Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season One

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is an animated series airing on Cartoon Network that takes places in the years between Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of The Clones and Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of The Sith. The Clone Wars were first mentioned by Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IV--A New Hope, and fans have wanted to see The Clone Wars for decades.
But while The Clone Wars started at the very end of Attack of The Clones, they were over with by the opening of The Revenge of the Sith. There have been comics and novels dedicated to certain battles, but we've never seen The Clone Wars proper, nor was George Lucas involved in those stories. With Clone Wars, Lucas is involved, and we get to see Anakin be a hero since the movies cover his fall to the dark side, plus we get to see Anakin as master to an apprentice named Ahsoka Tano.

The first several episodes were turned into a movie once creator George Lucas liked what he saw and wanted to do a theatrical release, and while the story was a good launch for the series, it wasn't quite up to a big screen adventure.

The first 22 episodes of the TV series spotlight different characters during their time in the Clone Wars. There are some great episodes dedicated to the clones, plus Yoda, Anakin mentoring Ahsoka, Obi-Wan and members of the Jedi council who got minimal screen time in the films. The series also takes a look at the secret marriage of Anakin and Padme, as well as Senator Palpatine/Darth Sidious's behind-the-scenes manipulations of the war, the Jedi, and Anakin.

For those who weren't fans of the prequel trilogy, give the series a chance. Those who have seen the series feel that many sins that were present in the movies have been rectified with The Clone Wars. There's greater room for character development, and to showcase Anakin's heroic side which was mentioned for years, but not really seen in the films. Season Two looks even better now that the series has gotten under way, and with bounty hunters being added to the mix, including new character Cad Bane (as well as fan favorite Boba Fett), the series can only get better.

The extras for Star Wars: The Clone Wars - The Complete Season One include seven director's cuts on what are arguably the best episodes of the season, as well as featurettes for each of the 22 episodes and a 64 page booklet of concept art that shows character designs, ship designs, and more.

What's not included is the making-of special starring Ashley Eckstein (Ahsoka Tano) that aired before the series premiere, or any of the commentaries that are available online. It would have been nice to have them in the DVD release itself.