Better Than Episode I...but

Rating: 7/10 (17 November 2002)

"Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones" is the second prequel to the original three Star Wars movies. Producer/Director George Lucas must have given the "all systems are go" to his special effects arm, Industrial Light and Magic, because what we have here is wall to wall special effects and computer generate imaging. They are expertly done as always, but the real actors must have had to play all of their scenes in front of a blue screen. Many of the characters are computer generated as are virtually all of the set pieces.
The story picks up as Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christenson) is now a teenager who is in love with the older (if Episode I was any indication) Senator Padema Amidala. We know that they will ultimately be the parents of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leah. Anakin is now the Jedi knight apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and is beginning to exhibit leanings toward the dark side. An army of clones is being created to battle the evil forces of what will eventually become the Empire led by Count Dooku (the ageless Christopher Lee).
We are treated to many excellent battle scenes convincingly staged with computer generated armies. And there's some dandy light saber duels as well. The many space ships though, do seem to be more advanced than those appearing in the original three films even though those films are set many years later.
Ewan McGregor is better this time around as a more mature and convincing Obi-Won but he still has too much of a devil may care attitude I thought, in the action scenes. Christenson to me, is much too young to be convincing as Anakin, the future Darth Vader. Portman is also too young to be believable as a trusted senior Senator. This film is raised a notch or two with the expansion of Samuel L. Jackson's role as Jedi leader Mace Windu and the casting of Christopher Lee as the chief villain. Lee who is almost 80 steals the acting honors as the Darth Vader/Count Dracula like Count Dooku. He looks and acts 25 years younger than his real age. And Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) has more to do and even has a light saber duel. Fortuneately the annoying Jar Jar Binks (Daffy Duck in the 24th 1/2 Century) has only a small role in this one.
All in all, this film is very entertaining even though Lucas & Co. did go a little overboard once again with their special effects. Better than Episode I but still not even close to the original three.