Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Review

by Christian Pyle (Tlcclp AT aol DOT com)
June 17th, 2002

Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
Reviewed by Christian Pyle
Directed by George Lucas
Written by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales
Starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, and Samuel L. Jackson
Grade: B+

"Attack of the Clones" takes place ten years after "The Phantom Menace." Between movies, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) has grown into a surly and horny teenager and become the apprentice to Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) is no longer queen of Naboo; she's now a senator. The Republic faces a crisis from a separatist movement led by a former Jedi, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), and there are not enough Jedi to defend the Republic if war erupts.

An attempt on Amidala's life brings Anakin and Obi-Wan back to her side. The threat soon leads the two Jedi in different directions: Obi-Wan follows leads to discover an army of clones, and Anakin takes Amidala back to Naboo. Meanwhile, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) pushes the Senate to give him imperial powers, and Jedi leaders Yoda (voice of Frank Oz) and Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) fret over the growing threat from the Dark Side of the Force.

I had a good feeling about "Episode II" because "The Empire Strikes Back" was the best entry in the original trilogy and I figured that was a good omen. The middle film in a "Star Wars" trilogy doesn't have to worry about exposition or resolution; it can just be non-stop action and plot twists. With several parallel plot lines (something else it shares with "Empire"), "Attack of the Clones" develops at a brisk pace.

There were a few things I wanted from "Clones," and I got them:

1. MORE OBI-WAN. I thought that Ewan McGregor's performance was the best thing about "Phantom Menace" and was disappointed that his part in that episode was so small. However, "Clones" gives Obi-Wan his own storyline and several fight scenes.

2. LESS JAR JAR. Nobody besides George Lucas liked the Stepin Fetchit of the 21st Century. Despite rumors that Lucas was sticking with the character, Jar Jar Binks only appears briefly in "Clones."

3. ANSWERS TO NAGGING QUESTIONS. The news flash that Luke and Leia were twins was offered in "Return of the Jedi" with little explanation about how and why they ended up being raised with very different families on very different planets. "Phantom Menace" had no answers and even more questions: if Anakin is an only child, who the heck were Luke's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru? if Leia's mother is queen of Naboo, how does she end up a princess on Alderaan? I'm happy to report that "Clones" begins to clear up those mysteries, introducing Owen, Beru, and a senator with the same last name as Leia (Jimmy Smits' character, Senator Bail Organa).

In addition to those items from my wish list, I got a few more treats from "Clones":

1. YODA KICKS BUTT. Everyone gets to see plenty of action in this one. While Yoda, Mace Windu, and Amidala mostly sat around in "Phantom Menace," they are in the thick of battle in "Clones." The excitement in the theater was palpable as Yoda fired up his light saber to take part in the climactic duel. (In "Clones," Yoda is entirely computer-animated, so he has more moves than he did as a muppet.)

2. EYE CANDY. The special effects are stunning -- better than those in any previous "Star Wars" outing -- and the settings are diverse, taking us from a crowded cityscape to a gladiator arena on a barren world.

The weaknesses of "Clones" are shared by every entry in the series: lame dialogue, wooden performances, and campy death scenes. Make one movie with these qualities, and it's a bad movie; make five in a row, and they become trademarks. While Portman and Christensen are performing love scenes without a trace of passion, just keep in mind that they're supposed to be the parents of Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher. That way, it kind of makes sense.
© 2002 Christian L. Pyle

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