Lucas Again Conjures the Magic

Rating: 9/10 (17 May 2002)

Crouching Yoda, Hidden Sith Lord could well describe Attack of the Clones. Whether conscious or not, the references to other films are several in George Lucas's latest Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones ... and it all works brilliantly. Fans of Star Wars truly have a feast before them with this latest installment of the series. Visually stunning, and chock-o-block full of action sequences that flow logically as the story progesses into a crescendo until the satisfying climax, Attack of the Clones is as good as the original Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back - in fact it is like a mix of the two, with the thrills of the former and the more adult dark tones of the latter.
There are moments of the film that feel like Predator, Bladerunner, North by Northwest, 007 (any number of the Bond films), and even Lord of the Rings - and all in the best sense of homage, for these references seem effortless, as if they infused the work rather than were the basis of the particular scenes which evoke these earlier films. Lucas is at the top of his game here, and the CGI work is the best yet, and Lucas moves his camera almost constantly - taking a page from Peter Jackson. Certain vistas are works of art, and the detail and texture now possible is simply stunning - a testament to Lucas's vision and to the technology.
For those who thought the magic they felt upon the release of the original Star Wars back in 1977 would never be recaptured, I have news for you - Lucas has made lightning strike again. You will see this movie more than once.