Film Review: Star Wars - The Clone Wars

Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG)

Dir. Dave Filoni

Reviewed by Matt 'Skywalker' Adcock

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... there was simply too much money to be made not to bring out another Star Wars film.So here are the stylised CGI Clone Wars, which see the Galactic Republic clones and Jedi battling the evil Separatists led by nefarious Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). Fitting in neatly between Episodes Two and Three, The Clone Wars aims to weave a plot-linking tale that encompasses most of the Star Wars characters.And much to my delight, this animated romp delivers a much more fun Star Wars tale than any of the last three live action prequels! For once the plot is kept reasonably simple – Obi-Wan Kenobi and one day Lord Vader Anakin Skywalker are the main Jedi here, who get caught up in a plot concerning Jabba the Hutt's offspring whilst breaking in new young Padawan apprentice Ahsoka Tano. Everything cracks along at a good pace, there's humour, menace and much butt kicking. It doesn't skimp on the 'war is hell' messaging either, and there is much sacrifice, plenty of honour and lots of treachery exhibited by the various warring factions.The Clone Wars pulses with real meaty action that rarely lets up and the freedom to do pretty much anything thanks to the animated world results in some jaw-droppingly audacious scenarios, which would cost untold millions to attempt in any other format. This is basically Star Wars fan wish-fulfilment for those who felt that the prequel trilogy lacked enough action and excitement.Sure the dialogue hasn't got any less clunky and those who don't know their Wookies from their Phantom Menaces might take a while to acclimatise to the world of Jedi, droids and Sith, but Star Wars: The Clone Wars will delight those who still hold dear the ways of The Force. Don't listen to those nay-sayers who have been turned by the Dark Side – the Force is certainly strong in this new film!


Star Wars is still a 'force' to be reckoned with!


DARKMATTERS RATING SYSTEM (all ratings out of maximum 10 but '-' is bad whereas '+' is good):

Endorphin Stimulation: ööööööö (7)
+ Star Wars fans get the prequel they've been wanting!!

Tasty Action: öööööööö (8)
+ Animated Jedi ass kicking, bring it!

Gratuitous Babeness: ööööööö (7)
+ I know it's wrong but I quite fancy Ahsoka

Mind Blight / Boredom: öö (2)
+ Over too quickly to get boring...

Comedic Value: öööööööö (8)
+ This has some decent laughs, why can't the live action SW films be a fun?

Arbitrary final rating: öööööööö (8)
The Force is crackling through my veins again

Liable to make you:
"sign up as a Jedi (again)"

DM Poster Quote:
“Just when you thought the force had gone..."

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Look out for Matt's review of new PS3 game 'The Force Unleashed' (link to follow)

Did you know: Matt's reviews can also be read in the following UK weekly newspapers - The Luton News, The Milton Keynes Citizen and The Biggleswade Chronicle?

Random trivia:

1. Matt named his eldest son 'Luke' after Luke Skywalker... Just so he could say to him "Luke, I AM YOUR FATHER"
2. Matt's younger son 'James' wants to be a Jedi when he grows up...