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Anakin Skywalker and his padawan, Ahsoka Tano, fight to rescue Jabba the Hutt’s son.
Even before the release of the animated adventure, “Star Wars: The Clones Wars,” critics and so-called fans were pouring on the hate.
Pouring it on.
Harry Knowles, Ain’t It Cool News’ resident leader, wrote: “I hated the score, the animation, the shots, the characters and most of all the retarded fucking idiot story.” The New York Daily News ran an editorial blasting George Lucas for destroying Star Wars and begging him to stop.
What the heck? As much I have become something of a cynical fan of Star Wars over the last few years, I couldn’t really imagine that “The Clone Wars” was really all that bad.
Then I finally saw it.
And I liked it.
What is wrong with these people who seemed to take such joy in bashing what I found to be an entertaining, fun and light-hearted story? Were people just so desperate to slam “Star Wars” and Lucas, something that has become a past time for many since the release of “Phantom Menace.”
It’s cool and hip to make fun of Lucas, so everyone loves to do it.
No don’t go thinking that I’m going to give you a Lucas love-fest in response, but in all honesty I never thought he was infallible in the first place. “More American Graffiti” anyone? “Howard the Duck?” He’s had plenty of misses over the years, long before the prequels.
I considered why people hated “The Clone Wars” so much, and my conclusions really came down to something very simple.
They didn’t get it.
Yeah, I know, that’s a standard snobbish response. But give me a moment to explain.
No, “The Clone Wars” is not some deep, metaphysical experience that only those enlightened few would understand. It’s not nearly that sophisticated. What “The Clone Wars” is – and what Knowles and others clearly didn’t get – is a project with a specific target audience: KIDS!
I don’t quite understand how these critics could review the film and seem to want to ignore that it was for kids. This wasn’t for the adults, I mean, how much sophistication were you expecting?
I think it is should be a rule that if you’re a critic and you’re going to write a review of a film aimed at children, then you should have children or at least bring one with you to the screening. Then, ask the kid what he thought and felt. If the movie is not made for you, then it’s only fair that you study how that film’s intended audience responds to it.
Anything less is just posturing.
Let’s also consider another thing: “The Clone Wars” is not a movie.
The theatrical release of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is a glorified promotional stunt for an animated television series. Like ignoring the fact that it was for kids, ignoring the origins of the project is just as unprofessional.
While the specific storyline has a beginning and end – the kidnapping of Jabba’s son – the character arcs aren’t as defined. Why? Because these were written and developed as the first few episodes of a television series. It’s real structural purpose was to introduce the characters we’ll be seeing weekly on the show, set to air on the Cartoon Network this fall. The development of the characters will take place over the span of several episodes, not just the first three or four.
And each part of the movie played out like every other kids show, lots of action, a bit of exposition, limited character development. All I can say is that these critics don’t have kids, and if they do, they don’t pay any attention to the animated shows they watch.
Lastly, the key to many of these critics’ disappointment is their bloated expectations. If you go to McDonalds expecting filet minion, well, get ready to be upset. Cuz hey, you ain’t gonna get it.
Yes, I liked “The Clone Wars.” But I didn’t go into it expecting Shakespeare, or even traces of that old excitement I got when I saw “Star Wars” at the theater for the tenth time when I was a kid. I went in expecting to watch an animated “Star Wars” story that my son would enjoy.
And he did. Enthusiastically.
So all I can say to the folks at Ain’t It Cool News and elsewhere is: Get over yourselves. Stop reviewing movies based on what you wanted it to be, or what you thought it should be, and take it for what it is. Bashing something – even “Star Wars” – because it isn’t what you remember it being is dishonest.
And really, all the Lucas hate? Give me a break.
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