http://starbrightillustrations.com/blog/2009/02/06/i-just-watched-star-wars-the-clone-wars/
Yep just watched it on my laptop, which fits, it is more of a laptop experience than a cinema event.
I kept asking myself, “Is this any good?” There were good things about it. I liked the decision to stylize the characters and make them something like living action figures – right down to the stiff puppet-like movement and sculpted hair – I thought this was in fitting with the original images created by Ralph McQuarie for the original movie.
Sometimes when I paused it to answer a call, including the call of nature, or make a coffee, it looked like a McQuarie concept illustration, which is a huge compliment to the design team. They also managed to use the naff droid designs from the sequels and invest them with a bit of menace here and there, and the walkers going vertical up a cliff were a tour de force. I thought the acting was pretty good as well, although I’m not demanding in that department, special effects are much more important to me.
So why aren’t I singing its praises. The plot was a problem, I basically had to ignore it. It is a lame kidnap escapade with the two most powerful forces in the galaxy fighting over the support of a big lizard who lives in the desert of an unimportant provincial planet. Anakin is a problem as well, there was no sign of him going over to the dark side apart from him being annoying and bratish.
The robots of the robot army have kept their squeaky stupid personality – in fact it has been made worse – and this robs them of a lot of their menace. For a big Star Wars fan like me, who has managed to keep the faith through the prequels, it has a lot to offer – but – it does not have general appeal. It’s a militaristic nerd fest.
So did I enjoy it? I’m ashamed to say that yeah, I kind of did.
