The clones are coming. - Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones Reviews

An attempt on the life of Senator Padm頬eads to Jedi knights Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker being assigned to protect her. Further information on the assassin leads Obi-Wan to travel to a distant constellation while Anakin and Padm頧o undercover to travel to her home planet for safety. While Anakin and Padm頢egin to fall for each other, Obi-Wan discovers a factory planet producing a clone army for the Republic. With events appearing to be being controlled by powerful external sources the Jedi's find themselves faced with a battle against a further force within the Trade Federation. Basically think of all the areas where the Phantom Menace failed and write them all down ? too dry plotwise, too childish, no comedy or fun, poor characters, no drive, Jar Jar Binks! Now cross them all out because Lucas has managed to correct them all with this masterful film that sees a return to the values of the original series. Where the original Star Wars films got darker with the second instalment so to does Attack of the Clones. This dark element comes through in many ways. Mainly we have Anakin's shift towards the dark side as he begins to wander from the code of the Jedi by displaying anger, arrogance, impatience, lust. His descent into violence due to personal circumstances marks a dark moment in the film. Also we have the Jedi beginning to lose power while the dark side continue to grow in influence. This makes the whole political sub-plot much better than Phantom Menace where it was dull and going somewhere but very slowly. Here you can see the strands come together as Darth Sidious continues to influence events with the help of Darth Tyranus. The fact that all the pieces are being to fall into place makes this even better ? we can see actions begin that cause the situation in Star Wars 4, and we have the beginnings to things that will see the downfall of the Jedi in episode 3. However this dark edge is tempered by a new concept to those familiar with episode 1 ? FUN! The romance subplot helps to lighten the film and it doesn't slow it as the trailers suggested it may. Although the romance turns dark it makes for a nice contrast with Obi-Wan's more action story that occurs at the same time. The film is funny for two main reasons ? firstly Obi-Wan is allowed to be more relaxed and adventurous, and two ? the droid versions of Laurel & Hardy return in the shape of the ever great C3-P0 and R2-D2. The effects are battles are better here too. They were good in Phantom Menace but here they are better for the simple reasons that a) the film involves the audience well and b) the dark edge to the film makes it less childish thrills and more genuine action and thrills. From the opening attempts on Padm頴o the wonderful meteor field chase and the final battles (including some great light saber duels) this is all good. There are some minor downsides with the action ? yes it all looks good but some of it is a little silly. For example the `car' chase near the start sees our Jedi heroes falling through the sky for 30 odd seconds just to land on another vehicle with perfect timing?I know they have the force but that's pushing it isn't it? Likewise other bits just step over the limit of what is acceptable as `real' even in sci-fi. However these are minor complaints. The performances and the characters have also all improved. MacGregor is better because he s allowed to have a character instead of a totally dry cut-out like episode 1. Likewise Anakin is much better here and Christensen really puts on a show ? at first simmering with arrogance but later letting rage and frustration become his master for the first time (problems ahead I suspect!).Lee and McDiarmid make very good puppet-masters, while Jackson clearly enjoys having more to do than in episode 1. Yoda is great and given the part he deserves while Smits is really underused but clearly is looking forward to greater responsibility in part 3. To continue the `cool bad guy' strand Morrison makes a cool Jango Fett ? as well as allowing the film to carry through the themes of parent hood and family ties through his son Boba. Unfortunately Jar Jar Binks is back in this?but he's only in it for a short time, but he is still annoying for that time. Happily the film shows that Binks is an idiot that causes way more trouble than he's worth. I won't reveal what Bink's contributes to ? but I almost felt sorry for him when I realised the consequences of his actions. Personally the best thing about this film is the linkages are not only being made with the events of part 4 but they are now heavily up on screen. This is helped by Lucas giving the same sense of plot and fun to part 2 as with parts 4 and 5. For example we can now see Darth Vader being created behind Anakin's dark eyes. We have seen the beginnings of things that will be wheeled out in part 4 (I'm not telling!) and we have seen the first storm troopers and Empire spaceships begin to appear under the stewardship of the Republic. The most powerful moment of the film for me is near the end where massive events unfold before the watching Jedi council and the music smoothly moves into the dark Empire theme tune from part 4 ? showing clearly that this is one of the major leaps towards the breakdown of the Republic and the creation of the Empire. When this finished all I wanted to do was see part 3 ? I cannot wait! If you like this movie, I also recommend: Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode IV, Star Wars: Episode III, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.