The Clone Wars movie kicked off a new era in Star Wars storytelling. Here are five thoughts from rewatching the movie 12 years later
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a thrice-used name for Lucasfilm Animation, encompassing two television series and one computer-animated full-length film. The 2008 movie made $68.3 million at the box office and served as the kick off to six seasons (soon to be seven) of The Clone Wars show.
The television show is the best known, and is easily the most successful show in the history of Star Wars (although after just one season The Mandalorian has likely had the largest cultural impact). Star Wars fans were introduced to the style, voices and characters of the long-running series in the seventh Star Wars film to hit theaters.
The movie is set, unsurprisingly, during “The Clone Wars”, a three-year conflict taking place between Episodes II and III. The premise of the movie takes us through an intricate plot by Count Dooku and the Separatists to kidnap Jabba the Hutt’s son and frame The Republic for it.
The movie, as with the show, focuses on a regular cast of characters. Some of these we know from the movies — Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Padme Amidala, R2-D2, C-3PO, even Commander Cody — but introduces us to Ahsoka Tano, Captain Rex and a host of clone troopers.
While this film does not have the same impact as the live-action films, it is still a key part of Star Wars lore and is well worth watching for fans of the franchise. Here are five thoughts on the film, highlighting key parts of the film and celebrating its place in galactic lore.