Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One - DVD and Blu-ray Review

By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 11/2/2009

LUCASFILM/WARNER
Street: Nov. 3
Prebook: now
> Colorful, computer-animated adventures of Star Wars’ irrepressible Jedi Knights.

Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda—you know the boys and here they are, engaging in a cosmic skirmish that took place “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” The episodic adventures of the Jedi Knights and their struggles to maintain order and peace in the galaxy is the first TV production from Lucasfilm Animation, and it’s a well-paced, computer-animated treat—and one that was generally well-received by the Star Wars community after its debut last year on the Cartoon Network. (It certainly is better-liked than the theatrical feature that kicked it off in August 2008.) Season one is overflowing with supplemental features, including featurettes on all of the show’s 22 episodes and, for Blu-ray, a digital database exploring the artwork, animation and intricacies of creator George Lucas’ remarkable universe.

Shelf Talk: Like all things Star Wars, The Clone Wars is a guaranteed strong seller. And as it’s the fourth quarter and there are undoubtedly plenty of people looking for a gift to present to an unabashed Star Wars fan, the enthusiasm may even be stronger than expected. Blu-ray interest also is bound to be strong as Star Warriors are among the earliest and most enthusiastic of high-def adopters.

Animation, color, NR (violence), 484 min., DVD $44.98, UPC: 883929094578; BD $59.99, UPC: 883929094561
Extras: seven director’s cuts, 22 episodic featurettes, 64-page production journal; BD adds Jedi Temple Archives database
Directors: various
First Run: Cartoon Network, 2008