Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition)

But now we have Star Wars: Episode II--Attack of the Clones, which promises to be a much darker and complex story--rivaling any movie in the Star Wars saga so far. The story picks up 10 years after The Phantom Menace, and follows Jedi Knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker as they protect Senator Padme Amidala from several assassination attempts which may be conncected to a separatist movement against the Republic. Meanwhile, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine asserts more control over the Senate, Yoda and the Jedi Council can sense the coming darkness, and the evil Sith Lord Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus) plots to launch a deadly attack against the Republic.

After one of the assassination attempts, Anakin is dispatched to Naboo to protect Amidala, where they begin to fall in love, while Obi-Wan travels to the planet Kamino to follow a strange clue. Eventually, all three characters come together in the end for a huge battle between the Republic and the separatists.

The special effects will no doubt be wonderful, even better than before. John Williams's new music score will probably be just as exciting and moving as his other Star Wars music. The performances by Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan), Natalie Portman (Padme Amidala), Hayden Christensen (Anakin), Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine), and screen horror legend Christopher Lee (Count Dooku) are said to be excellent.

From everything about this movie that is splattered all over the Internet, Star Wars fans should realize that Episode II is going to be a great chapter in the Star Wars saga. It has a story of forbidden love between Anakin and Amidala, the beginnings of the Republic downfall, and the first hints of Anakin's eventual fall to the Dark Side.

The action scenes will be amazing: Anakin and Obi-Wan chasing an assassin through the buzzing air-traffic of Coruscant; Obi-Wan battling the evil, armored-masked bounty hunter Jango Fett in the pouring rain on Kamino; a space chase through the asteroids; and the climactic final battle in which an army of Jedi battle the evil battle droids in a huge arena, with the aid of a massive army of Republic Clonetroopers--including a battle between Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and Jango Fett. And finally there will be the climactic face-off: Obi-Wan and Anakin fighting the evil Darth Tyranus in a spectacular lightsaber duel. Even Yoda gets in on the action!

For a Star Wars fan, Episode II is a dream come true. While I loved Episode I for what it was--the lightest story in the Star Wars saga that was needed to contrast the darkness to follow--I will no doubt be thrilled by the darker, romantic, and more action-oriented Episode II. And even though I was never really bothered by Jar Jar Binks, he will have lesser scenes in this film--although his character is somewhat more important in playing a part in the fall of the Republic. We have romance, action, complex story, and fantastic special effects. Star Wars:Episode II--Attack of the Clones will not only be a great Star Wars chapter, but it will be a fantastic film, period. May 2002 could not come any slower. Look for it in a galaxy near you!!


I really wanted to hate this movie   July 18, 2002
108 out of 145 found this review helpful

After the horror that was The Phantom Menace, which I own for those insomina plagued nights, I knew that I was going to hate this movie. I read the bad reviews and I knew that I'd agree with them. But, I was dragged to see it and I knew that it would be a grim few hours.

This is one case where I'm glad that I was totally wrong. I liked the movie so much that I've been back to see it again. The acting, that many have cited as dry, was appropriate to the setting and the circumstances of the film. I really didn't expect to see cheerful and lively characters in a story about an impending civil war. The romance, although muted, was appropriate for two very young characters who probably have never had much experience with romance to begin with. The middle was mostly talk and no action. I like a film that takes it's time and lets itself develop, instead of assaulting the viewer with non stop action and little plot or character development. I really felt that it was essential to the film to have the characters talk, as this is the installment of the series that starts to explain why Anakin becomes Darth Vader and why the Republic falls. I wish they'd actually developed them a little more, personally.

Hayden Christiansen delivered a solid performance as a moody, confused kid. The fact that he wasn't overly eloquent helped me to believe that the cute kid in PM could actually turn into the nasty guy that I believed was hiding in my closet when I was growing up. Natalie Portman again reminded me why she's one of my favorite actresses. She was able to blend the strong assertive side of her character with an almost maternal caring for Anakin. Ewan McGregor and his dialogue tied in the shame that Obi-Wan displayed in the later episodes toward Darth Vader and the driving desire to rectify his mistakes.

The special effects were dazzling. The seismic charges blew me away (by far the best sound effect that I've heard in a while), the speeder chase was amazing and the set design was just beautiful. And seeing lightsabres glowing throughout an arena was a childhood dream of mine.

There were a few flaws, but overall, it was fantastic.


PEOPLE GIVE IT A REST!!!!   October 6, 2002
76 out of 112 found this review helpful

Ok look, I know everyone says that these new films aren't living up to expectations... well how can they?? We started watching this spectacular odyssey 20+ years ago and everyone was enthralled by the the shear special effects and the out of this world settings in the first three films. Everyone keeps complaining about the dialogue and some of the annoying characters in the new films, but, I saw all of the original movies when they came out. I can remember people complaining about the clunky dialogue of Han and Leia in there love connection and chewbacca with his incesant growling and moaning just like they're complaining now about Hayden and Portman's dialogue and the exponentially annoying Jar Jar Binks. Another problem is that all of the original teenage Star Wars fans that saw the original trilogy, so long ago, are 30 something now and aren't as easily impressed as a younger viewer would be. But think of it this way, if the new movies had been release first, back in the 1970's, I'm positive we'd be disappointed with the release of the old movies now. The original trilogy special effects would be underwhelming and the lightsaber battles would [stink]. But enough what if's..when the dust settles and years from now we look back, we will realize what extraordinary masterpieces these new films are too. The special effects are still astounding and cutting edge, the plot is almost, if not, as intriguing as the original trilogy. You have to understand it's hard to make a prequel as full of suspense as the sequel, because... duh.. we already know what's going to happen (Anakin Skywalker evolves into Darth Vader, brings balance to the force, the end). So, to all of you who don't like this movie because of it's acting... this is Star Wars.. not Shakespeare. True Star Wars fans go to these movies to see the [cool]lightsaber battles, not a recreation of Hamlet. I know when I go to the theatre to see this type of movie, as with all science fiction flicks, it gives me an escape from the daily [junk] we see in our real lives. So as a reminder to all of you self appointed movie critics out there who are ready to hang Lucas, just keep one thing in mind....HE'S THE ONE WHO BROUGHT US THE FIRST THREE FILMS!!!


The Madness of King George....   May 16, 2002
Mr G R Rhodes (Sheffield, England)
72 out of 142 found this review helpful

I want to say first that I am a fan of the Star Wars movies, specifically the original films, and have seen 'A New Hope' more times than I should have.

I thought this movie was awful for a number of reasons (in the order that they occur to me) :

1 : The dialogue was awful and delivered flatly by actors who are generally very good, but not in this instance.

2: What happened to the John Williams soundtrack? The scores for the original movies are superb and memorable. I know and love every note in them. The music for the prequels was barely noticable and left us cold.

3: The film was undercut. Several sequences should have been left on the cutting room floor - particularly the romatic scenes between Anakin and Amadala. There is a deeply funny moment when Amadala runs up a hill. It reminded me of 'Sound of Music.'

4: There was no real heavy villain until the very end. Every mythological tale needs a great villain and this was lacking.

5: An over reliance on creatures and effects. If you use too much of something, you lose the element of wonder and it becomes really dull to watch. The creatures should be used more sparingly for greater effect.

6: We are robbed of a potentially great scene as Anakin destroys the Tusken Raiders. This is a major point for his character development and we were denied it. Instead we got the romance which would have been nice had it actually worked.

7 : This is a personal thing, but the Tusken dogs were obviously taken from the same program that created the Beast in 'Brotherhood of the Wolf' with minor modifications. This is nothing new to Lucas, who used some of the Dinosaurs from Jurassic Park in SWSE - namely the Brachiosaurs became 'Rontos.' We thought that this was unimaginative and cheap of Lucas.

8 : The mythological themes seemed to be completely lacking here unfortunately. Star Wars without the mythology isn't much good.

9 : The jokes were not funny.

10 : Yoda is a great character. He is one of the greatest characters in the original trilogy. But in this he comes across as ridiculous - particularly in the fight scene. Obi Wan's character seemed once again to be undermined, and still not the Kenobi we know from the classic trilogy.

This had the potential to be a really great story, but Lucas has proved that with a little effort and a lot of CGI, he can make a film that is even worse than Phantom Menace.

Avoid this film. Watch the original, classic trilogy instead.


2.5, actually, but this movie wasn't very good   August 20, 2002
Taylor (California)
72 out of 124 found this review helpful

I just don't understand why people made such a big deal out of this movie. First of all, yes the Darth Tyranus/Yoda fight scene was great. In fact, the last 40-something minutes of the film was very entertaining, with great special effects and thrilling action sequences. However, before that, I found this movie to be very boring.

The beginning chase scene with Obiwon Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker was also fairly entertaining, but in all that time in between the beginning and the end (over an hour worth of film), the film fell flat on its face. Ewan McGregor was better as Kenobi than he was in The Phantom Menace, but Hayden Christiansen and Natalie Portman have both seen better days- they nearly kill the film. An immense amount of time is spent "developing" the romance between these two, but their acting is atrocious and there seems to be zero chemistry in between them.

Not only that, but the entire film ponders, and unlike other films, you can really feel this movie's 150-minute running time. I can't really remember the entire film- maybe because I saw it back in May, and maybe because much of it was forgettable- but I do remember sitting in the theatre and actually feeling bored about an hour and a half into the film. Any action in the 90-minute wasteland stretch between the chase scene and the final battle is obligatory and not well done. For example, I personally found little to be excited about in Obiwon's battles with Jango Fett.

I realize that 0 out of 200 people will find this review helpful, but I felt I had to write it anyway. Something has happened to the Star Wars universe in the 16-year break, because these new films just aren't as fun as the old ones. "Attack of the Clones" was surprassed at the box office by both "Spider-Man" and "Lord of the Rings", and I'm afraid rightfully so because they were both far superior films. In the mood for a "Star Wars" film? Just watch "The Empire Strikes Back" over again.