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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 2, 2022 19:24:19 GMT
My highlights from Chapter 1 of Clone Wars. First off, I really love that narrated intro by Yoda during the opening montage. Succinct, informative, and still very storybook. Yoda: Like fire across the Galaxy the Clone Wars spread.
In league with the wicked Count Dooku, more and more planets slip.
Against this threat, upon the Jedi Knights falls the duty to lead the newly formed Army of the Republic.
And as the heat of war grows, so too grows the prowess of one most gifted student of the Force.I like how this show really follows through with and reinforces the themes and motifs from the films. Right away we see the Chancellor suggesting that Anakin have special command of Kenobi's space forces, to which Obi-Wan and Yoda react with reluctance saying Padawan Anakin is not yet ready for such responsibility. Though, as Yoda adds, "But undeniably strong he has become, perhaps-", Palpatine quickly butts in with, "Then it is decided!" And this inner-monologue nugget from Master Kenobi as he observes his legion preparing for their departure into the war. Obi-Wan: I doubt even Master Qui-Gon could've prepared a Jedi for this.And without words we see Padmé and Anakin wave to each other, wishing to touch one another, as he also departs for war. Yes, the Jedi fought in the Clone Wars, but Anakin, quite a unique Jedi in many ways, did so with love for his wife in his heart, however forbidden and secret their marriage was. And it's brilliant how they framed these shots so you can see the many warships leaving for battle amidst this secret love - which is symbolized by the distance and glass between them. And some of my favorite imagery. I loves me the alien planets. I love this gritty, craggy shot of the Clone soldiers in the muddy deluge. In one shot it conveys the extreme kinds of conditions they had to endure in battle and the dutifully way they in which they carried on. And the final shot of the chapter, as Smitty's mentioned earlier. As Anakin flies off to join his battalion and Across The Stars flourishes, we have this shout out to the final shot in ESB. But where Luke and Leia have each other, here Padmé stands alone. Save for the droids of course. So, all in all, I love how this first chapter kicks everything off by distilling everything down to the most basic elements: Palpatine's machinations, the war and the secret marriage. What is in store for the galaxy now? How long will this catastrophic war last? What will be the costs? How will our courageous young hero help restore peace to the Republic, and balance to the Force? How will his marriage fare during such challenging conditions?
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Post by Alexrd on Jul 3, 2022 11:51:46 GMT
I love this gritty, craggy shot of the Clone soldiers in the muddy deluge. Me too, it's a pretty cool shot.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 10, 2022 10:48:36 GMT
My highlights from Chapters 2-11. Starting with the Battle of Muunilinst, featuring the classic and timeless ARC Trooper mission, the series really hits the ground running with this captivating commando unit infiltration behind enemy lines to destroy the looming threat of a long-range artillery cannon. It's not only wall-to-wall satisfying combat action with cool technologies, but also loads of dry, subtle, Lucasian humor in this mostly non-dialogue sequence, that gets your adrenaline flowing while tickling your funny bone in that classic SW way. Shooting the random lizard was a great touch, of course, though overall Genndy's crew excelled at playing the Clones' flat, uber-efficient, "war-nerd" personalities to great comedic effect. I also love the theme song they made for the Clone Troopers, which is unique to this show. I've always curiously noticed it uses the same melody as the Patty Duke Show theme song. i.e. the part where it goes, "They laugh alike, they walk alike", which is in reference to Cathy and Patty, identical look-alike cousins, both played by Patty Duke, (Sean Astin's mom). What I'm wondering is if that all was some intentional doppelgänger wink. m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr8nJfD7sKEDurge and a battalion of IG droids on speeder bikes, jousting, how badass SW can you get? Anyways, as I've said before, for me, the show thoroughly epitomizes what it was like as kid to play Star Wars outside with my friends, and act out our imagined adventures of what the "Clone Wars" could have been. Or even just OT-related SW in general. I'm assuming a lot of the crew involved in this show were my age and were drawing on just that while creating the series. The gladiator battle royale with Asajj and the array of ghastly beasts was a delightful sight to behold. And I swear, a couple of those creatures are bosses from the Ninja Gaiden NES game. And it was also great getting the chance at seeing the Sith induct a new acolyte and the sadistic ways it involves. This series is truly a treasure trove of glimpses into the SW world we don't get a chance to see in the films. The space battle above Muunilinst did not disappoint in showcasing Anakin's space fighting abilities and cunning innovation as a warrior! Another thing my generation spent years fantasizing about. This really delivered to the Nth and a half degree! Like, wow. And I admire the paint job on his fighter. And this layout of the Muun space station which went all the way down the hall of the studio. And who couldn't love Anakin's buddy R4? More of my favorite imagery. I like the Muun space stations. From the Mon Cala chapter. Great seeing Kit Fisto in action amongst his element. This arc is only one chapter long, but it's chock full of amazing art and choreography. And Mon Cala sperm dragons. All the watercolor clouds in CW adds the perfect crowning touch to the aesthetics. Not to mention the motion effects put on them. Our valiant warriors winning the day. And I loves me the planet shots. From the Ventress introduction arc. We learn the Sith want Asajj to find Anakin and eliminate him. Dooku: She will be more than a match for young Skywalker.
Sidious: It matters not, she is merely an instrument to bring forth the eradication of the Jedi.Why do they want her to fight Anakin? How does this tie into her being an instrument with which to destroy the Jedi?
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 16, 2022 13:09:27 GMT
My highlights from Chapters 12-16 Chapter 12 swiftly launches us right into another action spectacle showboating the full extent of Master Windu's formidable combat skills, as he and his Troopers fight to defend the Republic on the golden grass field plains of Dantooine. While single-handedly taking on several hundred Super Battle Droids, we're treated to an almost comically action-packed Samurai/Bruce Lee style battle which Tartakovsky excels at. At one point Mace even commits the Jedi cardinal sin and loses his lightsaber, but no biggie, he continues to kick clanker ass even with his bare hands. I believe Genndy said this was his favorite chapter. Mace then must put a stop to the devastating new CIS Planet Pounder (my name for it) weapon before his entire battalion is completely squashed into oblivion. I like the sand crawler nod in the design. And is that boy Han Solo? Either way, he's about the right age. Then on to the Ilum arc, which is probably my favorite from Season One. As I raved about on page one, I think it's so awesome that we get to see the lightsaber making process and ceremony, which completes the Padawan's skill set, and where the Kyber crystals come from. All while giving us a sense of how mystical and deep the connection is between the Jedi, their blade and the Force. Great music too. I just love the artwork in the cave systems. Those comic book, Saturday morning cartoon shades of blue, though! Great suspense and action, including the slick, synchronized fighting style of Master Unduli and Barriss Offee. Then comes Padmé and Yoda, a very captivating pairing that the CW writers were wise to capitalize on, as Smitty's has said. They soon split up however as Yoda proceeds with an attempt to rescue the trapped Jedi inside the tragically destroyed crystal temple, which provides us with more crowd-pleasing impish, old-man Yoda jumping-around-with-a-lightsaber action. Worried that Yoda hasn't returned, Padmé soon decides to take it upon herself to brave the stormy weather and go search for him, against Captain Typho's warnings, of course. Gotta love this shout-out to that iconic shot to Leia. Some classic SW droid humor ensues and we eventually discover who was behind the plot to destroy the sacred temple!
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Post by Somny on Jul 16, 2022 13:54:04 GMT
The series is near-and-dear to my heart as well. The overall art direction and character designs are phenomenal (as even this smattering of stills manages to demonstrate)!
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 18, 2022 9:25:54 GMT
My highlights from Chapters 17-19. I'm going to focus the emphasis of this sequence of chapters on this shot, because I feel it's the most symbolic of the whole season, and of Anakin's journey in general. Recapping how we got to this moment, Asajj has baited Anakin into following her to Yavin 4 where she brutally kills a squad of Clone Troopers and destroys Anakin's star-fighter, including R4! The Clones' needless deaths and having his pal R4, which he's worked so hard on to modify, taken from him angers Anakin. Just as Ventress was hoping. Anakin: I'm going to make you pay for what you have done.As a Jedi, it's his duty to neutralize dark side users when the opportunity arises, and of course he must defend himself. So although with a bit of anger surging within him, he engages the dark assassin. This shot belongs in a museum. After a thrilling fight scene amongst the rain forest canopy, Ventress quickly maneuvers him inside the ancient Massassi Temple, which is connected with an ancient Sith Lord. Though they're fairly equally matched for each other, Anakin eventually gets a slight upper hand over Ventress and pursues her up to the top of the temple. Here she wrangles the lightsaber out of Anakin's hand and immediately goes in for the kill! But Anakin reflexively grabs hold of each of her wrists before her swords find their mark. Now locked in a stalemate, Anakin, expressionless, while rage and hate boil up inside him, and Duel of the Fates cues, decides to give in and act on that rage - remembering how it had aided him once before. The glowing crimson all around him symbolizes this hate, anger and fear. His mechanical hand, his foreshadowing of becoming more machine than man, twisted and evil. The red lightsaber throbbing alongside his head represents the temptation grabbing hold of him.Then suddenly, acquiring a super human strength, Anakin breaks the deadlock by squeezing Asajj's wrist into unbearable pain with his mechanical hand. Ventress is forced to release her saber. And just as quickly, Anakin Force pushes Ventress near the edge of the temple's top platform and levitates her Sith weapon - right at arm's length. Like a choice dangling in the air, a temptation of power beckoning him. A Dagobah Cave-like synth now fills the otherwise silent jungle air. Anakin knows from his training and from his recent experience with both the Tusken Raiders and with Dooku not to give in to anger or rush into a fight, but he has been triggered. Can he get control of himself and resist the seduction of the dark side? Well, no, no he can't. With his metal hand he clutches the red saber and charges her in blind, savage rage, beating her down mercilessly, sword to sword, until the force of his blows break off the very stone ledge she's sprawled upon. And as images of Obi-Wan, Yoda and even Qui-Gon flash before his eyes, and the ominous choir belts out a foreboding requiem, Anakin continues the smackdown until, like a helpless rag doll, she's sent tumbling into the dark abyss below. As yet another female character suffers an untimely death at the advent of the war, all the while screaming in terror as she plummets into the void. Followed by Anakin's primal scream and it's chilling echo, as the foreboding deep red of Yavin now fills the entire backdrop of Anakin's frame. I won't nerd out on the details but I love the timing of all of this, down to the frame. Very Chuck Jones. From Ventress' fall, to Anakin's scream, to the echo, the toss of the lightsaber, the fade to black. Bellisimo! But also disturbing. It seems Darth Sidious wanted to find an equal match for Anakin to put him in a situation where the only way to get an edge and emerge victorious would be to use the dark side. It was basically a test set up by the Sith Lord to see if young Skywalker would go there, and just how powerful it would render him. All while affording him a taste of such power, with which to dangle like a carrot when the time is right. It was a grooming session instigated by the Sith. Basically what happens with Dooku in RotS! Replace Ventreas with Dooku and R4 with Obi-Wan. And speaking of which, I just love this juxtaposition of Anakin's good side, and his dark side. Much like him holding a red and a blue saber at Dooku's head onboard the Invisible Hand. Will Anakin overcome his inner turmoils towards loss? Will he heal from the pain of his past, and learn control, and find balance within himself, while in pursuit of helping to restore peace and balance to the Galaxy?
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Post by Somny on Jul 18, 2022 14:35:25 GMT
I won't nerd out on the details... You didn't just do that? But seriously, thanks for this beautiful series of illustrated commentary! It's beckoning me to revisit the series soon.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 20, 2022 9:27:11 GMT
I won't nerd out on the details... You didn't just do that? Haha, well, there I specifically meant in terms of the timing. As in, down to the number of frames between each thing; Asajj's fall, the following silence, Anakin's scream, the echo, the silence, tossing the saber hilt, the silence, the fade to black. Masterfully done. It's always an enjoyable and enriching watch.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jul 26, 2022 5:44:43 GMT
My Highlights from Chapter 20. Seeing Wolfman Jack in action. (my name for him). No... there's more. Some people love Grievous' portrayal in CW and some don't, but what I think is important here is to show that the Jedi were vulnerable. Up against forces that were a daunting challenge even for them, even in a group. That their numbers were dwindling, while Separatist forces were becoming more formidable. And that collectively they were beginning to buckle under the pressure of everything the war was throwing at them. Lucas wanted the Republic and the Jedi to be facing a cunning foe who needed to be stopped in order to turn the tide of the war. But with limited time, in an action cartoon, I think physical prowess was more practical than cleverness. Credibility that he could kidnap Palpatine with all the protection around him needed to be established, as well. I also think the change in Grievous from CW to Episode III can be explained by his being injured by Mace. And now he has to adapt and rely on escaping rather than fighting, (as Dooku later instructs him in Ch. 22). Much like Anakin had to adapt his fighting style after his limiting injuries as Vader. So Grievous managed to kidnap Palpatine in the film universe somehow, and here lies the controversy; were his fighting abilities dismissed during the kidnapping or was he always like he is in RotS? But regardless, I think I'd say this is my favorite action scene in Season One. I get a kick out of watching Grievous' stunning abilities, such as his faster-than-cat reflexes. I enjoy the horror movie approach to this chapter, set amongst the charred burning wreckage of downed spacecraft. This eight minute chapter certainly feels shorter than that. I liked seeing Jedi like K'Kruhk and Ki-Adi-Mundi in action. I didn't know Shaggy was a Jedi. Another tour de force of exquisite backgrounds. As with the previous chapters where the CW crew took full advantage of the aesthetic possibilities with being on Yavin 4, and therefore also the symbolic, they also went to town here. If the first half of this season was a sight to behold, they really outdid themselves in the second half. I mean, damn! Great shadow work. And another great closing shot, as Yoda is jolted awake from his meditation by his sensing of this dreadful new threat to the Jedi and the Republic... And maybe even worse. Yoda: Hmm. Darker the coming storm grows. I fear the dark cloud of the Sith shrouds us all.
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Post by Seeker of the Whills on Nov 10, 2022 17:41:31 GMT
This might be a controversial opinion, but I think Mat Lucas is still a better Anakin than Matt Lanter (This is getting out of hand, now there are two of them. Mat(t)s, that is). He captured the moody inflections of Hayden's voice pretty damn accurately, and I think the performance is that much richer for it. Some people like to claim that Lanter's take "fixed" the character, but I never bought his darker moments as fully as Hayden or Mat Lucas' versions'. I get what they were going for with Lanter, to show the lighter side of Anakin, but I think ultimately Lucas did what he said he didn't want to do by casting Hayden in the role: To cast a funny guy and try to make him have a dark side. Maybe I just have a soft spot for Mat Lucas' take because I played so much of the classic Battlefront 2 and RotS games. It's hard to accept change sometimes, and that leads to the darkside.
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Post by jppiper on May 19, 2023 11:26:34 GMT
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Post by Seeker of the Whills on May 20, 2023 8:13:06 GMT
I love the 2D Clone Wars for sure. I think Genndy is a unique visionary, and Lucas recognized that. There is a very interesting tweet there with information I didn't know before. So Lucas originally wanted to continue with Genndy into the full-length Clone Wars? That is honestly a shocking revelation to me. Not to bash Filoni or anything, but I would have preferred that. It's weird to imagine how different The Clone Wars might have been.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Aug 29, 2023 9:58:33 GMT
After over a year, my highlights from Volume 2. What's not to love about the 2nd volume? Changing from a 20 three-minute episode format, to 5 thirteen-minute episodes, which allows for a lot more intricate drama as well as more prolonged action/fight sequences. And they really outdid themselves with the cinematography and artwork. And the fight sequences in this volume are quite phenomenal. Very adrenaline-inducing and inspiring. I always have to get up and fight with the Jedis From the exhilarating opening, which picks up from the Volume 1 cliffhanger battle on Hypori, with the ARC Troopers and the Jedi against Grievous, to the epic battle on Coruscant to Shaak-Ti fighting a legion of Grievous' MagnaGuards singlehandedly. Another great thing is how much of the lore CW explains that isn't covered anywhere else. For starters, we have Obi-Wan suggesting Anakin be promoted to Knighthood while forgoing the formal trials due to the dire need for more Knights to help out the war effort. Yoda ultimately agrees, citing that his trials will be just as unorthodox as his training. This conclusion Yoda comes to is thanks largely in part to a vision he had of Qui-Gon taking little Ani to the tree cave on Dagobah. Which is intriguing because the Trial the Council is most concerned about regarding Anakin is The Testing Of One's Spirit; Facing The Mirror. Seeing the darkest, deepest truths about one's self. We are also made privy to a secret tryst between Anakin and Padmé in the shadowy alleys of Coruscant, complete with melodramatic but catchy dialogue. And here CW kills two birds with one stone and also has C-3P0 debut his new gold plating, complete with sultry saxophone interlude. Then we witness the Jedi Knighting process, as Anakin himself is made a Jedi Knight of the Republic. Then another wordless sequence in which Anakin has his newly severed Padawan braid delivered to Padmé, which she puts in a special box with the Japor Snippet, and in return she gives him R2 - as his previous Astromech pal R4 was destroyed by Asajj Ventress. Now we venture into the war era in which the Separatists are conquering more and more worlds, but while Anakin, now a formidable Knight, is helping the Republic win many victories. CW does an wonderful job montaging this briefly but effectively while displaying Anakin's astounding prowess, impressive cleverness and selfless courage. We then see not only Anakin debut his scar, but also the conception of the twins? After a gnarly scene of Dooku training Grievous, Sidious declares it is time for the Sith to launch their final operation as Grievous prepares for his "special mission". Obi-Wan and Anakin are then dispatched deep into the outer rim to the planet Nelvaan to recon for Grievous, thanks to a tip-off from Palpatine's intelligence sources. It's obvious to us now that Sidious wanted those two away from Coruacant during the siege and kidnapping of the Chancellor. Before long they realize part of the planet has been unnaturally thrown into a perpetual winter and all the indigenous adult males have mysteriously disappeared. And sticking with a classic SW theme, we really get into the primitive culture/spiritual world of things, which I love. Concerned and wanting to investigate and help, Obi-Wan holds a meeting with the elderly Nelvaan tribe shaman who, with the Spirit of the Fire, recounts a prophesy of the coming of a stranger amidst the neverending winter, a savior: Holt Kazed, or Ghost Hand. Obi-Wan immediately realizes this describes none other than Anakin, who must go on a solo quest to discover the cause of these strange, calamatous occurrences and save Nelvaan and its natives. Kenobi realizes this will also serve as Anakin's Trial of looking within himself. Anakin declares to his former Master that he is a Jedi and will not fail him, but Obi-Wan responds with, "No Anakin, don't fail yourself." After a dramatic pause, Kenobi then wishes the Force to be with him as Anakin rides off into the dark, dreary cold...
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Post by tonyg on Aug 29, 2023 19:26:41 GMT
Some of my favorite moments in the microseries are exactly these brief encounters between Ani and Padme, these stolen moments, including the moment when Padme reacts to his scar. A precious little moment. The knighthood ceremony is a great scene and the exchanging of gifts between Anakin and Padme is also another precious moment: he gives her his Padawan braid (i.e. himself) and she gives him R2D2 to protect him.
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Post by smittysgelato on Aug 30, 2023 0:25:18 GMT
I love that we get Anakin's knighting ceremony in this version. Just one of the reasons this show is equal to the 2008 show in my heart.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Sept 13, 2023 14:04:54 GMT
Meanwhile, Coruscant is most definitely under siege! The enormous battle is raging up in space and on the planet's surface, but nowhere near the Senate building or the Jedi Temple. Eventually, after much combat against the Separatist armies in scattered parts of the city, Master Yoda and Mace Windu realize it's all an elaborate distraction. But it's too late, General Grievous has already made his way to the Chancellor's office and is in pursuit of Palpatine, who is being escorted by three most valiant Jedi, horror movie style. And I see Yoda and Mace's fixed concentration on the distraction to be somewhat symbolic. Palpatine was the objective, the subtle maneuver. While the enormous war was the smoke and mirrors of the bigger objective. But yes, lots of intense action, I particularly love the high-speed train yard sequence. Following the allegorical guidance of the Spirit of the Fire, Anakin makes his way to the "Mother's Mouth", an ominous volcanic cave leading into the subterranean depths below. Inside he soon finds himself surrounded by steaming vents and notices a tableau of primitive cave paintings depicting a Nelvaanian village. The hot steam then seems to pull Anakin into a entranced vision state. The painted characters then begin to move, enacting a metaphoric scene which Anakin observes. One of the female Nelvaan villagers wanders out to gather food in a basket. But from a nearby crack in the cave wall emerges a devilish monster which threatens the young woman. The champion of the village, spear in hand, dashes over to save the woman and triumphs over the demon as it retreats back to the wall's crack. However, while celebrating his victory, the monster quickly returns long enough to bite one of the warrior's arms off. Immediately, the warrior grows a new arm in a similar menacing design to that of the monster, and before long, in the interest of protecting his village, begins using it to defeat more and bigger, although more natural, threats to his village, until he reaches a point where he begins to abuse his extraordinary new strengths. And the more he abuses it, the bigger and more powerful the arm grows. The linework which the arm consists of soon begins to throb and take on macabre, twisted shapes, growing and branching out uncontrollably until it ensnares and consumes everyone around him, even his beloved one until it finally ensnares even him, twisting and tangling and mutilating him into the mask of a grotesque, dark knight of evil.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Sept 18, 2023 9:34:40 GMT
Having passed out from the overwhelming vision, Anakin is stirred awake on the cave floor by the thrumming of a large machine. Upon rising he sees a large nuclear reactor and a nearby technical facility. Curious, and sensing something fishy, he investigates. Quietly snooping around the compound, he eventually overhears Techno Union guys talking about experimental specimens and General Grievous' demands. Stepping a little further into a large laboratory, he stumbles upon large mutated Nalvaan warriors immersed in tanks of eerie green fluid. Anakin realizes the Techno Union is turning all the Nelvaan men into super-soldier beasts. As we see the final un-altered warrior watch on. Shocked, Anakin rushes to aid them, but amidst the commotion he causes, the Techno Union guys decide to unleash a battalion of super soldiers on him. Not wanting to harm them, but ready to defend himself, Anakin pauses as they ready their newly outfitted cybernetic arm canons to obliterate him. The last remaining Nelvaan warrior not fully mutated sees his brothers and the human stranger in trouble and breaks free from his tank. He instructs Anakin in Nelvaan language to destroy the bandolier control panels on the warriors to break the mind control. Anakin swiftly does so as they rush off to apprehend the Techno Union dudes. Recognizing it's Holt Kazed, he then informs Anakin of one last thing. He must make his way to the reactor and destroy the object supplying it with its mysterious, sinister power. Climbing to the top of the compound and leaping downward towards the reactor, Anakin lands on the component containing the power source, a large blue crystal. Unable penetrate the force field with his lightsaber, he reaches in with his mechanical hand, despite the immense physical pain, force grabs the crystal and crushes it with his cybernetic strength. The crystal explodes shattering into several pieces, taking his hand with it, causing even more unbearable physical pain to young Skywalker. The reactor and the whole compound begins exploding as Anakin and the Nelvaan men chase the Techno Union guys up to the surface, where the climate has started returning to normal. A few manage to make it to their ship, but in a furious rage, Anakin Force pushes them off a cliff. Except one, who reaches for a gun, but Anakin, unable to quell his anger, levitates him and Force crushes his breathing apparatus causing him a quick but agonizing death. Watching on in both awe and horror, the Nelvaan men begin chanting, "Holt Kazed! Holt Kazed!" Inspired by the phenomenal acts of Anakin, all the Warriors then defiantly tear off their cybernetic cannon arms revealing their amputated stumps. Meanwhile on Coruscant, As Grievous continues his pursuit, Shaak-Ti stays behind to cover the other two as they escort the Chancellor in a high-speed shuttle to a secluded, hidden bunker. And sure enough, a legion of MagnaGuards soon assail Shaak-Ti, and so begins one of my favorite fight scenes in the series. Anyways, long story short, Grievous defeats the Jedi and kidnaps Palpatine. Mace arrives a moment too late, but is able to Force crush Grievous' chest plate before he blasts off into the Coruscant sky with his prize.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Sept 20, 2023 9:37:31 GMT
Cutting back to the Nelvaan village, we see Obi-Wan among the women and children as they observe many large figures approaching from afar. Soon they see it is Holt Kazed and a group of unrecognizable hideous creatures. Startled and apprehensive, the tribe stands back, repelled by the monstrosities before them. These creatures of course are the fathers of the tribe, the missing Nelvaan warriors which Anakin saved. Feeling dejected by their own families, the men become sullen, and reluctantly begin to accept their fate as outcasts. But one child from the tribe steps forward, places their hand on the hand of one of the giant creatures (the half-mutated one) and says, "Apu." meaning Daddy in Nelvaan. Next, we see the fathers reintegrating back into the tribe as the children have crafted for them makeshift prosthetic hands with shields and feathers. Obi-Wan praises Anakin for the great things he has done for the Nelvaan people. After dodging a question about his experience in the cave, Anakin asks Obi-Wan if he thinks the men will be able to reclaim their old lives, to which Kenobi replies with, "I sense they will, as long as each one of them is willing to accept them self." Now onboard the Republic cruiser orbiting above Nelvaan, we find Anakin replacing his mechanical hand with the help of R2-D2, who beeps out a question to him. Anakin responds with, "No R2, there are things that are far more painful." Obi-Wan approaches, wanting to continue the conversation about Anakin's final Trial. "Anakin, the most difficult trial a Jedi must face is, to look inside one's self. Often we see things we don't like. But these aspects are not set in stone. It is our decisions that shape our destinies." But as soon as he utters those words, R2 interrupts with an urgent message from Coruscant: General Grievous has abducted the Supreme Chancellor, and Kenobi and Skywalker must return immediately to rescue him! Craving action and possibly the distraction, Skywalker orders his men to prepare for battle and jump into hyperspace. Cut to the battle over Coruscant with Darth Vader war march music. Then cue the SW outro music over Produced and Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky. I just gotta say I love the rich buffet of symbolism in these last few episodes, that still keeps unfolding all these years later. I see the mutation of the Nelvaan warriors (complete with mechanical hand) as Palpatine manipulating Anakin but mostly as his seducing him to the dark side. I also see Anakin having a surrogate in the last fully altered Nelvaan warrior. Anakin wasn't fully converted to evil and still had an ounce of good in him. The warrior breaks free from his tank by using the strength and virtue inside him, spurred on by the compassionate desire to save his brothers and Anakin. Much like Anakin watching on as Luke is brought to death's door. And his instructions to Anakin in helping the warriors break free from their mind control is also quite pertinent in this context. Anakin's abuse of the Force to brutally execute the Techno Union guys was his big downfall here. The one dark blot in his otherwise selfless heroic act with no thought of reward. We see his anger and lust for revenge being used in response to his physical pain. This possibly foreshadows Anakin tragically turning to the dark side in order to try to abuse the Force out of selfishness to avoid more emotional pain, which then caused him to turn against his friends and family when he feared they were turning against him. And of course the child recognizing his father and ushering in his redemption goes without saying.
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Post by jppiper on Sept 20, 2023 16:22:19 GMT
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Post by stampidhd280pro on Sept 20, 2023 16:57:12 GMT
I dont think i ever noticed Anakin's armpit hair
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