and escape the resulting explosion. The explosion occurs before they make it back to their ship, though Tenebrous was able to use the Force to contain the explosion so it doesn't kill him or his apprentice, while Plagueis makes sure that their ship isn't destroyed by the impact of the blast. In the process, Tenebrous is severely wearied, and Plagueis finds himself with the opportunity to end his Master's life and take on the role of Sith Master. He uses the Force to hurl falling debris on top of his Master and inflict a mortal wound, attempting to make it look natural as he rushes to his master's side. However, he cannot resist revealing to Tenebrous how he died, and what it means for the future of the Sith. The Muun tells his Bith Master that he will put an end to the old order of the Rule of Two before breaking Tenebrous's neck and observing his dying body through the Force in an attempt to manipulate midi-chlorians. However, Tenebrous dies before Plagueis is even able to at least prolong his Master's life for the sake of his experimentation. Read the book to know what happens next.

Plot: 9.5/10- The plot is excellent and it spans several years. Plagueis' and Palpatine's story is very interesting and their relationship is unique compared to other Sith, although the politics might bore some readers. However, I rarely felt the “Edge of my seat” suspense that other books like The Thrawn trilogy had.

Audiobook: 8.9/10- While the audio book is much better than most of the other ones I have listened briefly it was not near as good as The Heir to the Empire or The Old Republic audio books. The narrator did not imitate the original character's voice very well compared to Heir to the Empire but Palpatine was really the only character that was in the movie that had a lot of dialogue in the book. The use of music to highlight important parts was perfect, For example when Darth Maul was first introduced the music was perfect and added bone chilling effect.

Overall: 9.5/10- Although one would have to be a Star Wars fan to truly appreciate Darth Plagueis, it is one of the best Star Wars book I have read thus far. 

Closing comments: Darth Plagueis is highly recommend for any Star Wars fan of the prequel era.

 

Recommended for: Star Wars fans, Prequel haters, Sci-Fi fans,

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Star Wars Geek Test.

After yesterday's "Reader's Choice" voting, the Star Wars Geek Test received the most votes. There is still time to Click here and vote for Wedsday's and Thurday's posts. If you have not already

 

This is a Star Wars Geek Test that I have many other bloggers take, so I decided take it myself.

[X] You own more Star Wars books than textbooks

[X] You own at least one Star Wars shirt

[X] You have "used" a Jedi Mind Trick

[X] You can name all 7 movies in order without hesitating (I do not consider "The Clone Wars" a movie.)

[X] You have pretended to use the Force on moving objects

[X] You own at least one lightsaber

[X] You watch the Clone Wars

[X] Your favorite video games are those with Star Wars in the title

[X] You’ve had at least one Star Wars-themed birthday party

[X] You can breathe like Darth Vader

Current Total:

10/10

[X] You hum the Star Wars theme song in the shower

[X] You’ve seen the films so many times that the cases are worn down

[X] You surf the Internet looking for funny Star Wars videos and pictures

[X] You listen to any of the Star Wars soundtracks in your free time

[X] You desperately wish that the Star Wars galaxy actually existed

[X] You freak out whenever there’s a sale on Star Wars merchandise (only seen Star Wars stuff on sale once but I did buy a bunch of LEGOs that day a very long time ago.)

[X] Your favorite LEGO sets are the Star Wars ones

[X] You would totally dress up in full Darth Vader rig just for the fun of it

[X] You want to join the 501^st Legion

[X] Wookieepedia is your friend

Current Total:

10/10

[X] Your avatar on at least one social site is Star Wars-themed

[X] The wallpaper on your desktop has something to do with Star Wars

[X] You tie a lot of conversations back to something that happened in Star Wars

[X] You write Star Wars fan fiction just for the fun of it (I kind of wrote a script for a fan film)

[] You have gone to a Star Wars Weekend and/or a Star Wars Celebration

[X] Most of the stuff on your Christmas list pertains to Star Wars (depending upon the year)

[X] Your hero is a Star Wars character

[X] If you could spend the day with anybody, it would be George Lucas

[X] You know the difference between astromech and protocol droids

[X] You think of time in years in relation to the 1977 theatrical release of A New Hope

Current Total:

9/10

[X] You can think of ten good reasons why you should have your own Death Star

[X] You can’t spell “rectify” but you can spell “Kashyyyk”

[X] You know more Star Wars planets than earth countries

[X] You argue with your friends and/or siblings over who would win: Boba Fett or Darth Vader

[X] You are completely open to all Star Wars characters coming back to life – even Darth Maul

[X] You dress up as Star Wars characters for Halloween (I when I actually dressed up for Halloween)

[] You dress your pet up as a Star Wars character for Halloween

[X] You sometimes say “May the Force Be With You” instead of “good-bye”

[X] You have seen the movies so many times that you can say the characters’ lines

[X] You debate with your friends and/or siblings about Star Wars characters

Current Total:

9/10

[X] You would put a Star Wars bumper sticker on your car

[X] You’ve been belittled or even bullied because of how much you love Star Wars (Not bullied but argued about why it's awesome before)

[X] The best gift you could ever get would be a set of storm trooper armor that had been worn in the movies (would prefer Darth Vade costume but StromTrooper would be just fine.) 

[X] The only books you really check out at the library are Star Wars ones (I have only checked out one in the last 9 and it was Star Wars)

[X] You would laugh out loud if somebody was talking about how the Death Star blew up Naboo

[X] You know which Skywalker twin is older

[X] You know what “lekku” are

[X] Your favorite authors write Star Wars books (favorite living author)

[X] Star Wars is still your favorite movie even after seeing it 10 times (10 times, hat nothing. I've seen it at least 40 times.)

[X] You were one of the only people who noticed that puppet Yoda was made CG in the 3D version of TPM

Current Total:

10/10

[X] You study Star Wars books and websites in your free time

[X] Your YouTube or e-mail account name has something Star Wars-y in it (John Starslayer is the name of my Star Wars character.)

[X] You get an adrenalin rush and/or a tingly sensation up your spine whenever you hear the Star Wars theme song or see The Crawl

[X] You know what “The Crawl” is, and you refer to it as such

[X] You have a hard time imagining life without Star Wars

[X] You feel sorry for people who have never heard of and/or never watched Star Wars

[X] You can name and identify fifty or more different clone troopers

[X] You get kinda ticked when “uneducated” people mix up clone troopers and storm trooper

[X] You can speak and/or understand Mando’a and/or Huttese (While making my Lego movie I tried to learn Huttese.)

[X] If someone says the word “Star” the first thing that comes to mind is an epic battle between a Jedi Master and a Sith Lord

Current Total:

10/10

[X] You would likely have a heart attack if somebody said, “Who’s George Lucas?”

[X] You think John Williams is the best composer. Ever. Period. Exclamation point.

[X] You have made at least one Star Wars-inspired video

[X] You want everyone to ditch the webcams and invent holographic-enabled comlinks already!

[X] You know what “THX-1138” means and you look for it in all of the Star Wars films

[X] You know exactly what alien species you would be and what kind of job you would have if you lived in the Star Wars galaxy

[X] Your favorite phrase is, “A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away….”

[] The only comic books you read are Star Wars

[X] You can’t listen to Liam Neeson’s voice without thinking, “Qui-Gon Jinn!”

[X] You know more about the actors who were in Star Wars than you do about any others

Current Total:

9/10

It Has Been Assumed That You…

Note: These might be slightly exaggerated but overall accurate.



[X] Wait outside of the movie theater for two days to see the latest Star Wars film

[X] Exercise by staging lightsaber battles with your friends and/or siblings (went I was younger)

[X] Know all of the movies by heart

[] Don’t have a life beyond Star Wars

[X] Are mortal enemies with Trekkies/Trekkers (Although I like Trek, it is nothing compared to Star Wars.)

[X] Can’t go a single day without thinking about Star Wars

[X] Have all of the answers to Star Wars-related questions

[X] Are obsessed with Star Wars

[X] Would buy anything with the words “Star Wars” on it

[X] Only play Star Wars music

[X] Only play Star Wars video games

[X] Only read Star Wars books and/or blogs (I read just about anything with movies but mostly Star Wars)

[X] Would only marry someone who was just as crazy about Star Wars as you are

[X] Don’t discuss current world issues, only current Star Wars issues

[X] Only watch Star Wars

[X] Wouldn’t ever speak if Star Wars had never existed

Current Total:

15/16

You Have Been Asked At Least Five Times…

[X] What the difference is between Jedi and Sith

[X] Why you like Star Wars so much

[X] What’s wrong with Star Trek?

[X] Why you talk so much about Star Wars

[X] Why you still like Star Wars, since it’s a “kid’s” show

[X] What’s so great about Star Wars?

[X] If you went to see The Phantom Menace when it came out in 3D

[X] If you’re going to see the other Star Wars films in 3D

[X] Which is worse: Ewoks or Gungans?

[X] Why you fire up when someone discuses Star Wars

[X] Why George Lucas made the movies in the wrong order

[X] Why you get all excited whenever you hear the words Star Wars and Special Edition in the same sentence (not exactly excited but I hope Lucas will actually fix the movies not change them.)

[X] If you named your new pet something Star Wars-y

[X] If your family gets fed up with your love of Star Wars

[X] If you play SWTOR or KOTOR

[X] Who shot first: Greedo or Han?

[X] If you can speak Huttese

Final Total:

16/16

SCORING: 100/103: According to the ranking below, I am a "You are a total, die-hard, super, ultra, unsurpassable, mega-humungous Star Wars geek!". I have to say that is accurate.

0-5….Do you even know what Star Wars is????

6-25….You’re an average casual fan, but not a nerd.

26-50….You’re pretty knowledgeable, and therefore a Star Wars nerd. You probably also appreciate Wookie Cookies.

51-75….You’re a Star Wars nut and not afraid to let people know it.

76-95….You’re a Star Wars geek, and you want the whole world to know it. Don’t tone it down!

96-102....You are a total, die-hard, super, ultra, unsurpassable, mega-humungous Star Wars geek!

103….It don’t get no bigger than you. You, my friend, are the ULTIMATE Star Wars die-hard! Wear your Yoda ears proudly ‘cause you are the ULTIMATE!

Have you taken the test? If so please comment with your score.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to contact us or have any question please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.