‘The Clone Wars’: Re-cloning of the Star Wars saga

(Published Sept. 4, PDI-Entertainment)
By Oliver M. Pulumbarit
Contributor

“The Clone Wars” is a new animated feature that further fleshes out events that happened between Episodes II and III of the ultra-profitable saga/franchise.

It still speaks to the diehard Star Wars fan, as it recreates some of the better themes of the two previous trilogies. Lucas delegates the directing duties to Dave Filoni (“Avatar: The Last Airbender”) and the writing chores to three screenwriters. The film adds valuable details to the Star Wars tapestry without contradicting continuity. However, it also replicates some of the tedious moments of the prequels, as well as some weird storytelling tics.

A narrator, sounding like a radio reporter, gives a quick, flashy summary of the Clone Wars conflict. We’re soon acquainted with characters familiar and previously unseen. The war, secretly manipulated by the evil Sith Lords Darth Sidious and Count Dooku, takes a turn for the worse when the son of crimelord Jabba the Hutt is abducted. The Jedi--Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Anakin’s new Padawan (apprentice) Ahsoka Tano--must rescue the young Hutt, or their war will escalate with the involvement of the enraged Jabba’s crime network.

The lightsaber duels here are good--there are a few between the heroes and aspiring Sith Lord Asajj Ventress--but they’re nothing we haven’t seen before. The same goes for the generic battlefield-scale fights between the clone and droid armies. Moreover, the banter between Ahsoka and Anakin is pretty repetitive in declaring similar reckless attitudes.

But the generally toned-down dialogue, made more comprehensible than usual to a younger audience (presumably because the film is the precursor to an upcoming TV series), works in this new medium.

“Clone Wars” dodges problems such as wooden or inconsistent actors; it’s not a live-action film, so facial expressions and reactions are done just right. The animation quality is impeccable; there’s no unnecessary sheen or gloss to the faces and other textures because of the brush-like strokes.

Nicely designed new characters, like Jabba’s fey uncle Ziro the Hutt (an eccentric, Capote-sounding baddie) and Ahsoka (the young, enthusiastic heroine) are pretty likeable, while some established ones like secret lovers Anakin and Padme, surprisingly, become quite intriguing.

Brace yourself for the flaws, but enjoy the return of a familiar, yet different, galaxy-trekking ride.