Lucas is back!

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 2002)

I must confess, I was not as critical of George Lucas when I watched "Episode I" but I did think he'd lost his edge. It just lost some of the mystique of the original trilogy.
It had something to say for it: Natalie Portman (who we all fancied in "Leon" and were thoroughly ashamed of ourselves!), Darth Maul was moody and menacing and Ian McDiarmid did a brilliant turn, reprising his role (the only one to do so, except Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker as the Droids) as the sinister Palpatine, presenting us with the roots of the Emperor's insidious rise to power. However, there were a number of major problems that can be summed up in three words: Jar Jar Binks.
Jar Jar was the epitome of everything that was wrong with Lucas' vision of "Episode 1", thankfully that George Lucas is dead and the Lucas we all knew and loved seems to have returned.
"Episode II" is a master stroke, returning to the mythological roots of the original trilogy. Dealing with intense political intrigue, "Episode II" sees the now retired Queen Amidala (a novelty for us Brits) acting as a controversial Senator Padme Amidala. Palpatine is now Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, which is under threat from a group of separatists led by the Count Dooku, played by Hammer Horror "Dracula" star and the old colleague of Peter Cushing (who played Grand Moff Tarkin in "Episode IV"), Christopher Lee. When an assassination attempt is made on Senator Amidala's life the Supreme Chancellor calls in the Jedi to protect her and Jedi Masters Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson is back and bigger than ever) and Yoda (voice of Frank Oz) assign the task to the now qualified Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor continuing his transformation into Sir Alec Guinness) and his grown up padawan Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen taking over from Jake Lloyd).
This next installment in the Star Wars saga is mind-blowing. Lucas has assembled a characteristically brilliant cast, playing an array of highly imaginative new characters as well as some old favourites. Jar Jar Binks, now a representative in the Galactic Senate, is given a back-seat in this film, thank heaven. Top prizes go to Samuel L. Jackson and Ewen McGregor. Hayden Christiansen is brilliant as the angry young Skywalker and the sadly underrated Ian McDiarmid retains his brilliantly accomplished sleazy politician look. However, top marks must go to Christopher Lee as Lucas' new villain, picking up where Darth Maul left off after he 'split' in "Episode I". Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus is dark, mysterious and terrifying and Mr. Lee's excellent performance justifies my on-going calls for his knighthood!
You'll be wanting to see this again before it's even finished. The settings and characters are lavish and the battle scenes are simply amazing and you'll be completely gob-smacked by Yoda. Don't take your eyes off him if you want to see him kick arse. You won't believe it's the same Yoda.
I think Lucas has accomplished something I thought was impossible here: he's made up for "Episode I". Some of the love-scenes between Anakin and Padme are a bit syrupy and sicky but Lucas makes up for this by pulling off his attempts at humour by abandoning Jar Jar Binks in favour of some good old traditional C-3P0/R2-D2 slap-stick!
My only other criticisms would be that once again Lucas is relying too heavily on the special effects. Part of the brilliance of the original trilogy is that it all looks more real because they're models, not computer generated space ships, and the models are REAL! I was disappointed to see that Yoda was always computer generated. Maybe I'm just weird, but I liked the 'muppet', although it does make Yoda more flexible, which you'll all appreciate later on.
8/10