Starring:
Mat Lucas as Anakin Skywalker (voice)
James Arnold Taylor as Obi-Wan Kenobi/Aide #1/Aide #3 (voice)
Corey Burton as San Hill/Count Dooku/Warrior #2 (voice)
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO (voice)
John Di Maggio as General Grievous/Padawan (voice)
Nick Jameson as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious (voice)
Tom Kane as Yoda (voice)
Daran Norris as Durge/Aide #2/Henchman/Warrior #3/Ki-Adi-Mundi/Master Barrek (voice)
Kevin Michael Richardson as K’Kruhk/Human Male Jedi Master (voice)
André Sogliuzzo as ARC Captain/Battle Droid/Clone Trooper/ARC Trooper/Captain Typho (voice)
Cree Summer as Luminara Unduli (voice)
Tatyana Yassukovich as Barriss Offee (voice)
Jerome Beidler as Young Anakin
Terrence ‘T.C.’ Carson as Mace Windu
Grey DeLisle as Asajj Ventress/Padmé Amidala/Shaak-Ti (voice)
Special Features:
Exclusive “Connecting the Dots” Featurette takes you inside the creative process that Genndy Tartakovsky and his team used to link Clone Wars to Revenge of the Sith.
Audio Commentary by Tartakovsky and his band of artists.
Two galleries of Concept Art, Storyboards, Sketches & more!
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith Launch Trailer
Star Wars: Battlefront II Video Game Trailer
Star Wars: Empire At War Video Game Trailer
“Revenge of the Brick” Trailer from LEGO
Access a special Xbox(r) playable Demo with two entire levels from the new Star Wars: Battlefront II video game
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.78:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Dolby Surround Sound
French and Spanish Language
Running Time: 64 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is from the DVD cover:
“The Emmy Award-winning animated series continues with Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume Two, available for the first time on DVD. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, this series captures George Lucas’ vision in a dynamic animated style that is a visual delight for all ages.
As seen on Cartoon Network, Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume Two concludes the epic adventures that bridge the story between Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. Witness firsthand the trials of Anakin Skywalker and the secret ceremony in which he becomes a Jedi Knight. Then, follow the Jedi as they attempt to repel a surprise attack by General Grievous on the galactic capital, Coruscant. Clone Wars Volume Two is filled with exciting galactic battles that lead directly to the beginning of Revenge of the Sith.
You’ll complete the circle when you add this disc to your Star Wars DVD collection.”
The Series:
If you saw Clone Wars Volume One, then you know what a great series this is. The action is spectacular, the story is fun, and it’s not only a great Star Wars adventure but a great cartoon as well. It even manages to please fans that weren’t crazy about the films.
Volume Two addresses the main gripe about Volume One each episode is much longer. Rather than twenty 3 minute episodes, we have five 13 minute episodes. This allows the creators to do more with the story, develop the characters more, and generally make a more interesting cartoon.
The other interesting thing about Volume Two is the fact that it ties directly into Revenge of the Sith. The cartoons show where Anakin and Obi-Wan were at before the film started, how Coruscant was invaded, and how Palpatine was kidnapped by General Grievous. The invasion of Coruscant in Clone Wars is arguably one of the most spectacular battles in the entire Star Wars Saga. From Yoda taking out cruisers to Mace Windu commandeering starfighters, it’s all quite cool. Another memorable scene features a Jedi and clonetroopers flying through space from one starship to another to take it over. Their spacesuits are reminiscent of early Star Wars production art.
The cartoons also explain a lot of other things leading into the film. We see C-3PO get his gold plating. You find out just why General Grievous has that nagging cough. You also see Anakin’s hand switch from its Episode II version to its Episode III version. They are little touches that Star Wars geeks like myself like to see. The cartoon even expands on the universe by showing the Jedi knighting ceremony, new skills of Hammerhead aliens, and other cool stuff that hasn’t been seen before.
If you’re any kind of Star Wars fan or animation fan, this is required viewing for you. I recommend you view Clone Wars Volume 1 first, but you’re not getting the entire Star Wars story until you see this. Both adults and children will love it.
The Extras:
There are a few bonus features included on this DVD. Besides the trailers, numerous game previews, and galleries, these are the highlights:
Connecting the Dots This is a kind of “making of” featurette where Genndy Tartakovsky and his crew discuss the creative process behind this animated series. They discuss their meetings with George Lucas and the mandates he gave them. They also talk about how the Clone Wars cartoon is linked to the film Revenge of the Sith. It’s kind of fun to see the animated characters side by side with their live action counterparts.
Audio Commentary by Tartakovsky and his band of artists This is a pretty good commentary. Right off the bat the guys tell how their cartoon influenced the film. (George Lucas liked the ARC Troopers and had ILM add skirts and colors to the clonetroopers in the film.) They also mention how Lucas’ son helped get Volume Two made since he wanted to see what happened to Ki-Adi-Mundi and General Grievous after Episode 20.
“Revenge of the Brick” Trailer from LEGO This amusing CG cartoon aired very briefly on Cartoon Network and was actually missed by many Star Wars fans. It features a few short comedy gags and action scenes involving the Lego versions of the Star Wars characters and vehicles. It’s pretty funny at times and kids will love it. It’s also worth noting that one of the segments was directed by Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill.
The Bottom Line:
Star Wars: Clone Wars Volume Two is a required addition to the DVD collection of any Star Wars fan. You haven’t seen everything until you’ve seen this. Even Star Wars naysayers will get a kick out of along with kids and other adults.
