WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Is there really anyone hungry for more information about how the Republic became the Empire and how those transformer-like androids were defeated by the Jedi Knights?
That is the claim of franchise conceiver George Lucas and the ostensible reason for the computer-animated "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." I mean, it could not actually be about promoting an imminent cable television series covering the same segment of the Anakin Skywalker/Obi-Wan Kenobi saga, could it?
 Lucasfilm Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, his lightsaber at the ready, prepares for battle in 'Star Wrs: The Clone Wars.' For a larger, high resolution image, click HERE |
Visually attractive but with dialogue just as wooden as that in the live-action films, "The Clone Wars" is heavy on action and effects, as if it were also a pilot for a video game. Presumably die-hard "Star Wars" fans will be attracted for the meager scraps of story, but the target audience appears to be sci-fi loving tots.
The movie introduces a Jedi-in-training named Ahsoka Tano who gets partnered with Anakin to find and retrieve blubbery crime lord Jabba the Hutt's abducted baby. Meanwhile, the war rages on, which is the pretext for light saber duels, aerial dogfights and blowing stuff up.
Such actors associated with the "Star Wars" films as Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor and Natalie Portman are well rendered, but the performers were smart enough to steer clear of involvement in this project.
"Star Wars: The Clone Wars"
Grade: C-
Rated PG: Mild action sequences
Running time: 1 hour, 38 min.
The verdict: In a galaxy far away is where this should be.
Hap Erstein writes for The Palm Beach Post. E-mail: herstein AT pbpost.com
