Star Wars/Clone Wars --

peter johnson · August 15, 2008, 10:16:10 AM

I can't believe I'm the one starting this thread, as I have no vested interest in "Star Wars" beyond recognizing it as a cultural phenomena, but am I the only one who thinks this new cartoon looks like poo?

I did read in an article that the herky-jerky animation style and expressionless faces was in part a tribute to the old British "Thunderbirds" puppet series, which was satirised to death by the South Park bunch, but even then, what's the point? Personally, I can't think of anyone over 5 who could sit through this -- Hell, I have trouble sitting through the trailer.

Given the advances in animation, particularly computer animation, I suppose one could argue that making the latest Star Wars look like a bad video game animation from 20 years ago is a form of courage/avant-retro-garde, but my jaw is simply dropping that this dropping is being offered as a big-screen feature when movie tickets are around $10 apiece these days.

So, what do you think? Will the fans see that the Emperor is decidedly goose-pimply and chilly, or will the hordes fawn over this like everything else & pretend that the garments are made of shiny gold thread?

peter johnson/denny clone

dean · August 15, 2008, 10:51:32 AM

A friend saw this last night, but haven't talked to him yet for any feedback.

The animation for this looks, well, odd...

Interestingly enough there were those two Clone Wars cartoons [not CGI] that went direct to dvd here which were actually quite good. The first 'episode' if that's what you can call it had almost no talking, and what I have come to term as 'Ninja Clone Troopers.' The animation was quite sharp and character actions were very quick, precise and somewhat anime-like. Kind of reminded me of some Nickolodeon-style cartoons like Johnny Bravo? Well the one with the blonde elvis sounding dude. Maybe that's where the 'herky jerky' came from.

This new movie came from the success of those dvds. Wonder how it is?

Psycho Circus · August 15, 2008, 11:07:28 AM

I love Star Wars, the original trilogy and hated the newer trilogy.

So, bearing that in mind....this is my opinion of the Clone Wars:

Underbelly · August 15, 2008, 11:43:37 AM

For the last 25 years I've listened to Lucas go on and on about how's he ready to start making more personal films but yet he keeps milking Star Wars for every penny he can. The man has lost it. You can find interview were is sounds like its the general publics fault for not understanding what he was trying to do in 2nd trilogy. Now I'm reading that he plans to release all 6 films again in 3D.

Oh and yes, the animation looks hideous!

Mr. DS · August 15, 2008, 11:49:53 AM

Seeing the preview I thought that the animation resembled that of a PS1 game. In other words, this SW fan will not be seeing it in the theater nor on video perhaps.

Ash · August 15, 2008, 08:35:47 PM

It isn't getting good reviews. Most of the reviews I've read have been overwhelmingly negative.

Roger Ebert's review: (1.5 stars out of 4)
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/REVIEWS/808140301

Filmcritic.com review (1.5 stars out of 5)
http://www.filmcritic.com/misc/emporium.nsf/reviews/Star-Wars-The-Clone-Wars-(2008)

Metacritic: (score of 35 out of 100)
http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/clonewars

Torgo · August 15, 2008, 08:47:13 PM

Quote from: dean on August 15, 2008, 10:51:32 AM

Interestingly enough there were those two Clone Wars cartoons [not CGI] that went direct to dvd here which were actually quite good. The first 'episode' if that's what you can call it had almost no talking, and what I have come to term as 'Ninja Clone Troopers.' The animation was quite sharp and character actions were very quick, precise and somewhat anime-like. Kind of reminded me of some Nickolodeon-style cartoons like Johnny Bravo? Well the one with the blonde elvis sounding dude. Maybe that's where the 'herky jerky' came from.

The creator of Samurai Jack did those cartoons and they originally aired on Cartoon Network as shorts and then they edited them all together for the DVD releases. I actually thought that they were much better than the live action prequels.

As for the new Clone Wars movie, I think it looks like crap and I couldn't care less about it.

dean · August 16, 2008, 11:42:21 AM

Yeah Torgo, I agree that they were quite a step better than the prequels, well in my opinion at least. I like the first more because there wasn't so much talking or Anakin, from what I remember.

Anyways, my friend saw it the other night and said it was very 'kiddie,' and didn't think it was too bad, but not great.

ghouck · August 16, 2008, 01:08:03 PM

Quote from: Underbelly on August 15, 2008, 11:43:37 AM
The man has lost it. You can find interview were is sounds like its the general publics fault for not understanding what he was trying to do in 2nd trilogy.

I vote we all apologize for seeing something magical in the original trilogy that he didn't intend to be there, and apologize for spending millions on the entire Star Wars Franchise, since whatever was there that made people interested, was ultimately a mistake on the part or the consumer. /sarcasm

I'm sure he sees 'milking' the franchise as a necessary evil that allows him to make the more artistic films that he's not making.

Just think, in 50 years someone ELSE will re-make the entire series, ,weird. .

the master · August 16, 2008, 01:19:02 PM

i wrote a quick review in the good movies section
http://www.badmovies.org/forum/index.php/topic,120613.0.html

Patient7 · August 17, 2008, 04:40:05 PM

The trailer said that we will "see Star Wars as you never had before," yes in two words. Badly Animated

Torgo · August 18, 2008, 07:33:51 PM

Quote from: Patient7 on August 17, 2008, 04:40:05 PM
The trailer said that we will "see Star Wars as you never had before," yes in two words. Badly Animated

I agree. The animation just looks putrid in today's day and age of Pixar films in particular.

Ash · August 18, 2008, 08:11:18 PM

Quote from: Torgo on August 18, 2008, 07:33:51 PM
The animation just looks putrid in today's day and age of Pixar films in particular.

The crazy thing is that they made the decision to make it that way.
A big group of people probably sat down at a table and all of them thought it would be a good idea to give the animation a cheesy retro look.

Torgo · August 18, 2008, 08:15:02 PM

Quote from: Ash on August 18, 2008, 08:11:18 PM
Quote from: Torgo on August 18, 2008, 07:33:51 PM
The animation just looks putrid in today's day and age of Pixar films in particular.

The crazy thing is that they made the decision to make it that way.
A big group of people probably sat down at a table and all of them thought it would be a good idea to give the animation a cheesy retro look.

It's one thing to go "retro", it's quite another to just make the animation bad.
I figured since the prequels were practically animated movies due to the amount of CGI that this new clone wars thing would be on par with that in terms of realism. Oh well.

Star Wars/Clone Wars --

the master