Pure digital gold

Rating: 10/10 (25 February 2005)

I was born a "Star Wars" fan and I will die a "Star Wars" fan. I will psyched by "The Phantom Menace" and set high hopes for "Attack of the Clones". This film exceeded my every expectation. It had everything: action, humor, intrigue, romance, eye-filling spectacle, thought provoking ideas, memorably iconic characters, and much, much more.
I will start with the actor who made Anakin Skywalker my favorite character in the whole series: Hayden Christensen. He provided a psychological case study for this charismatically brash and yet conflicted Padawan. I loved how he kept doing what he wished: going with his instincts and loving Padme. He scared me a bit when he massacred the Tuskens. He killed CHILDREN, for Christ's sake! How could anyone not be the tiniest bit shaken by that? The struggles he goes through bring up many moral questions not easily answered. Even though you know he is on his way to becoming you-know-who, Episode III has not come out yet so you keep hoping that he will be okay.
Ewan Mcgregor really took charge as Obi-Wan Kenobi a struggling Jedi Master who is not entirely humorless, doesn't mind a cup of coffee know and then, hates flying, and gives tough love to his impatient Padawan. His funny quips(especially "good job" and "That's....why I'm here")helped make the part his own.
Natalie Portman was definitely more vulnerable here because of her romance but tries as best she can to stick to her trademark stoicism and deny her feelings. I really wish she would get over herself and stop trying to be Mother Teresa. But in the end she did...sort of. I am also glad she got to shoot the hell out of some droids.
The supporting characters were well-defined and played well too. I an Mcdiarmid as the Chancellor who tries to do the right thing politically but for some reason encourages Anakin's brashness....hmmm. Chrsitopher Lee as the cold-blooded Count Dooku whose true motives remain tantalizingly obscure until the end of the movie. Tuemera Morrison as Jango Fett the hardened bounty hunter who seeks to pass his mercenary legacy on to his clone,uh, I mean son, Boba. Sam Jackson as Mace Windu, the diplomatic old-school Jedi who comes to realize that his ways are beginning to fade into time. And of course there is the great-looking CGI Yoda who is sensing the increasing rise of the dark side and who can wield a hell of a lightsaber.
The effects gave the background enormous beauty. I especially love Coruscant. The action and lightsaber battles were exhausting but exhilarating. John Williams' score (especially the love theme) is superb.
All in all, this continues the tradition of being a different "Star Wars" series from the one I knew as a kid. I don't care what the critics say this is still great sci-fi escapism right here.
If this Episode leaves me with this sensation then I don't want to wait for Episode III.