Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is a return to the good old days of the classic Star Wars installments, it’s methodically detailed, intriguingly original and delightfully dark, but also reflects our contemporary infatuation with special effects. When the mega-hyped Episode I graced the screen with it’s joyously bombastic kiddie instincts and indulgences, I began to feel as if I were the only being on the planet to have enjoyed the movie, aside from a few others. Star Wars is not so much an improvement over Episode I but a continuation of the story as it intends to be. Obviously Lucas tweaks a few characters around to satisfy the fans, such as the banishing of the reviled Jar Jar Binks, but other than that, he just wisely extends Episode I’s merits into a broader epic scope. I suppose you could look at Episode I as rather gimmicky and lazy, using an extensive but brilliant pod racing sequence to meet Star Wars expected epic quota, but I got so much more out of it. Certainly Episode II doesn’t need to resort to such extensive means, in capturing the pure extravagant Star Wars grandeur.
What you could say is missing from the film, besides Jar Jar (save his two minute cameo), is the sugary benign feeling that watered Episode I down a bit, although that film certainly had it’s share of dark moments. Episode II rages with a mystical melancholy, showing early signs of Darth Vader as well as “The Death Star”, the film is dark in sense that revenge is freely provoked and a respected chaos can inflate it’s plot. This chaos, welcomed and masterfully nurtured by an undaunted and confident Lucas, flows with a certain superb confusion and massive visual invention. Its dark and foreboding nature leads us to expect an even darker and more serious adventure as Anakin Skywalker turns towards the dark side.
From the first famed lines “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...” to the obligatory final circle wipe ending shot, Episode II is a red-blooded adventure film, faithful and true to the tradition of Star Wars. It has the almost-incessant camp value and absolutely abhorrent dialogue putrefied by bland acting but I loved it. Following the lead of its predecessor, Episode II triumphs over its ridiculousness to evoke every amount of high-decibel, visual superiority. It marvelously combines a wonderfully revamped John Williams score, mixed into some new Star Wars themes, with Lucas’ keen direction, displaying his fetish for special effects, to produce a spellbinding end result.
The obligitory scrolling prologue to the episode’s story explains that a civil war is looming within the republic ten years after Episode I. The elected supreme chancellor is now Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) who once was mentor to the former queen of Naboo, Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Amidala is now an outspoken senator whose political views have made her the target of a shadowy bounty hunter and furthermore, a shadowy separatist organization. After two assassination attempts are made on Amidala’s life in the city of Coruscant the two Jedi warriors Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his young padiwan Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) are assigned to secure the senator’s safety.
The Jedis’ become entangled with uncovering strange mysteries, one being the identity and the whereabouts of the mysterious bounty hunter, which turns out to be Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) the father of Boba Fett. As Obi-Wan investigates the bounty hunter, Anakin stays by Amidala’s side, attempting to woo her on her peaceful home planet of Naboo. The investigation leads Obi-Wan to the ultra-mysterious water planet of Kamino where it is discovered that a secret clone army has been in production for years. Meanwhile, as Anakin falls into a deep love trance with the radiant Amidala, he and the senator go to Tatooine to search out his estranged mother, Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August). What follows leads our heroes to a sweeping battle and discovery on the planet of Geonosis, where the unmasking of the shadowy separatist leader, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) enters into the equation.
Perhaps the most appealing aspect of the Star Wars franchise is the pure and powerful epic scope that’s produced; it’s like a grand soap opera composed of enormous battles and revenge set amidst the stars. This entry is as brilliant as any of the others, pulsating with emotion (albeit a bit wooden) and mesmerizing visual audacity. The locations are once again a vast array of beautiful, eye candy, picturesque shots; most notable is the amazing Naboo and its breathtaking waterfalls. Coruscant and Kamino are particularly brilliant locations as well, the former being a cold but enticing metropolis, and the latter a wondrous water city of endless stormy nights. And populating these imaginary worlds are creatures beyond anything conventional, set into this fantasy universe, where the senses are inflamed with delight and darkness.
Which leads us to the general consensus that the acting is extremely stodgy and the love story is laughably banal. Considering this is the first time a true love subplot has been attempted in a Star Wars film, I think they did a fair job, although the dialogue is particularly poor. However, it’s never overplayed by the script or the actors, it becomes not unimportant but a minor obstacle in telling the story and giving the audiences what they want to see, which is exhilarating action sequence after exhilarating action sequence. And with what brilliant cinematography and imaginative art direction Lucas graces the film, burning with all the vibrancy of a Star Wars film: capturing light sabers, space cruisers, androids, etc.
Again it must be reiterated that Episode II makes up for its occasional blandness with its melancholic core, lurking deep within its dark heart, but often surfacing. Some may complain it wallows too much in despair and darkness (when actually it’s fairly mild compared to most dark films) but for me, it didn’t enough. It has the epic drama and sense of sadness that the often hailed as the best Episode V contained, although here it’s a bit flashier. Episode II doesn’t quite capture the same down notes that Episode V did but nonetheless, it has a genuine feeling of sorrow and seriousness layered throughout the story, showing the shades of imminent evil (however, Episode III is rumored to be the darkest of the series).
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones defies all of the conventional beliefs that it’s passable and disposable entertainment, not leaving Episode I too far behind. It expels some logic but nonetheless builds with excitement, advancing the legendary, pop-culture story. Despite all of the bitter critics’ attempts at shunning the film, it will be an enormous success, and will please the Star Wars fan. It contains the basic and essential elements to make a film unforgettable and magical, and goes beyond that with original, epic style. To experience it just once is not enough, as that’s the case with all of the films. It may sway even those pesky anti-Star Wars people, or at least entertain them, and isn’t that what it’s all about?