Jason KingStar Wars: The Clone Wars ($8.50)
August 15th 2008 03:52
Star Wars: The Clone Wars ($8.50)
On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padme Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. --© Warner Bros.
The Clone Wars takes place between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The eponymous Clone Wars rage between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic. When Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta the Hutt, is taken by a group of renegades, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi depart in search of answers: where is Rotta the Hutt, and who is controlling this mysterious renegade group? Yoda sends Ahsoka Tano along as Anakin's apprentice. Count Dooku will unleash his minions, including Asajj Ventress, to cause havoc for the Republic and to make a three way war between the Galactic Republic, the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Hutts.
The film is intended to act as a curtain-raiser to a TV series of the same name, not to be confused with the similarly titled 2003 series which is set at roughly the same period in the fictional Star Wars chronology. This TV series I believe is going to be a 100 episode cartoon on the Cartoon Network. And if that's its goal it works well but would do better as a telemovie. The film was "almost an afterthought" as Lucas watched some of the TV episodes on a large screen and decided: "This is so beautiful, why don't we just go and use the crew and make a feature?" The film will be animated using computer generated imagery to resemble anime. Some actors from the live-action films, including Anthony Daniels, Matthew Wood, Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, will return to voice their respective characters. Nick Jameson, who had voiced Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the previous Clone Wars series, as well as various video games, will not reprise his role; neither will Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) or Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi).
The Positives:
1) You get to see something Star Wars again.
2) The characters are great and the new padawan learner for Anakin is a great addition and their characters develop superbly in the fact you actually like them and they aren't some cardboard cut outs like the last three to get a cinematic release
3) Some of the animation is beautiful, watching the action sequences was fantastic and the expansive landscape shots were true Star Wars
4) I loved the music in the whole film
5) Great to see some of our fave characters on screen again and this animation does bring some more fun back to the characters that was lacking from the last 3 attempts. Even though Skywalker has more of the demeanor of Han Solo in this one.
6) Although only a handful of the original cast returned to do the voices the stand ins are admirable.
The Negatives:
1) There is a whole truckload of them
2) My biggest issue is continuity of the Star Wars story. How on earth could Mr Lucas make a film which is set in between two of the films and is a kind of sequel but I don't even want to count this film as part of the story. It's like fan fiction to the worst degree, at least most of the fan fiction sticks to the story. This is George Lucas' most important child, how could he alter what we know is Star Wars gospel. Annakin NEVER had a padawan as far as I know. Nor was he EVER a Jedi Knight - he was nearly one but left Obiwan while still a padawan and turned to the dark side. It's like this film is a Star Wars/ Sliders love child and this is another dimension of Star Wars of what COULD have happened in alternate reality.
3) What is with the animation - the character movements are so robotic, this works wonders for the ROBOTS (droids) but the actual living characters look like a cross between animation and stop motion filming. Looks stupid and completely lacked the fluidity associated with trained Jedi Knights.
4) What is with the "Storm Troopers" (movie) introduction similar to 40's radio announcers capping off a news update? SO out of place and not required. Where was the traditional yellow angled rolling introduction Star Wars fans drool for when they see because they know that nearly 2hrs of their fave universe is about to commence? Where Mr Lucas, WHERE?
5) The commander of the battleship with his WW2 styled English accent is laughable.
6) It did not have the proper opening theme that blasts into the cinema. I was disappointed as the first frame hit the screen because I did not get my regular goosebumps associated with the opening musical strength.
7) Similar to the last three Star Wars films I found this one way too political, I want some cheap one liners, plenty of lightsabre fighting, lots of space action, to fall in love with the characters. I don't care too much for the politics, sure it was in the originals to a degree but it was background story and not a drag to remember which faction each race is fighting for and who was deceiving who. Convoluted much?
8) Too complex for kids and too juvenile for adults. Early to mid teenagers may like it but Mr Lucas is insulting his fans with this one and trying to be too serious for the kids to enjoy it. Behind me sat a lady with two kids (who never shut up you little brats!) and they left half way through (peace overcame my state of mind) because they couldn't sit still and did not really enjoy it.
I am sure there more points for the negative but this is enough, I am getting flustered with anger and considering some form of George Lucas assassination.
Trivia (thanks IMDB):
1) This film will be the first animated ‘Star Wars’ feature film in theaters.
2) This film will also be the first 'Star Wars' film not to be released by 20th Century Fox (Warner Bros. Pictures will handle distribution on behalf of Lucasfilm Ltd.).
3) This will also be the first "Star Wars" film that won't have Frank Oz providing the voice of Yoda. Tom Kane provides the voice.
4) The first Star Wars film not to have John Williams composing the music.
5) This is the first ‘Star Wars’ film not to open in the month of May.
6) When Ahsoka is addressing the clones in the hanger bay a pink droid is standing next to R2-D2. This droid's name is R2-KT and was included as a way to honor the work of the 501st Legion (an international group of Star Wars costumers who perform countless hours of volunteer work for many charities). The droid was created in the memory of Katie Johnson (daughter of the 501st Legion's founder Albin Johnson) who died of cancer at the young age of 7. Some of the costumer's built a pink R2 (dubbed R2-KT) for Katie to provide her comfort in the last days of her life. This was to reflect the scene in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) when R2-D2 watches over Padme while she slept at night.
Shame on you George Lucas, shame on you!! $8.50
On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padme Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin's padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. --© Warner Bros.
The Clone Wars takes place between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The eponymous Clone Wars rage between the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Galactic Republic. When Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta the Hutt, is taken by a group of renegades, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi depart in search of answers: where is Rotta the Hutt, and who is controlling this mysterious renegade group? Yoda sends Ahsoka Tano along as Anakin's apprentice. Count Dooku will unleash his minions, including Asajj Ventress, to cause havoc for the Republic and to make a three way war between the Galactic Republic, the Confederacy of Independent Systems and the Hutts.
The film is intended to act as a curtain-raiser to a TV series of the same name, not to be confused with the similarly titled 2003 series which is set at roughly the same period in the fictional Star Wars chronology. This TV series I believe is going to be a 100 episode cartoon on the Cartoon Network. And if that's its goal it works well but would do better as a telemovie. The film was "almost an afterthought" as Lucas watched some of the TV episodes on a large screen and decided: "This is so beautiful, why don't we just go and use the crew and make a feature?" The film will be animated using computer generated imagery to resemble anime. Some actors from the live-action films, including Anthony Daniels, Matthew Wood, Christopher Lee and Samuel L. Jackson, will return to voice their respective characters. Nick Jameson, who had voiced Palpatine/Darth Sidious in the previous Clone Wars series, as well as various video games, will not reprise his role; neither will Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) or Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi).
The Positives:
1) You get to see something Star Wars again.
2) The characters are great and the new padawan learner for Anakin is a great addition and their characters develop superbly in the fact you actually like them and they aren't some cardboard cut outs like the last three to get a cinematic release
3) Some of the animation is beautiful, watching the action sequences was fantastic and the expansive landscape shots were true Star Wars
4) I loved the music in the whole film
5) Great to see some of our fave characters on screen again and this animation does bring some more fun back to the characters that was lacking from the last 3 attempts. Even though Skywalker has more of the demeanor of Han Solo in this one.
6) Although only a handful of the original cast returned to do the voices the stand ins are admirable.
The Negatives:
1) There is a whole truckload of them
2) My biggest issue is continuity of the Star Wars story. How on earth could Mr Lucas make a film which is set in between two of the films and is a kind of sequel but I don't even want to count this film as part of the story. It's like fan fiction to the worst degree, at least most of the fan fiction sticks to the story. This is George Lucas' most important child, how could he alter what we know is Star Wars gospel. Annakin NEVER had a padawan as far as I know. Nor was he EVER a Jedi Knight - he was nearly one but left Obiwan while still a padawan and turned to the dark side. It's like this film is a Star Wars/ Sliders love child and this is another dimension of Star Wars of what COULD have happened in alternate reality.
3) What is with the animation - the character movements are so robotic, this works wonders for the ROBOTS (droids) but the actual living characters look like a cross between animation and stop motion filming. Looks stupid and completely lacked the fluidity associated with trained Jedi Knights.
4) What is with the "Storm Troopers" (movie) introduction similar to 40's radio announcers capping off a news update? SO out of place and not required. Where was the traditional yellow angled rolling introduction Star Wars fans drool for when they see because they know that nearly 2hrs of their fave universe is about to commence? Where Mr Lucas, WHERE?
5) The commander of the battleship with his WW2 styled English accent is laughable.
6) It did not have the proper opening theme that blasts into the cinema. I was disappointed as the first frame hit the screen because I did not get my regular goosebumps associated with the opening musical strength.
7) Similar to the last three Star Wars films I found this one way too political, I want some cheap one liners, plenty of lightsabre fighting, lots of space action, to fall in love with the characters. I don't care too much for the politics, sure it was in the originals to a degree but it was background story and not a drag to remember which faction each race is fighting for and who was deceiving who. Convoluted much?
8) Too complex for kids and too juvenile for adults. Early to mid teenagers may like it but Mr Lucas is insulting his fans with this one and trying to be too serious for the kids to enjoy it. Behind me sat a lady with two kids (who never shut up you little brats!) and they left half way through (peace overcame my state of mind) because they couldn't sit still and did not really enjoy it.
I am sure there more points for the negative but this is enough, I am getting flustered with anger and considering some form of George Lucas assassination.
Trivia (thanks IMDB):
1) This film will be the first animated ‘Star Wars’ feature film in theaters.
2) This film will also be the first 'Star Wars' film not to be released by 20th Century Fox (Warner Bros. Pictures will handle distribution on behalf of Lucasfilm Ltd.).
3) This will also be the first "Star Wars" film that won't have Frank Oz providing the voice of Yoda. Tom Kane provides the voice.
4) The first Star Wars film not to have John Williams composing the music.
5) This is the first ‘Star Wars’ film not to open in the month of May.
6) When Ahsoka is addressing the clones in the hanger bay a pink droid is standing next to R2-D2. This droid's name is R2-KT and was included as a way to honor the work of the 501st Legion (an international group of Star Wars costumers who perform countless hours of volunteer work for many charities). The droid was created in the memory of Katie Johnson (daughter of the 501st Legion's founder Albin Johnson) who died of cancer at the young age of 7. Some of the costumer's built a pink R2 (dubbed R2-KT) for Katie to provide her comfort in the last days of her life. This was to reflect the scene in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) when R2-D2 watches over Padme while she slept at night.
Shame on you George Lucas, shame on you!! $8.50
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I loved the original animated Clone Wars TV Series from the creator of Samurai Jack and Dexter's lab, thought it was better than any of the NEW live action films. It was worth it just to see General Grievous in full flight..how does this new version compare?
Comment by Jason King
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Comment by Cheryl J
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Comment by ChrisC
The Dissector
Good review. Im a star wars man but am witing til tight-arse-tuesday to go see this one.
quick point from your whole fine review...Anakin was a jedi knight in Sith, not a padawan. He called Obi "Master" cause Obi was a Master, as opposed to a Knight.
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
LOL - you could say I was a bit disappointed - but as a person who grew up dreaming of fighting for the republic and becoming a Jedi Knight I was shattered George Lucas could do this to the galaxy far far away.
Chris C - thanks for clearing that up - I knew I would get in trouble from fans more knowledged and dedicated than myself if I slipped up. But surely he NEVER had or could have had a padawan in the story we all know so well.
Thanks for your comments and stopping by ladies and gents.
Comment by Cibbuano
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I'd like to see the original animated series, though!
Comment by Jason King
Salty Popcorn
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I am such a Star Wars fan I was devastated by how crap it was. I looked into the original animated series today and they aren't stocked by Borders or JB Hifi but can be ordered in for you.
I think it's going to be an EBay purchase for me. John Doe really liked them so I am pretty confident they will be good.