Written by: James Berardinelli from Reel Views He gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars (this is probably the only good review of Episode
II out there).
Middle episodes in trilogies have the potential to be fundamentally
dissatisfying. Thankfully, George Lucas has managed to avoid that pitfall for Episode II of the Star Wars saga, Attack
of the Clones. Admittedly, the primary purpose of this film is to advance the overall story, bridging the gap between
the lightweight, heroic antics of The Phantom Menace and the overwhelming darkness of the as-yet unnamed Episode
III. Attack of the Clones has a starting point and a stopping point, but no true beginning or end. And it also
shares elements in common with Lucas' earlier Star Wars middle episode, The Empire Strikes Back.
The Phantom Menace was probably the most overhyped motion
picture of the last decade (if not longer), and its reputation suffered as a result of its inability to satisfy unreasonable
expectations. By comparison, Attack of the Clones reaches theaters almost unheralded (and in the long shadow of Spider-Man).
This is still viewed as the summer blockbuster-to-beat, but the publicity engine has been toned down, and the other studios
are not afraid to "counterprogram" (for example, the Hugh Grant movie, About a Boy, opens opposite Attack of the
Clones). Yet many people who felt let down by The Phantom Menace (I was not one of them) will likely be encouraged
by what Lucas has accomplished here. Despite the silly title (a tongue-in-cheek nod to the old movie serials), Attack of
the Clones is a more mature motion picture. In fact, the only age group who will probably like Episode II less than Episode
I are those under 10, who may be frightened or intimidated by the darkness and intensity of this outing.
Attack of the Clones opens approximately ten years after
the events of The Phantom Menace. Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), having spent a decade under the tutelage of
his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), is anxious to take the tests that will mark him as a full-fledged Jedi, although
Obi-Wan advises patience. Senator Amidala (Natalie Portman), formerly the Queen of Naboo, has arrived on the planet of Coruscant,
the Republic's capital, to let her voice be heard on the key issue of what to do with seceding systems. When an attempt is
made on her life, Jedi Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) assigns Obi-Wan and Anakin to protect her. This mission leads
them in different directions - Obi-Wan pursues the assassin, a bounty hunter named Jango Fett (Temeura Morrison) to a hidden
planet known for developing clones, while Anakin accompanies Amidala to Naboo. While there, the would-be Jedi and the Senator
fall in love. Soon after, Anakin and Amidala leave Naboo for Tatooine to discover what has become of Anakin's mother. Meanwhile,
Obi-Wan begins to unravel a sinister plot that leads to the mysterious Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and the Sith Lord Dark
Sidious (Ian McDiarmid), who is manipulating everything from behind the scenes.
Episode II opens with a bang - literally. There are some early action
scenes, including an impressive chase sequence through the air and streets of Coruscant, then exposition takes over. In fact,
the middle section of Attack of the Clones is so bogged down with setting up current and future plotlines that the
pace starts to flag. It's difficult to decide how Lucas could have done this differently, but the reality is that parts of
the film border on being too talky. Nevertheless, from a dramatic standpoint, the screenplay holds up better than that of
The Phantom Menace. The film's highlight is a rousing battle sequence that consumes the final 40 minutes and includes,
among other things, a massive conflict between Jedi, clones, and battle androids; a two-on-one lightsaber duel; and our first
opportunity to see why Yoda (Frank Oz) is considered the greatest of all Jedi. Attack of the Clones closes with a series
of scenes that presage what will happen in Episode III.
Lucas has described Episode II as "a love story", and, to a certain
extent, it is. There's no denying that one of the key aspects is the deepening relationship between Amidala and Anakin. When
it comes to writing and directing, however, Lucas has not mastered bringing emotional moments to the screen. The chemistry
between the two young leads is almost entirely the result of the performances of Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen -
the corny declarations of love and somewhat stiff camera work does little to amplify the passion. We don't doubt that these
two are in love, but Attack of the Clones will not go down in history as one of the great love stories of our time.
It does what it needs to do - sets up the relationship between these two - but doesn't do much more.
As far as the actors are concerned, there's more meat here than in
The Phantom Menace. Ewan McGregor gets an opportunity to do something with the character of Obi-Wan. This still isn't
Oscar-worthy stuff, but at least he's not just standing around reacting to Liam Neeson. Portman seems more lively, and gets
a chance to display some athleticism. Newcomer Hayden Christensen is the most successful. It's his job to show the impatience,
anger, and pain simmering within Anakin. It was difficult to imagine Jake Lloyd becoming Darth Vader. Not so with Christensen.
Plus, there's a heat in his gaze when he looks at Amidala that indicates, from the very beginning, that his interest in her
contains a sexual component. Considering Star Wars' coy approach to sex, this is closest to eroticism any of the films
has come.
In supporting roles, Ian McDiarmid is back as Darth Sidious/Supreme Chancellor
Palpatine. His increasingly desiccated appearance brings him closer to the decaying old man under the Emperor's robes in Return
of the Jedi. Christopher Lee plays his new minion, giving Lee the distinction of playing villains in two current, high-profile
movie series (the other being The Lord of the Rings). Temeura Morrison (the abusive husband in Once Were Warriors)
is Jango Fett, the father of Empire/Jedi's Boba Fett. Samuel L. Jackson's Mace Windu has greatly increased screen exposure
(including a few action scenes). Ahmed Best is back as the reviled Jar Jar Binks, although the CGI creature's importance has
been dramatically decreased. And the beloved duo of R2D2 (Kenny Baker) and C3PO (Anthony Daniels) are together again, providing
the entirety of Attack of the Clones' limited, low-key humor.
As expected, Attack of the Clones excels in the technical arena.
As was the case with The Phantom Menace, the special effects represent eye-popping, state-of-the-art computer artistry.
Outdoing everything previously or currently available in multiplexes, Lucas' realized vision for this film sets the next benchmark
for other big-budget extravaganzas to match. The background detail is rich and textured (it will be amazing to purchase the
DVD of the film and pause it during the Coruscant scenes just to appreciate what Lucas' computer artists have accomplished),
and the final battle offers monsters, spaceships, and thousands of combatants fighting with lightsabers and blasters. This
sequence is as capable of generating awe as it is of provoking an adrenaline rush.
The film offers treats for Star Wars continuity mavens. The
Star Wars Tatooine moisture farm homestead is faithfully recreated (some thirty years earlier). The Death Star is
briefly mentioned. Some of the space ships are beginning to look like their later counterparts. And Amidala wears outfits
and a bun-style hairdo that recall Princess Leia's appearance in the original trilogy. Composer John Williams adds his contribution,
liberally recycling previous themes. A subdued version of the "Imperial March" ("Darth Vader's Theme") dogs Anakin's footsteps
until the full orchestra plays a rousing rendition during the film's closing moments.
Attack of the Clones displays some similarities to The
Empire Strikes Back, but, overall, it is not as effective a piece of cinema (although the 2002 era special effects make
it far more pleasing to the eye). Both films contain romantic subplots and are darker in tone than their predecessors. Both
develop a number of unresolved plot elements. And both end on a note that incorporates hope with ambiguity. There is, however,
one major difference. The Empire Strikes Back includes a shocking revelation. Nothing of that sort is present in Attack
of the Clones. In terms of its plotting, this film is relatively straightforward. There's nothing wrong with that - in
fact, it works. In a time when, more often than not, sequels disappoint, it's refreshing to uncover something this high-profile
that fulfils the promise of its name and adds another title to a storied legacy.
© 2002 James Berardinelli