The Stampede

Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Features

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away the words "Star Wars" inspired many a child to run around the house like a Jedi using the Force to defeat members of the Dark Side. Nowadays it seems that most fans believe the magic of "Star Wars" has just fizzled out. I never wanted to believe that, but with "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," I've finally joined those fans who believe that "Star Wars" is dead.

Personally, this is a hard review for me to write. Ever since I could remember I was a "Star Wars" kid. I loved watching the movies. I had the toys, t-shirts, comic books and video games. I was there at each opening night of the "Special Edition" trilogy in 1995 and each midnight showing of the prequels. I even have a special edition Darth Vader lightsaber replica. Yes, I know, I'm a geek.

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars" takes place during the time between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith." The Separatist army is at war with the Galactic Republic and the Jedi. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker find out that the Separatists have kidnapped Jabba the Hutt's son. In order to gain control of the galactic trade routes which Jabba controls, the Jedi must hatch a plan to reunite Jabba with his son. Along the way, Skywalker is given a padawan named Ashoka who helps him track down the Hutt.

The film is, in a nutshell, the first three episodes of the new TV series that will soon debut on Cartoon Network. Because of this, the film is limited by a budget that leaves much to be desired. There's a reason TV shows belong on the small screen-- the filmmaking just seems lazy. The whole thing stinks of a quick cash grab for Lucasfilm and Warner Bros., since they don't really have any money to begin with.

This film just never reaches the greatness that "Star Wars" has always had for me and countless other kids who were inspired by the imaginative world George Lucas created back in 1977. I was one of the few who would argue the merit of the prequel trilogy and even Jar Jar Binks. It seems after viewing "The Clone Wars," my lifelong love affair with "Star Wars" has been in vain.

The biggest problem with the film is that the "Star Wars" universe has been dumbed down and made more child friendly. This means that everything you see on the screen is there not to tell a story, but to sell action figures. What was wrong with the basic "Star Wars" storytelling technique that served not one, but six films? There is no need to "kiddiefy" something that was already for kids in the first place.

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