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"STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS" (2008) (voices of Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Mild Extreme *Mild Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Extreme None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild Minor Mild Moderate Heavy QUICK TAKE: Computer Animated Sci-Fi: Two Jedi knights and one in training attempt to find a kidnapped baby upon which the future of the Republic might hang. PLOT: Following training by his mentor, Anakin Skywalker (voice of MATT LANTER) has now joined Obi-Wan Kenobi (voice of JAMES ARNOLD TAYLOR) and that man's mentor, Yoda (voice of TOM KANE), in becoming a full-fledged Jedi knight, determined to help the Republic, and regular soldiers such as Captain Rex (voice of DEE BRADLEY BAKER), battle separatists such as Count Dooku (voice of CHRISTOPHER LEE). The latter has used his lethal foot soldier, Asajj Ventress (voice of NIKA FUTTERMAN), to kidnap Jabba the Hutt's (voice of KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON) infant son. Since Jabba controls the shipping lanes along the outer rim, whoever returns the child could earn his favors and thus affect the future of the Republic. Accordingly, Yoda assigns Anakin and Obi-Wan to rescue the child, and thus Anakin isn't happy being saddled down by his own protégé, the enthusiastic but headstrong Ahsoka Tano (voice of ASHLEY ECKSTEIN). With the likes of Senator Padmé Amidala (voice of CATHERINE TABER) and Ziro the Hutt (voice of COREY BURTON) -- Jabba's uncle -- joining the mix, it's a race against time to rescue the infant Hutt and return him to Jabba before it's too late. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're big fans of the "Star Wars" franchise, it's a good bet they will. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For sci-fi action violence throughout, brief language and momentary smoking. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: It's debatable whether kids view animated characters as role models, but here's a quick look at their major characteristics: ANAKIN SKYWALKER is a young Jedi knight prone to jumping into action without thinking about the potential problems, complications, etc. of his acts, but who usually gets out of whatever the predicament might be. He isn't happy to be assigned Ahsoka as his protégé, and knows they must succeed at rescuing and returning Jabba's infant. OBI-WAN KENOBI is his more level-headed but still physically proficient mentor who similarly recognizes the seriousness of their quest. AHSOKA TANO is the Jedi-in-training who's assigned to Anakin and whose headstrong ways clash with his. That said, she's quite competent at what she's able to do. COUNT DOOKU is the lead villain who's leading a rebellion against the Republic and thus orchestrates the abduction of Jabba's child and tries to pin that on the Jedi. ASAJJ VENTRESS is his lead foot soldier who does all of the physical work for him and thus must contend with the Jedis' attempts to rescue the infant. PADMÉ AMIDALA is the Senator who does what she can to help the Jedi, meaning she must deal with Ziro the Hutt. JABBA THE HUTT is the large and belligerent ruler whose control of the shipping lanes of the outer rim means he's of importance to both the Republic and the insurgents. He must contend with his infant son being kidnapped. ZIRO THE HUTT is his flamboyant uncle who turns out to be involved in the kidnapping. YODA is the Jedi master who assigns Anakin and Obi-Wan to find and rescue Jabba's son. CAPTAIN REX is the regular soldier who battles the 'droid army and helps the Jedi in their quest. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this PG-rated sci-fi film. Profanity consists of at least 1 "damn," while some colorful phrases are also uttered. Some female characters are seen in form-fitting and/or revealing attire. Violence consists of all sorts of sci-fi action where people, robots, spacecraft and more are killed or destroyed by various weapons, while all sorts of fighting (light saber duels) also occurs. Some severed but non-bloody heads are seen, and that, the violence and/or various moments of potential peril might be unsettling and/or suspenseful to some younger kids, but probably few others. Some of that action might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes. There's brief drinking and smoking, as well as some underplayed tense family scenes. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, varying amounts of camera movement are present in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE A glowing beverage is served to an alien in a bar of sorts. BLOOD/GORE Various characters' severed heads (no blood) are brought in on a stretcher to be displayed to Jabba. Ahsoka reacts to the smell of baby Jabba on several occasions, and then the infant belches and green gas comes out. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Count Dooku and all of those who work for him, including Asajj Ventress, obviously have bad attitudes. Not only do they kidnap Jabba's son, but also lie about the Jedis being responsible for that kidnapping as well as other related matters (including that they killed the young son -- while he's still alive), all trying to sway his allegiance over to them against the Republic. Those opposed to magical powers should note that various characters here possess paranormal abilities to move and otherwise affect things with their minds. A robot lies to Anakin on several occasions. We learn that Ziro helped in the kidnapping of Jabba's son. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers but probably no one else. It's possible some of the alien characters' appearances might be unsettling to the youngest of viewers. Some younger viewers might be worried when Ahsoka keeps reporting that baby Jabba is getting sicker and sicker. GUNS/WEAPONS Light Sabers/All sorts of laser weapons: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Criminal scum," "You're stuck with me, sky-guy," "Don't get snippy with me," "It's gonna make things damn near impossible," "Have you gone mad?" "Slime," "Shut up," "Hey, no fair," "Snips," "It gives me the creeps," "I hate Hutts," "I think it's little stinky you smell," "You grubby little slug," "I don't talk to separatist scum," "Let me show you how it works, clanker," "Stinky," "Odd-ball," "Why you tin-plated traitor," "You'll have to do better than that, my darling," "Jedi scum," "I think he's going to live to stink another day" and "Great, we woke the baby." The action, stunts and more might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Ahsoka wears the equivalent of a tube-top (revealing her midriff). Yoda's habit of reversing parts of his sentences might also be enticing for kids to imitate. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) An extreme amount of action-oriented, heavily dramatic, ominous and suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 damn. SEX/NUDITY Ahsoka wears the equivalent of a tube-top (revealing her midriff). A female dancer in Jabba's lair wears a form-fitting outfit that shows off her curves as she slinks about. Asajj Ventress wears a low-cut top and shows a little cleavage. We see an exotic type dancer slinking about in Ziro's night club. In the distance, we see a city sign that shows the silhouette of three shapely female dancers. SMOKING Ziro smokes from some sort of hookah-like device. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Jabba must contend with his young infant being kidnapped, but beyond him being angry, this is somewhat underplayed in terms of other emotions. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Those opposed to magical powers should note that various characters here possess paranormal abilities to move and otherwise affect things with their minds. The comment that the mission always comes first (meaning accomplishing it even if that results in leaving others to fend for themselves). The comment that old sins cast long shadows. Ziro being portrayed as something of an effeminate and some might say flaming male character (the affected vocal delivery, his makeup, wearing feathers, etc.). VIOLENCE We see quick clips of past battle footage (lasers being fired, things destroyed, light sabers used to hit robots, etc.). We see a battle between humans (including Anakin and Obi-Wan) and 'droids where lasers are fired back and forth, with parties on both sides being hit and explosions going off, etc. There's no blood, but we do see a helmet (or possibly a helmeted head) fly off during that, while Anakin uses his light saber to deflect laser blasts aimed at him. Lasers are fired during a battle of spaceships and vehicles are hit. After a brief cessation, the above battle continues, this time with the 'droid armed protected by a massive bubble energy shield that moves along with them. Laser and other blasts simply bounce off the energy shield, so Anakin and Ahsoka hide under what's essentially an upside down box to infiltrate the other side. Once clear of the main army, they encounter and must battle a robot that fires at them, while Obi-Wan and others also end up inside the shield and must battle the main army. During this, Obi-Wan and Anakin separately use their light sabers to destroy various robots, while a giant robot hand nearly hits Ahsoka. When Anakin ends up surrounded, Ahsoka uses her powers to cause a massive wall to fall down onto the 'droids, with an opening in that wall falling over Anakin, barely missing him. She then sets off explosives that blow up the shield generator. Elsewhere, Obi-Wan uses his powers to bash two robots together and then grabs a general around the neck to make the rest of the armed robots aiming at him back down. Various characters' severed heads (no blood) are brought in on a stretcher to be displayed to Jabba (the result of unseen violence). An R2 unit zaps a sand creature. Robots fire at ships, as well as at Anakin, Ahsoka and others as they scale a sheer cliff to get to the fortress up top. Parties on both sides are hit, including 'droids that fall from the top, and huge walking ships that fall while climbing up the side. During this, Ahsoka is on top of another of those walking ships when it's hit and loses grip with its front "legs." She then nearly falls from that, but doesn't. Anakin then destroys many robots. Once inside the fortress, Ahsoka destroys various 'droids creeping up on them, while Anakin destroys the one she misses. Spaceships fire on Anakin and Ahsoka on a planet, followed by 'droids doing the same, resulting in another laser battle. After Rex fires at her, Asajj Ventress uses her powers to cause him to choke. There's another spaceship battle with lasers fired, etc. Rex hits a 'droid to disarm it and then uses its laser gun to shoot and destroy other 'droids. Ahsoka and Asajj Ventress get into a light saber battle. Anakin knocks Asajj Ventress aside. Asajj Ventress sends a 'droid falling off a cliff. The above space battle continues. Laser shots are fired at Ahsoka who uses her light saber to deflect them. Laser blasts destroy many 'droids, while Obi-Wan takes out others with his light saber. Obi-Wan uses his light saber to deflect laser blasts and destroys several robots. Obi-Wan and Asajj Ventress get into a light saber battle (her two vs. his one). At one point, she disarms him, but he gets his back and the fight continues, including with her kicking him back. Spaceships chase after and fire upon Anakin and Ahsoka in their rickety craft. When the latter prepare to enter a much bigger ship's hangar, one of the pursuing ships purposefully crashes into that opening, destroying it and presumably killing various people inside there (we see the explosion nearing them, but don't see their deaths). Spaceships fire at Anakin and Ahsoka in their rickety ship, with Anakin hitting and destroying one, while R2D2 fires at another and destroys it. But Anakin and Ahsoka's damaged ship then does a crash-landing in the desert, with flames coming from it, but they're okay. Senator Amidala hits a robot to escape from an elevator of sorts. Senator Amidala shoots one robot, but is thrown to the floor by another. She's then throw into a cell by one, with that one or another smashing her transmitting device after she gets word out to C-3PO that she needs help. Count Dooku fires electricity at Anakin who blocks that with his light saber, and the two then battle with those weapons. Count Dooku then creates a dust storm to blow Anakin backwards and disarm him, but Anakin grabs his light saber just in time to block Count Dooku. Count Dooku then strikes the backpack Anakin is wearing, thinking he's killed Jabba's son (previously carried in that), but Anakin then reveals it was just full of rocks as a diversion. Count Dooku then uses the force to knock Anakin backwards, with Anakin then jetting off on Count Dooku's vehicle. Several robots pop up from the sand and go after Ahsoka who has baby Jabba on her back. R2D2 tries to zap one, but is then blasted back. Ahsoka continues battling them, but then falls and slides down a hill. She eventually destroys those 'droids one by one. Good guys blast various 'droids, while Senator Amidala kicks one and shoots it or another while Ziro is captured at gunpoint. Anakin holds his light saber on Jabba, while the latter's minions aim their weapons at Anakin. Reviewed August 7, 2008 / Posted August 15, 2008

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