Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy and Animation
Running Time: 98 min.
Theatrical Release Date: August 15th, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG for sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking.
Directed By: Dave Filoni
Starring: Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, James Arnold Taylor, Dee Bradley Baker, Tom Kane
SCORE = 5/10
Where’s the 20th Century Fox fanfare that marks the start of another Star Wars epic? Curiously it is absent, since for the first time Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to George Lucas’ new money-fiend, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Expanding upon the traditionally animated, existing TV series Clone Wars, this theatrical film is the launching point for a further TV series that will feature computer animated adventures and all of the familiar Jedi ordeals bridging the gap between Episode II and Episode III. Perfect for fans that just can’t get enough of Star Wars, The Clone Wars is sadly not a friendly flick for anyone who hasn’t stayed on top of the Bunyanesque Star Wars timeline.
The Jedi Knights are scattered throughout the galaxy, fighting the Separatists and their droid armies with the use of diminishing clone trooper armies. This leaves no one left to keep the peace, and so Dark Jedi mastermind Senator Palpatine ensures that the forces of evil continually climb while Senator Amidala, the future wife of Anakin Skywalker, attempts to keep the Galactic Republic in order.
Meanwhile, Jabba the Hutt’s son has been captured, and he bargains with the Republic to spearhead a rescue operation. Knowing that free access to the Hutt’s spaceship territory will greatly help their cause, Yoda dispatches two Jedi, Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, to search for the missing Hutt larva. A new apprentice, Ahsoka Tano also travels with them — an extra assignment for young Skywalker. Preparing for an inevitable trap, Obi-Wan, Anakin and Ahsoka journey to Teth, where a renegade group led by Asajj Ventress has secured a palace stronghold. Unbeknownst to the two Jedi, Sith Lord Count Dooku plans to double-cross Jabba and frame the Republic.
At this point, if the concept of The Force or Jedi Knights needs to be explained, it’s best to just start from the beginning by watching Episode IV. Actually, this series revolves around the events of Episode I-III, so whether or not you’re familiar with Luke Skywalker is irrelevant. But countless major events have already taken place, and without at least fundamental prior knowledge to the very expansive Star Wars universe, the average viewer will be completely lost.
That’s not to say that The Clone Wars doesn’t have entertainment value. The action scenes are fast-paced and explosive, and they’re timed to surface about every five minutes. The animation is excellent when it comes to spaceship battles, backgrounds, textures, and other inanimate objects. The human and alien designs themselves all match the Samurai Jack style of animation used in the original traditional animation TV series, and while three dimensions are perhaps more impressive, the overall feel of the film is still that of a cartoon. When will they make an animated Star Wars film along the realism lines of Final Fantasy?
A transsexual Hutt, Laurel and Hardy styled battle droids, generic dialogue (“everything is going as planned”), a fragment for a story, and the lack of the unmatchable Star Wars theme doesn’t help to reinvigorate the enthusiasm for a franchise that has grown to astronomical proportions. It may have the Star Wars name attached to it, but nothing about this oversize cartoon episode warrants a theatrical release.
MoviePulse
Frost says
It may just be me, but the Movie Pulse reviews just suck all the fun out of films. I really don’t think they “get it.” Am I alone here? It might just be me.
Matthew says
@Frost you are correct, I have been very pleased to ignore their reviews on several occasions.
And fortunately a large percentage of people I know do know what the Star Wars universe is about and so I’m sure this is going to be fun.
But one gripe….no theme tune?
Vanamonde says
I saw the movie on Friday, and all I can say is:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
The kids in the audience sounded like they were impressed with the explosions though…
Kurt in ST George says
“…the overall feel of the film is still that of a cartoon. When will they make an animated Star Wars film along the realism lines of Final Fantasy?”
No, when are they going to make an animated Star Wars in Lego style? Now that would be fun, or at least funny.
Jay says
I’m 37. I’m a life long fan of star wars, though I would never consider myself a fanboy. I took my 5 year old.
Go see this movie. Ignore these pompous negative reviews.
This is not academy award level stuff here. But here is the thing- it’s not intended to be.
My 5 year old is a lego star wars playing, Star Wars encyclopedia. HE LOVED THIS MOVIE. He has been thanking me for taking him all day long.
If you approach and accept this movie for what it is, you will enjoy it.
So what is it? It’s a cartoon folks!!! What do you want, Revenge of the Sith? This movie is geared toward 5-10 year olds, and it is wildly successful at that. The theater I was in was full of kids this age and they all came out of it excited as can be. That’s the test folks.
The other thing this movie is, is a marketing movie. There is no doubt this movie was made to push some Star Wars merchandise. So leave your idealism at home and go and have a good time. Then go buy your kid a Light Saber, or an action figure, or shut up. This movie isn’t hiding from what it is, and when you know what you are going to see up front, you will have a great time.
By the way, the art in this movie is beautiful. And as an adult, it is easy to see that the people who made this flick were paying homage to the “real” movies and they did so beautifully.
I would have enjoyed this movie even without my 5 year old, but the fact he was with me really underscored what this movie was about. Me and my son – and Star Wars.
Take me out to the Death Star
Take me out for some fun…
Ciberw0lf says
This was a good movie. If you’re a fan of star wars you WILL have fun. I give it a 4/5.
I was glad to see the chick sith back although I thought they could have covered her survival of being thrown into a pit at the end of the Volume One of the animated Clone Wars a little more, maybe in the rest of the series the will.
The music WAS AMAZING. I was so glad to see a new composer take a stab at the Star Wars music. The main themes are there in the opening and closing credits. Plus a few other themes you’ll be able to pick out. But where the music really shines is the new stuff. The mix of guitar, sitar, the typical blaring trumpets and pounding drums is just incredible. I saw this movie midday Friday and went right across the street to buy the soundtrack at Best Buy. I haven’t stopped listening to it since.
My one big complaint about the movie is that in the animated Clone Wars, the Jedi were Bad Arse. Maybe they didn’t have the money for all the additional CG but the action in the Animated Clone Wars blows this movie out of the water.
Another thing I’d like to see more of is the dark descent of Anakin. The Animated Clone wars had some great dark visuals that I hope we see in the series that is following this movie.
Anyway, Go see this movie if you’re a Star Wars Fan. Oh and I agree with everyone that ignore movie pulse reviews
Bigg Man says
I’d have to disagree about the MoviePulse reviews. It’s Mike Massie’s reviews that suck the life out of films. He is so nitpicky in his writeups that he fails to see the big picture. At least the other guys know about film and can enjoy them.
Kurt.eh says
I enjoyed Mojo’s (VFX guy for Babylon 5, Voyager, BSG) review:
Clone wars is a Twinkie
http://darthmojo.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/movie-review-clone-wars/
Gary from Jacksonville says
Given who this movie was marketed to I can only really complain about two things.
1) No opening scroll? I understand not having 20th Century Fox, but would a small scroll have really turned off the pre-literate crowd?
2) Zero the Hut. Even as a self described geek fanboy, this seemed so out of the Star Wars model. It really made me wonder what the writers and producers were thinking. I was actually insulted as a fan.