Mecandes' Humble Abode » Star Wars

Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Lightsaber Duels

Mecandes — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:54:31 +0000

Lightsaber Duels is a game that really highlights just how much of a gimmick the Wiimote is. Truthfully, the Wii’s controller is not what it seems at first glance: it can only really sense basic movements, and it can’t really be used to represent an object in completely 3D space. In this game, each of the four directions that you wave the Wiimote — up, down, left, right — correspond, basically, to a button press in any other fighting video game… you aren’t able to stand and wave your lightsaber on-screen the way you would expect. (In fact, the old PC game Die by the Sword played better than this with the mouse — and that was a decade ago!)

So, when the game doesn’t allow you to actually swing a lightsaber, you have to ask yourself — what was the point? If you love the cartoon, and are having kids over, you might have some fun renting it… but can’t recommend purchasing it when the core single-player “campaign” can be completed in about half an hour.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Mecandes — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 12:32:35 +0000

First, you have to understand what this is: it’s the first few episodes of a half-hour television series which will air on a children’s cartoon channel. If you go in thinking it is the next epic “Episode” in the Star Wars saga, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But if you take it for what it really is, you will realize that it is going to be a very awesome TV show! I went into this expecting to be disappointed — the trailers hadn’t impressed me. Instead, I was surprised to find myself very entertained, especially during the second half when it becomes more light-hearted and comical. We laughed a lot, and outside the theatre after the film all the kids were talking excitedly about their favourite aspect of the film: the comical battle droids. I’m really looking forward to watching more of this series with my kids.

4 stars (out of 5)

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Mecandes — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:57:06 +0000

I particularly liked how George Lucas set up the Yoda vs. Darth Sidious and Obi-Wan vs. Anakin battles, and the juxtaposition at the end where shots of Darth Vader being put into the suit are interwoven with shots of Padme giving birth to the twins.

4 and a half stars (out of 5)

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Mecandes — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:34:29 +0000

Favourite moment: Obi-Wan vs. Jango Fett.

5 stars (out of 5)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace

Mecandes — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:33:11 +0000

Favourite moment: Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs. Darth Maul. The best lightsaber choreography of all six movies.

4 and a half stars (out of 5)

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

Mecandes — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:35:14 +0000

When I was 8 years old, this film ruled my world. The battle of Hoth, the asteroid field chase, the training under Yoda, and the final confrontation with Vader… Awesome.

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Mecandes — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 16:33:09 +0000

Being only 5 when this hit theatres, I’m not sure which came first: my love of the film, or love of the toys. Regardless, my love of all things Star Wars continues to this day — from Timothy Zahn’s Thrawn Trilogy to the X-Wing and Jedi Knight games…

Star Wars: Outbound Flight

Mecandes — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 16:00:54 +0000

Obi-Wan and Anakin pitting their wits against Thrawn? It seemed like a fantastic premise for a prequel novel by Timothy Zahn, and I was greatly anticipating it — but I was mildly disappointed with the result, and it seems like a missed opportunity.

Star Wars: Heir to the Empire

Mecandes — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 16:00:58 +0000

If you’re thinking about picking up a Star Wars book, forget all those new ones on the shelf, and pick up this classic masterpiece.

The Thrawn Trilogy of books (of which this is the first) are far and away the best Star Wars novels; perhaps because it was penned by a science fiction author with experience writing about galactic warfare.

Timothy Zahn bravely pushes the saga in interesting new directions that sets the bar for all the novels that have followed. He introduces some of the most memorable and enduring Extended Universe characters, like Talon Karde, Mara Jade, and the inestimable Grand Admiral Thrawn — the delightfully Holmesian Star Wars villain.

These books are among the few that I have read multiple times in my life.

Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire

Mecandes — Sat, 01 Jan 2000 16:00:34 +0000

I’m not sure why they decided to hype this particular book so much at the time — with toys, soundtracks, games, etc. — when there were so many better Star Wars books before and since. This was okay, but couldn’t live up to the hype.