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Post by Brendan Anderson on Mar 21, 2005 23:21:57 GMT -8
Anyone else really enjoying these little cartoons? Frankly, they kick major butt....they almost make up for the low quality of the feature films. The first volume of short episodes just came out on DVD (cheap...you buy!), and tonight was the first episode of Volume 2 on The Cartoon Network (at 7 or 8 o'clock depending on where you live in the U.S.). To me, the way these episodes are directed, the straight-forward low-B.S. dialogue, the fast-paced action...it all works so well! The spirit of the original trilogy shines through even though all we get is a little stylized animation. I love how they serve as a really unique way to bridge the gap between Episode II and Episode III. If you missed the episode tonight, or need a quick catch-up on the plot of the first volume, check out www.starwars.com/clonewars/ and they'll have tonight's episode posted for download tomorrow. If you've given up on Star Wars, these just might be for you.... -Brendan
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Mac Styran
Ghostwriter
Darth Benedict's Holy Handgranade
Posts: 231
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Post by Mac Styran on Mar 22, 2005 3:16:00 GMT -8
Sorry, but the animation style sucks ass. (Not the good way)
That's what mainly drives me away from Clone Wars.
Oh, yeah, and the fact that I don't like Star Wars in general.
Maybe the old trilogy ... but fan ... no.
Sorry.
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Post by Jens Dietrich on Mar 22, 2005 13:47:37 GMT -8
My question is how can they tell any kind of story in such brief little minute-long segements?
Really, I'm curious.
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Post by Hook on Mar 22, 2005 15:42:37 GMT -8
I've seen one episode of this series. A ship lands in what I guess to be a city of Coruscant. Stormtroopers (or whatever you call them clones) get off the ship and move in military, "stealth" fashion. They are surrounded by enemies who fire at them. The stormtroopers answer the fire back. The episode ends. They show a clip of the next episode, a clip that is just as long as this episode and, before I know how, I'm seeing the Lucasfilms logo. That's one weird series, my friend.
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Post by Jangles on Mar 22, 2005 16:19:04 GMT -8
My question is how can they tell any kind of story in such brief little minute-long segements? Really, I'm curious. Well, that's what George Lucas is now doing, so I don't see what the curiosity is over ;D
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Post by muckle dabuckle on Mar 22, 2005 17:20:41 GMT -8
I was gonna' get the DVD, but then I realized I need money to buy it. (my money has been foolishly spent recently on The Ring/Ring "Too" and Beetlejuice soundtracks--foolishly as in I should'n't be buying anymore entertainment stuff. If I listed all of the soundtracks I bought recently it would be one of those mega-ass "what have you bought this month" filmscore monthly lists). But cartoons are awesome!! (and Clone Wars looks awesome to me). -nate
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MikeP
Orchestrator
Posts: 537
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Post by MikeP on Mar 23, 2005 4:35:08 GMT -8
I haven't seen any of the new ones, but I can comment on the DVD.
There are twenty episodes, so at three minutes a piece (with the final one being ~5 minutes) there is plenty of time for a story. Each 3 minute episode is basically just a mini action scene. There isn't any extra dialog either - only enough set up the next action scene. Character development is generally done through action, not words. A scene where a little boy gives a battle weary Mace Windu a drink from his water canteen is more touching than anything I saw in the first two prequels.
The only possible negative I see is the exaggeration of force powers that the animation medium encourages. The levels of force being used are a step beyond anything I've seen in the movies. One scene has Obi-Wan effortlessly taking out three destroyer droids, yet in the movies whenever he comes across them he either runs or surrenders.
Still, it's quite fun to watch and certainly worth a rental.
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Post by Brendan Anderson on Mar 23, 2005 7:18:29 GMT -8
That's one weird series, my friend. It's one cool series you mean. Really, if you just saw one of the 3-minute episodes somewhere in the middle of the chapters, it wouldn't make much sense, I agree. I'd recommend renting or buying the Volume I DVD to see them from start to finish...they create a cool story line and you get to see some Jedi do awesome stuff....and General Greivous is one bad mother.... The second season, which is on Cartoon Network this week, has longer 12-minute episodes, so there is a chance to have much more story on top of the same cool action. Seek them out, young Jedi... -Brendan
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Post by Joseph Bat on Mar 28, 2005 17:46:29 GMT -8
Dan Goldwasser introduced me to this series. Its interesting.
Anime and Star Wars is kinda weird for me. I'd probably enjoy it more if it were some form of CGI/cartoon creation.
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Post by Jens Dietrich on Mar 28, 2005 18:15:37 GMT -8
Anime and Star Wars is kinda weird for me. Say what you want about Genndy Tartakovsky's animation style (personally, I find it stylishly simplistic), but it's definitely not Anime, m'laddie.
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Post by Brendan Anderson on Mar 28, 2005 19:39:30 GMT -8
The animation style took a few episodes for me to really get into, but I really enjoy what they do with it...I think Yoda is by far the best character design, the troopers are good too, Grievous is well done...the rest of the humans are so-so.
I just got the Volume 1 DVD....when you watch them all in a row, both Volume 1 and 2, they create a much more well-crafted story than what Lucas has been able to muster...and the dialogue is light-years better. ;D
-Brendan
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Post by Jens Dietrich on Mar 28, 2005 19:42:26 GMT -8
Ok, Brendan, this brings me to the next important question:
How's the score?
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Post by Joseph Bat on Mar 28, 2005 20:12:11 GMT -8
Say what you want about Genndy Tartakovsky's animation style (personally, I find it stylishly simplistic), but it's definitely not Anime, m'laddie. Yeah, it really isn't anime. Anime looks better than this.
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Post by Jens Dietrich on Mar 28, 2005 20:19:41 GMT -8
Anime looks better than this. Mainly a matter of traditional ink and paint vs. conventionalization and computer colouring, I think.
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Post by Brendan Anderson on Mar 28, 2005 21:06:39 GMT -8
Serviceable. Volume 1 used a combination of edits from the Williams scores and original music (which was done by decent quality synth). I think Volume 2 is all original, but still synthy. There are only a few moments when the music makes me wince from either a too-synthy point of view or a "why in the heck did he write that?" point of view. Overall, I think it was a good job considering the job was to "sound like" one of the greatest film composers of all time and do it convincingly. Jens, Volume 1 on DVD is only $14.99...what have you got to lose? -Brendan
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