For those who say George Lucas never pays attention to criticism, Attack of the Clones is proof that the bearded one occasionally heeds naysayers.
Starting with a bang, two assassination attempts are made on Senator Amidala in the opening fifteen minutes, and Anakin and Obi-Wan’s pursuit of the assassin through a nocturnal Blade Runner style city packs more thrills than the entire Phantom Menace.
Obi-Wan and Jango Fett’s dogfight borrows The Empire Strikes Back’s asteroid fields and the guitar twang explosion sound effects add something unique to sci-fi cinema, while the climactic battle in a gladiator arena successfully throws back to the B-movies Lucas based his original Star Wars on, and gives Samuel L Jackson's Mace Windu the opportunity to throw down.
Episode II also illustrates The Empire Strikes Back's claim that Yoda was once a “great warrior” with a pinball lightsaber duel that proves CGI sometimes has the upper-hand on traditional puppetry.
And to cement its cool status - this is the only Star Wars movie to have been cut by the BBFC, who removed a one second shot of Jango nutting Obi-Wan
This second instalment also lays claim to one of the saga’s finest moments, as grief over his murdered mother pushes Anakin forwards in his journey to the Dark Side.
But, too much praise was heaped on Attack of the Clones (five stars from some reputable film magazines) merely because it improved upon The Phantom Menace.
Lucas’ script cannot juggle its various plot threads, dialogue remains DOA (check out Anakin’s chat-up lines), and Hayden Christensen is no more a future Darth Vader than Jake Lloyd was. With a performance that serves up both cheese and whine, Christensen now seems the wrong man when compared to alternate choices Ryan Phillippe or Paul Walker.
Portman looks more comfortable here than in Episode I and Temuera Morrison is solid muscle as professional hitman Jango Fett, although by this episode it was clear that Ewan McGregor was man of the match, imbuing his Obi-Wan Alec Guinness’ gravitas and Harrison Ford’s roguish charm.
But, once more actors have little tangible to act against, with the (rapidly dating) virtual sets and props lumbering Attack of the Clones with an orangey cartoon sheen that leaves you yearning for physical sets and the snowy and leafy locations used in Empire and Jedi.
Living up to its title, this feels more a carbon copy of a Star Wars movie than the real deal.
Rob Daniel
10:24AM, Apr 01, 2009
