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| An epic-teasing and quite delectable poster for George Lucas' Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones |
10 years have gone by since the events in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), and Padawan apprentice Anakin is now a young adult. Obi-Wan Kenobi has taught him the arts of the Jedi, but Skywalker is rebellious and arrogant. Queen Amidala is now Senator, and assassins try to kill her. Anakin moves her to safety, while Obi-Wan follows the mysterious leads that soon reveal a clone army.
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones is written by Jonathan Hales (The Scorpion King (2002)) and great Californian filmmaker, co-writer/director George Lucas (THX 1138 (1971)). It is the 5th film in the Star Wars franchise.
Up to this point it was also the longest Star Wars film (at 142 minutes) and probably the least liked generally, but for me it is a satisfying space adventure; Episode III (2005) is the weakest in the original 6-film saga, with Episode I and Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) as the strongest.
The biggest hurdles in Episode II and III are Lucas' questionable ability to write romance, and Hayden Christensen (Takers (2010)), the uncharismatic, dull and dubiously talented new actor employed for the pivotal part of Anakin Skywalker. Lucas has a much better actress in Natalie Portman (Black Swan (2010)) as Senator Amidala, but still the two mostly fail in bringing feelings of real romance into their calculated scenes, set in excessively picturesque settings to lure the viewer's attention away from the stony dialog and interaction.
I have problems connecting the dots between the overly smart, cute boy Anakin of Episode I with the brooding, dumb Anakin of Episode II. Something has somehow gone terribly wrong in the ten year span that we are left unaware of: The young man talks continuously about his mother and unfairness committed against him; he is almost entirely in his emotions' control. Even the death of his mother (played by Pernilla August (Young Royals (2021-24)) only inspires him to be an enormous idiot. The character, which I loved in Episode I, is now the dumbest Jedi apprentice ever, in Episode II.
Fortunately, Episode II has many better things to offer, which counter-weigh the issues with Anakin and his stale romance:
Ewan McGregor (The Impossible (2012)) is a great Obi-Wan, and I enjoyed his almost detective-like adventure to Kamino and beyond a lot. Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained (2012)) is good as Master Windu, and Christopher Lee (Dracula (1958)) is always a great villain, here as Count Dooku. Behind him, Ian McDiarmid (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988)), still lurks around in the villains' wardrobe as the imposing Chancellor Palpatine. All of his scenes are amazing.
For levity, Jar Jar Binks, who was not treated mildly by many audiences of Episode I, has been minimized as a character in lieu of more of our old pals R2D2 and C3PO. By theatrical chronology, (Episodes IV,V,VI,I,II,III), I think I have sometimes had enough of the latter at this stage, but at least he loses his head in this film. (That happens in the droid factory scene, which I quite enjoyed.)
The pioneer efforts on the film's digital photography and visual effects end are considerable, and the achievements in this area are deeply impressive. Not least the entirely CG monsters and the giant benevolent lizard are terrific entertainment.
What many fans will remember as the best of Episode II
is undoubtedly Yoda's fight scene. It is highly satisfying and thrilling to
finally see him in action, also a technical milestone. There's also a really good scene earlier
in the film, where Yoda is teaching young Jedi Padawans.
So while Episode II has its issues, it is also rife with amazing scenes and adventure, and it made me nuts to see the saga-finalizing Episode III in its day, I remember vividly.
Finally, the Star Wars films are also so exciting because of their masterful sound design and the music, composed and conducted by John Williams (The Post (2017)), and performed by the London Voices and the London Symphony Orchestra.
Related posts:
Star Wars franchise: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker/Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) - A solid saga ending
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) or, Ginny's Fate: A Star Wars Calculation
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) - Abrams scores big time, makes beautiful space opera blockbuster
George Lucas: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) - The nostalgic last of the 'original' Indy movies (story contributor)
Howard the Duck (1986) - Legendary flop is more duck than turkey (executive producer)
American Graffiti (1973) or, Cruisin' Modesto '62
Cost: 115 mil. $
Box office: 653.7 mil. $
= Huge hit (returned 5.68 times its cost)
[Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones premiered 12 May (Los Angeles) and runs 142 minutes. Shooting took place from June - September 2000, with reshoots in March 2001, in Australia, London, England, Tunesia, Spain and Italy. It was allegedly the 3rd film to be shot fully in digital HD. The film opened #1 to an 80 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another weekend at #1 and then another 3 in the top 5 (#2-#3-#5), grossing 302.1 mil. $ (46.2 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Japan with 78.1 mil. $ (11-9 %) and the UK with 58.7 mil. $ (9 %). The film was the year's 3rd highest-grossing in North America, behind Spider-Man and The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and 4th highest-grossing globally, a first time a Star Wars film was not #1 over-all. The film was nominated for the Best Visual Effects Oscar, lost to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Roger Ebert gave the film a 2/4 star review, translating to 2 notches under this one. The Star Wars franchise returned with Lucas' Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), also Lucas' return as a director. Christensen returned first in Shattered Glass (2003); Portman in Cold Mountain (2003); and McGregor in Solid Geometry (2002, TV movie) and theatrically in Down with Love (2003). Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones is fresh at 65 % with a 6.50/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]
What do you think of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones?
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