8 | / 10 |
Users | 4.3 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.2 |
As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights – including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master Yoda and padawan Ahsoka Tano – struggle to maintain order and restore peace. But despite the best efforts of these brave protectors, more and more planets are falling prey to the sinister forces of the dark side…
Starring: James Arnold Taylor, Corey Burton, Ashley Eckstein, Matt Lanter, Kathleen GatiAdventure | 100% |
Action | 81% |
Sci-Fi | 80% |
Fantasy | 73% |
Animation | 45% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.35:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
German: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
Japanese: Dolby Digital 5.1
(Japanese only available if player menu language is Japanese)
English SDH, French, German SDH, Japanese, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Three-disc set (3 BDs)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Star Wars overmind George Lucas hasn't had it easy. Sure, he's raked in countless billions of dollars and forged a golden empire worthy of a principled rebellion or two, but his forays into expanding his own universe have been met with less than enthusiastic responses. After the glory that is the Original Trilogy left fanboys frothing at the mouth, Lucas turned his attention to animation, merchandising, videogames, and all manners of media; a marketing free-for-all that culminated in the eventual creation and release of his now-infamous, still-divisive Prequel Trilogy. But once the worldwide fervor surrounding Episode III had been exhausted, Lucas was once again left to his expansive devices. The result? The Clone Wars, an ongoing CG-animated television series whose debut -- a theatrically released film comprised of three spotty, arguably annoying episodes -- received a proper drubbing from critics and audiences alike. To his credit though, the series itself has proven to be far more captivating, inventive, and entertaining than the feature film that bears its name.
If you thought Yoda was a formidable warrior in the prequel films, just wait till you see him here...
The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One blazes onto Blu-ray with a fit and faithful 1080p/VC-1 transfer that captures every splash of color, every Outer Rim texture, and every fine line that graces Lucasfilm Animation's CG canvas. Brilliant reds, vivid blues, swampy greens, and inky blacks lend depth and stability to the image, while picture-perfect contrast and direct-from-the-digital-tap details put it in the same league as other top tier animated releases. Granted, the animation itself can't compete with the latest and greatest Pixar production, but Warner's technical presentation is striking and proficient. While I noticed some minor banding in a handful of episodes, each instance was brief, never became a distraction and, more often than not, was extremely difficult to spot in the series' brush-stroked skies anyway. None of the first season's twenty-two episodes are hindered by significant artifacting, aliasing, or source noise, and overall clarity is healthy throughout. The animation isn't always razor sharp, but any softness should be attributed to the series' painterly aesthetics, not the integrity of Warner's high definition transfer. Star Wars diehards and videophiles of all ages will be more than pleased with the results.
The lone point of contention on Warner's impressive 3-disc release will be its lossy, 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track. Without a lossless or uncompressed mix to be heard, fans will certainly cry foul, bemoaning the studio's seeming unwillingness to take advantage of the full sonic potential of the series' dogfights and lightsaber battles. However, the track is a competent one. Dialogue is crisp, warm, and well-prioritized, and lines are never buried beneath the at-times bombastic action. LFE output is strong, rear speaker activity is commendable, and directionality, while a tad two-dimensional, is fairly convincing. In fact, the soundfield is quite immersive, more so than its standard DVD or broadcast counterparts. That being said, a lossless track would have helped in a variety of episodes. The inadequacy of the Dolby Digital mix is never more apparent than it is in "Dooku Captured." Listen carefully when Obi Wan and Anakin are trapped in the underground cavern: note how much the LFE channel and rear speakers struggle when music, crumbling rock, force pushes, and roaring creatures simultaneously invade the soundscape. Ah well. Principles aside, no one should avoid The Clone Wars simply because it has a lossy track. It still boasts twice the bitrate of the standard DVD mix, outmaneuvers several other non-theatrical animated releases, and gets the job done. Could it sound better? Sure. Could it sound worse? Without a doubt.
The 3-disc Blu-ray edition of The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One is a beauty. I'm usually not a big fan of digibook packaging, but the folks at Warner have really outdone themselves with this one. Handsome, sturdy, and well-constructed, the hardcover case opens to reveal disc casings attached to the front and rear covers, an exclusive 68-page production journal nestled safely and comfortably between, and a generous collection of original sketches and notes spread throughout its pages. But the real treat comes when you pop the discs into your Blu-ray player. 7 Director's Cut episodes, a more filmic aspect ratio, almost four hours of Jedi Archive artwork and videos, and two-and-a-half hours of episode-specific production featurettes. Oh... and did I mention it's all presented in glorious high definition? Sure, it would have been nice to have a few commentaries sprinkled in the mix, but the featurettes are so extensive that it's tough to complain. I, for one, am quite impressed with the time and effort that went into this release. Fans of the series will be ecstatic.
Whether you enjoyed the theatrically released Clone Wars film or despised every minute of it, be sure to give the first full season of the television series a fair chance. Its creators have a firm grasp on Lucas' characters and universe and, small missteps aside, have produced a compelling expansion of the Star Wars prequels' mythos. The 3-disc Blu-ray release of The Complete Season One is sure to upset some due to its lossy Dolby Digital surround track, but its near-perfect video transfer, extensive supplemental package, and attractive digibook packaging more than make up for any sonic shortcomings. Be sure to take in a few episodes before passing judgment (if the first season's opening Yoda-centric episode doesn't immediately secure a special spot in your heart). If you're anything like me -- and if your family is anything like mine -- you won't be sorry.
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