Emmalee, Zack, Deb, and I all went to see Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Friday night. Though I've heard nothing but bad reviews I tried to go in with an open mind. I don't care what anyone else tells you, this is a great kids movie.It's a KID'S MOVIE. It was designed to entertain CHILDREN. Great storytelling occurs when the audience identifies with an idea, emotion, archetype (,...) that the story crafter(s) intended. Until we figure out how to communicate ideas in a fully realized form, we are limited by the medium used for communication (in this case a movie). That said, if you recognize that this movie was made for KIDS, and try to watch it through a child's eyes I think you will see some genuine gems within it. Here's my short list:
-Jabba the Hutt creating a new front in the Clone Wars by sending bounty hunters, Separatists, and Jedi to rescue his kidnapped son. Even bad guys love their kids!
-Anakin getting a padawan, learning some of the lessons that BEING a mentor can provide (as opposed to HAVING a mentor)
-Beautiful style. The look and feel of the film is beautiful. At times it looks almost as though it were animated via stop frame as opposed to CGI.
-I've had to read the "opening crawl" to my daughter whenever we have seen a Star Wars movie in the past (not that I mind particularly, but sometime I feel like I'm disturbing the other theater goers). This time the crawl is replaced by a newsreel type opening that I thoroughly enjoyed (as did Em). Also during the movie there are no subtitles that need read to younger kids.
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-I have heard that this movie serves as the pilot for a television series. I love the idea that there could be dozens of episodes, dozens of hours of new Star Wars content available for me to enjoy with my daughter. And this show is easily up to par with any of the Saturday morning cartoons that Em has been interested in lately.
Don't get me wrong, the movie is far from perfect, but as a kid's movie it is much better than most reviews would have you believe.
3 out of 5 Star Wars factions turned on each other.
4 comments:
I saw it last night too and I agree with you. It was entertaining, especially when you think of the intended audience. Like you, I'm just excited for there to be more content in the SW universe and I think this is a great way to introduce an apprentice to Anakin - especially when we know what he will do with the apprentice in The Force Unleashed. Interesting . . .
Agreed. Have you checked out the newest Unleashed videos?
I saw it with my boys on Friday night, and they loved it. As an extra bonus, the Alpine Garrison was at the theater. It was awesome to walk up to the entrance and have a stormtrooper standing guard (it was a little too real for a few of the little guys).
Also, my oldest son turned to me at the end of the movie to inform me that he needed to go to the doctor, so that he could remove the piece of popcorn stuck up his nose...classic! Don't worry, he worked it out in the car on the way home with some well managed hyper-ventilating through that nostril.
First of all, Jared, I'm glad that the popcorn worked itself out. Funny thing though, Saturday morning I was informed that a Rice Krispie was put into a nostril. It was easily blown out.
The movie was entertaining at least, but I still expect some flow between movies. There has never been an indication in the movies that Anakin or Darth has had an apprentice. There was never a connection between the Hutts and the Jedi. And the reviews of the movie talked of some untold chapter of the Clone Wars. I didn't see it. What was up with the gay Hutt. Unecessary! That was just like JK Rowling announcing that Dumbledude was gay. It didn't add to the movie at all. Yeah a cartoon series might be great for kids, but I feel that since Phantom Menace, Lucas has slowly destroyed the Star Wars name.
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