Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Synopsis

The Star Wars  franchise is back with its first animated film to hit the big screen. The Republic is diligently trying to maintain order through out the galaxy as the force of the ‘dark’ grows stronger. During the combat, a group of mysterious rebels kidnap crime boss Jabba the Hutt’s son. Jabba controls important supply lines needed to gain an advantage in the war. Young Jedi Anikan Skywalker (Matt Lanter) and his even younger Padawan apprentice Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Drane) carry on a mission to find Jabba’s son to prevent an alliance between...er...“him” and the separatists.

Review

The Battle is on in the Galactic world and it’s not being shown as a live action film this time around. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is the seventh Star Wars feature film, except this time the characters have been animated in a full-length feature film. It’s set between Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Get ready for the saber fighting, giant battle scenes and corny stiff dialogue that is the trademark of this franchise. Oh—and the big fat snail Jabba the Hutt. He's back and he’s animated. And he still looks like he smells something awful.

If you don’t know anything about Star Wars, then this review isn’t going to make a bit of sense. I’ll try to break it down in a Sesame Street type of way. If you’re still confused, then perhaps a little Star Wars research may help. Or perhaps you don’t have time to understand all the characters and the plot, which feels more episode-like than a plot written for a big movie.

The Clone Wars are raging amid the Separatists and the Galactic Republic. Jabba the Hutt’s little son, Rotta has been kidnapped. Give me a moment on this one (gag). Have you seen Jabba the Hutt? Do you know what this big, funky life size snail thing looks like? He is ugly. No, he is OOOOOGLY. So, I’m sitting there thinking, “What in the world is his baby going to look like?” I’ll let you see it for yourself. I don’t want to spoil the surprise."

Anyhoo, the Jedi’s have been summoned to help find Rotta and return the funny looking thing back to Mighty Jabba. Of course, I don’t think this is being done out of the goodness of their hearts. Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) stresses to his Padawan, Anikan Skywalker (Lanter), that Rotta will be returned safe and sound to Jabba and for thanks, the Hutts should allow them to use their trading routes for safe passage within the most remote part of the galaxy. This task isn’t as easy or as boring as it seems. And to add to the adventure, Anikan has to bring along his newly-assigned Padawan, the big-eyed, for-some-reason-kind-pretty and not quite human Ashoka Tano. Ashoka is I guess the typical young buck trying to prove herself.

Anakin Sywalker and his little Padawan apprentice get their fight on with battle droids trying to save little Rotta throughout the movie. Their relationship is more like a big brother, lil’ sister type of thing. They have some corny banter and little pet names they call each other.

The storyline is nothing spectacular. The dialogue seems to be an excuse for the battle scenes, which are creative and highly animated. At least they don’t sugar coat the battles—folks get shot and blown up (nothing graphic—just dropping ”dead”). If you are a big fan of Star Wars, in many ways you kinda just have to go see this one since you’ve seen all the others. You get a chance to see your favorite characters in a new style.

Clone Wars is a great movie to be on TV. Seeing it in theaters can definitely be skipped. There's nothing really to say about the movie that is remarkable. However, if you need a PG movie to take your youngins to, Clone Wars isn’t bad.

My Rating ~ 2 Reels

Audience Rating (What's Yours?)