Star Wars: The Clone Wars coming to theaters this August
posted at 7:25 pm on February 12, 2008 by Bryan
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It’s animated and it’s based on the cartoon short series that aired on the Cartoon Network prior to the release of ROTS. That series was duuuuuull up until the last couple of episodes. Those led up to the beginning of ROTS, and showed Grievous killing jedi, attacking Coruscant and capturing Palpatine. Up to then, it was mostly Anakin pouting amid random set-piece battles between clones and droids.
This beast, which may be the last SW film to hit theaters (though we’ve heard that before) is 3D animated and doesn’t look terrible. Mostly because Lucas isn’t directing.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is set to open Aug. 15, with all the familiar characters from the prequel trilogy and one big difference: The saga is computer-animated.
The feature film, chronicling the wartime adventures of a pre-Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker and mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, takes place immediately before the events in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith. It serves as a kickoff for the half-hour animated TV series planned for fall on Cartoon Network and TNT.
“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” creator George Lucas said in a statement. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation.”
He was also eager to provide more story fodder for Star Wars games and push the technology on that end a bit farther. And it’ll be one more thing to sell on a bazillion formats on the home market later on.
I give this a big “Meh.” Anakin gets a padawan, the story is mostly known, and while the old Clone Wars had its moments and the new one probably will too, the real Star Wars action is in video games and that’s where it’s likely to stay. Lucas is no fool: Games have already become a bigger industry than Hollywood itself, depending on how you count the coins.
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I wish they’d make it relative to today, make it Humans vs. the Sand People.
Tony737 on February 12, 2008 at 7:35 PM
Oboy.
A f*cking CARTOON.
thareb on February 12, 2008 at 7:46 PM
I love nerdy posts
Baphomet on February 12, 2008 at 7:47 PM
“the real Star Wars action is in video games and that’s where it’s likely to stay”
I find your faith disturbing.
The Force Unleashed might be good, Knights of the Old Republic was good, Lego Star Wars is pretty good, and the Rogue Squadron franchise on the Gamecube/N64 was very good, but the list of crappy Star Wars games is nearly a mile long.
Things can, and will, turn sour very quickly. The Star Wars franchise has an ocean of fanboy tears associated with it, so I’m not sure I share your optimism.
Nessuno on February 12, 2008 at 7:48 PM
So this is Star Wars, and not Star Trek? Those things are different, right?
Chuck Schick on February 12, 2008 at 7:49 PM
Have you seen them consecutively on DVD or just bits and pieces on CN?
SouthernDem on February 12, 2008 at 7:50 PM
The KOTOR series is excellent, I hope they make another one.
doubleplusundead on February 12, 2008 at 7:51 PM
When you say it’s “3D Animated” do you mean “3-D glasses” 3-D? Or just “computer graphic 3-D”?
‘Cause I’d be far more inclined to see this if it were “glasses 3-D”…that would be niiice.
JetBoy on February 12, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Not that it matters, but for the ‘computer animated’ aspect, is it Flash, like Southpark, animation? Or is it more like Beowulf computer animation?
Weebork on February 12, 2008 at 7:55 PM
I’m guessing its just CGI.
doubleplusundead on February 12, 2008 at 7:56 PM
I hate you George Lucas…With the exception of a handful of good SW games you have completely sold your soul.
Lance Murdock on February 12, 2008 at 8:06 PM
yeah, that’s what I’m thinking…darn.
eh, I’m sure I’ll go see it anyway…anything Star Wars, and I’m there. I’m such a geek.
JetBoy on February 12, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Th’ain’t nothin’ like SUCK!!! Can’t wait!
Oh, well, yeah I can
HerrMorgenholz on February 12, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Only the first KOTOR was good. The second was sad and depressing – like watching a fine wine get old and stale in front of your eyes. I didn’t even understand the second one; it was retarded. The first one had the best “twist” ever.
Mass Effect blows the second one up, easily.
lorien1973 on February 12, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Yeah, me too. I’m hoping for a third installment, but I’m sure Lucasarts has been busy with “The Force Unleashed”.
TimboJackson on February 12, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Nah. It was awesome.
Baphomet on February 12, 2008 at 8:13 PM
By the way, the video game SW: Force Unleashed is expected to be released in August.
Phooey.
Weebork on February 12, 2008 at 8:14 PM
Maybe people will finally stop asking why Grievous was “coughing” at the beginning of Revenge (Mace Windu force-crushed Grievous’ chest as he fled with Palpatine/Darth Sidious).
Maybe this will also fill/expand the backstory in Clone Wars with the mystery duel-saber wielding jedi-trained alien.
And maybe they will show/expand the whole ceremony where a newly minted Jedi creates their first light saber by picking a Kyber crystal in that special cave that is the only place you can get the crystals.
Neo on February 12, 2008 at 8:14 PM
I am still holding out hope for post Episode VI movies. I’ve read a number of the books and several of them would make fantastic films.
Mooseman on February 12, 2008 at 8:22 PM
Hold me Obi-Wan, like you did on the shores, by the lake, on Naboo, near that thing, over there, by the shore, on the lake.
benrand on February 12, 2008 at 8:50 PM
I love CN and the series, but if memory serves they decided to do little 5 min clips once a day for a couple of weeks. Very frustrating. I will pay for a ticket to see a feature length version. Btw I really dont like Star Wars, but you can animate pretty much anything and I’ll watch it. Including a series about articles of food that fight crime and live next to a lonely, raunchy, hateful neighbor named Carl.
VolMagic on February 12, 2008 at 9:07 PM
The Brown Pant Suit Hillary
mred on February 12, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Milking a dead cow is Hollywood’s [un]original sin.
“When you run out of ideas, have a guy come through the doorway with a [ray]gun.”- Raymond “inventor of Google” Chandler.
profitsbeard on February 12, 2008 at 9:11 PM
Its odd, all the ways that KOTOR could have been improved in KOTOR II was done, but it it was weaker where KOTOR was strong. I think I liked II mostly because you could manipulate your party in a way that you couldn’t with the original. Plus when you were a consular/Sith Lord, you were so powerful you could just annihilate everything in your path.
doubleplusundead on February 12, 2008 at 9:20 PM
Why is Bryan wasting all of our time trying to do a post that AP should have written?
1st of all, if Bryan doesn’t like the animated clone wars, he shouldn’t post about it. AP doesn’t do a post like this and bad-mouth the subject matter unless his ridicule is in and of itself entertaining. Bryan’s “don’t impress me much” attitude is just a turn off when the only reason to even post something like this is if it is cool.
2nd, the animated clone wars was an awesome series done by an incredible creative talent far superior to what Lucas has become. To call it the series dull is just foolishness. The series is far, far, far more action oriented than the actual star wars movies.
Don’t bother posting something like this if you aren’t even genuinely excited about it.
kaltes on February 12, 2008 at 10:18 PM
Creatively bankrupt doesn’t mean you can’t get paid. Man, can’t he do anything else?
DMeNTe on February 13, 2008 at 1:20 AM
The fanboys cry, but continue to buy.
Personally there haven’t been too many good SW games since TIE Fighter and Dark Forces (back in the day when practically every SW game was consistently excellent), but it sure won’t stop them from pumping them out
And every so often, as a result, we get blessed with KOTOR and the like
and
Really don’t go together, btw. Almost all of AP’s whole persona on this site is that of a jaded cynic, with a dry British-esque humour thrown in for good measure. If anything, complain that Bryan did a bang-up job of flattering it
Reaps on February 13, 2008 at 1:44 AM
No, in technology type posts, like the one he just did on the star wars video game, he actually thinks its cool. He doesn’t throw it out there and say “meh, its ok”.
kaltes on February 13, 2008 at 3:19 AM
ENOUGH WITH THE FREEKING JEDI ALREADY!
This goes for games too. What about Smugglers Unleashed or X-Wing Simulator.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 13, 2008 at 3:58 AM
Screw all y’all… I can’t wait for this Clone Wars film and series. Looks to be like quite the fun trip.
Jockolantern on February 13, 2008 at 4:17 AM
That made me smile. Maybe I will go after all!
OneGyT on February 13, 2008 at 7:18 AM
Is this the one where Judy and Penny Robinson push Will out of the airlock?
Limerick on February 13, 2008 at 8:36 AM
Am I a bad father for purposely denying my 8 yr old the first three prequels (parts of which he’s seen at friend’s houses) and only buying him toys from IV thru VI?
The thought of hearing young Anakin proclaim, “Yippee!” or watching the pod race again for the first time since I coughed up bucks in a theater to be disillusioned is more than I can take…
Captain Scarlet on February 13, 2008 at 8:44 AM
Oh, hell no. You’re in the clear. In fact, to be consistent, when he’s old enough show him Caddyshack but completely deny the existence of the sequel…
It was dreck. I half expected Dexter’s sister DeeDee to hop out of the shadows and start messing with the Sith’s stuff, destroying the fledgling Empire once and for all…
Spanglemaker on February 13, 2008 at 9:33 AM
You’re not a bad father, but I’m amazed you could pull it off. My 7 year old has seen everything but III; we decided that one was just too dark and depressing for 7. He knows the storyline, but we won’t let him watch. He’s a total Star Wars fanatic, fueled by his Lego obession. I’m sure he’ll see these cartoons at some point. His dad and I will roll our eyes and say, “Meh. Episode IV and V are still the best.” He does get that. We like Luke and Han, he loves Anakin.
I salute your will power!
TX Mom on February 13, 2008 at 9:42 AM
This is mostly true, but my daughter and I loved Shak Ti (however you spell it). She’s awesome in the cartoon. Too bad she’s so lame in the movie. Shak Ti gave my daughter another character to play besides Leia and Padme in the my son’s never ending Star Wars play around our house.
TX Mom on February 13, 2008 at 9:45 AM
Ya ever hear of Indiana Jones? How about Howard The Duck?
thekingtut on February 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM
LOL. Deal.
Thanks.
Captain Scarlet on February 13, 2008 at 11:33 AM
I’ll post whatever I want, thankyouverymuch. This happened to be a news item. Do I have to be a total fanboy to post news items? Sheesh, lighten up already.
Bryan on February 13, 2008 at 11:35 AM
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