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May 23rd, 2008: Ben 10 Alien Force Review
Topic Started: May 23 2008, 08:59 AM (1,868 Views)
Nick
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Founder and Major Domo
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Is the new Ben 10 a force to be reckoned with? Mackenzie lets us know.

http://www.toonamifan.com/toonamiben10alien.html
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macattack
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Watch Your Head.
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In case anyone's wondering why I'm calling Ben 10 a 52-episode series when there's only 49 listed . . .

Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix is actually the first three episodes of the final season of Ben 10. CN cobbled them together to create a sorta-movie out of it.

In any case, I kept the review spoiler-free so if you haven't seen the series you'll be able to enjoy it without knowing what happens if you choose. In all likeihood you've probably seen it already on Saturday mornings, but I know there's a few people who don't like getting up early.
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billyarnie
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3... TOM 3!
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Awesome review, mac! A little harsh, as I'm a fan of the original & the sequel. However, it's your review & your honest opinion. It's not the last word but at the moment Wikipedia is counting 26 episodes for B10:AF & listing the 1st 13. Could B10:AF go 52 eps? Depending on ratings, that's a strong YES. So far the 1st 6 (counting the 1-hour premiere as 2) have been aired. Ep 7, according to Wiki, premieres Saturday, May 31. Probably ep 2 will encore that night on Toonami; unless CN decides to jump & air ep 7, like they aired Blue Dragon.

Is this a mistake like Bakugan? IMHO, no. B10 is an established franchise & I think CN believes in it enough to go to the next level, as they're doing with B10:AF. Bakugan (I can't believe I've said that word twice & I'm not hurling... yet) is a toyetic series, but besides starting it on Toonami 4 weeks behind Saturday morning premieres, they realize Toonami attracts older viewers as well as their desired 6-11 demo.

Bakugan is too kiddie for Toonami & that's why it was yanked. That's also why they put Samurai Jack back on & with B10:AF's strong ratings, especially the premiere (a month of promos & a dedicated week to the original B10 didn't hurt). They know B10:AF will draw their demo, fans of the original series, and older viewers that were attracted to shows like Justice League & Justice League Unlimited.
BTW, CN realizes Toonami pulls older viewers, but they won't admit it... yet. 'Scuse me... *barf*

Edited to add: The "violence" in the new series is still TV-Y7 FV. I missed the "human grunt" vaporized in the pilot & the alien "evaporated" away, rather than bled to death. Also, if a skinned knee was the worst that happened to Ben, let's see what his future injuries look like. Mac, I realize you may not be familiar with the original series, but I could have an explanation for why Ben & Gwen didn't mourn Grandpa Max.
Quote:
 
The most recently premiered episode contains the biggest mass alien death seen so far. It also shows the emotional aftermath on Ben and Gwen, something the franchise never attempted to do before.

Nobody Died! The Null Void is like Superman's Phantom Zone; a place where beings live, but are sealed away from the rest of us. There seemed to be collateral damage to buildings, etc., but the teens know Grandpa is stuck with all those baddies; not a pleasant thought, but NOBODY DIED. For those unfamiliar with the original, it easily seemed to be a massive explosion.
Will Alien Force attempt to move into TV-PG V like Naruto? I doubt it, but I could be wrong; this has a darker feel like some of the Justice League eps, but their focus is still 6-11 & CN doesn't really want to move past that... yet.
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tarhaun
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Did somone say "chimichanga"?
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great all they need now is either put off the extra ep of naruto for blue dragon,put it off for one piece,or rerun one piece and get blue dragon and trans formers on the 8.0 hr.
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billyarnie
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3... TOM 3!
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I assume you're talking of expanding Toonami to 3 hours. That's the only way Blue Dragon & Transformers get on at 8:00 PM (7:00 CT). As for the current schedule, if an episode of Naruto gets pulled, it'll probably be for One Piece. But how will a 2-hour schedule look if One Piece comes back? My suggestion:

  • 9:00 (8:00 CT) - Ben 10: Alien Force
  • 9:30 (8:30 CT) - Naruto
  • 10:00 (9:00 CT) - One Piece
  • 10:30 (9:30 CT) - Samurai Jack
SJ is TV-Y7 FV, but if it's doing good as a lead-in to InuYasha on [adult swim], why not leave it there instead of moving it behind Ben 10?
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tarhaun
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Did somone say "chimichanga"?
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billyarnie
May 24 2008, 11:49 AM
I assume you're talking of expanding Toonami to 3 hours. That's the only way Blue Dragon & Transformers get on at 8:00 PM (7:00 CT). As for the current schedule, if an episode of Naruto gets pulled, it'll probably be for One Piece. But how will a 2-hour schedule look if One Piece comes back? My suggestion:

  • 9:00 (8:00 CT) - Ben 10: Alien Force
  • 9:30 (8:30 CT) - Naruto
  • 10:00 (9:00 CT) - One Piece
  • 10:30 (9:30 CT) - Samurai Jack
SJ is TV-Y7 FV, but if it's doing good as a lead-in to InuYasha on [adult swim], why not leave it there instead of moving it behind Ben 10?

yeah like that
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libra
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Revolutionary
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something really irks me about this show. does it bother no one that kevin once was so psychotic 'nd sadistic to killing ben. 'nd then 5 years later it's:

"well gee golly ben, u only became the only friend i ever trusted in manhattan then betrayed be. then u turned me into t walking genetic alien freakshow. then u stranded on an alien space ship that shoved me into deep space for a week or two. then u trapped me with vilgax 'nd a wide variety of horrible monsters for who knows how long. but being in the nullviod taught me to forgive somewhat. so sure, ill take u 'nd ur date to the fair. need any dating tips?"

i just dont see all that hatred disappearing by falling in love with gwen, or anybody. and i thought kevin only absorbed electric energy. not physical..traits.

'nd am i the only one who's noticed that B10:AF looks like it comes out of the 50's? ben wears a highshool jersey/coat that no current highschooler would be found dead in. gwen's get up could pass for modern. but wats annoying is that she seems to always have the answers. i know she smart but holy. 'nd kevin.. the social rebel (without a cause) who has a muscle car 'nd acts tough. 'nd he dotes after the car with great affection (fonzy anyone). it sound ALOT like the 1950's to me. B10 was so modern. isnt it possible to be [eww] grown up [since wen is being grown up a good thing] 'nd not stuffy 'nd stiff.

ill also leave u with this
*ben changes into humungasaur*!Huuuu-mung-a-saurrrr! &
*sword of grey skull is raised*"IIIII AMMMM HEEEEEEEEEE-MAAAAAAAAAAN!" /: \

edit: i apologize for the judgmental tone of this post. my intention was to express that i find it inconsistent with B10 kevin. 'nd calling back to the 50's isnt exactly wat i'ld consider entertaining or cool. i reminds me of stuffy ppl looking for the apple pie american dream 'nd are scared out of their wits of communists. 'nd i thought of this from the beginning before the time-traveling doctor, who is veeeery much like doctor who. 'nd as for the humungasaur/heman thing, it's strange that now the nicknames for the aliens r yelled out wen transformation ends like the omnitrix made them up. 'nd it seems like he-man yelling his name every episode. im like "we get it, thats ur name. please stop." another thing, alot of the AF aliens are veeery similar to B10 aliens.
spidermonky - 4 arms
chromastone - diamond head
echo - duo
swampfire - heatblast/wildvine (combined)
blue freezing ghosty thing - ghost freak/freezguana(B10,000)/stinkfly
these just seemed soo similar to me.
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billyarnie
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3... TOM 3!
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Say, mac... do you have plans for a wrapup of B10:AF Season 1? Not every episode (there is a Marathon on Sunday, BTW), but your opinion of Season 1 at least? I haven't seen every ep, & I have to work until 9:00 PM CT Sunday... I have an opinion & it's not good. Compare it with another coming-of-age show where the main character's voiced by Yuri Lowenthal... Gurran Lagann...
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