Just another blockbuster

Rating: Null/10 (20 May 2002)

Many people feel George Lucas has vindicated himself solely because "Attack of the Clones" is superior to "Phantom Menace." That's similar to saying a lemon is better than a totalled automobile.
Now, I'm not going to say that Episode II is a horrible movie. Aside from the incredibly inane romance between Amidala and Anakin, the rest of the movie is quite watchable. The last half hour alone is worth the price of admission (if you can get past the O-so boring second act). But does it have the same sense of fun and adventure as the original trilogy? I'd have to say no.
Watching Episode II the day after I watched "The Empire Strikes Back" again, I realized what's wrong with the new trilogy: no Han Solo. The characters in Episodes I and II are all clean-cut elites--none of the main characters are scummy or dirty or even charmingly roguish. Thus, all the attempts at humour are not witty or clever but just immature and stupid.
Lucas has made another entertaining blockbuster. Ironically, he's become part of the blockbuster phenomenon he created. A few years from now, the new Star Wars trilogy will be as forgotten as other recent blockbusters: Independence Day, Stargate, Men in Black, et al.