Star Wars: The Clone Wars (PG, 2008)

common sense media says

CGI Star Wars saga is dull, despite action.


parents & educators say
  • 80% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this CGI film is much tamer than the most recent live-action Star Wars movies, but it's still full of non-stop animated action, including weapon use (lightsabers, blasters, etc.) and several urban warfare sequences. The sci-fi settings, computer animation, and bloodless battles somewhat lessen the overall effect, but the level of intensity is high and constant. The plot also involves an alien infant being kidnapped; even though he won't look as cute or vulnerable to audiences as a human baby (he's basically a giant tadpole), younger children may worry about a child -- no matter what their shape or species -- in peril.

Positive messages: Some discussion of "the privilege of teaching." The kidnapping of a crime lord's son figures prominently in the plot. Several references to "gangsters" and "scum." Another character is referred to as an "assassin." An alien infant is exposed to some peril. Some burp-and-belch humor.
Violence & scariness: Constant -- albeit bloodless -- animated science-fiction action, including lightsaber duels and small-arms and artillery fire of energy beams. Much of the violence is perpetrated against robots, but some isn't, including several soldiers in high-tech armor taking fire and falling in battle, with phrases like "Get a medic"" and "Man down!" used to imply the severity of the circumstances. A solider in battle armor is shot through the heart with an energy beam. Some hand-to-hand fighting. Spaceships, clearly staffed by human characters, explode.
Sexy stuff: Alien dancing girls perform in tight clothing; some longing glances.
Language: Minimal use of "damn."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: In an outer-space nightclub, several non-humans drink what are presumably intoxicants; a huge, slug-like alien smokes from a hookah.

More on Star Wars: The Clone Wars

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about different kinds of movie violence. Does the fact this film is animated make its depiction of war and combat more acceptable to viewers? Does the sci-fi angle make the consequences of the fights and conflicts seem less realistic? Families can also discuss how this film compares to the original 1970s live-action saga that many parents grew up with, as well as the more recent trilogy. Why do you think George Lucas decided to make another Star Wars movie?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS -- which is set between the films Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith -- Jedi knights Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) are once again plunged into the thick of things, helping Republic troops seize a planet back from the robot army led by separatist Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). In the middle of the fray, viewers learn that Anakin's been assigned a new student by Master Yoda (Tom Kane) -- plucky young Jedi Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), whose skills are matched only by her impetuousness. When word comes that intergalactic gangster Jabba the Hutt's son has been kidnapped, Anakin and Ahsoka are dispatched to rescue the infant, partially in hopes that a placated Jabba will give free passage to Republic ships as they try to stop the separatists. But the separatists have their own agenda, and Dooku's assassin Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman) is on the hunt for Anakin and his new student.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
Star Wars: The Clone Wars is aimed at kids, but the film's biggest flaw -- the constant repetition of lines, themes, concepts, and information in the script -- suggests that the people who made it don't have a terribly high opinion of their target audience. The movie's computer animation also sometimes looks shabby and shoddy compared to other computer-animated films -- hair is stiff and unyielding, and skin textures look mottled and flat. The character of Ahsoka feels fairly generic -- she's plucky and spirited, sassy and yet eager to learn from her elders -- and is clearly being set up as a new lead character for future animated tales set in the Star Wars universe.

The film unfortunately has more in common with the heavy, clumsy paces of the "new" Star Wars trilogy than the more graceful, spirited ones of the three original films from the '70s and '80s. There are plots and conspiracies and stratagems, usually over-explained by characters appearing in a holographic communication with our heroes and villains; watching The Clone Wars feels like listening in to several tedious phone conversations, interrupted by fight scenes. Yes, the action is non-stop, but as The Clone Wars takes place between two movies viewers already know the outcome of, it's hard to shake the fact that the entire film feels like money-making filler, an attempt to wring more story -- and money -- out of a long-established franchise.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Dave Filoni
Cast: Ashley Eckstein, James Arnold Taylor, Matt Lanter
Genre: Science Fiction
Run time: 98 minutes
Theatrical release: August 15, 2008
DVD release: November 10, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking.
Watch our review

This review was written by James Rocchi
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7
Based on 5 parent & educator reviews:
  • 80% say violence is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

clone4-55
teen, 16 years old
 
i think it's a very cool movie,because this movie is how star wars should have always been, full of action and violence. the title is ' star wars the clone wars ' , so there has to be all that stuff in it. anyway, i think this movie is not for children under 12 years, because the violence in this movie is pretty high for the standard of violence in star wars movies. it does not matter if it's animation , the point is it's about wars and you get to see how people die, tons of people actually. for example: in the beginning of the movie you see a big battle and clones try to storm the droids, now think what would happen and how it would look like if a lot of people would storm their enemies in a war. that's right a lot of people are dyeing. there's no blood in this movie, but that's logical because the weapons that are used in this movie shoot laser. the hardest scene in this movie is when a big droid holds a clone ,so that he can't run and shoots right through his body, the clone screams , you see how the laser comes out of the back and you get to see the hole in his body. after that the droid throws him away and the body lies on the ground. the rating PG is fine for this movie but you should take it serious. thanks for reading my review :)

Sio
educator and parent of 6 and 10 year old
 
Blech. This movie is such a boring mish mash of mush. And yet the action might scare or confuse younger kids. Stick to the Trilogy!! Can't go wrong with a classic.

cammy48
kid, 11 years old
 
Pretty good
there is violence, but if you have seen the other movies you will be fine, in fact you might even find it milder. The languge is limited to one non-noticable, but pretty clear d**m and some infrequent name-calling. Jabba smokes. Pretty good though

OldBob13
teen, 16 years old
 
Not the best animated movie ever, but it stays true to its Star Wars roots.
I thought this animated Star Wars movie was pretty good overall. The animation was great, but the story was rather poor. Still, it's age appropriate and fun enough.

ALGLTG09
kid, 13 years old
 
It's not as good as the other star wars movie's, it's ok. A little language, and the dancing girls are animated, so it's not that bad.

movie fan141999
kid, 12 years old
 
star wars
on the good side it will tell kids to never give up on somthing that thay want to do. but on the bad side thay say stuped and smoke and jabba tells the people who did not find his git thar heads cut off wich thay show. and my sister saw it when she was 5 but she dos not care abuut all the action only ahsoka.

SuperMario958
teen, 13 years old
 
The Clone Wars movie
The Clone Wars movie is a good movie that tells you different adventures that happen between episodes 2 and 3. The movie is violent for younger kids but when clones die they simply fall to the ground and there are intese fight scenes between the jedi and sith.I would recommened this to anyone 8+ and it's a must see before you watch the TV show

the no bull zone
teen, 15 years old
 
pretty good
has tons of vilence but it is a movie about war and its a great movie

Spielberg00
teen, 14 years old
 
I pity whoever can call this a Star Wars movie.
My rating: PG for animated sequences of sci-fi action and violence throughout, some brief smoking and mild language.

clone
kid, 11 years old
 
exlent

starwars reviewer
kid, 13 years old
 
Not as good as live ones, but got me interested:
I never liked Star Wars when I was 9. Now I do. And this movie is the reason I went from no to yes. I found it interesting enough that I wanted to see all the other films. For a younger child, this animated version may spark their interest in the other films. For those who were already big fans, the movie made them happy, because it ushered in the next generation of Star Wars fans. For that I give it 5 stars, just for rekindling the interest that was waning away.

uhya
teen, 13 years old
 
the story is everybody attacking each other for 98 minutes

some kid
kid, 12 years old
 
Better than Phantom Menace.
Pretty good. I like the animation and you cannot get over how cool it is. Not as good as episodes 2,3,4,5, or 6. Could actually be G rated. 1 smoking scene (momentarily) and a d--n said by a clone.

spaceballsfan
kid, 10 years old
 

ohya
parent of 14 year old
 

MovieFan777
teen, 16 years old
 
Fun Adventure But Not Great
This animated take on the Star Wars series is truly a fun film for the kids, but most older fans of the film series may be disappointed.

Ghost Rider Sky
kid, 12 years old
 
the only cuss word said is d--n

 
Pretty Dull,
OK movie but may bore some younger fans of the show.

BondLover123
kid, 12 years old
 
BAAAAAAAAAAAAARF!!!!!!!!!
This film should NOT ever be on your shelf of movies. Despite a great job done with the rest of the "Star Wars" films, this is a total confusion to the rest of the series. It has a terrible storyline ("worse than Telletubbies" should give you a great idea), this film has NO interest to people who didn't lock up their brains and swallow the key, and it's basically a PARODY to anything that ever sold 5 copies or more to people that outgrew Telletubbies. The basic story is that Anakin, Obi-Wan and their new alien companion (don't remember the name) go to find Jabba the Hutt's baby. Need I say more?

MasterLuke
kid, 13 years old
 
DESTROYED STAR WARS
Worst star wars movie ever!!!!!!!! The TV show that "spawned" after it killed one of my most fave-rate books series(Republic commandos)! CSM reveiw that book please instead of this crud.

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age