better than Episode I...

Rating: Null/10 (19 May 2002)

CAUTION ** SPOILERS **
After watching this movie for the second time in 2 days, I have determined one very important note: These trilogies cannot be compared. The technology used in developing the new star wars films differs on such a large scale from the technology 25 years ago that it is an injustice to compare the two sets of films. Having that been said, Attack of the Clones is slightly less than what i had expected.
At times during the action scenes I kept having to remind myself that this IS a movie. Some of the action just seems over the top, without any consequences being thought of. For example, there is a scene in which a droid has placed posionous in senator Amidala's room in an assasination attempt. Obi-wan bursts into the room and jumps through the window, grabbing ahold of the droid as it pulls away from the window. Oh, i forgot to mention the droid is hovering 100 stories above ground. My only question is, what if the droid moved 2 feet to the left, or self destructed? SPLAT, no more Obi-wan. But for the sake of "the force" and hollywood, I'll stop asking questions and continue. Obi-wan then is saved when Anakin hops into a random speeder(unlocked, no keys) and rushes to his safety. Thats one count of Grand Theft Spacecraft, 10 years in prison. Anakin performs a similar suicide jump, jumping out of the moving speeder and landing on top of another moving speeder stories below.
The battles near the end were pretty nice, the CGI scenes FAR FAR more believable and less cartoonish than Episdoe I.
At times the movie seems to beg for a laugh,throwing out lame little one liners like C3PO with "what a drag" and "I'm beside myself." When will they realize that such comedic relief is not necessary.
Acting was also much better than Episode I, and solid in general. At times when Hayden Christensen seemed shakey, Natalie Portman was right there level it out again. Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Christopher Lee all gave convincing performances in their roles. Christensen like I said seemed a bit shakey at times, but overall was pretty good, and expressed the forbidden Jedi emotions well.
My main grievance was the romance between Anakin and Padme. While it held such great potential, in my opinion it fell short. The character Anakin takes an almost stalker like approach; I need you, I love you, you are my soul, I'm dying when I know I can't be with you, etc. Secondly, she shows hardly any signs of loving him through most of the movie. And after psychotic episodes Anakin goes through, i.e. muderous rampages, she somehow sees past that and finds his inner evil creature, awwwww. You know how you try to force two jiggsaw pieces together even though you know they are no the right fit? Well that sums up the awkward and unlikely love between Anakin and Padme. Guys, believe me, if you are trying to win over a chick, Anakin's method DOES NOT WORK. I don't want to be the one who says I told you so, so please don't ever recite that speech to a REAL girl.
7 / 10 :better love story would have made this one a classic