Preaching to the choir, maybe

Mighty God King asks the question that has been floating in the head of many Expanded Universe fans. (Or is it just me?)

If we’re going to get an animated Star Wars film, why on earth are we getting the Clone Wars, which has already had live-action movies and an animated series and potentially a live-action series in the future about it – instead of, and this is just off the top of my head, an adaptation of the Heir to the Empire trilogy by Timothy Zahn, AKA “the only good Star Wars novels ever?”

We know the answer: Because George Lucas loves his shiny new Clone Wars, and it’s not like folks aren’t going to watch it. But really, why can’t we take the post-ROTJ books and feed them into the animation mill? By end of LOTF, we’re going on 40 years worth of raw material. True, they aren’t all the Thrawn trilogy, but even the worst could hold a glimmer of possibility in the hands of a competent scriptwriter. And it’s not like other endless franchises haven’t been doing it for decades.

I’ve nothing against The Clone Wars in theory – but didn’t we just leave that party? Maybe I’m just a sad old-school fan who simply isn’t all that interested in further exploration of the prequel era (okay, drop the ‘maybe’) but… Seriously. Forty years of imperfect but infinitely useful raw material with established movie characters that people actually mostly like and have fond memories of. And starting off with the Thrawn trilogy will bring in a lot of people who just weren’t feeling the prequels and other casual fans who might not make the time for The Clone Wars. (Plus, it would probably boost book sales. Books that are already written, edited, and sitting around in stores.)

I’ll keep holding out hope it happens eventually. You?

The Clone Wars game sure to… uh… something

If you’ve been dying to hear more about The Clone Wars game (or just a The Clone Wars game) it’s your lucky day: IGN has an interview with LucasArts’ Feargus Carroll, and we learn the game’s name (The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance) and that it’s a Nintendo DS (handheld) exclusive. And it involves Nightsisters. And Dooku.

But! There are two, and the other one is just The Clone Wars and for the Wii. Looks like just a basic dueler… Yes kids, you’re finally getting your Wii lightsaber game. Hoorah.

Well, something is happening on StarWars.com

Just another Clone Wars Flash front piece, though… It’s pretty extensive, with actual content, including some pretty nice galleries (TFN spotted a pink R2,) a sharpshooter game, and more ‘coming soon’… But if you’re hoping for something other than The Clone Wars, no cigarra. Still, at least now we know they’re not just sitting around playing the new Grand Theft Auto.

I wouldn’t click that link at work, though – at least not before you mute your speakers.

Another familiar voice coming to The Clone Wars

THE CLONE WARS: Dooku and palsGalactic-Voyage spotted an exchange on the forums of Christopher Lee’s official site that confirms the actor is providing the voice of Dooku for the movie.

The site’s administrator, Juan Aneiros, had this to say:

Mr. Lee has recorded the voice of Count Dooku for this movie a couple of months ago.

It was however, the first time he had to lip synch to a character because they had produced the animation before recording his voice.

(via)

Video: The Clone Wars Disney bootleg clip

TFN spotted this on Youtube earlier this morning, so better watch it before it’s pulled. (The scene is the vertical cliff-side battle we got a glimpse of in the trailer, featuring Anakin, Ahsoka, and a lot of droids.)

In other The Clone Wars news, Fandango says that the film’s run time is two hours, one minute.