Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) Directed by Dave Filoni. Created by George Lucas.
”Hey, Skyguy!” Padiwan Ahsoka Tano.
This is not the seventh Star Wars Movie. This is the feature length introduction to the new cartoon series that will run on TNT and Cartoon Network later this year. Once you understand this, you will have a much better time. This is not the continuation of the saga; this is aimed at the younglings.
Now, all that aside, how was it?
It was surprisingly entertaining. Here is a capsule synopsis. The Separatists have cut the main forces of the clone army off from the outer rim. It is desperately important that the Republic gain access to Hutt Space to move troops. An opportunity has seemingly presented itself. Jabba the Hutt’s son has been kidnapped. Obi-Wan and Anakin are slated to find the youngling and return him to his Crime lord father, thus insuring his good will, and passage through Hutt Space.
However, Obi Wan and Anakin are not as free as the first appeared; the battle on the planet they were on has taken a turn for the worse, and their communications have been cut. A messenger is dispatched, the Padiwan Ahsoka Tano, a Togruta female youngling. She is to be the padiwan learner of…Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin does not want a padiwan, but Ahsoka is perhaps nearly as reckless as he. Together, they must go to Tehn, and free the Huttling, while Obi-Wan mops up the war.
Of course, it is not that simple. Count Dooku, (AKA Darth Tyranus) is behind the plot, and his apprentice Ventress is waiting for the Jedi….and the plot is not even that simple.
The Cast One of the notable things is that with a few very notable exceptions, these voice actors are not the stars of the movies. This is the first time Yoda is not voiced by Frank Oz.
Samuel L. Jackson ... Mace Windu (voice) Anthony Daniels ... C-3PO (voice) Christopher Lee ... Count Dooku (voice)
Matt Lanter ... Anakin Skywalker (voice) Ashley Eckstein ... Ahsoka Tano (voice) James Arnold Taylor ... Obi-Wan Kenobi / 4-A7 / Medical Droid (voice) Dee Bradley Baker ... Clone Troopers / Captain Rex / Cody (voice) Tom Kane ... Yoda / Narrator / Admiral Yularen (voice) Nika Futterman ... Asajj Ventress / Tee-C-Seventy (voice) Ian Abercrombie ... Chancellor Palpatine / Darth Sidious (voice) Corey Burton ... General Loathsom / Ziro the Hutt / Kronos-327 (voice) Catherine Taber ... Padmé Amidala (voice) Matthew Wood ... Battle Droids (voice) Kevin Michael Richardson ... Jabba the Hutt (voice) David Acord ... Rotta the Huttlet (voice)
Actually, I have no complaints about the voice talents; all were well done, and tended to match their more famous counter parts.
The Analysis This is a CGI animation. It is a wedding of the angular style of the earlier Clone Wars Cartoons (Volume One and Two) and the puppet animation of Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. That said, it works on a lot of levels. I do not like certain things about this…particularly the stiff movements of the lekku or head tentacles on Ahsoka and the various Twi’leks. Some of the art has odd choices; Ventress’ bosom rides a little low, her jaw is a bit butch, but these are personal things; I did not like the art of the cartoon Clone Wars. On the other hand, it was done with a lavish hand, attention to detail, and lush construction. Visually, the piece is stunning, particularly the purely architectural scenes. It makes an impression.
The music was something of a let down…no John Williams. Then again, I doubt Mr. Williams would consent to score a children’s cartoon. And really, that is what this is, just altered in scale.
The plot is fairly clear cut; easy to follow by younglings, but not childish. It has twists and reversals, but it is not so convoluted that it is going to loose a bright seven year old. It is also a plot kids get; kidnappers are bad. The baby is sick. Daddy is worried. And Dooku is making everyone look bad.
The pacing is quick, the better to hold young minds.
One sour note; Ziro the Hutt. He rivals Jar Jar for annoyance factor. Imagine Truman Capote the Hutt. Need I say more?
Overall, this is an excellent product, for what it is. Now, if George Lucas said, “This is episode 2.5” I would be leading the pack of howling hyenas demanding his liver. But it is not. It is a side bar, aimed at children, and yes, it has a time and place on the time line, and it does advance the story, but so do the comics and the books. This thing here is, This is a movie, and those things are not. It feels like it is intruding….
Recognize the feeling, acknowledge it, and repeat after me; “It’s just a cartoon.”
Do this, and you can enjoy this movie, with your kids, and look forward to the upcoming Animated series.
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