Plot The son of Jabba The Hutt has been kidnapped, so the Jedi Council dispatches Anakin Skywalker (Lanter) and his feisty new apprentice to save the child and win the Hutts’ support.
Review
Brad Bird famously promised to punch anyone who refers to animation as a genre - it’s just a technique. It’s with a similar, if rather less belligerent, ethos that Lucasfilm brings us The Clone Wars. Animation, they argue, is just a new way of continuing the story that began in 1977. Whether or not you agree is up to you, but regardless of the nomenclature used, this latest offering is a very different experience to that of Episodes past.
The spiritual (and chronological) successor to Genndy Tartakovsky’s animated series, this computer-generated tale boasts similarly stylised visuals and over-the-top action. The hyperreal outlook takes some getting used to, but once you’ve made the transition, the beauty of Filoni’s brave new world becomes apparent. The cast of caricatures bear an intricate, textured aspect like that of hand-painted models, each familiar face lovingly exaggerated to fit the new mould.
There’s little reference to the larger saga here, focusing instead on the action, which unfolds through a series of slick skirmishes and colossal set-pieces. The stand-out is a giddy, vertical firefight on the craggy side of a plunging rock face - an arresting sequence that dares to try something genuinely fresh and inventive.
Traditional lightsaber duels are here as well, of course, thanks to the welcome return of Sith apprentice Asajj Ventress, whose sinister looks and dual ’sabers are as crowd-pleasing here as in Tartakovsky’s cartoon.
Ahsoka Tano is the main addition to the roster: a precocious youngling who serves as Anakin’s unwanted padawan. Probably the most worrisome aspect of the film for fans, this sassy, smart-mouthed Jedi-in-training is actually surprisingly affable, striking up a snappy rapport with Anakin, who casts aside his usual pouty petulance. In fact, there’s a lightening of tone all round, allowing some tremendous fun with battle droids (who have finally found their natural habitat) and the introduction of Zero The Hutt - a drawling, cross-dressing pimp of a character and the closest Star Wars has to an intergalactic Huggy Bear.
If this doesn’t sound quite like the Star Wars you remember, that’s because in many ways it’s not. The absence of the Fox fanfare (substituted by Warner Bros.’ theme) is followed with no opening crawl, and the main title feels awkward without John Williams’ iconic score – replaced by a proficient but less grand offering from Kevin Kiner. All of this detracts from the film’s cinematic impact. Indeed, serving as an elongated introduction to the new Clone Wars series (destined for British TVs next year), this feels more like great television writ large than a movie in its own right.
The biggest grumble for fans will be that Clone Wars skews towards a younger audience than the live-action films. Despite the occasional hint of darkness (Ahsoka’s omission from Episode III bodes ill), this is a more frivolous affair than we’re accustomed to. However, Lucas has oft said that while the fans have grown up, Star Wars never has, and in many ways The Clone Wars accomplishes exactly what he set out to do 30 years ago: take people out of themselves to a galaxy far, far away. It may not be what the (now older) fans are hoping for, but this is entirely in keeping with Lucas’ original vision - whether you like it or not.
Verdict An enjoyable escapade and a great introduction to the forthcoming series - just not the seventh Star Wars film fans were hoping for.
its not a film...its a feature long tv pilot blown up onto the big screen...and not a good one
this is a feature lenght pilot for the cartoon network tv series it is not a film and that is proved by its weak plot and bad script and yet again with modern star wars films its the music and action where the entertainment is. this is not a film its a pilot and not a good one maybe lucas should leave his old stuff alone and come up with a modern day hero which in 20 years time can make a crappy animation cash-in out of ... Read More
I don't understand why the Empire review only gives this 3 stars when there's not a single negative comment in the entire review! I totally agree with the review, but it seems like they're still sore from the criticism they got over their original ratings for the prequels. Don't be ashamed Empire, the Clone Wars deserves 4 stars! ... Read More
Hated the Starship Troopers voiceover rip-off. Why do you need it when you got the greatest Irvine-the-Explainer scroll ever in the history of cinema!
And the Yoda talk seemed far too Yoda-ish in it's execution. ... Read More
I'm enjoying the series. Anakin's actings better than the films. Hope they can do the same with the live action tv show. I was worried it might go down a Star Trek route where there's a moral to the story or some shit every week. Hope it don't turn into some kind of O.C type shit either with teeny characters ... Read More
I really really liked this. I thought the action was great and it felt really star wars like.
I'm also enjoying the TV series. I pretty much echo Tech and Rhubarb that its nice to go back to the universe and just have some plain entertaining fun.
The only annoying bit for me was Zero the hutt but his part was small and limited.
3.5/5 - Great entertainment.
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Terrible plot (Jabba son gets kidnapped?), Average CGI (Looks like a playstation 3 game), and rather wooden acting (I'm looking at you Obi Wan). The only redeeming factor was seeing the clones in action. other than that it just felt like a big joke. ... Read More
First off, the graphics are really great. Poor Count Dooku and Palpatine through. It looks like someone went a little over board on them. Thank you to the writers for inputting Anakin with a little more personality than just being moody all the time. It was far better than the clone wars cartoon which aired between the second and thrid film. ... Read More
Classic
Excellent
Good
Fair
Tragic
