Yoda
returns in the animated
series Star Wars : The Clone Wars
We
might as well get it out of the way now - I never quite got the whole
"Star Wars" thing.
I
can appreciate how the characters hold a symbolic and cult status
within pop-culture society, I appreciate the effect George Lucas'
foresight has had on Hollywood, I appreciate the visuals... but when it
comes to actually understanding what is actually happening
within each movie - I'm completely lost.
So
when it comes to sitting down to digest a movie... comprising of the
first few episodes of a new TV series... which is a spin-off of a
traditionally animated series... which is set between the second and
third movie... of the prequels which came after the last three
movies...
Needless to say, it all gets a bit much for my puny mind.
As far as I can gather, The
Clone Wars concept is little more than Lucas & Co
elaborating on the many deleted scenes which didn't quite fit into
either Attack of the
Clones or Revenge
of the Sith - but still hold some significance on the Star Wars mythology
as a whole.
So in that regard, again, I can appreciate its relevance to fans of the
series.
For what it's worth, hearing it from a non-Jedi like myself, Star Wars : The Clone Wars
is actually quite good.
The
story combines the first few episodes of the new series, and continues
on as
the galaxy is consumed by the Clone Wars (a massive civil war that has
pitted the evil Separatists and their droid armies against the Republic
and its Jedi protectors).
To gain an
advantage in the ever-escalating
conflict, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan learner Ahsoka
Tano are sent on a mission to save the son of Jabba the Hutt in an
effort to use the good-will as political currency.
The visuals
here are absolutely astonishing, the fight sequences pretty cool, and a
story which doesn't confuse (or toss up as many names of Senators) as
the films do.
While CGI was always at the forefront of what the newer Star Wars
films had to offer, it always played as more of a distraction for mine.
Perhaps that's why I never really got a grasp of the storyline - being
too busy trying to work out what was CG and what was real.
That problem doesn't exist here.
This
time, with every visual effect working in some kind of unison, the
focus is firmly
entrenched within the events and storyline and the movie is much better
for it. The character design is sublime, looking like a cross between
3D anime and dirty clay-mation, and it never detracts from the
story at hand.
While the voice performances leave a lot
to be desired (the most glaringly obvious is a woeful "New Zealand"
accent which sounds like an even worse "American-Doing-An-Aussie"
accent) but that has to be expected when you take into consideration it
is a pre-cursor to a TV series.
It certainly is one for the kids
(the comic-relief of the clone droids and ewoks had the kiddies in my
cinema giggling), but the die hard fans will eat every inch of it up
(while complaining about it at the same time...) as well.
Whether you like Star
Wars
or not, you really have to commend Lucas and his constant strive for
innovation - this state-of-the-art CGI television series is yet another
enormous step which will most likely become commonplace in a few years
time. So while it may not be perfect - it opens the door to
perfection.
And you can't fault that.
3 out
of 5
Star Wars:
The Clone Wars Australian release: 14th August,
2008 Official
Site:Star Wars: The Clone Wars Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Matt
Lanter, Ian Abercrombie, Corey Burton Director: Dave Filoni
