AliventiAsylum's Full Review: Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
This morning someone asked me what I was doing today. When I said I was heading out to see the new Star Wars film, I heard "Oh, you're one of them."
Yes, I am one of them if them means someone who enjoys a movie that is an escape from reality with a good story, action and special effects. Attack of the Clones delivers in all of these areas.
I was disappointed with The Phantom Menace but not to the point that I believed it to be a bad movie. I've just been used to getting more from a Star Wars film. I'm used to be dazzled and being blown away when I exit the theater. I want that WOW factor.
Attack of the Clones opens ten years after we left our heroes at the end of The Phantom Menace. Ewan McGregor has grown even more into the Obi-Wan Kenobi role. His mannerisms, look and the way he carries himself are all very reminiscent of Alec Guiness. Obi-Wan has some of the funniest lines in this film; sarcastic comments added into situations that seem dire. But, hey, we know that he, Anakin, and Amidala have to live through this film.
Hayden Christensen takes over the aged role of Anakin Skywalker and does an admirable job with it, even though I still believe that my initial pick of Jonathan Jackson would've been better. He has the feel of Anakin as a young man not content with his place in the world. He is lacking self-discipline and patience. He is arrogant and we want not to like him, yet we are sympathetic at the same time. We know what he is going to evolve into. At various times I was reminded of Luke Skywalker when we were first introduced to him in Star Wars: A New Hope.
Natalie Portman is back as Amidala; now Senator Amidala. The stiffness she seemed to have in The Phantom Menace seems to have been shed here, along with all of those clothes and that makeup. I saw many traits I could remember from Leia in Amidala during this film. George Lucas seems to have created two characters that show the personality traits their children will also exhibit - a great cheer for continuity.
Amidala arrives on Corsucant for a crucial Senate vote and becomes the target of assassins. In a thrilling, unbelievable action-packed sequence, Obi-Wan and Anakin attempt to learn who is behind the assassination attempt. What they learn has the Jedi Council send Obi-Wan to look for more information, and Anakin back to Naboo to guard Amidala.
The movie slows a bit for a while in the middle as the love story plays itself out. Could it have been cut more? Probably, although I think the love affair would have been a bit less believable. (This was the time I took my bathroom break, by the way.)
I liked the story a great deal and it's execution was good as well. Instead of the idea that you rewrite history, Lucas seems to have embraced it and is carefully tying this trilogy to the original one. Indeed, my burning question from The Phantom Menace of where did Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru come from is answered here. A preview of the army that Vader eventually commands is seen here, so we understand where his followers come from.
I also liked the fact that for quite a while in this movie I was unsure of motivations; if the Jedi were indeed fighting the correct person. Christopher Lee does a great job as the errant Jedi Knight Count Doooku. My opinion kept switching back and forth: Okay, he's bad. No, maybe he's really good. Oops! He's bad again!
I enjoy noticing the little things about a Star Wars movie, and on first watch what has stood out is the great use of lighting during a dueling light-sabers scene. With the lights out, the glow of the sabers on the actors' faces was so well done and so surprising, yet if you aren't looking for such little treasures, they are missed.
While effects such as this are good, it often felt like I was being hit over the head with the effects. In too many scenes, I know when CGI is being used to replace the actors as things look too unreal. I always preferred the use of puppets as was done in the first trilogy to many of the CGI generated creatures, and in this case - for the most part - I feel the same way. Only one or two actually seem to be believable.
In other parts, however, the effects are great. In homage to the railroad track scene in Gone With the Wind we are given a grand view of the immenseness of the new Army of the Republic. The scenes reminiscent of Gladiator also use the CGI effects well to fill in the stands. It is also used well to create beautiful planets and locations which don't really exist: such as the beautiful waterfalls of Naboo. Here there are scenes shot from various other places merged to create an artificial setting that is someplace I really wish existed.
Parts of the story also seem to contrived. Lucas is obviously aware of fandom's infatuation with Boba Fett, and seeks to draw him into the story here. Yet there really is no reason for it. In a universe which shows a population of extremely high numbers, the coincidence is too unreal. Lucas could have chosen just about anyone to fill the role which Boba and his father, Jango, fill in this movie. I found it too contrived and was waiting for a convenient reference to the Solo family as well.
Have you noticed I haven't mentioned Jar-Jar? That's because he's hardly in the film - a good thing.
The soundtrack is also John Williams' excellent music as usual. It was subtle where it needed to be and moved the story along.
This is a film that Star Wars fans should be very pleased with. Although I think there is room for improvement, it is a great film and I will see it again with my kids and it will be spinning on my DVD player some time next winter.
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