Lucas can live!!!!!!

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2002)

After Episode I my only wish was to be a 7 year old boy (right about the age I was when I first saw Ep. 4 in 1977) just long enough to watch the movie and enjoy as it was meant to be enjoyed. I loved the movie the way you would an ugly sister, because you feel like you have to. With that in mind I went into Episode II with a lot of hope and a lot of apprehension as well. Would Lucas save himself from the shame of Episode I. Well, the good news is George Lucas can live.
Episode two was almost a perfect movie. The complaints a lot of people had about it being slow to start off I found as part of a masterpiece. The teases of action and plodding story line added to the gratification when the end finally came. There was an underlying tension, almost desperation to the film. The scenes were beautiful and the special effects spectacular. Only twice were they weak. Once in a scene where Anikan was doing his galactic bronco busting and when Dookoo left on his speeder towards the end of the film. Luckily both were short lived. Ewen McGregor Finally took ownership of Obi-Wan and Christensen portrayed the future dark lord with adequate angst and anger. You found yourself hating him for being him rather that just being an annoying little brat. Amidala (Portman) was not overly brilliant in her acting skills but she was nice to look at in parts. Sam Jackson lived up to his bad-ass rep as a Jedi master with the only purple lightsaber. Yoda steals the show and ends years of anticipation during the climactic battle. Any deficit in action is, if anything, overcompensated for at the end. Never before have Star Wars fans got to see a full scale Jedi Battle. The wait was worth it.
The lack of action during the first half of Clones was not the only complaint around. There have been complaints about the dialogue in the Clones. I think these people might forget what they are watching. They are watching a Star Wars movie by George Lucas, not another installment in Jay and Silent Bob's adventures by Kevin Smith. Granted the dialogue was laced with one liners and references that only a true Star Wars fan could appreciate. Like when Obi-Wan tells Anikan "I have a feeling you'll be the death of me" might escape those not in tune with the Force. Some of the fans and most of the critics seem to be too busy going over the film with a microscope to enjoy it for what it is; a fantastic science fiction film, perhaps one of the greatest ones ever.
In spite of Attack of the Clones' shortcomings, the movie is well worth a watch (I actually feel it should be mandatory, but that's just me). Once again with groundbreaking special effects and a darker story line, Lucas proves he hasn't lost his soul completely. Where as Episode I left me wishing I was child again, Episode II made me feel like I was a child again. Clones transport you to "A long time agoIn a galaxy far, far away"