Amy Reviews: STAR WARS II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES

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May 24, 2002

Director/Writer George Lucas's phenomenally popular personal dream project, the space opera movie saga Star Wars, set "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away" and originally conceived as a trilogy with the potential for greater expansion, insufficiently satisfied its immense fan following, who clamored for more.

After enough time had passed for the SPFX technology to develop enough to realize its creator's vision, a trio of prequels began coming to fruition. Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace saw the light of day in 1999 to big box office success despite very mixed reviews. Now, the eagerly anticipated Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones arrives to a huge collective sigh of relief, for the latest installment in this elaborate homage to Saturday afternoon serials can be considered much better than its immediate predecessor.

Attack of the Clones takes place ten years after the Jedi Knights' (an order of psychic adepts who can manipulate the mysterious universal Force) prevention of the scheming Federation's attempt to invade the planet Naboo, which was under the rulership of the young but wise-beyond-her-years Queen Amidala. During these tumultuous events, little Anakin Skywalker won his freedom from slavery with the help of the Jedi Master Qui-Gon. When Qui-Gon was killed, young Anakin became the responsibility of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who had been Qui-Gon's apprentice.

The latest film's story contains three main plot strands with frequent cutting back and forth among them, which makes for rapid pacing and sustains a sense of excitement that mounts along with events that lead to a rousing climax. On the capital planet Coruscant, the Republic's stability is shaken by hostile factions. One threatens secession in order to consolidate its power under the leadership of a former Jedi, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), while within the Galactic Senate other influential members, led by Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) campaign for the formation of an army to counter the danger posed by the Separatists.

Yet another significant proportion remains firmly opposed to militarism, for among the pacifist position's greatest supporters is the former Queen of Naboo, now Senator Amidala (Natalie Portman). Surviving startled and unscathed from a scary attempt on her life, Amidala, thanks to the concern of the Jedi Council, which is also headquartered on Coruscant, gets assigned Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGegor) and his Padawan Apprentice Anakin (Hayden Christensen) to protect her. These Jedi guardians do not deter another barely foiled attack on Amidala, this latest troubling event propelling Obi-Wan into pursuit of the assassins while Anakin gets instructed to escort the Senator back to the safe haven of Naboo.

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