"Clones" not original, but certainly fun. *MILD SPOILERS*

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2002)

I should let you know that, as I write this review, my brain is still reeling from the complete sensory overload this movie inflicted on me. It's slow to start but once it gets going, the excitement doesn't end until that final iris-out to the credits.
I should also warn you that if you are not a fan of the Star Wars saga, there's very little in this movie that will change your mind. It's a film for the fans of the saga
***MILD SPOILERS BELOW***
The movie opens with a bang (literally), and for that I was thankful. Then it lags a bit, with the dialogue focused on the politics surrounding the attempts on Padme's life. It's at this point you'll think Lucas will make all the same mistakes he did in Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But once the chase through Coruscant begins, it's all classic Star Wars until the final battle on Geonosis.
I was reminded very much of The Empire Strikes Back in this movie...not just because it is darker, or because it is the middle chapter. It's the pacing and the storytelling that makes it feel more like ESB. In Episode I, the two Jedi meet Jar-Jar on Naboo, who accompanies them on their journey to rescue Amidala, who then (along with her faithful guards and handmaidens) tag along with the Jedi and Jar-Jar to Tatooine, where they meet Anakin, who goes with them to Coruscant, then they all go back to Naboo. Episode I was much too linear, and the characters all seemed to be together at the same time, hoping to accomlpish the same thing. In ESB, Luke was off on Dagobah while Leia, Han, Chewie and the droids were on Bespin. In Episode II, each character has separate missions and motives, and it makes for a much more interesting story.
The acting was much more solid in this film than in its immediate predecessor. Ewan McGregor IS Obi-Wan Kenobi now...the role truly belongs to him. Hayden Christensen is strong as Anakin, his subtle looks providing the depth his character requires that the sometimes-ridiculous dialogue can't. His first dark-side experience is a truly frightening one...you'll realize just how on-the-edge this young man is, and how little it will now take to turn him into an agent of evil. Natalie Portman is merely adequate, but the writing is at fault there...her character isn't given much room to grow on her own. Samuel L. Jackson was excellent as Jedi Master Mace Windu, whose powers are only rivaled by Yoda. And Yoda's performance, strictly CGI now, is without a doubt the strongest in the film. It's frighteningly good stuff...Rob Coleman's animation team deserves a Best Actor Oscar for their work. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's true. Yoda's performance is brilliant.
As for the action...well, need you ask how good the action is? It's Star Wars, for crying out loud. If you thought there wasn't enough action in Episode I (as I did), then the action in Episode II will suit you better. As I said earlier, the final 40 minutes of the movie are non-stop action, and it is far better than almost anything we've seen in the Star Wars saga, save perhaps for the pod-race in Episode I (two-headed announcers excluded). Yoda's abilities will have your jaw on the floor, and you'll never ask why he is called THE Master.
If you're a fan of Star Wars, you'll love this movie. If you're a fan who was disappointed with The Phantom Menace, your faith in the saga will be restored. If you're not a fan? Well, at least give it a try. You should be able to find something you like here.