Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Final Season (SPOILERS)

To a dark place, this line of thought will carry us...

A long, long time ago, a piece of this franchise had a home on Cartoon Network. Following a shaky start with a not-so stellar theatrical film, The Clone Wars was a show that, like all the great ones, evolved over time. What started as a fun little episodic series bridging the gap between Episodes II and III became a show that dealt with themes that were deeper and darker, even for Star Wars, all the while addressing some of the pitfalls in the trilogy that spawned it. Simply put, this became a treasured item to the Star Wars fandom before not one, but two cancellations as George Lucas signed over the rights to the House of Mouse. While its initial six-season run was something that would always be cherished, it was only natural for the fandom to crave the true conclusion that they expected. For a time, it seemed to be only a dream...until finally, after so long, The Clone Wars returned for one last season! That being said, was it really worth the wait? When things like this happen, it could be crushed under the weight of the hype. Thankfully, the final season of The Clone Wars, while not without its pitfalls, was everything I wanted and more. Now let's get into why that is the case:

UPS

1. The animation and music. The good thing about having this hiatus was that the crew was able to produce all the episodes with the most up-to-date technology, and boy does it show! The last four episodes in particular are just filled to the brim with gorgeous animation and breathtaking music. I mean, that Ahsoka/Maul lightsaber duel, anyone? Or the final moment where Ahoska and Rex built a memorial for their fallen brothers? Or the moment where Order 66 is commenced? Speaking of which...
2. The Siege of Mandalore Arc. This...this right here....is what the whole series was building towards and the whole reason having the final season be released was such a joy to behold. It seemed inevitable, but unlikely, that we would get a whiff of the series addressing the events of Revenge of the Sith. Not only are the events addressed, but they coincide with what happens in this arc, which means that we get to see events like Order 66 happen from the perspective of characters like Ahsoka, Rex, and Maul. This makes for an even more satisfying and powerful conclusion and man, that final scene, a truly perfect way to cap off this series. 

DOWNS

1. The first two arcs, while not bad, are nothing special. This pertains more to the "Martez Sisters" arc than "The Bad Batch" one, but both feel so separate from the last arc that it only felt fair to mention them here. "The Bad Batch" arc was a fun little arc that saw the return of Echo, which is no doubt a plus, but having a tone similar to that of the first few seasons while premiering during the final season just made it feel out of place. "The Martez Sisters" arc, on the other hand, just had no reason to be four episodes long, even if it addressed the whereabouts of Ahsoka and offered a different perspective of the Jedi. This could've easily been condensed into two or three episodes so that time could be spent on another arc that was developed but never saw the light of day.

OVERALL

Star Wars: The Clone Wars concluded with a bang despite a rather rocky start. That last arc was no doubt some of the best storytelling that this franchise has produced in years. I hope that Dave Filoni will continue to be an active voice in pushing the franchise forward.

RATING: 8/10 - B+

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more coming your way :)

Onward (SPOILERS)

Uh Oh, It's Magic...

The film industry has taken a heavy beating this year. While hopefully things will be able to bounce back for the most part, there's no doubt that the road to recovery is a long way ahead. Pixar's Onward is one of those films that has been affected by the Coronavirus, with a short-lived theater release before moving straight to Disney+. Judging from that statement, I bet you can guess how I was able to see this movie. Pixar is one of those studios that will offer some of the best family-friendly entertainment there is simply because the studio crafts stories that not only provide fun for the whole family, but also take risks and are rich with themes that resonate with everyone. That being said, not every feature can be Toy Story or Up, and they're have been some less than stellar entries that border on being downright forgettable. With how this one was positioned, it seemed we were gonna be faced with the latter. For me, I find it in the middle. It's not top-tier Pixar, but I still find it very enjoyable and a movie that has a very profound and moving story. Now let's see what makes Onward work and what doesn't:

UPS

1. Tom Holland and Chris Pratt. Frankly put, this paring is a dream come true. They hold a great dynamic that stands as the heart of the film. While I have issues with how the film tackles their relationship, Holland and Pratt's chemistry still shines bright and if they ever make a live-action movie where the two are cast as brothers, I would totally check it out.
2. The film moves at a pretty reasonable pace. While that comes at the cost of some solid worldbuilding and potential character drama, it does help to keep the film engaging and immerse you in the quest that the brothers share. It never felt stretched out or overstayed its welcome, and that I think is worth a plus in the UP department for me. 
3. The ending. Simply put, this is what sets Onward above other Pixar entries that don't reach the levels set by more iconic entries. The whole film revolves around the brothers bringing back their father and that of course is where the emotion comes in. What makes the ending stand out however is that it actually manages to subvert expectations in a way that feels satisfying and impactful. It may not have been what I expected, but in the end, it packed the punch and for that it felt like a fitting end. 

DOWNS

1. The film's pace, while good for the movie, does cause a bit of trimming that I feel keeps the film from being something truly special. As mentioned before, the world that this film presents is so intricate and fascinating that I would have totally supported taking some time to explore it. Likewise, and most irritating of all, it seemed like the film was setting up tension between the brothers only to drop it as soon as it was introduced. Frankly, I don't think having this happen would elevate the film per se, but if the producers were going to take time to set it up, then they should have at least tried to commit to it, even if for a small chunk of the runtime. 

OVERALL

Onward is not one of my favorite Pixar films, but it's also nowhere close to being forgettable. In fact, I think this is one of those films that's ripe for a sequel. Should that happen, I'd definitely check it out.

RATING: 7/10 - B

And that's it for this post, guys. Stay safe out there and tune in for more coming your way :)