THE CLONE WARS: MIDSEASON RECAP

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is a unique and interesting beast, for many reasons.
For starters, it’s the biggest and most commercial attempt by creator George Lucas to bridge the gap between any two Star Wars films. Sure, there’ve been books and comics and video games written and designed to expand the scope of the series, but they’ve never been able to reach and reclaim that massive audience the films enjoy.
Not like “The Clone Wars.”

And, in some ways, that reach feels just a bit short.
The idea behind “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” was to lift the veil on the legendary war waged between the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Separatists, chronicling the final days of the Jedi Order. But while each episode represents an unknown chapter in the Star Wars bible, most of the book has already been written and read.
The series focuses around characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, General Grievous, Count Dooku, and other staples of the Prequel Trilogy. The problem is: these characters’ stories have already been told, thus, eliminating almost all tension, drama, or conflict. Almost every character meets their end or destiny in “Revenge of the Sith,” leaving many of the story arcs and battles feeling anticlimactic.
One would be hard pressed to find someone unaware of Anakin Skywalker’s fall from grace or the massacre of the Jedi or the totalitarian regime of the Galactic Empire. The only real question lingers around the fate of Anakin’s young apprentice, Asoka Tano, who never appears in the feature films.
Simply put, the show puts us on a path to a place we’ve already been.
But it’s a hell of a fun ride.
While the Prequel Trilogy only gave us a taste of what the Jedi can do, Master Yoda’s reputation as a great warrior, and the combat skills of the Clone Troopers, “The Clone Wars” makes it the main course. Each episode centers on a different threat, skirmish, or mission undertaken by the clone troops and their Jedi generals, from launching all out space battles against massive battleships to rescuing downed soldiers.
And though the series doesn’t change the course of the franchise, the action keeps you on the edge of your seat with its surprisingly brutal fight scenes and cinematic space battles in line with Lucas’ original vision.
Plus, having the room to take the camera off the main characters and put it on, say, a small group of rookie Clone Troopers trying to defend a strategic base against an invasion of droids not only shows that war wasn’t just a series of epic space battles and lightsaber duels, but gives the often faceless, nameless clones a touch of humanity, and enhances their roles in Star Wars universe.
In the end, “The Clone Wars” might not be redefining the Star Wars legacy, but does a good job of keeping the fun and adventure Star Wars brought to the silver screen going on the small screen.

Source: Sci-Fi

TV: CLONE WARS catch-up marathon anchors holiday “Star Wars” fun

Although the final original episodes of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS have aired for the remainder of 2008, there’s no dearth of CLONE WARS fun available at Starwars.com to keep fans busy until Jan. 2, including the first-ever online “marathon,” which begins on Monday.

Starting Dec. 22, all 10 episodes of the hit Cartoon Network series that have aired to date will be available online at the official Star Wars website and at CartoonNetwork.com. What’s more, each episode features a video commentary by supervising director Dave Filoni; a web comic; and a detailed episode guide containing concept art and additional insights into STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS.

The online marathon ends on Monday, Jan. 5.

And on Friday, Jan. 2, the first new CLONE WARS episode of 2009, “Dooku Captured,” debuts at 9 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

Just in case that’s not enough for STAR WARS fans, StarWars.com offers three exclusive online games provide unique, challenging experiences. There’s no hardware required beyond a basic home computer, and the games are accessible via the homepage at http://www.starwars.com.

In “Sharpshooter,” players can partake in some clone training, as they try to hit targets that range from holograms of battle droids to rolling destroyer droids. As the levels get progressively harder, “Sharpshooter” throws in some tricks, ranging from blast shields that make it difficult to hit your target to decoys that players need to avoid. It’s classic arcade-style action whose increasingly difficult levels will pose a challenge to gamers of any age.

“Live Fire” is a keyboard-based game in which players take on the role of a clone trooper – and can even customize his gear. By finding and collecting datapacks, while avoiding a phalanx of Separatist droids, players can unlock exclusive CLONE WARS content, including images, videos and sounds. But beware, because the Separatist droids encountered on these missions to Christophsis and Teth are bent on success.

“Clones vs. Droids” offers the option of playing live against another player – or practicing solo. Squads of droids and clone troopers are pitted against each other, and it’s up to players to strategically prepare for both attack and defense during the game’s 10 rounds.

The CLONE WARS experience isn’t just online, of course. In fact, during the holidays Cartoon Network will offer encore showings of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS with more opportunities than ever to enjoy the intergalactic adventure.

Here is Cartoon Network’s holiday schedule for STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. (Unless noted, all programming is half-hour episodes.)

Monday, Dec. 22 – 10 a.m. (one-hour block), 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 23 – 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (one-hour block)

Thursday, Dec. 25 – 4:30 p.m.

Friday, Dec. 26 – 8 a.m., 6 p.m. (one-hour block), 9 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 27 – 9:30 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 28 – 9 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 29 – 10 a.m. (one-hour block), 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 30 – 9:30 a.m., 2 p.m. (one-hour block)

Wednesday, Dec. 31 – 9 a.m. (one-hour block), 3 p.m.

All times listed are ET/PT.

Don’t forget – the next original episode of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, “Dooku Captured,” airs at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2. Until then … may the Force be with you!

The Clone Wars – TV Guide Collectible Covers

TV Guide will be releasing four exclusive collectible covers of the upcoming Star Wars movie, The Clone Wars.

We were able to get a sneak peak from TV Guide on the exclusive covers which will hit the news stands on August 7th. Be sure to grab your copy and collect all four of these great collectible covers.

This animated film from George Lucas fills in the events that take place between Episodes II and III in the live-action narrative. Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker are now both full-fledged Jedi, and it’s Anakin who has a Padawan apprentice, a young girl named Ahsoka, a teenage female Togruta, which is a race of red-skinned, horned aliens. The movie is a launching pad for a similarly themed animated TV show, which will air on TNT and the Cartoon Network beginning in the fall.

Check out the TV Guide covers below:

Fans can get information about the upcoming movie, as well as breaking news, scoops and video of Star Wars: The Clone Wars at:

http://www.tvguide.com/movies/star-wars-clone/292483

This movie is going to be amazing. I’m almost as excited to see The Clone Wars and I am for The Force Unleashed!

Fans await return of Star Wars…

Cnn.com has posted an article and interview with George Lucas about the upcoming, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” a computer-animated movie due in theaters August 15. It will be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network and TNT this fall. George Lucas gives a quick glimse into what fans can expect from this and what to expect in the future! Looks amazing!

“”You’ve got the whole assembly line built, and then you say, ‘Hey, we can make up something,”‘ Lucas said in an interview. “It was like old-time movie making. What I love about television, it’s like Monogram Pictures or the old studio system, where a couple guys come to work and they sit and have some coffee and go, ‘Why don’t we make a movie about such and such? OK, fine.’ And at the end of the day, it’s pretty much on its way.”

Set in the years between episodes II and III — “Attack of the Clones” and “Revenge of the Sith” — of the big-screen “Star Wars” chronicle, the movie and series present fresh adventures of Jedi warrior Anakin Skywalker, his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other colleagues.

The movie introduces a female Jedi, Ahsoki, who is Anakin’s young apprentice.

“It’s like ‘Band of Brothers’ in space, with Jedi,” Lucas, 63, said. “You can tell lots of stories. They come up all the time.”

Lucas said he plans to produce at least 100 hours worth of TV episodes of “Clone Wars.”

He also is moving forward with a live-action “Star Wars” TV show focusing largely on new characters removed from the Skywalker family. That show will be set in the decades between “Revenge of the Sith” and the period when the original film, 1977′s “Star Wars,” takes place.

So can fans ever get enough of “Star Wars”?

“I don’t know,” Lucas said. “I’m thankful every year that it keeps going.”

Star Wars: The Clone Wars In Theaters and on Television in 2008…

This is going to rule! I’ve been waiting forever for this to come out! I hope it’s as good as I am hoping for, although i’m sure I will be, it looks like it’s going to be awesome.

“A new era of Star Wars entertainment begins in 2008 when Star Wars: The Clone Wars, from creator George Lucas, premieres as an all-new feature film in August, followed by the television series debut in the fall, in a partnership announced today between Lucasfilm Ltd., Warner Bros. Pictures and Turner Broadcasting System Inc.

Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, Star Wars: The Clone Wars takes audiences on incredible new Star Wars adventures, combining the legendary storytelling of Lucasfilm with an eye-popping, signature animation style. Star Wars: The Clone Wars will open in North American theaters Friday, August 15. International release dates will be announced soon.

“I felt there were a lot more Star Wars stories left to tell,” said George Lucas, executive producer of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. “I was eager to start telling some of them through animation and, at the same time, push the art of animation forward.”
The theatrical debut of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is only the beginning of all-new Star Wars adventures that continue in the fall when the long-awaited television series premieres on Cartoon Network, followed by airings on TNT. Details regarding international broadcasts will be announced shortly. Star Wars: The Clone Wars showcases an entirely new look and feel to the galaxy far, far away — combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars Saga with state-of-the-art computer-generated animation. Each week, viewers will see a thrilling, 30-minute “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation.

On the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil, fans young and old will join such favorite characters as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, along with brand-new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains — led by Darth Sidious, Count Dooku and General Grievous — are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. Their exploits lead to the action-packed battles and astonishing new revelations that fill Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
“Warner Bros. and Turner are uniquely positioned to deliver on the enormous potential of The Clone Wars because together they offer a world-class opportunity: the theatrical and home-video distribution of Warner Bros. and the broad reach of the Turner Networks,” said Micheline Chau, President and Chief Operating Officer of Lucasfilm Ltd. “This terrific combination hits the key demographic groups, ranging from kids to adults, that make up the Star Wars audience.”

Check out the full article here