The Golden Age of Star Wars is over - indeed, it has been for some time – but for many of us, Star Wars: Clone Wars might be the nail in the coffin.
The popularity of the original films was enough to carry through the 80s and into the 90s, enough to warrant remastered rereleases, and enough to sustain a second trilogy twenty-five years after the fact. While the childlike excitement for all things Star Wars remains, the content disappoints. The problem? No more Skywalkers.
While SW:CW is flawed – feel free to check out the reviews on themovespace – the biggest problem is that it is not really about Anakin. It has nothing to do with his internal struggle, him becoming Darth Vader, the battle between the light and dark sides of the force, or the evil emperor Palpatine. What was this story really about? What were they really fighting for? Trade Routes! The whole movie was a minor squabble about policy! That is all that was different at the end.
What’s worse is that the ommission of Anakin as the main storyline was entirely intentional. In interviews for this film, George Lucas talked about the future of Star Wars. There are several projects in the works including preproduction of a live action television series which, Lucas says, “has nothing to do with the Skywalker saga.”
Perhaps that choice is the best business decision.There will be no seven, eight, and nine. Ever. Even though there is a vast expanded universe of content from books and video games, Lucas doesn’t have the will to helm the movies. And that is what this is about: the movies. They have an authority to them that ‘expanded universe’ content does not have. They follow the same iconic story line. So what is Lucas’ strategy to keep making money of this thing?
Well, he can’t make new content about the original trilogy because the people with money – the youth – are not as aware of that stuff. The Clone Wars sounds like the next best thing. After all, it’s the World War 2 of this galaxy, and look at all the World War 2 movies Earth has. Endless! So will it be for the Clone Wars.
Already, there is way more Clone Wars stuff than I would have imagined:
Episode II “Star Wars: Attack of the Clones” (2002)
Feature Film. Running Time: 2hrs 12m
“Star Wars: Clone Wars” (2003)
Half-hour animated TV Series. 2 Seasons; 25 episodes
Takes place during period between Attack of the Clones and the 2005’s Revenge of the Sith
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” (2008)
Animated Feature Film. Running Time: 98 minutes.
Takes place during period between Attack of the Clones and the 2005’s Revenge of the Sith
“Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” (2008)
Half-hour animated TV Series. Lucas predicts at least 100 episodes.
Takes place during same time period as first Clone Wars TV show.
There’s already been an animated series about the Clone Wars and they’re doing it again! WTF? Who knows what this live action idea is about but given the trend, it’s probably about the Clone Wars. But just maybe, it will feature the Skywalker story? Lucas says, “The Clone Wars don’t really have anything to do with Anakin. I mean, they’re bigger than that.” Drat.
So where do the fanboys get their fix? They rewatch the classics. When you hear Lucas say things like, “We’re going to probably do a younger version of Star Wars, which is more of a comedy, for small children,” you know the magic is gone.
Of course, the super fans will gobble up anything and, as I’ve said, there is a large expanded universe of other characters and storylines to follow, if you so choose. The point worth making is that SW:CW broke ground by being a feature film that didn’t fit the canon. And it sucked. And it hurt a little bit.
I guess I had to grow up sometime.
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September 4th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
It ended with Revenge of the Sith for me. I only counted the 6 Star Wars films directed and/or produced by Lucas, so after Sith the story circle was complete; over and done.
The animated film is for the kids. My daughter liked it. I enjoyed it, but didn’t count it as a traditional Star Wars film. I wonder if Lucas does, but I don’t think so.
Feel free to email me. I wouldn’t mind chatting more about it all. Ciao!