Considering that I enjoy dressing up as a stormtrooper in my spare time, it's downright blasphemous for me to admit that I never saw the "Star Wars: Clone Wars" movie when it came out in theaters.
There's a perfectly good explanation that I won't get into here, but I still regret not getting to the theater.
Those concerned about my priorities, don't fret, I would never shirk such responsibilities if it were an actual chapter in the saga. I knew that it was merely a teaser for the current cartoon airing on Cartoon Network, so there wasn't as much of an urge to rush out and pay good money to see it.
In the meantime, I have found myself completely infatuated with the TV show. I really have been enjoying the storylines.
The movie "Star Wars: Clone Wars" is, for the most part, a three-part version of the TV show, clocking in at an hour and a half.
I read many reviews and heard some firsthand comments from friends and honestly they weren't too flattering. Then again, those same outlets haven't been too kind to the series since "Episode I" was released 10 years ago.
In the film, we are thrown right into the middle of the Clone Wars, a skirmish which occurs in the "Star Wars" universe between "Episode II" and "Episode III."
Our hero, Anakin Skywalker, isn't quite as dark and Vader-like and is merely making his mark in history as one of the greatest war generals.
Battles between the Republican clones and the Separatist droid army pepper the entire film and that's the backdrop for one of the more important details of not only the film, but the cartoon series.
Anakin gets stuck with a sassy female jedi named Ahsoka and is instructed to train her as his Padawan. I kind of agree with some of the critics on this one when it comes to this character. It's sometimes like having Hannah Montana thrust into what's supposed to be a serious story.
The main drama in the film comes when it is discovered that Jabba the Hutt's son has been kidnapped. That's right. The big blob of green poo has an offspring, and he's about as disgusting as his father, only you can fit him in a backpack.
Anakin and Ahsoka set about rescuing the little Hutt, affectionately referred to as "Stinky," while nemesis Count Dooku convinces Jabba that his son has been killed by Anakin.
I have to say that Jabba's uncle Ziro sounded an awful lot like Cartman from "South Park."
The other plot points aren't as interesting or worth mentioning in this column. You either like "Star Wars" or you don't.
Granted, you don't have to be a "Star Wars" geek like myself to really get into the story. My 2-year-old found it quite entertaining, and I see the film and series as a great tool for getting younger fans interested in the story.
My only advice to those who have shied away from it is don't be so critical. Watch the TV show and the new film and have fun doing it. You might find that it's not so bad.
Douglas welcomes comments and suggestions and can be reached by e-mail at patjessdouglas@netscape.net.
