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| A Word from The Writer: The Writer reviews Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
I'm even surprised at myself at seeing this film opening day, but when your company offers a free ticket (plus five bucks in spending cash, which, by the way to the discredit of the modern movie theaters, does not go very far [shame on you, AMC/General Cinema, $3 for a bottle of water is highway robbery!), you jump for joy and even regard people you don't care for in an admirable way. Star Wars seems to have that effect on people, or at least me. Not to dispense with the drama, but I believe in getting to the point, then filling in the details, which is what George Lucas does with his Star Wars films (contrary to popular belief) and Attack of the Clones is no different. The film is magnificent. It is Star Wars and it is beyond Star Wars. I'm not sure which film the critics went to see before they wrote negative reviews, but I have sneaking suspicion that they've seen way too many Woody Allen films. I do want to warn you ahead of time: I give this film a recommendation to see, and if that's all you want to know, then read no further. I will be detailing parts of the film which could be regarded as a spoiler. Please, you won't hurt my feelings by surfing out now, but come back later after you've seen it and we can compare notes. For three years, since the release of The Phantom Menace, everyone and their brother has been complaining about Jar Jar Binks, like he was some sort of problematic element of a film, similar to the absence of Robert Duval in The Godfather Part III. Jar Jar has his place in the Star Wars story, and in Episode II, you see why. Jar Jar plays a very important role in this whole story. His actions and presence span the entire sage, right down to Return of the Jedi. He's in the film very little, just enough for everyone to get annoyed and then understand. The improvements from Episode I are immediately clear. Episode I was a setup film, a sacrifice fly if you will to the entire prequel trilogy (and subsequently the original trilogy as well). The Star Wars saga is the story of Anakin Skywalker and his fall from grace. George Lucas explained this 25 years ago and sort of warned everyone again when The Phantom Menace was released. Ten years has passed in the events of Episode I and Episode II, which opens with the familiar strolling text that setups the movie: planets are separating from the Republic, place is in turmoil, Count Dooku is behind it and now-Senator Amidala is heading to Coruscant for an important vote. The only difference this time is that I didn't notice the text shaking as much as in the past (even with The Phantom Menace). The visual film also opens with a clever twist on the familiar: instead of dark space panning down to a planet, it pans up and we see Coruscant and the Senator's ships preparing to land.
The story splits here. Yoda and Mace Windu send Obi-Wan to find the assassin, while Anakin is ordered as protection for Padme, sending them to her home planet of Naboo. Obi-Wan encounters a series of characters, including a diner owner and old friend in Dexter Jettster, the Jedi academic Madame Jocasta Nu and a class of child padawans learning lightsaber techniques none other than Yoda, an a la Obi-Wan and Luke aboard the Millennium Falcon in the original Star Wars. Yoda shows his softer, kinder heart in this film, particularly in the company of children. He also shows affection for Obi-Wan and seeing Padme again, particularly alive after the bombing. Finally in Episode II he's more than just a green troll who lives in a swamp and can lift X-Wing fighters out of the muck.
Anakin goes after her, and finds her on the brink of death. She dies in his arms, feeling complete to have seen him once again. The corpse isn't even cold before Anakin's face darkens and he sets to slaughter the entire tribe, men, women and children. The finale comes on Geonosis, a thrill a pixel-second rollercoaster ride which keeps you on the edge of seat and at times scares the hell out of you. This is where all the characters gather for rescue attempts and battles. The Jedi fight in the arena, lightsabers slash at droids and monsters and Dooku is confronted by all the majors, including Mace Windu who declares to him that "this party's over." Jedi Master Windu is also the one responsible for killing Jango Fett, taking his head in the arena with his young son Boba in attendance, watching. You can't help but wonder if Boba will take Mace Windu's life in Episode III.
The final battle with Dooku is the highlight. Obi-wan and Anakin catch up to him first, and while Obi-Wan has been in these situations before, he attempts to walk Anakin in slowly. Anakin impatiently attacks and it struck down with Jedi lightning immediately. Dooku is strong with the Force, and Obi-Wan approaches cautiously before he too is beaten down. The film ends with concerns from Mace, Obi-Wan and Yoda in the Jedi Temple and a private wedding with Attack of the Clones leaves you wanting to sit in the theater for another three hours for Episode III. We see that dark side in Anakin as he grows impatient, but also there's a lot of charm there where we want him to go to Yoda's Rehab for Wayward Jedi and get his act cleaned up. Likewise, Obi-Wan senses enough unpredictability in Anakin to keep on him like a nagging father, a teaching technique he no doubt learned from Qui-Gon Jinn (who learned from Count Dooku, we learn, who learned from Yoda). But Qui-Gon was anxious to credit Obi-Wan more, probably because of his patience and Yoda's admiration for him. Anakin, on the other hand, has grown up from that small boy we met in Jake Lloyd's performance and into a powerful young man. "I see you becoming the most powerful of Jedi," Palpatine says to him. It seems the Supreme Chancellor has won the affection of Anakin over the years. While Obi-Wan has no trust for politicians, and he says it often, Anakin believes the Chancellor is a good man. Palpatine is all about setup and setting up. He's going to rule the galaxy by using everyone as a pawn for his advantage. One element I was disappointed to not see is the explanation of the disappearing Jedi when they die, and why some disappear and others do not. That's probably a mystery for Episode III, but I don't want to wait another three years. The effects were of course masterful, far beyond all other films. It's only rival, other than Episode I, would be the Lord of the Rings, and the films are just too different to properly compare. Attack of the Clones does make The Phantom Menace a much better film and when all is said and done, I believe sitting down and watch all six at once will be necessary to understand everything and appreciate all the intricate workings and understand everything that goes on. There's a lot going on in this film, and even more now in Episode I, but it's nothing you can't follow. In the end, it all comes done to Palpatine's master plan to rule the galaxy, and he's using everyone against themselves to achieve it. ejh 17 May 2002 |
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The Writer
An assassination attempt on the Senator fails when the bomb blows up her decoy. The Jedi Council places Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Anakin Skywalker as her immediate protectors, a move which relieves her chief of security, 
Captain Typho (and if you're keeping score, Typho is the nephew of her Episode I protector Captain Panaka). She is delighted to see Obi-Wan again and is taken back at Anakin's growth. He's taken back at her everything, and rightfully so. Natalie Portman is charming, even with not-so charming lines, and beautiful, fitting for a Star Wars princess or queen or senator. She is elegant and confident and not only remains a wonderful choice for Padme, but it is enhanced and confirmed in Attack of the Clones.
While under the Jedi protection, another attempt is made, which forces Anakin and Obi-wan into the film's podracing scene: a fantastic and very confusing run through a dark Coruscant. The visualizations are a delight, and while it is hard to keep up, you can't help but wanting to keep up. The scene concludes with a nightclub sequence where our two Jedi find Zam Wessell, a bounty hunter hired by Jango Fett, we learn later (but not as late as Obi-Wan). In the club, we also catch cameos of Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks) playing other characters.
Further, Obi-Wan travels to Kamino, a planet beyond the Outer Rim (for the uninitiated among you, its waaaaay out of the Republic travel lines). Kamino seems to be one big ocean, with water scenes ripped right off The Perfect Storm. He finds Jango Fett, the host of cloning facility supposedly ordered by a Jedi ten years before. Also we meet his son Boba, just a boy of 10 or 12. Obi-Wan chases Jango off Kamino and to Genonosis, after a brilliant chase through an asteroid field. Ewan McGregor is Obi-Wan Kenboi and if I didn't know better, I would have guessed him Alec Guinness in disguise. Obi-Wan has more humor, more confidence in himself and the Jedi Council. 
He's a leader in this film, and McGregor gets first billing in the credits. He's calm and cool and is the Jedi fans have always hoped for. He is, however, a bit over protective and critical of Anakin. You almost wish he'd give the young Padawan, as Obi-Wan constantly refers to him as, a pat on the back once in a while or a "good job" that isn't sarcastic. It's not tough to like Obi-Wan, but as much as we see Anakin's dark side, we also see where Obi-Wan could have done a better job training him and showing his own humility. 
On Naboo, Anakin and Padme's feelings and desire come clear. The scenery is beautiful, a true paradise, a place where anyone could fall in love. There is chemistry here, but its hardened, and we're not sure if that's intentional or just bad acting/script. We see Anakin's darker side, and his charm. You like him, you hate him. It's hard to feel one way or the other. You can see Darth Vader in the shadows, but also you see the boy from The Phantom Menace. Hayden Christensen was well cast as Anakin Skywalker, flavoring his emotions to depict Padawn Skywalker as a complex character on the verge of falling from grace. He and Natalie Portman compliment one another: He being a relative newcomer with serious credentials and she will a veteran's dossier at a young age. 
But Anakin has been having bad dreams, dreams about his mother, a la Luke's visions of Han and Leia suffering on Bespin. He and Padme travel back to Tantooine in hopes of finding Shmi. He first goes to Watto, now much older and broke, who tells him she was sold to Cliegg Lars, a moisture farmer who married her on the other side of Mos Eisley. There, we meet Owen and Beru, albeit younger and unwed and learn from Cliegg how Shmi was kidnapped by Tuskan Raiders. 
Obi-Wan is saved by Anakin before Dooku can slice him up and attacks Dooku with hatred and rage, using two lightsabers. The battle will ultimately cost him his right arm when Dooku chops it off above the elbow. But before Dooku can move in for a double kill, here comes Yoda. 
He wanders in on a cane, flashes some tough words and then blocks everything Dooku throws at him, rocks, the cieling , power capaciltors and Jedi lightning with ease. Dooku, knowing he can't beat Yoda, but thinking he can opts for a saber battle. This is another mistake, as Yoda goes from zero to Mach 3, flying around the caved dungeon. Dooku escapes by throwing objects at Obi-Wan and Anakin, distracting Yoda long enough to escape. Distraction, of course, is Palpatine's stock in trade, and this film shows that brightly. But more importantly, Dooku's task is not to destroy the Jedi, but make a special delivery to Darth Sidious back of Coruscant.
Padme and Anakin on Naboo, with only R2-D2 and C-3PO in attendance. Anakin is sporting a new mechanical hand, a creepy Terminator-looking gold thing that has no flesh covering yet.
Yoda does give him one mistrustful look, but there' no real evidence that he senses the problem to be in Palpatine. Dooku even tells Obi-Wan that the Senate is being run by the Sith, but when he confers this to Masters Windu and Yoda, they both dismiss it as impossible. In Return of the Jedi, Yoda hints at his own misgivings, warning Luke "do not underestimate the power of the Emperor," a direct reference to Palpatine's ability to turn the course in his favor without anyone suspecting.