Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season One Blu-ray delivers great video and solid audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights – including Anakin
Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master Yoda and padawan Ahsoka Tano – struggle to
maintain order and restore peace. But despite the best efforts of these brave protectors, more
and more planets are falling prey to the sinister forces of the dark side…
Star Wars overmind George Lucas hasn't had it easy. Sure, he's raked in countless billions of dollars and forged a golden empire worthy of a principled rebellion or two, but his forays into expanding his own universe have been met with less than enthusiastic responses. After the glory that is the Original Trilogy left fanboys frothing at the mouth, Lucas turned his attention to animation, merchandising, videogames, and all manners of media; a marketing free-for-all that culminated in the eventual creation and release of his now-infamous, still-divisive Prequel Trilogy. But once the worldwide fervor surrounding Episode III had been exhausted, Lucas was once again left to his expansive devices. The result? The Clone Wars, an ongoing CG-animated television series whose debut -- a theatrically released film comprised of three spotty, arguably annoying episodes -- received a proper drubbing from critics and audiences alike. To his credit though, the series itself has proven to be far more captivating, inventive, and entertaining than the feature film that bears its name.
If you thought Yoda was a formidable warrior in the prequel films, just wait till you see him here...
Of its twenty-two first season episodes, The Clone Wars only drifts off course on occasion. "Bombad Jedi" focuses on Star Wars pariah Jar Jar Binks, "Blue Shadow Virus" suffers a similar fate, and "Hostage Crisis" brings the debut film's most bothersome character, Ziro the Hutt, back into the spotlight. But once you get past these three trite adventures, all of which of are still better than The Clone Wars feature film, the series has plenty to offer fans of all ages. Some episodes effectively follow characters who usually aren't at the heart of a Star Wars tale. "Ambush" delivers an impish, strategic, sword-hurling portrait of Yoda (Tom Kane); "Cloak of Darkness," one of the first season's best, finds Anakin's padawan, Ahsoka (Ashley Eckstein), and Jedi Master Luminara Unduli (Olivia d'Abo) facing a Sith-sworn assassin named Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman); and "Lair of Grievous" digs into the past and present of Episode III's underused droid general (Matthew Wood). Some episodes like "Innocents of Ryloth" and "Rookies" (an entry worth the price of admission alone) explore the lives of the Clone Troopers (Dee Bradley Baker), examining their various personalities and dissecting their motivations. Still others push the boundaries of the preestablished Star Wars universe. "Downfall of a Droid" details Anakin's (Matt Lanter) attachment to R2-D2; "Dooku Captured" finds the Sith Lord (Corey Burton) doing what a Sith Lord does best; "Defenders of Peace" takes a heartfelt look at a conflict one species faces when forced to choose between peace and war; "Trespass" follows suit on a secluded ice planet; and "Liberty on Ryloth" brings the entire season to an intense head.
Equally rewarding time is given to mythos mainstays Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor), Padme Amidala (Catherine Taber), Mace Windu (T.C. Carson), Aayla Secura (Jennifer Hale), Nute Gunray (Tom Kenny, Chancellor Palpatine (Ian Abercrombie), and Plo Kloon (James Arnold Taylor), as well as new villians like bounty hunter Cad Bane (Corey Burton) and Lok Durk (George Takei). Lesser supporting characters only get an episode or two to stand out, but the series' writers are up to the task, making each warrior and politician as interesting as the next. While the Separatist battle droids (Matthew Wood) are as useless as ever, their childlike dialogue and bumbling shenanigans aren't nearly as damning when presented in the context of a family-oriented cartoon. Thankfully, the series nails an Original Trilogy trifecta: compelling characters, exciting action, and intriguing storylines. Whether hurtling through space, cannons blaring; pushing forward, lightsabers ignited; or pressing on, blasters firing, the battle-entrenched Jedi and Clone Troopers have plenty to do, so much so that the breadth of the Clone Wars is, perhaps for the first time, truly conveyed. It helps that the animation comes alive whenever a fight breaks out. The Jedi and Sith vault about their environments, flinging loose objects and displaying their acrobatic prowess with abandon. Likewise, the Clone Troopers are swift and deadly, making their presence alongside the Jedi more essential.
It's possible my enjoyment of the series has something to do with my son's enthusiasm for every episode. It's tough to have a hard heart when your five-year-old is clapping and giggling like you did when Return of the Jedi was playing for the thirty-seventh time in your VCR. That being said, I find myself sinking into The Clone Wars more easily and readily than I did with Episode I or II. It's clear its creators adore all things Star Wars and their passion -- as well as Lucas' relatively hands-off approach to their production -- shines through every frame. I'm not sure why the three episodes that comprise the feature Clone Wars film are as problematic as they are. After watching the first season of the series, I wouldn't blame anyone for thinking the film was helmed by a completely different creative team. Even so, the film shouldn't have any bearing on whether you decide to venture into the television show proper. Its twenty-two episodes are sharply written and smartly conceived, giving Star Wars fans something worth their time and investment. I'm not about to deny the series has a few kinks to work out in its second season, but I am fairly certain that hyperspace junkies, young and old, will find themselves growing fond of The Clone Wars and its approach to Lucas' galaxy. Give it a chance, stick with it for at least five episodes, and see if it begins to appeal to you and your family as much as it does me and mine.
The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One blazes onto Blu-ray with a fit and faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer that captures every splash of color, every Outer Rim texture, and every fine line that graces Lucasfilm Animation's CG canvas. Brilliant reds, vivid blues, swampy greens, and inky blacks lend depth and stability to the image, while picture-perfect contrast and direct-from-the-digital-tap details put it in the same league as other top tier animated releases. Granted, the animation itself can't compete with the latest and greatest Pixar production, but Warner's technical presentation is striking and proficient. While I noticed some minor banding in a handful of episodes, each instance was brief, never became a distraction and, more often than not, was extremely difficult to spot in the series' brush-stroked skies anyway. None of the first season's twenty-two episodes are hindered by significant artifacting, aliasing, or source noise, and overall clarity is healthy throughout. The animation isn't always razor sharp, but any softness should be attributed to the series' painterly aesthetics, not the integrity of Warner's high definition transfer. Star Wars diehards and videophiles of all ages will be more than pleased with the results.
The lone point of contention on Warner's impressive 3-disc release will be its lossy, 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. Without a lossless or uncompressed mix to be heard, fans will certainly cry foul, bemoaning the studio's seeming unwillingness to take advantage of the full sonic potential of the series' dogfights and lightsaber battles. However, the track is a competent one. Dialogue is crisp, warm, and well-prioritized, and lines are never buried beneath the at-times bombastic action. LFE output is strong, rear speaker activity is commendable, and directionality, while a tad two-dimensional, is fairly convincing. In fact, the soundfield is quite immersive, more so than its standard DVD or broadcast counterparts. That being said, a lossless track would have helped in a variety of episodes. The inadequacy of the Dolby Digital mix is never more apparent than it is in "Dooku Captured." Listen carefully when Obi Wan and Anakin are trapped in the underground cavern: note how much the LFE channel and rear speakers struggle when music, crumbling rock, force pushes, and roaring creatures simultaneously invade the soundscape. Ah well. Principles aside, no one should avoid The Clone Wars simply because it has a lossy track. It still boasts twice the bitrate of the standard DVD mix, outmaneuvers several other non-theatrical animated releases, and gets the job done. Could it sound better? Sure. Could it sound worse? Without a doubt.
The 3-disc Blu-ray edition of The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One is a beauty. I'm usually not a big fan of digibook packaging, but the folks at Warner have really outdone themselves with this one. Handsome, sturdy, and well-constructed, the hardcover case opens to reveal disc casings attached to the front and rear covers, an exclusive 68-page production journal nestled safely and comfortably between, and a generous collection of original sketches and notes spread throughout its pages. But the real treat comes when you pop the discs into your Blu-ray player. 7 Director's Cut episodes, a more filmic aspect ratio, almost four hours of Jedi Archive artwork and videos, and two-and-a-half hours of episode-specific production featurettes. Oh... and did I mention it's all presented in glorious high definition? Sure, it would have been nice to have a few commentaries sprinkled in the mix, but the featurettes are so extensive that it's tough to complain. I, for one, am quite impressed with the time and effort that went into this release. Fans of the series will be ecstatic.
Director's Cut Episodes: Seven director's cut episodes are available including "Rising Malevolence," "Shadow of Malevolence," "Rookies," "Lair of Grievous," "Storm Over Ryloth," "Innocents of Ryloth," and "Liberty on Ryloth." The only downside? The original broadcast cuts are nowhere to be found, making it difficult to identify the differences between the two.
Expanded Aspect Ratio: All twenty-two episodes are presented in a gorgeous 2.35:1 aspect ratio (compared to the 1.78:1 ratio used for the series' US television broadcast), meaning every frame, shot, and scene is flanked by never-before-seen imagery and animation.
Jedi Temple Archives (All Discs, HD, 230 minutes): While this sprawling database is a bit cumbersome to navigate, it offers an endless assortment of 2D and 3D artwork, as well as countless videos from various stages in the animation process. Included are concept sketches, storyboards, color tests, character designs, pre-viz video layouts, animation cycles, animatic reels, and object and character model turntables. A wealth of material is available for each episode, making this one of the more extensive features of its kind.
Behind-the-Scenes Featurettes (All Discs, HD, 147 minutes): Brief but thorough featurettes (each of which are approximately six to eight minutes in length) are available for every episode, granting supervising director Dave Filoni, story editor Henry Gilroy, concept artist Kilian Plunkett, sound designer David Acord, and sound editor Matthew Wood the opportunity to explore the finer points of the show, its characters, story arcs, and the creative liberties they took with the Star Wars universe. They also take the time to discuss the series' animation, voice acting, sound effects, music, and tone, as well as their team's ship, planet, and creature designs. Each and every featurette is thoughtful, informative, and revealing, making the bulk of them a fantastic addition to this release.
Archive-Expanded Featurettes (HD): But wait, there's more! Archive-expanded versions of each of the aforementioned featurettes are available as well, allowing users to branch away and access content from the discs' Jedi Temple Archives. It's a clever touch that neatly ties the set's supplemental content together.
Season 2 Sneak Peek (HD, 2 minutes): An enticing trailer for The Clone Wars' second season; a season that looks darker and more intense than the first.
Republic Heroes Game Trailer (HD, 1 minute): A look at the recently released Clone Wars videogame that, for whatever reason, showcases more clips from the series clips than footage of actual gameplay.
Starwars.com Promo (HD, 2 minutes): An ad for starwars.com.
Whether you enjoyed the theatrically released Clone Wars film or despised every minute of it, be sure to give the first full season of the television series a fair chance. Its creators have a firm grasp on Lucas' characters and universe and, small missteps aside, have produced a compelling expansion of the Star Wars prequels' mythos. The 3-disc Blu-ray release of The Complete Season One is sure to upset some due to its lossy Dolby Digital surround track, but its near-perfect video transfer, extensive supplemental package, and attractive digibook packaging more than make up for any sonic shortcomings. Be sure to take in a few episodes before passing judgment (if the first season's opening Yoda-centric episode doesn't immediately secure a special spot in your heart). If you're anything like me -- and if your family is anything like mine -- you won't be sorry.
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