Review of Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Episode II: Attack of the Clones

This is a very brief review - actually, I admit, it is more of a rant. Take that as a warning... Also, there are some minor spoilers.

Why did George Lucas bother (beside, obviously, money)? He certainly has not earnt respect...if he doesn't have the talent, the skill as a director, the skill as a script writer, the imagination to make something worthwhile of the Star Wars prequals, he should have put his ego aside and hired someone who does.

This film was turgid, dull, and generally without the excitement and adventure that made the first two films (I'm refering to Star Wars and Empire Strikes Back) so memorable. And, of course, it is without characters that you feel any empathy for (we went to a midnight screening and there was a sleeper by the end of the film, snoring happily away...yes, perhaps unconsciousness is preferable to watching this film)

The Bad

• the acting (especially disappointing is that there are genuine actors in this film)
• the dialogue
• the fact jar jar binks even had a cameo
• anakin (although he nailed the "evil look" when required)
• the whole boba fett story line
• all of the anakin and padme scenes
• coruscant, especially the club and dexter's diner

The Good

• anakin's slaughter of the tuskin raiders
• obi-wan on the clone world, kamino
• the lightsaber scene with yodi and anakin and obi-wan vs. count dooku (actually, the only redeemable scene in return of the jedi is a lightsaber scene too)
• the story as a whole, is quite good, it's just that the execution is so poor

Interestingly, one of the best aspects of Star Wars and Empire was the mystery of the backstory - who was this Darth Vader? How could he have been Luke's father? How could he have not known about his daughter? What were the clone wars? How did the Empire replace the Republic? What the prequels have done is to remove that mystery. Unfortunately in this case, not only has the mystery been removed, it has obliterated. Ultimately the disappointment of this new film, and Episode I, has eroded and spoilt the stature and enjoyment of the original Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.