This past weekend, Jill and I took a little time and went to the movies to see the film, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars.” I sincerely wish I could heap nothing but praises on the filmmakers for it, but if I did, I would be lying through my teeth.

To be perfectly blunt, I found the film a bit underwhelming. The story was good, and the script was great, but the animation was a grave letdown. The square jawed look just doesn't cut it in a film with the history of Star Wars. Obi-Wan's and Count Dooku's mustaches look like they were made of concrete and acting like it also. The movements of the characters appeared to be stiff and not as smooth as CGI can be. Frankly, Lucas would have done better to get his friend Steven Spielberg to have helped out on that, or worked with Pixar or someone who has better results with CGI.

Another concern I had was the music. If you are going to this movie, expecting to hear the Star Wars theme, I have to warn you that you will not. What we get with this film is a major variation of the beloved music by John Williams. This had the effect of lowering expectations for the film on impact! What makes it worse is that the variation is just not up to the lofty standard that George Lucas has kept up over the years.

I will commend the individuals who did the voices, especially those who stepped in for the actors who did not voice their characters from the movies. The voice work was excellent and was one major redeeming factor for the movie as a whole. Frankly, I have grave concerns about the soon to be launched TV series based on this film as if they use the same things in it, TV viewers will abandon it in mass. We'll have to wait and see what develops.

Overall, the movie is entertaining, but frankly, it needs a severe retooling in the above areas. My recommendation to anyone who hasn't seen it yet is to be ready for a totally different Star Wars from the ones we have seen over the years.

There Be Dragons Here!

This coming week, Jill and I will be at Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia. This convention is the monster of all conventions, even making the Las Vegas convention appear small. When we attended last year, my comment to Jill was that you don't attend this convention, you experience it. This year, instead of it being in three hotels, it has expanded to four. With over 400 actors, actresses, writers, artists, and performers, it is easily the biggest convention each year. Check out the guest list at dragoncon.org and email me at drayburn@roddenberry.com who on that list you'd like for me or Jill to try to interview and we'll do our best to make it so! Also, if you attend and spot us, stop and chat for a minute as we love to chat with our readers.

UPDATE 8/26/08: Since I wrote this column, two MAJOR stories have broken.  The first one is the cancellation of Stargate: Atlantis at the end of this, it's fifth season and the announcement of a Stargate:  Atlantis TV movie for SciFi Channel.  The second story is the announcement by MGM and SciFi Channel about a new Stargate series called Stargate:  Universe.  There will be several individuals from the Stargate shows at Dragoncon that I hope to ask about these developments.  I will also have more news and some things to say in the column next week about this.  Watch for it!

Upcoming articles

Along with the breaking news involving Stargate, over the next weeks, along with taking a look at what the SciFi Channel has to offer, I'll be writing about the folks we got to meet at Las Vegas and Atlanta. We had some great interviews at Vegas and hope to have equal or greater luck in Atlanta, so check out the column each week. 

Ain't That Weird?

Have you ever wondered if those toy fishing rod and reels they sell to kids are any good? Just ask David Hayes of Elkin, NC. His granddaughter had just asked him to hold her fishing pole for a few minutes. The pole, a Barbie rod and reel, had been a Christmas gift from her dad. Suddenly there was a bite on the line and before you know it, using that rod and reel with 6lb. test line, Hayes had landed a 21 lbs, 1 oz. catfish, which was 32 inches long, exactly two inches longer than the rod!

BTW, North Carolina wildlife officials have certified the fish as a record breaker. Hayes' granddaughter is relieved that it didn't break her fishing rod!

Photos:  Wikipedia.org, Dragoncon.org

 Click here to add your comments in our forums.