There are few certainties in my pop-culture world.

One: Marvel comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada is the worst thing to ever happen to “The Avengers.”

Two: My 7-month-old son looks older than half the Chinese gymnastic Olympic team. (Which was much more relevant when I first starting writing this blasted column a month ago!) Three: Not only did Han shoot first, Han was the only one to shoot at all.

And finally, if “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” the movie is any indication how the TV show is going to be, then I’ve got a good feeling about this.

The movie playing in theaters now is a precursor to the planned TV series of the same name premiering this fall on Cartoon Network.

Within moments of the movie’s opening, the action sequences take over and become a major component of the story. The 3D animation style is sharp, bright and adds depth to the look of the vehicles and characters and the storytelling is good.

Hopefully the TV series will do what most “Star Wars” expanded-universe projects do: add flavor to “Star Wars” as a whole while not changing the main movie storyline in any dramatic fashion.

Sadly, though, movie critics are panning the “Clone Wars” because, well, critics take themselves and what they do way too seriously.

When the movie released last month, whining about the animation could be heard all the way in Mos Eisley. Movie snobs were droning on about it not being proper cinema and blah, blah, blah. Critics were treating the thing like Frankenstein’s monster.

Whatever, get over yourselves. It’s not for you. “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” the movie and TV show are here for three reasons: the toy line (goes without saying), the kids and the “Star Wars” fans.
It is not for the cinema buffs or science-fiction and fantasy fans who happen to also have liked “Star Wars: A New Hope” or “Empire Strikes Back.”

Nope, it’s for those fans who spend the night in front of movie theaters waiting in line for “Star Wars,” for people who dress up in Jedi garb while going about their regular daily routines, for folks who spend their weekends and vacations at fan conventions.

These strange people who disregard what is hip, cool, acceptable or normal and instead jones hard on all things “Star Wars” will be the ones flocking to this series on a weekly basis.

That’s why “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” will be a hit. Because “Star Wars” fans are legion, and generally will keep most anything with a “Star Wars” tag afloat, especially a TV series.

After you consider that “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” is better than most of what we got in the prequel live-action movies, then calling my shot and naming this new TV show a hit is not so hard. The writing is direct, the action is incredible and the cheesy dialogue seems less cheesy in animation. Plus, there is no Jar Jar Binks.

So, “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” will draw the kids, for sure, but the demanding diehard base and their pesky message boards will fuel the growth of the series.