Having just finished watching Volume 2 of the Cartoon Network's Star Wars: Clone Wars series, I am just amazed at how well done this series has turned out to be.  The stories are excellent. The pacing is outstanding. Terrific voice acting. And the action is everything we could have ever dreamed of.

One can only imagine how fans would have reacted if the team putting these together had had a shot to do Episodes I and II.  I suspect there would have been far less disappointment.  I am convinced that the problem is George Lucas.  He seems almost tone deaf when it comes to acting and his directorial skills leave much to be desired. 

I read the graphic novel adaption of Episode II and even though it's the same story, it's a much better, more compelling story than what is shown at the theater. It's all in the way the story is presented.  Even Episode I could have been a great epic story if Jar Jar wasn't in there, better child acting, and a few other tweaks. The story itself wasn't bad at all.

But Cartoon Network's Clone Wars cartoons are far better stories and far more entertaining than the movies are.  Anakin is presented how I think most fans always wanted to think of him as -- brash, heroic, impatient.  Not the pouty, angst-filled, quasi-teen we saw in Episode II.  In this series, we see why he is "The Chosen One".  And we see Obi-Wan and Anakin as a real team. As true friends.

And then there's the action.  We see Jedi's being Jedi.  Star War fans may love the Episode I Darth Maul light saber battle but that's nothing compared to the battle we see here.  We see the power difference between Yoda and other Jedi.  We see Mace living up to what we imagined. 

I would love to see this team go back and re-tell Episodes IV, V, and VI as cartoons.  I know I'd pay for that.