There are two questions one
should ask about this movie. In reverse order, the second is simply whether "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"
is worth seeing. The first is whether this film should exist at all.
Focusing on the latter
question, no less than George
Lucas himself brings out a valid point as to why he did the film. The
"first" three "Star Wars"
films [Episodes I-III] never
really address the full scope and depth of what the Clone Wars — so important
in Star Wars mythology - were all about. The films were mostly about the
eventual transformation of Anakin Skykwalker into Darth Vader. In the vein of
the Dark Horse comic book stories and various novels, there are a ton of other
stories that could set around this period. Do them well enough, and they can
even be canon.
Seems to be a solid enough
argument. So that leaves the question about the movie itself. Guess what? It's
not that bad.
The introduction
of the new character, Skywalker's new 14-year-old padawan Asohka Tano
(voiced by Ashley Eckstein nee Drane), should tell old school Star Wars fans two
things. First, this movie (which leads into the upcoming Cartoon Network
animated television series) may not quite be what you're hoping for. It seems
to be aiming for your younger sibs and/or your kids. The second, and a key
reason why this whole project is animated to begin with, is she seems to
represent the return of something sorely missing since the original three
films. That missing element was fun.
And let's be plain. "The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the
Clones," and "Revenge of the Sith" were
a lot of things, but none of them was fun.
They were ponderous affairs that suffered from their own self-importance. Sure,
the creation and downfall of a hero is not the stuff of slapstick humor, but
dark points are best highlighted when put up against light. Ask Tim Burton (or
Seth Green and the "Robot
Chicken" crew). "Star Wars Episodes I, II, III" were overall gloomy affairs.
One thing one can't help noticing is this new animated film gets a shot of
adrenalin when the character
of Asohka is introduced.
As any fan of science
fiction can guess, this "youngling" is extremely talented, a bit headstrong,
and prone to act before thinking. Sound familiar? Initial impressions are
Asohka is a less damaged reflection of her new teacher and master, one Anakin
Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter, Brody on "Heroes").
This leads to scenes where they repeatedly butt heads before they start mowing
down Droids like nobody's business. All the while General Obi-Wan (animation
vet James Arnold Taylor) and Yoda (Tom Kane, whose voice credits include Tony
Stark/Iron Man and Kim Possible's Lord Monkey Fist) look on and shake their
heads...at least until they also start cleaving through seas of Separatist
Droids.
The film's plot itself
isn't that bad. Someone has kidnapped Jabba The Hutt's kid, and whoever gets
the little slug back is going to have some serious strategic advantages in the
ongoing war between the Republic and the Separatists. Of course, the kidnapping
isn't everything it initially appears to be. Darth Sidious and Douku throw in
some nice plot twists into the mix, making sure that Anakin and Asohka are
hopping from one planet to the next without giving the audience that much time
to think. Overall, this makes this
Star Wars film a much better viewing experience than the ones the story is set
between.
This leads us to where the
biggest objections from Star Wars fanatics will probably come. The animation
process that LucasFilm employs does take some getting adjusted to. Apparently
inspired by maquettes based on the Genndy Tartakovsky micro-series (which ran
on Cartoon Network, and is now out on DVD), it speaks volumes about what can
happen when you translate a formerly 2-D animation process into 3-D CGI. Tartakovsky's
admittedly highly-bright but extremely flat style is reminiscent of Byzantine
icon art. That didn't mean the Byzantines did statues using the same technique.
Frankly, while the eyes and
mouths are exceedingly expressive in this film, the rest of the faces feel odd
to say the least. Obi-Wan looks like he shaves with a wood chipper instead of a
razor. The ridges in Yoda's head look like canyons. Every character's cheeks
are so sunken one has to wonder if they are all starving to death.
Yet while the character
designs leave something to be desired, to be fair director Dave Filoni and
company have their action sequencing/timing and background designs spot on. The
desert scenes ... and there seems to be a lot of desert planets out there in
the universe ... may not quite reach the depths of Sir David Lean, but are
impressive none the less. The insides of various structures feel properly alien
yet functional. Finally, when the various Sith, Jedi, Droids, and Clones go at
each other, they do so with incredible smoothness and speed.
So if you're looking for
some solid action, that's one thing this film will give you in spades. Just
don't look too closely at the characters themselves, and you'll do fine.
In fact, this leads to one
final impression. Yes, this film has its problems when seen on the big screen.
At the same time, however, one gets the impression it's going to look a ton
better when it moves to TV. What seems either to be a mistake or just plain
weird when on a screen 40 feet tall will look a heck of a lot better on a
50-inch flat screen.
If Lucas, Filoni, and crew
keep the humor and action up to the level of this movie, then guess what? "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"
should have no problem being accepted into Star Wars lore. As it stands, the fun
that made the original three films is back. Here's to hoping it sticks around
for 26 televised episodes or hopefully more.
"Star Wars: The Clone
Wars" is rated PG and opens in theaters nationwide today. Running time: 98
minutes.
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