The Young and the Restless..IN SPACE!

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2002)

When George Lucas announced the title for his second prequel of the six-part epic that is "Star Wars" many fans scoffed. It was far too reminiscent of a cheesy Hollywood serial from the 1950's. If only it was that much fun! With Episode II Lucas reconfirms his inability to tackle important directorial chores that should be taken for granted, primarily casting and dialogue. There is considerable effort placed on the minutiae of every frame and detail yet all this work can't help piece together a cohesive structure or interesting narrative (like the first trilogy did), even with "Clone's" overwhelming visual proficiency.
The Phantom Menace has finally been acknowledged for the dull and flat film that it was. Fortunately it can be reported that this film is in every way more interesting and watchable, even if for less than desirable reasons. The story picks up the story 10 years after Episode I left off. In fact it overloads the audience with plot. The majority of the film is exposition. Unlike the first trilogy where the narrative was linear, accessible and seamless, the plot here feels contrived and overly complex. Lucas, instead of telling an interesting forward-moving story has the task of unraveling a tangled knot of a story. He has to make sure that he covers his bases and justifies everything that happens later in the series. Not all of this is totally uninteresting (the political intrigue and treachery in the picture would make even Tom Clancy proud) but it doesn't appeal to our emotional connection with the characters the way Lucas has before. The story of Luke Skywalker's journey from boy to Jedi appealed to our collective unconscious in a Jungian fashion. Audiences could be absorbed into that story for there own personal psychological relation to it. Lucas has the opportunity to do the same here, appealing to our deep understanding of fallen angel mythology so prevalent in classic western literature, from Paradise Lost to the Godfather. Instead, Lucas ties up plot points and creates a web of complex fictional politics that only increase the "geek"-factor of the series. It is the sort of information that 8th graders might debate about at school lunch tables across America.
At least the political aspect of the film maintains some intellectual interest. The heart of the problem with Episode II is really the stale love story between Padme (Natalie Portman) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen.) Dialogue like this has not been seen in a mainstream motion picture since the golden days of Jeanette McDonald and Nelson Eddy. If only these two actors had a Romberg ballad to save them after their interminable scenes. The performances don't help much. Natalie Portman continues to confirm her status as the worst working actress with the best career. (Her turn as Nina in the Seagull on stage completely destroyed any lingering doubts about her talent or lack therof.) Opposite her is Hayden Christensen as Anakin- one of the most unlikable characters in the Star Wars cannon (Jar Jar may take the cake in that debate.) His Anakin (the "chosen one" as we are oft reminded!) is a spoiled obnoxious brat who is setting up his descent into the dark side as little more than misguided product of teen angst and inflated ego. When he and Padme discuss politics he comes of as merely ignorant and unintelligent. In the original Star Wars ("Episode IV" as Mr. Lucas would have us call it) Anakin is described as a "good friend" of Obi-Wan Kenobi yet little evidence of that is seen here; their relationship is that of a temper tantrum prone child and nagging mother. One only longs for the day when the much more enjoyable and entertaining Darth Vader takes the reigns, though it is hard to imagine this interpretation of the character ever evolving the sense of austere grandeur and cool menace that the man in the helmet achieved effortlessly.
Other actors in the film fare better, especially Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Christopher Lee (playing the exact same role he has in the Lord of the Rings Series). As for the effects, they are polished and carefully constructed without a doubt. The new fully computerized Yoda allows the little green man to attack Chritopher Lee's villainous Count Dooku with joyous abandon in the films much hyped climatic duel (Clones' best scene by far) Yet seeing the computerized sheen on Yoda's face the entire picture reminds one of just how much more realistic the puppet looked, when it was still powered by Frank Oz hidden just below the camera frame. Outside of the battle, Yoda does little more than say perfunctory things in a profound manner by reversing the grammar in his sentences. "Begun the Clone Wars Have."
Despite the complaints, the films last half-hour is immensely entertaining, among the best in any of the episodes. It is no wonder that this segment is almost entirely dialogue free. Hopefully by Episode III Lucas will either get around to hiring an actual writer or making a film with nothing but action scenes. Just please--no more mushy stuff. Star Wars should not be daytime television.