The Clone Wars: Bounty Hunters

My friends and I are watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars.  Every Tuesday, we will be featuring an episode from the series which began in 2008 (as opposed to the one that started in 2003).  All are welcome to join us for all or parts of the fun.

Episode: "Bounty Hunters"
Series: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Season 2, Episode 17
Original Air Date: March 27, 2010

via Wookieepedia

This week's episode opens with a dedication to Akira Kurosawa.  The Japanese master filmmaker was one of the most important influences on George Lucas and his galaxy far, far away.   You don't really know Star Wars until you've seen Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress.  Numerous narrative elements found their way from that 1958 samurai film to 1977's A New Hope.  1961's Yojimbo also had considerable impact on the Star Wars franchise.  But before this Clone Wars episode, there had never been a tribute in the Star Wars canon to Kurosawa's masterpiece: The Seven Samurai. 

(For the record, the original Marvel Star Wars comic book series did a Seven Samurai send up early in the run.   The early Marvels, however, are not canon.  My thoughts on that story are part of this post.)

After crash landing on the planet Felucia, Anakin, Obi-Wan and Ahsoka stumble upon what appears to be an abandoned village.  Soon they discover one of the families hiding in a cellar.  The Jedi are quickly surrounded by four bounty hunters who claim to be in the villagers' employ, protecting them from pirates.  The Jedi join in the affair but instead of merely playing the role of hired thugs, they teach the peasants to defend themselves.

Straight-up Kurosawa so far.

There are more treats in store.  Turns out, we know these pirates.  They are lead by none other than my favorite Clone Wars character: Hondo Ohnaka. The Kurosawa/Hondo combination automatically makes this episode a winner for me.

*****

via Wookieepedia

Dilanni is one of the villagers who trains to fight the pirates.  He is pessimistic about their chances and appears to give up in frustration.  But he comes around to save the day in the end.  He is voiced by Stephen Stanton.

Stanton was born August 22, 1961 in Augsburg, West Germany.  Much of his work has been as an audio double for better-known actors such as Alec Guiness, John Cusack and Bruce Willis.  Most important to The Clone Wars, he is an excellent voice match for Peter Cushing.  Stanton is the voice for Wilhuff Tarkin, Cushing's character in A New Hope.  In "Bounty Hunters," he also voices the ill-fated pirate scout in a scene lifted directly from Seven Samurai.

He's no one-trick pony.  He is also a visual effects artist, having worked on the staffs of such films as Cliffhanger, The Last of the Mohicans and Batman Returns.

If you would care to join us for all or part of our travels, sign on to the list below.  Please visit the other participants today.  Next week: "The Zillo Beast."