‘Labyrinth of Evil’ (2005) goes to brink of ‘Revenge of the Sith’
‘Star Wars’ flashback (Book review): James Luceno takes us right up to “Revenge of the Sith” in this thrilling prequel that tells Grievous’ backstory.
Space
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ (2008) launches in a small way on the big screen (Movie review)
Disney’s “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” is getting a lot of buzz, an odd contrast to the last time a “Star Wars” film outside of the numbered episodes premiered. In August 2008, I mentioned “The […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘The Clone Wars’ movie novelization (2008) (Book review)
Having just read Karen Traviss’ first four “Republic Commando” novels, it’s abundantly clear that she’s handcuffed on “The Clone Wars” movie novelization (2008). She tries to do what Matthew Stover did for “Revenge of the Sith” three […]
Cerebral alien visitation yarn ‘Arrival’ lacks a satisfying payoff (Movie review)
Like many alien visitation films before it, “Arrival” asks “What is their purpose on Earth?” After the requisite opening where the world tenses up as 12 giant egg-shaped spaceships take up stations around the globe, “Arrival” zeroes […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel’ (2008) (Book review)
“Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel” (2008), the meaty fourth book in Karen Traviss’ five-book “Commando” saga, is an example of a story that was wiped out because of a later addition to the saga by […]
First episode impressions: ‘Mars’ (TV review)
“Mars” (9 p.m. Mondays, National Geographic Channel), the year’s most hyped science show, fails to capture the wonder of 2014’s “Cosmos,” which brought science to mainstream audiences with remarkable entertainment value. This is partly because “Cosmos” […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Republic Commando: True Colors’ (2007) (Book review)
Karen Traviss entered the ranks of “Star Wars” authors despite lacking a deep knowledge of the saga, but by her third book, “Republic Commando: True Colors” (2007), her newcomer status begins to serve her well. Like an […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Republic Commando: Triple Zero’ (2006) (Book review)
Karen Traviss’ “Republic Commando” series started off with a pulpy war mission novel, “Hard Contact,” which also snuck in the notion of clones as thinking, feeling human beings – something that most prior novels and […]
‘Star Wars’ flashback: ‘Republic Commando: Hard Contact’ (2004) (Book review)
Watching the clone troopers arrive with Yoda on Geonosis in “Attack of the Clones” in 2002, it was easy to think of them as organic robots. “Star Wars” fans now see clones as human beings […]
First episode impressions: ‘Star Wars Rebels’ Season 3 (TV review)
Now in its third season, “Star Wars Rebels” (8:30 p.m. Saturdays on Disney XD) has almost entirely caught up to “The Clone Wars” in production value. Even though Disney is spending less money than Lucasfilm did, the […]