Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) Dir: Dave Filoni
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I distinctly remember seeing the trailer for this in the cinema and being insanely excited. Seven year old Ridley couldn't wait for it. And when I first watched it in Christmas of 2008, I loved it. A lot of time has passed since then, which allows me to have a new perspective on it.
The film's legacy should not be forgotten too, as it was the precursor for the immensely popular series of the same name, that would debut just a few months after the film's release. Directed by Dave Filoni, this was a feature length pilot as much as anything else.
In essence, it could have been released as three half an hour episodes, but it's not a dealbreaker to have it as a film. That said, the story, while solid, is hampered by some poorly written characters, which is frustrating, particularly with the hindsight granted by the far superior series.
Matt Lanter has one of the better performances of the film, allowing him a pretty decent introduction to the franchise. Whilst he doesn't do his best work in the role in this film, he lays a good foundation for what he would later achieve in his key role in the show.
Ashley Eckstein, on the other hand, has a rough start to life in the Star Wars franchise, mainly due to her character's irritating writing, which makes her role rather unlikeable. Rest assured however, that the show more than redeems her.
James Arnold Taylor is by far my favourite performer in the film. He embodies the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi with ease, something he continued to do in the series consistently. His cool delivery of the character's witty remarks is exactly what was needed for the role.
Dee Bradley Baker, who has also voiced characters in productions like 'Spongebob SquarePants' and 'Avatar: The Last Airbender', takes on the voice work for the clone troopers. For what it's worth, I think he is really solid in this role, something that he maintains throughout the series too.
Tom Kane voices multiple characters, as well as doing the narration, and gives a performance that is emblematic of his show-defining role in the series, in that he is consistent and very recognisable. Without a doubt, he is the voice of Dave Filoni's Star Wars.
I'll also mention some other noteable cast members; Nika Futterman, Anthony Daniels, Terrence C. Carson, Ian Abercrombie and Catherine Taber.
Overall, I think it has to be said that this was nowhere near as good as the series, but ultimately, I think that it isn't that big of a deal. It is still fun and relatively action packed, and introduces a new character in Ahsoka Tano, who would become hugely popular in the series. For what it's worth, I still hold plenty of sentimental attachment to this film, though I can understand why others dislike it.
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