Romance of The Stars

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2012)

In Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope, Obi-Wan stated that both he and Anakin fought in the Clone Wars. For 25 years, everyone wondered what The Clone Wars were like. Well, this is where they begin.
Following ten years on from The Phantom Menace, the Senate of the Galactic Republic is now debating on whether to create their own army after several planetary systems have left to form their own government, the Confederacy of Independent Systems, which is led by Dooku, the Count of Serenno and former Jedi Master.
The debate, known as the Military Creation Act, has been met with opposition by Padmè Amidala, former elected Queen of her home planet of Naboo and now Senatorial representative for her people. The film begins when an unknown assassin bombs Padmè's starship in an attempt to kill her. Both Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Order become concerned for her safety afterwards and two Jedi are assigned to her as bodyguards: her old friends Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
In the years that have passed since they last saw each other, Anakin has maintained a crush on Padmè. On their first night serving their role as bodyguards, Padmè is attacked yet again and Obi-Wan and Anakin pursue the would-be assassin through the air traffic of Coruscant only to discover that there is greater mystery to the assassination attempts. Obi-Wan, under the orders of the Jedi Council, leaves to investigate while Anakin remains as Padmè's body guard and goes with her into exile, hiding at her private lake retreat on Naboo.
What follows is Obi-Wan uncovering further pieces of the mystery which as he finds involves the entirety of the galaxy, and the friendship between Anakin and Padmè developing into something more, as the Star Wars galaxy begins to descend into darker times.
Like The Phantom Menace, I have heard many negative comments about this film. Personally I think they are entirely wrong. Most say that the growing love between Anakin and Padmè is displayed in a very stale manner and that the chemistry is really poor. I believe otherwise, specifically in the scene where they first meet again. Anakin's awkwardness towards her continues to make me blush, and the various scenes on Naboo make my heart feel warm. Additionally their love theme "Across the Stars" is one of my most favourite pieces of Star Wars music.
Another negative comment I've heard people making is in regards to the backstory of popular character Boba Fett being established in this film. I think the way it was done was a great concept, have him as the cloned son of the genetic template for the soon-to-be Clone army of the Republic really fits in with the saga and sees him begin the journey which makes him the mysterious enigmatic man we see him as in The Empire Strikes Back.
Other complaints are Yoda being able to be so fast when duelling when he requires a walking stick (he's the Grand Master of the Jedi Order and he's over 800 years old, exertions of lightsaber duelling exhausts him afterwards), the assassin despite being named by Anakin as a changeling does not change herself into a different disguise when attacking Obi-Wan (being in a public nightclub I think it would easily be noticed), and Ankin being a complete cry baby. Anakin is meant to be conflicted in the things he does in the film and he is IN LOVE when the Jedi Order has decreed that their warriors should not. He is letting his feelings out.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is perhaps the greatest live-action romance story I have ever known. I watched when I was eleven years old. It did not make me cringe, I enjoyed it. Star Wars is not an adult romance film where men jump into bed with the nearest girl every night, it is a space fantasy meant to be seen by all ages. The romance is done in a way that a general audience can understand it.
If you would watch this film for the first time ever or see it again and look at it from this point of view, then you can judge whether peoples' complaints are verified or not. My fellow Star Wars fans, please take some advice: trust in the Force and in George Lucas, the creator of the greatest film series of all time.