Happy Birthday George Lucas!

Happy Birthday George Lucas! You might know his landmark student film, Electronic Labyrinth THX 1138 4EB (1967) and that Francis Ford Coppola encouraged him to turn it into a full film, THX 1138 (1971), but it served as the type of film that Lucas wanted to make a tone poem, more than a sci fi future.  He also defined films with his semi-autobiographical American Graffiti (1973) insisting on a soundtrack of songs by the original artists that is the standard today.  We might also know that he moved past his Flash Gordon film idea for Universal and instead created his own world using his Akira Kurosawa, John Ford, and Alex Raymond influences to form something new with Star Wars (1977).  There was also his forcing effects to bring something energetic to films with what became ILM.  Then, there was Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and finally Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983).  There were two tv movies after the original trilogy with stories by George Lucas; The Ewok Adventure (1984), also called the Caravan of Courage, and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).  Lucas contributed the story for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), collaborating with his friend, Steven Spielberg, to craft a modern cliffhanger serial classic.  There was also Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and later Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).  

He wrote the screenplay to the Disney attraction, Captain EO (1986), then the first collaboration with Disney on Star Tours which first opened in 1987, and was the writer for the fantasy film Willow (1988).  He was able to executive produce Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988) for Francis Ford Coppola as director.  Lucas executive produced the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! which opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1989.  Later, he worked again with Disney for Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye which opened at Disneyland in 1995.  Lucas created the television show The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993).  Harrison Ford returned to play Indy in Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues (1993).  This of course formed the effects and production pipeline for Lucas to return to Star Wars with the prequels starting with Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).  He continued the prequels with Star Wars: Attack of the Clones (2002) and the conclusion was in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005).  Lucas also was executive producer on Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014) animated series.  He worked on the Bad Batch arc of the last season which concluded recently.  Lucas returned to write the story for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008).  He accomplished the film he wanted to make for some time executive producing Red Tails (2012).  On October 2012, Lucasfilm was sold to Disney, and Lucas instead focusing his energies on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art set to open in 2021. Happy Birthday George Lucas!

#GeorgeLucas, #AmericanGraffiti, #StarWars, #RaidersoftheLostArtk 

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend Review!

Netflix has been dropping the interactive specials, there was the Black Mirror: Bandersnatch in 2018, that was complex, and multiple paths led you to different characters, and also cartoons, now a comedy special.  Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt was a sitcom created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, from 30 Rock, and starred Ellie Kemper, who was also Erin Hannon in The Office. Kimmy is rescued from a bunker in Durnsville, Indiana in a strange cult led by the Reverend Richard Wayne.  He was played by Jon Hamm, who of course was in Mad Men, but the reverend is an off beat role.  Kimmy  was interviewed on the Today Show and then wanders around New York until she ends up sharing a room with Titus Andromedon.  Titus is played by Tituss Burgess who was also D’Fwan in 30 Rock.  Carol Kane plays their eccentric landlady, Lillian, and she of course was on Taxi.  Kimmy ends up as a nanny for the zany socialite, Jacqueline, Jane Krakowski, also from 30 Rock, plays her.  At the end of season one, Kimmy is able to get her fellow Mole Women to jail the reverend.   

The special is directed by Claire Scanlon who directed serveral episodes from season two to the final fourth season.  It is written by the series creators, Robert lock and Tina Fey with the team of Sam Means and Meredith Scardino, also writers for the show.  There is a fun intro with a robot showing how to use the options, funny.  Kimmy is getting ready for her wedding as Jacqueline enters in a puffy, pink candy dress.  Your first choice is to choose Kimmy’s dress.  There is some funny moments as the timer to make a choice closes.  She is angry that Titus is not following the Mark Wahlberg diet for his lead in action movie.  Kimmy walks down the NY streets with her purple, talking backpack, Jan S. Port voiced by Stephanie D’Abruzzo.  Silly and kinda fun, Kimmy’s friend, was part of the fourth season.  Kimmy finds in Jan something new, a book, The Mystery of The Mysterious Spy.  She shows it to her fiancee, Frederick, who is twelfth in line for the throne.  Daniel Radcliffe plays Frederick and he is also currently in the comedy, Miracle Workers: Dark Ages.  

He also has a lonely upbringing with only his nanny.  Kimmy likes his cartoon Robin Hood accent, funny.  One choice leads to how the couple met.  She reads the book that happens to be a Choose Your Own Adventure-type book.  There is also the library date that reads 2003 which is five years after she escaped from the bunker.  Frederick suggests that it might have belonged to one of the other Mole Women; Cynee (Sara Chase), Donna Marie (Sol Miranda), or Gretchen (Lauren Adams).  I really like Frederick’s “Jumpy bumpy” way of making a selection.  One of them points to another Mole Woman.  Kimmy has to get to Indiana and confront the reverend.  She has Frederick team up with Lillian to plan the wedding.  Kimmy is still angry at the reverend for cheating at Clue, running joke.  She has to chose between Jacqueline or Titus.  The choice leads to the show’s opening!   Kimmy takes her private jet with the robot serving wine.  She has no idea where they will find another bunker, there’s a funny joke about Silence of the Lambs.  

Kimmy goes to the vistor room to meet with Revered Richard Wayne.  The prison Guard is played by Jack McBrayer, it is always fun to see his goofiness, he was of course the page, Kenneth on 30 Rock.  The reverend tries to impress Kimmy with his prison nickname which  he doesn’t know in Spanish, funny.  If you make the wrong choice, there is a funny interlude with a character, before it rewinds. Kimmy may be clever enough to have the reverend reveal everything just by talking.  The bunker is in West Virginia.  Cyndee appears for the bachelor’s party which has been cancelled.  Frederick offers himself as bachelorette.   Mimi (Amy Sedaris) appears for the karaoke party.  She is a recurring character that gets a cameo here.  Frederick is out dancing with the robot in a Bride sash.  Cyndee worries that Frederick is just there to take jobs from other princes, good joke.  The choice is between Cyndee or Lillian to try to seduce Frederick.  The plane lands in the middle of fields.  Lillian calls Titus to tell him that she is trying to stall for him to get on set for the action movie.  Kimmy needs to uncover the mystery of the bunker, save the Mole Women, and marry Frederick!  The mistakes are fun and the show has silly characters all driven by Kimmy’s optimisim!  

Four Jan S. Ports out of Five!     

#UnbreakableKimmySchmidt, #KimmyVStheReverend, #EllieKemper, #TitusBurgess, #CarolKane, #JaneKrakowski, #DanielRadcliffe 

Disney Family Sing-Along Volume II Review!

Kermit introduces the special with Seth Rogan and then the rest of the guests and Muppets singing “The Muppet Show” song.  A funny and nice opening.  Ryan Seacrest again hosts the special bringing nothing special, but not an awkward host.  Next is Titus Burgess who gives some vocal warm-ups.  Seacrest introduces the “Hakuna Matata” number with Seth Rogan, Billy Eichner, from the recent Lion King, they were the few refreshing parts of the movie.  Also with Simba from the Lion King Broadway musical, Walter Russell III, and Donald Glover.  I like Glover just cutting loose there.  It is cut with clips of the animated movie.  

Then, we have Rebel Wilson with “Poor Unfortunate Souls”, a part she played in the 2016 Little Mermaid Live at the Hollywood Bowl.  She has some fun with an aquarium background playing against the film.  Disney on Broadway sing “You’ll Be In My Heart” from Tarzan for Mother’s Day.  They are all incredible singers.  It is cut from their home recordings.  Pictures are shown of children and family members.  Very nice.  Seacrest introduces a segment on Feeding America with all of the celebrities talking about the organization.  It is important to keep such things in mind during these times: https://www.feedingamerica.org.  

Next, Miss Piggy introduces herself as the star of the show, giving a socially distant kiss!  Keke Palmer sings “Zero to Hero” from Hercules, really the best part of the animated film, she of course is from the Strahan, Sara & Keke chat show.   The Dancing with the Stars dancers show their skills at home.   It seems like they were able to get costumes.  Idina Menzel talks about “A Whole New World” that she sings with Ben Platt.  Platt has a great singing range, he is in the Pitch Perfect films, and of course Menzel can sing anything, amazingly she was in the Disney musical, Enchanted, and didn’t sing a note!  I kinda would have liked the live action Mena Massoud and Anomi Scott or just Scott with “Speechless.”  

The next singer is Halsey, who has dark red hair like Ariel, and she sings “Part of Your World.”  Very nice, I wonder if she is looking to join the Disney stable.  Katy Perry, in elephant suit, with her dog also in costume sings “Baby Mine” from Dumbo along with clips from various animated movies.  She sings with some lullaby music.  There is a short clip of families singing Moana’s “You’re Welcome.”  Josh Gad video chats with his parents who praise Derek Hough.  He has a solo singing “When I Am Older” from Frozen 2 with silly kids.  

A trio of singers, Anika Noni Rose, and Chloe X Halle, who sang or A Wrinkle in Time, for “Almost There.”  Halle Bailey will be playing Ariel in the upcoming live action Little Mermaid so this was an opportunity to see her sing a Disney song before the movie.  Rose is the original singer from The Princess and the Frog and her vocals are difficult to compliment.  John Legend plays piano and sings with Jennifer Hudson “Beauty and the Beast, a very soulful rendition.  It looks like there is a separation from the live action movies, but I would like Dan Stevens singing “Evermore.”  Seacrest introduces Shakira’s song from Zootopia, “Try Everything”, one of my favorites.  We move on to Miguel, who sings on the soundtrack, and Christina Aguilera (singing in Spanish) with “Remember Me” from Coco.  I still would like to have heard Anthony Gonzalez sing something from the film.  

Derek Hough sings from Mary Poppins, “Step in Time”, dancing with girlfriend Hayley Erbert, with some editing tricks.  Julianne Hough sings and dances to “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious”, then a combination of both songs.  Derek Lang plays piano and Sabrina Carpenter sings “Your Mother and Mine” from Peter Pan, she is in a Wendy dress and there are clips of kids with signs.  Carpenter provides voices in Sofia the First and there is some great potential for her in some film.  Musically, on point, but there are very few surprises in this special.  I would really like Jeremy Jordan and the Broadway cast of Newsies singing “Seize the Day” or really any song from that production.  The special will be available for streaming on Disney+ soon.  If you need a little bit of magic, don't miss Disney Family Sing-Along Volume II!    

Star Wars: Clone Wars, “Victory and Death”, Review!

We have come to the end of the Siege of Mandalore arc and the Clone Wars series.  Ahsoka Tano and Captain Rex are transporting Maul to Coruscant.  On the way through hyperspace, Rex receives Order 66, he turns against Ahsoka with the other clone troopers.  She has freed Maul to provide a distraction.  Ahsoka has discovered the inhibitor chip and works to free it from Captain Rex as the other clone troopers close in.  The opening now has a chorus of voices singing somberly.  Clone troopers are working to cut through the medical lab door.  Ahsoka is waiting with Rex free from the chip.  She wants him to set his blasters to stun.  She uses the Force to slam the door back into troopers and Rex’s stun bolts combine with the deflection of Ahsoka’s lightsabers to finish off the rest.  R-7 and the other droids note that the escape pods are destroyed.  Ahsoka leads everyone to find a shuttle in the hangar bay.  

Maul overhears the communications of the clone troopers.  He enters the hyperdrive room and uses the Force against the clone troopers.  Then, Maul crushes the two hyperdrive generators with the Force.  The Venator-Star Destroyer leaps out of hyperspace smoking with explosions.  Rex and Ahsoka enter the control room stunning the human officers.  This is kinda condemns them to die since they have no inhibitor chips and would probably try to save the ship and the crew.  Ahsoka has the droids open the hangar bay and ready a ship.  Maul heads to the hangar bay.  The ship is caught in the gravity of an unknown moon.  The hangar bay door opens with a synthesizer blare.  The best and most safest strategy for the clones is take every ship and watch for their targets outside of the crashing Star Destroyer.  Jedi can’t make planetfall by jumping down.  R-7 opens a door to a shuttle and every remaining clone trooper assembles in the hangar led by Jesse.  He is a loyal clone trooper who served under Captain Rex, made lieutenant, and was introduced in “The Deserter” (2010).  So there is a long history with Jesse and the others.   

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Victory and Death” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Rex says that his brothers are ready to die to kill Ahsoka.  She takes off his helmet and vows not to kill the clone troopers.  This is a bit of a moral quandary, if they don’t find a way to land the Star Destroyer safely, then all of the clone troopers and human officers will die.  Yes, it can’t jump to hyperspace, but there is also an emergency signal to get help for survivors, and Anakin was able to pilot Grievous’ ship for a landing even though it was falling apart.  Ahsoka has a plan that involves the droids.  She is in the custody of Rex at the hangar bay.  Rex tries to explain to Jesse that Ahsoka is not a Jedi which is true. The droids being working at controls.  Jesse decides to hold Rex guilty of treason.  The droids drop several deck levels of troopers down. Ahsoka severs blasters and deflects blasterfire as Rex goes stun crazy.  Then, Maul arrives to see the battle and heads for the shuttle, Ahsoka runs after him.  Maul gives her a Force push to knock her to the fallen deck.  Of course, we know Maul escapes and eventually turns up in Star Wars: Rebels.  

RG-G1 has a cable to save Ahsoka, but Jesse and the other clone troopers revive and start shooting at her.  Maul takes advantage by flying out the shuttle.  Ahsoka emerges and tries to draw back the shuttle with the Force.  She can trap the shuttle with wreckage.  Rex takes hold of her so she is not dragged away by the shuttle’s engines and fires at the clone troopers.  R7 is blasted trying to protect her!  Rex is shot in the shoulder so Ahsoka lets Maul escape and goes into deflecting blasts again. Maul jumps into hyperspace with the shuttle.  Ahsoka sends her lightsabers to cut a hole in the bulkhead dropping them down.  RG-G1 and CH-33P send the troopers up a level and for that the troopers blast them!  It seems dark to take out droids that helped them, but they weren’t in the other series.  The Star Destroyer starts to make atmospheric entry.  They have to find a space worthy ship and Ahsoka finds a Y-Wing that is ready to fly.  She sends Rex over to the Y-Wing and is shot in the shoulder.  The bridge explodes!  The deck starts to slide and Ahsoka uses her lightsabers to dig into the deck.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Victory and Death” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

The Y-Wing falls from the hangar and goes into a freefall.  For some reason this reminds me of the helicarrier battle in The Avengers (2012).  Rex flies through the wreckage and smoke to try to find Ahsoka.  The music goes into tense strings.  Rex finally sees Ahsoka skydiving and opens the cockpit.  Another movie comes to mind, True Lies (1994), “Jump! Daddy will catch you!”  The air rips her past and then she is jumping on wreckage to reach the Y-Wing.   Last movie, Big Hero 6 (2014) where the heroes have to use broken machinery to escape.  Ahsoka finally reaches the gunner’s cockpit and the Y-Wing pulls away from the crashing Star Destroyer with all hands lost.  The aftermath of the burning Star Destroyer with the Y-Wing facing it.  Rex is returning his tool to the Y-Wing as he sees Ahsoka with the rows of stakes and helmets in tribute to the clone troopers.  

There is the helmet of Jesse.  Spoiler alert, Captain Rex is not the only trooper without the chip, there was Wollfe and Gregor.  Their mission should be to remove the chips of all of the clone troopers, Ahsoka and Rex are resourceful and clever enough to do so, but it looks like only two more.  A galaxy of clone troopers would be more effective than Inquisitors.  It goes back to Blade Runner synthesizer music.  The cloaked Ahsoka drops her lightsaber and looks up.  We see the landing of an Imperial shuttle by snowtroopers.  Probe droids are scanning the wreckage of the snow-covered Star Destroyer.  Stormtroopers hear Darth Vader’s breath as he walks up to the crash site.  He kneels to pick up Ahsoka’s lightsaber and activates it with the blue blade he had given her.  We see the reflection of Ahsoka’s orange pattern on a cracked clone trooper helmet.  His reflection fades away.  The episode pre-supposes a viewer to have watched Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Rebels fills in the story of the characters.  This episode is bleak.  A bittersweet ending to the Clone Wars.  

Four Lightsabers out of Five!  

#StarWarsClone Wars, #VictoryandDeath, #AhsokaTano, #CaptainRex  

Star Wars: Clone Wars, “Shattered“, Review!

The Siege of Mandalore has concluded with the defeat of Maul.  Ahsoka Tano, no longer a Jedi, has joined Bo-Katan to free Mandalore.  She tracked Maul to a perilous duel over roof supports and held Maul from falling with the Force.  Mandalorians secured him with grappling cables and Captain Rex stunned him with his blaster.  There was a transport that was waiting for Maul with Rook Kast, but this is not resolved.  Dramatic music is played over the Part III titles.  The Mandalorian city of Sundari burns in the aftermath of the battle. 

Gar Saxon is taken into custody and Bo-Katan watches as he passes with the other Mandalorians.  A gunship lands with Ahsoka leaving the bound Maul.  She says she leaned from Bo-Katan.  They look at the ruined Peace Plaza and Ahsoka says Bo-Katan is needed for her leadership.  Rex says that she is needed by the Jedi Council.  They enter a communications center and the council is assembled via hologram; Mace Windu, Yoda, Ki-Adi Mundi, and Aayla Secura.  This is the scene from Revenge of the Sith (2005) where Mace Windu sends Anakin to tell Palpatine of Obi-Wan engaging Grievous.   

Then, Ahsoka enters with Captain Rex, they are going to escort the prisoner to Coruscant.  I’m not certain what is the purpose of taking him there.  The Jedi Temple may have holding facilities, but they are not jailers.  Shouldn’t Maul be on trial for his crimes and put in carbon freeze?  Yoda asks Ahsoka if she is a Jedi, she says she’s a citizen (who just happens to have lightsabers).  She wanted to talk to Anakin.  Mace Windu shuts her out since she’s no longer a Jedi.  All of the council members holograms wink out leaving Yoda.  She doesn’t have much to say and Rex is surprised that she didn’t share the intel she had from Maul on Anakin.  I think Mace’s cold shoulder shows a weakness in the council.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Shattered” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

The eerie music plays, it puts a dark cast in what was a show for all ages, and the clone troopers and Mandalorians line up as Bo-Katan and Ursa Wren bring up Maul in a Silence of the Lambs-type slab.  They present the prisoner to Ahsoka Tano and Rex.  Bo-Katan says it is a Mandalorian relic used to contain “Force wielding maniacs”, I’m not certain why it doesn’t use the Ray shield that stopped Force powers in Revenge of the Sith, and was used to stop Maul in the Ahsoka (2016) novel.  This was an earlier story ideas for Clone Wars, but it would work better than a device we’ve never seen and not carbon freeze.  The music by Kevin Kiner has a synthesizer quality that reminds me of Blade Runner more than Star Wars.  

Bo-Katan says farewell to Ahsoka, there is a finality there, and she leaves in a shuttle.  It is strange that there is such a somber tone.  They won a victory before the other Outer Rim Sieges.  Maul is defeated and Mandalore is free.  I don’t get Bo-Katan’s goodbye.  She was adamant that Ahsoka not let Maul escape and she captured him.  Ahsoka risked everything including lives of clone troopers to free Mandalore and there is no congradulation for fulfilling the Republic’s promise to withdraw the troops after the battle.  If you look at Revenge of the Sith, even during that time, there was times when there are triumphant moments, some levity, before we get to the dark events.  

This doesn’t feel appropriate for younger audiences.  The eerieness continues as we have the shuttle transporting Maul to the Star Destroyer.  He breathes fogging up the viewscreen a la HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) watching Ahsoka and Rex.   Maul is placed in his cell and a force field is set up at the entrance.  Ahsoka and Rex reach the bridge, the officers salute them, and sthe ship goes into hyperspace.  She says she has always been a soldier as a Jedi. Ahsoka notes her friendship with Rex.  They salute each other and then Rex is told about the latest “briefing.”  Ahsoka looks out into hyperspace.  

Maul’s eyes open hearing echoes of Anakin turning to the Dark Side which also troubles Ahsoka.  Captain Rex gets Order 66 from Darth Sidious.  Ahsoka goes to talk to Rex, his helmet shakes in his hand, and drops.  The strange part is that Order 66 is that Jedi are traitors and had to be killed immediately.  Ahsoka is not a Jedi, she gave that up, it is the clone troopers out of loyalty that recognize her as a commander, but she has no formal authority or connection to the Jedi Order.  The troopers on the bridge aim their blasters, the order was automatic, they actually didn’t wait.  Rex tells the troopers that he will fulfill the order.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Shattered” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

He draws his blasters and says, “Find him, find him, Fives!”  In the Lost Missions, season 6, trooper Fives was uncovering the mystery of the inhibitor chip.  Rex was there was Fives died and the secret with him.  Ahsoka knocks down Rex and has to fend off the troopers with her lightsabers.  She is a whirl blocking their blaster bolts including the blaster fire from Rex.  They find in the confusion that Ahsoka has severed the upper bulkhead and escaped.  Rex sends troopers to execute Maul.  In his cell, Maul is trapped, a trooper opens his containment unit.  Ahsoka knocks out the troopers using the Force.  She frees Maul wanting to know if he somehow turned the troopers.  

Maul realizes Darth Sidious’ plan to use the clone troopers against the Jedi.  Ahsoka holds her lightsaber against Maul telling him that he is a diversion for her.  She leaves him without a lightsaber.  A trooper with Ahsoka’s facial pattern on his helmet informs Rex about the escape. Rex orders the escape pods to be destroyed and guard the hangar decks.  The music is tense like the build up to an action scene.  She enters a room of droids and activates her droid, R7, he was introduced in “Storm over Ryloth” (2009).  Ahsoka is joined by the cone-headed RG-G1 and CH-33P (Dave Filoni), a bubbly, yellow-paneled astromech.  She has R7 check on the file on trooper Fives. A hologram of Kaminoan scientist Nala Se (Gwendoline Yeo) reports that there was a malfunction with Fives’ inhibitor chip. 

She mentions a report that was classified.  Ahsoka uses Anakin’s code to access Rex’s file.  The troopers try to fire on Maul who uses the Force to yank wall panels to deflect their blasts and crush them.  Troopers rush down the corridor and R7 rams into Rex as the other droids seal the blast doors.  R7 plays a hologram of Ahsoka telling him about the chip, Rex draws his blasters, he turns to see Ahsoka and R7 shocks him unconscious.  The droids carry Rex to the medical bay.  The troopers try to break into the room as the droids try to scan for the chip.  If the chip can be found, then Rex could be saved.  A good episode, but tonally it doesn't feel like the rest of Clone Wars, it seems like a development like the later Harry Potter films showing the protagonist grown up, but out of synch with the rest of the series.  

Four Lightsabers out of Five! 

#StarWarsCloneWars, #Shattered, #Fives, #DaveFiloni

Star Wars: Clone Wars, “Phantom Apprentice“, Review!

It was revealed in Part I of the Siege of Mandalore that while Bo-Katan was taking care of Prime Miniser Almec that Ahsoka went down to the tunnels.  She was in an ambush set up by Maul and Rook Kast.  We get the same opening as Part I, but this time with eerie music out of a horror movie.  I will say that I miss the moral at the beginning of the episodes.  It was such a later part of the show and I think would give insight that Ahsoka is developing and growing up in a time of war.  We have Ahsoka with her dual lightsabers humming as she is surrounded by Mandalorians aiming their blasters at her.  

Then, Maul talks to her, voiced by Sam Witwer.  His even voice doesn’t carry a threat or calculation.  The close-up of his face looks like the red parts are made by markers.  Maul doesn’t know much about Ahsoka.  She activates her gauntlet to have Rex find her.  Maul says he was looking to confront Obi-Wan and Anakin.  He says his calculations predict that the Jedi and the Republic will not be in control.  Palpatine destroyed Maul’s homeworld of Dathomir, but spared his life so I’m not certain what role Maul was supposed to play.  He mentions Darth Sidious.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Phantom Apprentice” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Clone troopers blast the Mandalorians and Maul activates his double-bladed lightsaber with Ahsoka fending off his attacks with her lightsabers.  She loses track of Maul and reports back to the Sundari throne room.  Bo-Katan updates the situation over a map of Sundari.  A hologram of Obi-Wan explains about Darth Sidious whom he learned about from Count Dooku.  He also says that Anakin has killed Dooku.  Obi-Wan’s orders is to hunt General Grevious on Utapau.  So we know the time placement of this episode.  Obi-Wan tells Ahsoka the Jedi Council has given Anakin a mission to observe Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.   Obi-Wan hoped that Ahsoka would talk to Anakin.  She is frustrated since leaving the Jedi behind.  

It is strange that Anakin has just left Ahsoka.  His apprentice grounded him so I would think that it would be some time, a year or more, when Anakin would be on his own without Ahsoka that would lead to his turning to the Dark Side.  Rex interrupts them to take Ahsoka to the aftermath of an attack.  Maul has cut through her troopers in an ambush.  She sends Rex to reinforce C-Deck and talks to a survivor, Sterling, who says that Maul took the ARC Trooper, Jesse.  Maul has Jesse, he has a distinctive Republic tatoo on his head, while Gar Saxon and Rook Kast watch.  He rants that he was “cast aside” from The Plan.  The Sith Rule of Two seems to have Sidious and Darth Vader and Maul hanging around?  He sends Gar Saxon to deal with Almec.  

Maul uses the Force to take information from Jesse about Ahsoka Tano.  Very much like Kylo Ren with Rey.  Gar Saxon puts on his helmet as he leaves behind Jesse’s screams.  At the prison facility, Bo-Katan, Ahsoka, and Rex go to the cell of Almec.  She wants to know Maul’s plan.  He says Maul doesn’t want to escape and is obsessed with a vision.  Almec notes that Maul wanted Obi-Wan and someone else.  He is shot twice by an assassin.  Gar Saxon.  Almec’s last words are Skywalker.  Bo-Katan chases after Gar Saxon in the facility’s lifts.  He knocks her under one that shorts out her jet-pack.  Gar Saxon escapes.  He reaches the meeting that Maul is having with the leaders of his syndicate.  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Phantom Apprentice” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Rook Kast tells him Maul told them to go into hiding.  The leaders are Marg Krim, Ziton Moj, and Dryden Vos.  Marg was seen in the Martez Sisters arc and Dryden Vos was in Han Solo: A Star Wars Story.  Ziton Moj, is part of the Black Sun criminal organization, he is a Falleen.  The reptillian race had phermones that could influence people like the Purple Man.  Prince Xizor, non-canon, ran Black Sun and both were in the Shadows of the Empire (1996) novel.  Ziton Moj, the Black Sun, and the Falleen became canon with the episode “Eminence” (2013).  This is when Maul formed the various groups into the Shadow Collective. I wonder if we will see Ziton Moj in The Mandalorian.  

Maul speaks to the Mandalorians saying that they should not be hiding in tunnels, but take the surface as warriors.  The clone troopers are directing Mandalorian citizens on platforms.  Bo-Katan does not like the occupation.  Ahsoka assures her that the troopers will leave once they capture Maul.  On the throne, Maul agrees, with Jesse in binders.  Bo-Katan fires her blaster, but Maul deflects the bolts and has her in a Force grip.  He releases her and Jesse.  Rex takes him away as the sky outside is filled with explosions!  Bo-Katan goes to lead the battle.  Maul says he certain that Darth Sidious will take over from the Jedi and then offers Ahsoka the Dark Side alliance that will defeat Sidious.  There is madness and menace in his monologue here.  

One of the questions I’ve had is who is more effective?; the Mandalorians, quick and deadly, or the clone troopers, relentless and loyal.  The battle shatters the throne room window, epic, and Maul still has his offering hand out.   Ahsoka offers her help if Maul answers a question.  Maul answers what is his intention towards Anakin Skywalker; he is key as Sidious’ apprentice and as proof he explains that the siege was to bring Anakin and destroy him.  Ahsoka activates her lightsabers.  The duel is one of the best lightsaber fights with Ray Park and Lauren Mary Kim (the stunt double for The Armorer in The Mandalorian) motion capturing Maul and Ahsoka.  This episode has a climax that has the two lost apprentices fighting with each other.  A good episode, but it could be stronger.  

Four Lightsabers out of Five!    

#StarWarsCloneWars, #GarSaxon, #RayPark, #LaurenMaryKim

Star Wars: Clone Wars, “Old Friends Not Forgotten”, Review!

We have finally reached the final episodes of Clone Wars with the Siege of Mandalore arc!  We have the Lucasfilm Limited Production title. This leads to the explosive Clone Wars opening now in Sith red letters and then the title “Part I: Old Friends Not Forgotten.”  This is a change from previous episodes so it looks like the closer to the series.  Also, no moral connected to the story.  The narrator explains the Outer Rim Sieges.  General Grievous is leading the droid armies.  We get a meeting of the Jedi Council with Yoda and Mace Windu.  The others are in hologram including two clone troopers, Aayla Secura, Ki-Adi Mundi, Depa Billaba whom also has a young Padawan.  She did have Caleb Dume (later known as Kanan Jarrus in Star Wars: Rebels) as an apprentice.   The next events for this Jedi Master and apprentice are in the comic book, Kanan: The Last Padawan #2 (2015).  We see scenes that will later show the conclusion in Revenge of the Sith; Plo Koon (who discovered Ahsoka Tano) flying to Cato Neimoidia, Aayla Secura on Felucia.  

Then, this moves to the battle on Yerbana, where droid tri-fighters fly past the bridge battle.  Commander Cody is flying against them.  We first saw him Revenge of the Sith and he has been in many battles and episodes in the Clone Wars series.  The clone fly gunsships and Z-95 Headhunters, these fighters were introduced in the novel Han Solo at Stars’ End (1979), and made canon in the Clone Wars episode “Darkness on Umbara” (2011).  The clone troopers are fighting a desperate battle on the bridge.  A missile descends on a trooper, but we see the lightsaber of Obi-Wan Kenobi destroy it!  The smoke parts under his lightsaber.  Obi-Wan orders Commander Cody to retreat.  Cody says they can’t find the tactical droid.  Anakin walks fearlessly up to Obi-Wan.  He says that he and Captain Rex finished their battle and came to help.  Anakin walks out to the battlefield and the droid commander calls for a cease fire.  All of the cannons are aimed at Anakin until he declares he has surrendered.  R2-D2 sees what is going on and reports to Captain Rex and the rest of the clone troopers clinging to the underside of the bridge.  The tactical droid says that it is a trap and Anakin gives the signal to Artoo. 

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Old Friends Not Forgotten” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Anakin uses the Force to pull the tactical droid to him and severs the droid with his lightsaber!  Captain Rex and his troopers using jet packs take apart the droid army and Obi-Wan sends in his troops.  Anakin stands confidently as Obi-Wan joins him.  This team work would usually be with just Captain Rex and it is more like Anakin’s relationship with Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith.  Anakin is contacted by Admiral Yularen who says they have a transmission from Fulcrum.  This makes Anakin thinks it’s Saw Guerrera and Obi-Wan notes that it must be from Onderon.  Saw Guerrera was introduced in “A War on Two Fronts” (2012), but we also know that he shows up in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).  Yularen recalls both of the Jedi to his Star Destroyer.  Anakin and Obi-Wan walk up and then are stunned to see a holographic image.  It is of his former Padawan, Ahsoka Tano!, I’ve seen this preview at D23, but this was dramatic!  Ahsoka greets him, but Anakin is speechless.  She tells them that Maul has been found by herself and Bo-Katan. There is so much back story to catch up on with Maul, Bo-Katan, and the Mandalorians so I hope everyone has watched everything!  

In the Venator-class Star Destroyer landing bay, Anakin tells Obi-Wan that Ahsoka was in the right place, meaning that Maul will be captured.  A Mandalorian shuttle lands and R2-D2 goes to meet Ahsoka whom she called Artoowy, but the times for fun is over.  She isn’t there for a reunion and Bo-Katan needs to find Maul.  Bo-Katan has tracked Maul to Sundari the capital city of Mandalore.  She admits she doesn’t have enough troops to take the city.  Bo-Katan fears Maul’s escape and wants to offer Maul so she can take Mandalore.  Obi-Wan is cautious in bringing in Republic troops since that will break a treaty with Mandalore.  He wants to contact the Jedi Council, but Bo-Katan wants immediate action so her world can be free of Maul.  She brings up her sister, Satine Kryze, which cuts deep, but Obi-Wan is a true Jedi and isn’t swayed by his emotions like Anakin.  Ahsoka is alone with Anakin and he takes her to a surprise.  Clone troopers salute Ahsoka which Anakin says shows their respect even though she left the Jedi Order.  Then, the blast door opens to show rows of clone troopers, a company, with helmets in honor of Ahsoka Tano.  Such loyalty!  

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS -- “Old Friends Not Forgotten” -- Disney/Lucasfilm.

Captain Rex greets his former commander and brings a box that Anakin hands to Ahsoka.  Then, alarms blare from the ship!, Obi-Wan rushes in to tell them that General Grievous has attacked Coruscant!  This is another Canon Correction!  Previously, Obi-Wan and Anakin were at two other places; Cato Neimoidia which was hinted at in Revenge of the Sith), in the novel Labyrinth of Evil (2005), and Nvelvaan where Anakin had a vision of his future as Darth Vader in the Genndy Tartakovsky Clone Wars.  Obi-Wan also mentions that Shaak Ti was sent to protect Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.  Which strangely brings the Tartakovsky back to canon.  This frustrates Ahsoka with the Mandalore situation, Anakin tries the resolve the dispute with Obi-Wan, he says that Rex can be promoted to Commander and that Ahsoka can go as advisor.  Anakin’s solution is quite brilliant and wothy of a compromise made by Obi-Wan who agrees to it.  He mentions has killed Maul and that they should capture him.  He shows Ahsoka the box again and she opens it to find her two lightsabers!  She ignites them and finds that they are both blue!  

Her previous lightsabers were green and yellow.  The green blades are for Jedi Consulars like Yoda, the yellow is for Jedi Sentinels, and blue are Jedi Guardians like Obi-Wan.  This is one of the most important Clone Wars episodes!  Former master and apprentice say their goodbyes.  The Venator Star Destroyer hovers over Mandalore and dispatches gunships and Kom’rk-class fighters.  Rex gets a transmission from Prime Minister Almec (Julian Holloway), he was last seen in “The Lawless” (2013).  He mentions the broken treaty and that Bo-Katan working with the Republic will make her an enemy to the pople.  At the dome city of Sundari, armored Mandalorians gather for the battle, Almec has Gar Saxon (Ray Stevenson) and Rook Kast (Vanessa Marshall) prepare for it.  Bo-Katan contacts Ursa Wren (Devar) about Maul, she of course is the mother of Sabine Wren, working with Bo-Katan in the previous episode.  Missiles destroy several gunships and the Mandalorians leap out to fly in their rocket packs.  Bo-Katan joins the battle and Ahsoka jumps out challenging Rex to get to the surface first.  Um, Ahsoka gets a really cool moment and it looks like the Siege of Mandalore has just begun!  

Five Lightsabers out of Five (I would give it Seven out of Seven if I could)!

#StarWarsCloneWars, #OldFriendsNotForgotten, #JulianHolloway, #RayStevenson, #VanessaMarshall 

A Parks and Recreation Special Review!

Parks and Recreation is special to Parks and Rec’ers(?) since its debut in 2009.  It was co-created by Greg Daniels whom also worked on The Office and Michael Shur who went on to create The Good Place.  There is something unique about the Parks and Recreation Department in Pawnee, Indiana.  It was the cast more than almost any show that was made up of different personalities all endearing.  There was a Paley Center special on the show before the special.  The lead is the optimistic Leslie Knope played by Amy Poehler.  

So it seemed there was finality with the two part, “One Last Ride” in 2015. It seems like we can’t walk away from Pawnee even with re-runs.  We start with the awkward opening with Bobby Newport (Paul Rudd) giving a message to everyone about Feeding America, but he’s a little clueless.  Bobby is the spoiled heir from season 4.   We get the opening April 2020 with Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) speaking with his wife, Leslie (Poehler).  Ben is thinking about a claymation Cones of Dunshire movie!  This is the complex, fantasy board game Ben created in season 6.  She is starting a phone tree with the running joke that no one wants to call Gary.  

Leslie then switches over to Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) who is in his cabin.  He says he’s been practicing social distancing since he was 4 years old, very funny.  Ron next has to contact “Satan’s Niece”, April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) and her husband Andy Dwyer (Chris Pratt) trapped in the closet.  April is very fun being cynical and Andy is dopey.  They get a call with Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) and his wife Ann Perkins (Rashida Jones) who is working with patients.  Chris was the City Manager of Pawnee and Ann is nurse so her advice this special is important.  Leslie cuts into April and Andy’s stream to talk to Ann.  She is of course is best friend to Ann.  

Next, they contact Tom Haverford (Aziz Ansari) who is at some “beach” vacation?  He still have some ideas and I hoped one of them would be the sub-plot of this special.  Tom contacts Donna Meagle (Retta) who also brings up Tom’s “beach” background.  She says every teacher deserves a Mercedes!  Donna ends up contacting Jerry Gergich (Jim O’Heir) now mayor of Pawnee.  He doesn’t know how to use apps and puts several filters on his face, LOL!   Next we get the segment on Pawnee Today with At Home with Joan host Joan Callamezzo (Mo Collins) interviews Leslie and Ben, “Congressman.”  She says she has friends, but they are dolls.  Then, there is a commercial with Dennis Feinstein (Jason Mantzoukas) scamming everyone with the “Miracle Cure.”

Props from Parks and Recreation including Cones of Dunshire!, Universal Studios, 2015, photo by the author.

Ya’ Heard? With Perd! has Perd Hapley (Jay Jackson), the television host who is parody of tv journalist.  He introduces Rep. Ben Wyatt who brings up the claymation project.  Then, we get a commercial of Dr. Jeremy Jamm (Jon Glaser), D.D.S., he was also part of the Pawnee City Council.  He is talking about home dental delivery in his robe.  A bright surprise is Jean-Ralphio (Ben Schwartz) talking about his car accidents.  He is trying to promote calls to his phone number.  We always need a little Jean-Ralphio.  Back to the show is Johnny Karate (Pratt), children’s host, who notes that he will karate chop the virus, very funny.  

Leslie contacts Ron again.  He pans down to Tammy Two (Megan Mullally) who is tied up by his wife Diane.  Ron calls April who plays drums.  Then, we get a group call of everyone.  Andy starts playing his song that was a tribute to the miniature horse heard in the third season episode “Lil’ Sebastian” (2011).  Everyone sings Andy’s song, “5,000 Candles in the Wind”, a nice group and cast moment.  says goodbyes until it is just Ron and Leslie.  Tammy Two has escaped.  The messages are not heavy and comedy is great, give them the Emmy already!  The Parks and Recreation Special is a chance to check in on friends and know that everything is still going strong.  

Five Phone Trees out of Five! 

#AParksandRecreationSpecial, #MichaelShur, #AmyPoehler, #AdamScott, #NickOfferman, #RashindaJones, #AubreyPlaza, #ChrisPratt, #AzizAnsari, #RobLowe, #Retta, #JimOHeir