Sometimes its untrue that no publicity is bad publicity, I think.
The animated STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS movie is a horrendous, unfunny, non-exciting, borefest that has very little redeeming value, except introducing us to spunky “Ashoka”, Anakin’s apprentice. And even then, you kind of hate her.
But this isn’t about that.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS on Cartoon Network is a different matter. The movie was the first three episodes strung together and it fails on that scale. Plus, like any first three episodes of a show, it doesn’t know what its trying to be. Like Trek or Buffy or Angel, the tone is all wrong, the characters unclear, and the idea is unpolished.
THEN, like those shows, they get it right. Unfortunately, lots of people heard how bad the flick was and have skipped the show, which, for Star Wars fans, is a mistake. While it is choppy (gotta get those plots wrapped up in 22 minutes), you see much more of the SW universe than you ever have. You meet cultures that are very new. You get to know a few of the clones (I like Rex a lot), and Ashoka comes into her own.
The show is basically set between Episodes 2 and 3, with Anakin and ObiWan (and occasionally Padme, Ashoka, Threepio, Yoda, and yes, even jar-Jar, who is not as bad here) representing the republic in diplomatic missions that tend to go wrong. Droids attack and the battles begin. From there, it gets darker, and we see a lot of the moral ambiguity of the Star Wars universe and war in general exposed. Clones rebel because they feel like slaves, a pacifist world is forced by the Jedi to abandon their ideals in order to survive, and villainous pirates are allowed to thrive because it benefits the republic.
Now, understand, it is a kids show, mostly. It has some cringe-y moments, but far fewer than Episodes 1 and 2 (Anakin is much better represented by this voice actor than Hayden Christiansen or Jake Lloyd) – but the show doesn’t hold back on the violence. Characters die, sometimes violently, and the action can be brutal.
All in all, as a total nerd, I love this show, look forward to it every week, and hope more people forget the movie and give it a shot. And, I think the Barnsonians will like it too.
Methink You Mean
The episodes take place between moves 2 & 3, not 1 & 2.
And my 6 year old & I though the Clone Wars movie was okay. It was just a 30-minutes episode stretched out toooo looooong. And it was like watching a video game. I think sometimes George gets a little too happy with his toys and doesn’t put the thought into the plot/story like he does with the special effects. I imagine there’s a big budget differential between writers and computer geeks at Skywalker Ranch…
But the show is cool. They ohh-ahh special effects are now “normal”, so the writing has gotten better.
My $.02 Weed