Everything A Star Wars Movie Should Be

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2017)

All too often, the middle installment of any trilogy gets a bad rap. Part One usually lays the foundation, while Part Three delivers the goods, leaving Part Two to just "continue the story". Luckily, "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" manages to turn in an effort worthy of the Star Wars moniker.
For a basic plot summary, "Attack of the Clones" tells the story of how the Clone Army came to be, and prefaces the very beginnings of the great war that ultimately divides the galaxy. Moving forward from the events of "Phantom Menace", Annakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is significantly older and under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). The traitorous Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is still scheming for more power, Padme (Natalie Portman) begins a dalliance with the young Skywalker, and the Jedi Republic continues to become more fractured in the face of adversity.
What makes this movie is success is that, besides just keeping the storyline moving forward, it also throws in some compelling scenes and subplots to really suck the viewer in. For instance:
-Annakin returning to Tatooine to look for his mother.
-Yoda (voice of Frank Oz) wielding a lightsaber as never before!
-The introduction of the Fett "family".
-The foreshadowing of serious trouble in the Jedi Republic, with the seeds of discontent now sown and beginning to take root.
Thus, I consider "Attack of the Clones" to be one of the better installments in the Star Wars series. It has everything a movie of its kind needs: action, adventure, romance, drama, foreshadowing, and even some humor (although with less Jar-Jar Binks, which is always a plus...!).
Watch with confidence knowing that, upon this episode's conclusion, you will be ready for the "final chapter" of the prequel trilogy.