I was just reading Matt's take on Clone Wars when it occurred to me that the worst thing about this new flick is that it will obscure the beautifully surreal 2003-2005 series of animated shorts by the same name. That first series, which ran on Cartoon Network, was simply the most original thing to come out of Star Wars since the original trilogy. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky of Samurai Jack fame, the Clone Wars were almost an anti-Star Wars--the art is minimalist, the dialouge sparse, and its power comes story and not from spectacle. I actually found the action scenes in the CN shorts to be much more compelling than anything I saw in the films. The whole series is entertaining refutation to the "more is more" theory of the world.
UPDATE: Because Kevdog mentioned it, I went and dug up the incredible chase scene at the end. SPOILER-ALERT: Don't watch these if you don't want to know how it ends, I'm so tempted to post Anakin's fight at the end, which was--uhm--deep. He achieved more humanity and tragedy there then in anything Lucas has ever done.
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Aw, man. How can you mention Samurai Jack, and not give a shout out to Dexter and DiDi?
I love Dexter's Lab, but Samurai Jack was the true groundbreaker. My husband and I have been re-watching and it's amazing the gambles that get taken right from the beginning-- huge stretches with no dialogue, those incredibly stylized action scenes.
I'm with you on the Tartakovsky shorts. The Shaak Ti/Grievous battle chase in the final episode was far better than anything with Jar-Jar Binks in it.
Not to mention the fact that the "Ghost Hand" sequence actually almost makes Padme's death make sense - something the live-action movie did not achieve.
Wow, thanks for turning me on to these - I had ignored them when recommended by Netflix because after the last 3 atrocious Lucas efforts, the whole franchise was tarnished for me. But Star Wars from one of the geniuses behind the Powerpuff Girls?! I'm so sold!
I had some interest in the movie because I loved the mini-series, but my hopes were dashed there.
Thanks for promoing it.
what I can't figure out is how the hell did the guy who made Amrican Graffeti turn into the guy who made the prequels and Clone Wars?
George Lucas. Where to start. Now here's a man with COMPLETE artistic freedom: he can spend as much money as he likes on a movie and be beholden to no one artistically or financially. He's got an adoring audience ready for the next episode in a 20-year series that will go see ANYTHING he makes, not matter how personal or ambitious. He CAN'T FAIL. So what does he make? "The Phantom Menace"?! It's drek, and safe drek to boot. I was actually so aesthetically offended that I refused to see the two following movies in the theaters.
I never understood how the CGI idea even got a sniff w/ those toons out there. As to Samurai Smack as he is known in this household there hasn't been anything better.
T - while I absolutely loved the Clone Wars series, I have to take issue with your claim that it's the greatest thing to come from Star Wars since the original Trilogy.
5 words: Knights of the Old Republic.
That is all.
Colby, no love for Rogue Squadron? Or that game with the Han Solo wannabe smuggler? (Shadows... something something)
I'm echoing the love for Samurai Jack. The episode where he tries going against an enemy that shoots ungodly amounts of arrows at him is wonderful.