Got my money's worth

Rating: Null/10 (16 May 2002)

Let me just say that I had my doubts about this movie after the experience I had with Episode I, but the second Episode II started, all of them were put to rest. I was on the edge of my seat from the moment of the very first explosion. (hope that wasn't a spoiler) Now let me clarify that Episode I was not a horrible movie at all, it just was a bit childish. Jar Jar Binks, dragged the ATOC's predecessor down that far. One improvement in Attack of The Clones is that Jar Jar has roughly five minutes in the whole movie which is a great improvement. Almost all of the great minor charecters from Episode one are back, such as Watto, the trade federation viceroy and his friend, and who could ever forget, the battle droids.
Now we come to Episode II's flaws. Though there are very few in the film they need to be addressed. The music in the climactic battle at the end. "SPOILER ALERT" The battle between the droid army and the republic's clone army was a victory in that respect. However the music suggests otherwise, it felt like Schindlers list in a way. Secondly, none of the clone troopers were actual people in costume like the stormtroopers were. Even in close up shots you could tell that they were placed there with a computer. It took away from the credibility of the close up battle scenes. One more flaw is how during the battle the clone army's gunships beared an uncanny resemblance to the Huey choppers that were used in Viet Nam and other American wars. For a few breif moments I thought I was watching a futuristic version of "We Were Soldiers". (also a good movie)
That's it for the complaint department, now the best parts of the film. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of The Clones, though not without its flaws, has got to be one of the best films in the entire series. Infact not only does it make up for the somewhat disapointing TPM, but it also makes TPM make more sense and also more enjoyable. It fills in some of the holes that were left by Phantom Menace. It has taken a sort of Empire Strikes Back nature, in that it is darker and the audience seems to learn more about the charecters and situation involving the galaxy which is far from over. Anakin and Padme's romance blossoms throughout the movie as it did between Han and Leia in "Empire", and like "Empire, the romance did not interfere with anything. And finnally, I don't want to give anything away, but you will never look at Yoda the same way ever again.
All in all I give Episode II: Attack of the Clones, ***1/2. I had to take some points off for the complaints that were stated in the second paragraph. Anyway go see it, you won't be disapointed.