DVD Review: STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS – Season Five
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series that bridges the narrative gap between Attack of the Clones and Revenge Of The Sith. It’s well constructed and a beautifully rendered series and Star Wars fans of all ages will find something to enjoy.
This series follows Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan-Kenobi and other Jedi as they battle the Sith in a galaxy far far away. I’m not one for animation, but The Clone Wars looks great. It matches the visuals of George Lucas’ prequel trilogy perfectively. It’s clear that a vast amount of talent and money brought this series to the screen.
Story-wise, The Clone Wars helps to augment not just the prequel movies, but also the entire Star Wars universe. Star Wars has always been filled with rich and interesting characters. Here we get to see some of them spun-off into their own adventures. This series takes some characters like Ahsoka Tano, expanding their roles and putting them front and centre.
The Clone Wars grew into mythic proportions when it was first mentioned by Obi Wan in the original Star Wars (A New Hope). Star Wars fans envisioned their own tales and George Lucas really only touched on them in his movies. We get to see Obi Wan and Anakin’s spirited adventures – which are idea for younger viewers. Meanwhile older viewers will be thrilled to see events on screen that they have only ever read about – want to see some younglings build their lightsabers from Kyber crystals? You got it.
Yoda is a main focus for the series, dispensing advice, aided by Mace Windu. The voice talent may be different from the movies, but the cast do well, matching the cadences of their cinematic counterparts. The sound design is also first rate, helping to mimic the sonic tones of Lucas’ textured universe.
Star Wars:The Cone Wars is a fun and enjoyable series. It’s got action and adventure for the ‘younglings’, while there’s enough depth and detail to keep even the most mature Jedi master focused. Enjoy this series you will.
Special Features
The discs come loaded with short, but informative behind the scenes features that appear to have originated on the Star Wars website. These cover every facet of the production and they help to show how hands-on George Lucas was with the show. Good stuff.
