The force is strong with this one!

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2002)

To say Star Wars The Phantom Menace was a box Office smash hit would be an understatement, but to say it left only a few Star Wars fans disappointed would be a understatement as well. the Phantom menace was heavily criticised for the Disneyesque Story style and wooden characters (the less said about the annoying Jar Jar binks the better) and with movies like the Lord of the Rings and the Matrix challenging Star Wars for the title of Movie epic it seemed like the Star Wars franchise was under threat for a moment. Thankfully Star Wars: The Attack of the Clones shows George Lucas hasn¹t lost his touch, the movie is a special effects feast, beyond anything we seen recently, mixed with plenty of battle sequences and a love story on the side. For all you non Jedi fans, a quick re cap. Episode two of the Star Wars series deals with the gradual transformation of young Anakin Skywalker, to the Dark Side of the mystical Force and turning to the evil Darth Vader. Episode two starts ten years after the The Phantom Menace, the old Galactic Republic is going through a time of political turmoil with the danger of a civil war looming. The defenders of the old order the Jedi Knights are increasingly over stretched and opposition in the Senate (led by Senator Amidala played by Natalie Portman) has blocked plans to make a grand Army to crush the separatists led by Count Dooku (played by Christopher Lee a Desi connection here, he played Quaid e Azam in the Movie Jinnah!). The political backdrop, with the gradual decay of the old order, the contempt for politicians, and the intent of the ruler to gradually increase his power, through emergency powers is something we often see happening in the World. Ewan Mgregor reprises his role as Obi Won Kenobi with the usual stoicism and the growing rift between him and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker played by Hayden Christenson. Hayden comes of well as an increasingly angry and bitter Anakin who has little time for the patient approach of the Jedi order. Samuel Jackson returns as Jedi Knight Mace Windau, happily in a bigger role than last time, watch out for his spectacular show down with Bounty hunter Jango Fett. Another high point is the light sabre duel between Count Dooku and Yoda. I do have a few complaints, unlike the original trilogy, there is little chemistry between the characters, Anakin and Amidala and the whole love story seems a bit contrived. Another problem is the sheer number of sub plots, it tends to distract from the characters. Despite the criticism, this is a good family movie and sets a build up for (what should be a dark) finale.