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Star Wars – The Clone Wars is the latest entry into
the Star Wars Expanded Universe. A Galaxy Divided marks
the first home video release for the television series’
episodes (not counting the earlier release of the pilot
movie that was released theatrically and later on home video.)
This is the new, 2008 The Clone Wars CGI series, not to
be confused with the 2002-2005 2D animated Tartakovsky series
from a few years back. ***
The Clone Wars is set in the three-year gap between
Star Wars Episodes II and III. The Clone Wars are raging,
and the galaxy is divided between the warring factions –
the Republic, protected by Clone Troopers and the Jedi Knights,
and the Confederacy of Independent Systems, consisting of
those worlds and clans that have opted to separate from
the Republic. The show follows the Jedi Knights and their
Clone brigades battling the separatists on numerous worlds,
but it mostly focuses on Anakin Skywalker (in his pre-Vader
days) and Ahsoka Tano, his Padawan learner. ***
This DVD release contains four episodes of the series’
first season, and is only one disc. *** As for the series
itself, I’ve had a mixed reaction from day one. Giving Anakin
a Padawan learner when he’s still a learner himself defeats
one of the major purposes of the Star Wars franchise’s main
storyline. And the Padawan he ends up with is annoying as
sin (she’s to this series what Jar Jar was to the prequels.)
The animation style is clunky and unrefined, to boot. But
what I won’t argue with is that the series itself is far
better than the pilot movie (which was my first look at
what was to come.) The action and storyline have been given
proper focus, and Ahsoka’s annoyingness has at least been
downplayed a little. I don’t hate this series like some
purists do, but I’m not exactly going to defend it either.
It’s a middle- of-the-road affair, and in the long run,
it makes you wish Lucas would, once and for all, call it
a day with Star Wars. ***
The release itself is disappointing because it’s ONLY
FOUR EPISODES, and Lucasfilm has already announced a Complete
First Season release for later in the year. Patience you
must have. For the season set, wait. A cash-in this release
is (as a side note, if you’re a Star Wars completist and
you want to own every release ever put out, including this
one despite the coming of a second season set, get it at
Walmart. They have an extra episode in their set.) And where
we’re at it, Mr. Lucas, why aren’t the actual movies on
Blu-Ray yet? --
Image and Sound:
Whether you like the animation style or not, it’s hard
to argue with the quality of this transfer. The Clone Wars
looks pretty good on home video. As an entirely digital
creation, there are no negative anomalies to speak of anywhere
in the transfer. The image is always bright and clear. Audio
too doesn’t suffer in any particular way. Ultimately, The
Clone Wars looks and sounds great. Whoever did this transfer,
the Force was with them.
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