Star Wars - Clone Wars Vol.1 (DVD)

Advantages: Good animation and action sequences, terrific music
Disadvantages: So-so extras, lack of plot coherency

Star Wars: Clone Wars is an animated feature designed to bridge the gap between the films Episode II (Attack of the Clones) and Episode III (Revenge of the Sith). It comes in 2 volumes, this obviously being the first. The first volume was originally designed to be a series of 3 minute commercials but ended up being combined to an approximately 1 hour long feature. The animation style is something approaching anime (I know nothing about anime but ...
...and lend significantly to the Star Wars atmosphere. The plot such as it is follows the course of the Jedi Knights, particularly Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skwalker, as the war between the clones (on the side of the Republic) and the droids (on the side of the Separatists) heats up. The story also features the Jedi Council, prominent among whom are Yoda (little green dude) and Windu (token awesome black dude), and on the side of the baddies we have ... Read review

Advantages: Great character design. Interesting Stories
Disadvantages: A bit short.

...and thirds episodes of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. There is a lot to enjoy here. I love the animation style used here which is very stylised and full of energy. The series is produced by Genndy Tartakovsky, the creator of Samurai Jack, and the look and design of Clone Wars owes a lot to that series. All the main characters from the Prequels return in animated form along with a few new characters such ...
...a lot more like the Star Wars of old - fun, action and adventure. This may just be that we find the kind of story the Prequels tell more acceptable in animated form. Or, without wanting to get too Star Wars fanboy about it, it could be the fact that it is Tartakovsky not George Lucas who had most control over the series. In any case the series was very successful and spawned a second series of longer episodes and the stories with continue in a Clone ... Read review

Advantages: Great action sequences bridging episode 2 and 3
Disadvantages: Stylised animation / different voices

...Clone Wars?" Luke Skywalker - Star Wars - A New Hope. This line became perhaps one of the more exciting ones the classic trilogy when George Lucas first announced that he was going to make the prequels. However, fans maybe a little disappointed with the Clones Wars not starting until the very tail end of Attack of the Clones and almost finishing during Revenge of the Sith. This where the Clone Wars animated series comes in. When Lucas decided that ...
...Wars series is a great Star Wars spin off, hopefully wiping your memory of the awful Holiday Special or Droid and Ewok animated series'. It's a great way of linking Episode 2 and 3, for all those fans who were disappointed with a missing war or an underdeveloped Grievous. Volume 2 is already being made and the first few episodes (which take you right up to minutes before episode 3) are available from the official site. ... Read review

Advantages: Good story and action
Disadvantages: none

...in the prequel trilogy of Star Wars films written and directed by George Lucas. The film was released in 2002. This film follows on from The Phantom Menace, 10 years later. There threat of civil war looms over the galaxy. Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) a renegade Jedi, leads a group who want to break away from the Republic. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) are assigned to protect and investigate ...
...The galaxy is on the brink of change and a Clone War imminent, as Obi-Wan and Anakin learn more about the hidden threat that threatens to destroy the Republic. The shadowy figure of Darth Sidious is looming in the background and his ultimate plan is not yet clear. Anakin is torn between allegiance to the Jedi council, including Yoda and Mace Windu (Samuel L Jackson) and his feeling for Padme. This conflict will end up having serious consequences ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent animation, official bridge between films, introduction of new characters
Disadvantages: There are nore episodes - should have included them all on the DVD

...them, for fans of both Star Wars and animation - the highlight of the series is Mace Windu vs. The Droids - I won't say anymore as I made the clanger of including spoilers in my first ever Ciao review - oops! The extras are pretty good for a cartoon series with interviews with not only the production crew but with george Lucas himself too. It shows the importance of this series when in the midst of Revenge if the Sith he takes time out to talk about ... Read review