The most fun of all 6.

Rating: 10/10 (8 April 2020)

The great thing with Lucas going back to his baby is that he can change the landscape of what it means to be Star Wars. And Attack of the Clones is the least Star Wars of all 6 episodes in the best way possible. It's the only one where nothing big is really at stake. There's no race against the clock and it's the lightest of all the movies. Which I enjoy greatly. This is the final outing before everything goes to hell in the galaxy.
Not only does it take balls to set your movie 10 years after the first but it takes even bigger balls to change your main actor on the second movie. Even bigger than casting a 10 year old as your main character.
We get to see the conflict of Anakin that was set up in 1. Those traits that made him a great kid work against him preventing him from making a great Jedi. And because he is torn from his instincts and his training he is conflicted.
The thing about this movie is that in terms of plot not a whole lot happens. This movie sets up the plot that is about to happen in 3. And without this set up 3 wouldn't be as good as it is. For some reason I think about this movie more than the others. Something about the colors in the spring time or the cool set pieces or something.
This is the most fun Star Wars, plot wise the least impactful but has some of the coolest scenes. Jango, the arena, Yoda fighting, giant clone war fight, Kamino... Everything that happens in this is really really cool and I can't get enough of it.
Jango Fett is cool because we get to see more Boba like we always wanted. And we see him unasked without actually seeing him unmasked. Boba isn't ruined he is just expanded upon. The silver armor is as cool to Boba's as we can get. And the two guns are not only new to the movies but continue with the Western motif.
Dooku it's cool because you didn't know that a Jedi could leave the order before. The archives are cool to see and of course the younglings are cool. As is seeing Yoda teach. This whole movie really gets into the details of Star Wars to show you how it all works.
Also digital Yoda was new. Really it had to be done. The puppet looked bad in the release version of 1. All the other characters had become much more realistic then the puppet, he would have looked out of place. They were smart to not reinvent Yoda but just slightly expand what he could do so he still fits in with 5 and 6.
The arena fight is great for so many reasons. But really the best part is that all these different story threads are out there and culminate in the arena. The clone war begins, Padme, because they're going to die admits her love for Anakin, Obi-Wan finds out Dooku's intentions... The fighting is amazing. Of course with something we've never seen before.
It was strange to see the clones as the good guys because you know they end up being bad but you don't know how.
The monster fight is cool, I love the Acklay. Then Mace shows up with, "This party's over."
Seeing all the Jedi fight was something we've always wanted to see. Then the war which has never been like this. The clones save the day for another surprise. Mace finally in action was a great joy.
Anakin with two lightsabers and then of course the crown jewel: Yoda fighting. I do have to admit seeing this brought tears to my eyes. Not sure, of happiness or just pure sensory overload but it did. I knew going into the movie that he fought. Which I didn't think that he could and was kinda against at first. But of course it made sense, he's a Jedi. But he didn't fight in anyway that my mind could imagine. He fought in a way that only Yoda could. It was so awesome.
Kamino is cool with the rain and ocean. The different parts of Naboo. The ground level of Courscant... This movie has so many cool things in it, I wanna go watch it right now!
Funny thing about this movie is that there is a lot happening behind the scenes. Everything with the clones and Sidious. You have to really think about it. The pieces are there but you have to put them together yourself: After Maul's death Sidious recruits Dooku. Dooku orders the clone army using the name of a Jedi he just killed: Sypho-dias. Then he creates the separatists to create the issue of an army of the Republic. So when Obi discovers the droid army and the republic is scared of a defense, there is already a clone army just waiting around that they might as well use. Sidious wants the war to start to not only prolong his stay as Chancellor but to get his clones on every planet and the Jedi divided for order 66. Because you can't overthrown an entire galaxy overnight.
The best part about this trilogy is that Lucas was telling a story. This wasn't fan service and you didn't get what you wanted because it would sell tickets. There was a story to be told and Lucas told it very well without rushing and cutting corners and realistically. Governments crumble from within before your eyes without the people knowing it. And this story does that.
Star Wars never gets credit for being realistic. Like Anakin complaining about sand. I've never related so much to a Star Wars line!