Summer Cinema: ‘Star Wars Episode II’
Going in to watch “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” I was excited as well as reluctant.
The hyperactive child inside me arrived two and one-half hours before my screening and was bouncing with excitement recalling memories of watching “A New Hope” at the drive in theater and cringing in my seat as the rancor erupted onto the screen in “Return of the Jedi.” The critic in me was remembering the wooden performances, awful script and Jar Jar that was “The Phantom Menace.”
George Lucas once said he didn’t make movies to please the critics or even the audience. In the case of the Star Wars films, his purpose was to create an homage to the B-rate serial movies he watched as a child in the theaters. And that is exactly what he made ? a B-rate serial movie that became a cult smash and one of the top-grossing movies of all time.
“Clones” is set pre-Darth Vader, but 10 years after “Phantom Menace.” Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) is now a senator and Anakin (Hayden Christensen) is a full-fledged padawan learner under Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor). The senator’s life is in danger, the republic is falling apart, the Jedi are too few to do any good and Anakin and Padmé are falling in love ? something forbidden to Jedi.
Episode II is leaps and bounds above Lucas’s first try at a triumphant return to the Star Wars universe, and Christensen is a wonder as the future Sith lord. He has the uncanny ability to be both innocent and sinister at the same time.
McGregor has probably the hardest shoes to fill in the film as odd as that may sound. He has the task of trying to turn himself into Sir Alec Guinness. Nice try Ewan, but you’re no knight, you’ll have to work harder to convince us in Episode III.
Overall, “Clones” had more action, more story and a lot less Jar Jar. All definite pluses. The highlight of the film can be summarized in one word ? Yoda. He has a killer lightsaber duel. Enough said.
After watching the film, the critic in me was wishy-washy in my opinion of it. It was fun, had amazing special effects and was a virtual (no pun intended) playground for the imagination, but it was only a mediocre film.
The kid in me was mesmerized, gleefully enchanted and high on excitement. “Clones” fulfilled all those childhood fantasies and then took them to a new level of appreciation.
I guess that means you’ll get whatever you want to out of it whether that be enjoyment or a chance to pick it apart. My advice ? hold on and enjoy the ride.
Grade: B