Dazzling

Rating: Null/10 (17 May 2002)

This is better. Much, much better. A striking piece of science-fiction, a dazzling piece of cinema. A vast improvement on Episode one both in tone and in quality, Episode II is a far meatier prospect and more than meets (almost unrealistic) expectation. For all the (excellent) CGI, this is dark, tough, grim storytelling, full of deceit and betrayal. Along with Empire, Clones is the most adult chapter of the saga. The odd clunker of dialogue and stale delivery aside, this is strong, satisfying stuff. Jango Fett was underused (as always, Lucas seems uninterested with his most complex character), but that is not a big complaint. The force is very, very strong with this one. Watch it and see a master visual artist unfold an interesting chapter in his epic saga.