This is not your father’s Star Wars. Or better yet, this is not your Star Wars, but your children’s.

One obvious thing about Star Wars: The Clone Wars is that the story line is not developed for teens and adults. Regular fanboys who attend Star Wars conventions will make faces at this movie. And indeed, many did, judging by the online forums that discussed this movie.

It seems that since Phantom Menace was released 10 years ago, George Lucas is intent on capturing the next generation of 6- to 8-year-olds. But instead of live-action movies, he’s doing it with a Clone Wars cartoon series. The beginning of the television cartoon is the theatrical release of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

The film follows Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as they served as army field commanders during the Clone Wars. The movie certainly has the feel of an extended TV series pilot.

The main plot revolved around Skywalker receiving a fighting Padawan apprentice, Ahsoka Tano, whom he reluctantly accepted. They were given the mission to rescue the young son of Jabba the Hutt. On his return, Jabba promised to help the Republic during the war.

The conversation between Ahsoka and Anakin is trivial and there is nothing to note. Ahsoka is establishing herself as a headstrong but loyal follower who is more of Anakin’s sidekick than a student. She is a competent and promising Jedi, but a bit “tough on the edge.”

Even sillier, which is equally true for the TV series, are the banter between the battle droids. The sympathetic dialogue between the battle machines loses the aura of dread that emanates from an ominous army of destruction. Instead, the droids feel like an army of Jar Jar Binks, a personality that 6- to 8-year-olds can enjoy.

Still, fans of CGI movies will find the special effects enjoyable. There is no shortage of laser battles between clone troopers and droids. And Tattoine’s CG-rendered desert scenes don’t disappoint.

All things considered, I’m rating Star Wars: The Clone Wars a 2 out of 5 for teens and adults. But George Lucas’ target audience may find him 5 out of 5. It’s a great start to the cartoon series, perhaps one of the best-staged pilot episodes.