Star Wars: Clone Wars

This series was what made me interested into the Star Wars saga when I was only 4 years old. Then I never got a change to watch it until 14 and I was amused that it was created by Genndy Tartakovsky (creator of Dexter's Laboratory, Samurai Jack Sym Bionic Titan and Hotel Transylvania 1 and 2 ). Years later, then came that brilliant CGI Star Wars: The Clone Wars series.

PLOT: Takes place between the events of Star Wars Episode II & III. Where the Clone Wars has spread across The Galaxy and its up to Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Master Yoda and Mace Windu to take down the evil forces of Count Dooku and Darth Sidious. 9/10

CHARACTERS: Each character in this series was given there own episodes, including The Clones.E.g.Mace Windu kicking droid ass, Obi-Wan leading the clones into battle, Count Dooku training his new apprentice, Assajj Ventress, a forcesensitive woman who joined the Sith prior to the events of series, Master Yoda and Padme defending a sacred Jedi temple, bad ass Grievous kidnapping Chancellor Palpatine and last, but not least, Anakin Skywalker who defeated Ventress, saved a tribe of primitive aliens whilebeing influenced to becoming the evil Darth Vader. Despite lack of character development, all the characters on this show were likable and no Jar Jar Binks.7/10

ANIMATION: Like Samurai Jack, it was also one of the best well animated cartoons at that time and matched there movements. 10/10 In conclusion, the series even won five Golden Emmy Awards, including Best Animation Complexion and Best Outstanding Television Series. Star Wars: The Clone Wars and this series will forever great. 8/10

This show goes by like a gust of cool wind. It feels good, but before you know it, it's gone! I wonder what G. T. was thinking when he made this series so short? Each episode only 5 minutes long! You want more, a lot more. Besides the length, the style of the series is very lush, artistic animation. It has the epic feel of the movies, along with the humor that G. T. used in Samurai Jack. He uses almost cinematic shots with epic scores. The characters are interpreted nicely, with the essence of them intact.

With strong animation by Tartakovsky, the Star Wars world has been able to open up even further while also implanting more doors that we (the lowly nerd) could easily escape to and spend hours upon hours exploring. I am talking about the sheer brilliance of Star Wars: Clone Wars released by the Cartoon Network. I walked away from the first two prequels wondering if we were ever going to see any decent action or adventure. While there was some in the films, it was nothing like what I experienced here in the animated versions. Finally, we have gripping Jedi battles, lightsaber moments that will have you grimacing from your couch, and our first glimpse into the dark cloud that will surely begin to cover the third and final episode of this gripping mythology. This was exactly what I needed to bring a stronger feeling as to what these Clone Wars were going to be like. Now, I know that I haven't seen Episode III yet, and I know that more of my questions will be answered, but this was the PERFECT segway. These animated cartoons are for the most avid fans, as well as those just looking to catch up before entering into the doorway of nerdom that opening weekend. It is powerful and visually beautiful, just how Mr. Lucas would have wanted it.

I will be honest, I am one of those poor saps that had never seen a full episode of Dexter's Laboratory or Samurai Jack due to having no cable at the house, but after a viewing of what Tartakovsky has done with this simple task, I cannot wait to get my hands on more of his work. To say that his work was visually beautiful would be a dark understatement. His work on this project fully embodied the feel and emotion of the Jedi's during these battles. A "war" does take place between more than one person, and I gobbled up the idea of watching the smaller battles being won by the smaller heroes (if there is such a thing). The Windu battle is one of my favorite, as the battle between the female Sith and Anakin will flashback you to early Star Wars moments. Lucas did right by placing his stamp of approval on this project, which shows that this war is more than just his imagination, but that of thousands.

While I will agree with most critics that there was very little character development, I do not see this as a negative towards the film. In the first two episodes, we have enough to familiarize ourselves with the characters as well as understand their purpose in life. We do not need that here, this animated film is designed to give us a great range of the war, the impact that it has on more than just our "popular Jedi". This opened up that proverbial "door" that I mentioned before that literally opens several hundred different stories and adventures. It pulled this war from the mere shadows of the bigger films and gave us these haunting images that may seem rather poignant in today's culture. It is sad, exciting, and intense all at the same time.

Finally, I would like to say that I cannot wait to see where these artists take this series. I know that there is already a "Volume II" preparing to be released, and I will be very excited to get my hands on that to see where our next battle will take place, or whose lives in the Star Wars universe it will effect. It is like a Pandora's box that is going to release some darkness on the world, and it is up to us to open it. I cannot wait, and again, suggest it to anyone that has kept this galactic story close to his or her heart.

Overall, if you couldn't tell already, I loved this "short" film. While I remember watching them on my computer when they were first released, I felt that the three minutes they were handed were not enough, I wanted more and I didn't want to wait. Thankfully, this is released in a full 65 minute run which will give you the full effect of the power behind this universe. I am a Star Wars fan, and I am not afraid to admit it. I thought that this disc did a great job of blending the episodes together and giving this ultimate war, the Clone Wars, some depth and humanity (if you can call it that). I suggest it to anyone looking to get a leg up on the recently released episode, while constantly impressing your friends and loved ones at a party. Don't worry, I do it all the time!

Hurrah!

Grade: ***** out of *****

A lot of people are turned off by the art style and/or lack of in-depth storytelling in the Star Wars: Clone Wars micro-series. There's also the odd fact that each episode is merely 3 minutes in length. Before cursing this cartoon, however, there are a few things to take into consideration...

Most fans complained that Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones did not feature enough of the "Clone Wars" mentioned back in Episode IV of the original trilogy. The fans wanted more grand battle scenes. They wanted more lightsaber duels. They wanted to see more of the obscure Jedi. Star Wars: Clone Wars delivers all of these things in abundance.

The art style is well-known to fans of any of the Cartoon Network series, including Samurai Jack, etc. The image of extremely stylized characters may be jarring at first to Star Wars fans who are used to only seeing their favorite characters portrayed in live-action film. This style, however, allows for very fluid animation and beautifully rendered battle scenes (on a relatively small budget!).

Yes, this series is all about the action. It's not meant to be "Episode 2.5," but instead a small treat for the fans to enjoy while waiting until Star Wars Episode III is released in 2005. What's more, Star Wars: Clone Wars lets fans see some brand new characters that didn't make the cut into the feature films, as well as the first-ever appearance of the main villain for Episode III: General Grievous.

Anyone who complains about this cartoon is simply ungrateful and impossible to please. Myself not being a hardcore Star Wars fan, I found that Star Wars: Clone Wars actually got me more excited about the Star Wars series in general. I would recommend the micro-series to any fan of action and science fiction.

Star Wars: Clone Wars is the only micro-series to come from the Star Wars name, and it's a very entertaining series that condenses all we've loved from The Original Trilogy: all packed into 20 two-to-three minute episodes in Volume 1, and 5 twelve-minute ones in Volume 2.

Cartoon Network proved its worth just from obtaining the Star Wars name alone, and this payed off significantly for them as they got the 'sequel' series to this: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which would be computer animated and air from 2008-2014. Both Clone Wars shows give the fans what they want: lightsaber action, dogfights in space, and smooth, smooth editing.

Short and sweet as can be, this show is.