The Perfect Title

Rating: 6/10 (19 November 2002)

Most of the general public has been disappointed with Episode I, so they set their sights a little lower for Episode II. This is why it was liked better. Lucas was more confident this time around and tried to add some charm to the story. Making a war film,love story, and mystery in one film is not easy, but George lucas has succeeded.
Ten years after Episode I we meet up with Anakin and Obi-Wan as they are assigned to protect a now Sen. Padme Amidala. Lucas is trying to make these three the next Luke,Han, and Leia. The acting is better this time around from the main characters. Ewan McGregor is more comfortable as Obi-Wan and Portman is allowed better lines to showcase her acting talent. Hayden Christenson does good in some scenes, but in others he's too dry and wooden. Samuel L. Jackson is a little more lively as Mace Windu, but not a true character. Ian Mcdiarmid is good and Christopher Lee is powerful as always. Jimmy Smits's Bail Organa is held back in this chapter. The digital Yoda seems pretty convincing.
The story is complex if not too complex for it's own good. The Love story is corny but hey I guess most teenage love is like that. The action and visuals are what really make the movie. Attack of the Clones is all too proper for the film's adrenaline-pumping climax.The whole detective plot with Kenobi is interesting to people who like that genre but it might drag on for others. The dialogue is fairly weak throughout the first half of the movie, but the second half does better. This is better than the last but not quite as good Empire or A New Hope. It's almost on level with ROTJ. All in all, Attack of the Clones is the is the boldest chapter yet. The trilogy seems to get better as it goes on so I look forward to Episode III
*** out of ****