Star Wars-Clone Wars (Blu-ray) (2008)

"An enjoyable escapade and a great introduction to the forthcoming series...  James Dyer, Empire
"...has an uncluttered look and furious pace that make it more or less as satisfying as its wildly overdesigned predecessors.  Nathan Lee, The New York Times

Editor's Note Like the 2003 animated short films of the same name, STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS reveals what happened during the conflicts of the title, which are set between EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES and EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH. Unlike the former series, this CLONE WARS feature film uses computer animation (rather than more traditional 2-D animation) to tell its tales, which follow Obi-Wan Kenobi (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), and precocious new Jedi recruit Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) as they face off against the sinister Separatist forces led by Count Dooku (the legendary Christopher Lee, who reprises his role from the live-action movies). The film also features appearances by such beloved characters as Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson, also of EPISODES II and III), C3PO (Anthony Daniels), and Yoda (Tom Kane). Directed by Dave Filoni (AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER), THE CLONE WARS shares the same era and characters as the 2003 series, but is stylistically quite different, with a blocky look influenced in part by the marionettes of the 1960s U.K. show THUNDERBIRDS. While the voices of actors such as Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christiansen, and Frank Oz are missed, their successors handle their mantles well, confidently leading the heroes in fierce battles and tense chases. Though diehards of the original STAR WARS trilogy may shrug their shoulders at the CGI wizardy, young fans will find much to enjoy in this action-packed movie, which promises to be continued in a regular Cartoon Network TV series.

	Catherine Winder - Producer
	Nika Futterman - Voice
	James Arnold Taylor - Voice
	Samuel L. Jackson - Voice
	Dee Bradley Baker - Voice
	Tom Kane - Voice
	Anthony Daniels - Voice
	Ashley Eckstein - Voice
	Christopher Lee - Voice
	Matt Lanter - Voice
	Steve Melching - Screenwriter
	John Williams - Source Composer
	Corey Burton - Voice
	Ian Abercrombie - Voice
	George Lucas - Executive Producer
	Kevin Kiner - Composer
	Henry Gilroy - Screenwriter
	Scott Murphy - Screenwriter
	Dave Filoni - Director

New York Times
"THE CLONE WARS has an uncluttered look and furious pace..." 08/15/2008

Empire
3 stars out of 5 -- "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." 09/01/2008 p.62

ReelViews 6 of 10
When I was sitting in a theater during the summer of 1977 enthralled by the spectacle that was Star Wars, never did I imagine that, some 31 years later, I would find myself wishing it would go away. Overmerchandising, fan unfriendliness, and greed have sapped all that was magical about the Star Wars name. The Clone Wars, as obvious a money-grab as there has ever been, stands alongside the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special as officially sanctioned productions that are better ignored or forgotten. The Clone Wars is the last nail in a coffin that has been propped up ever since George Lucas sold his creative soul in the quest for a few more pieces of gold...There's just enough of John Williams' main title to trick us into momentarily believing this is a true Star Wars movie, but even that has been re-mixed so it doesn't sound quite right. The incidental music is adequate but, considering what we have come to expect from the Star Wars features, it sounds pedestrian. It's another example of how much the entire project feels like a cheap knock-off - an attempt to prey on whatever little good will still exists in Star Wars fandom. Judging by the surprisingly sparse audience at the "free" promotional screening, however, there's not much enthusiasm out there for The Clone Wars...This surely won't be the last time Lucas attempts to wring blood from his Star Wars stone, but perhaps this golden egg is hard-boiled. - James Berardinelli