Amazing adventure, with a bit of cheese...

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2002)

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is to Episode I what Episode V is to Episode IV. It's darker. It's deeper. It's the movie I was expecting Episode I to be.
Despite Lucas' assertions that he isn't influenced by fan opinion, he answered many of my own criticisms in Episode II. The acting is looser and more believable. The effects have advanced to near-perfection. The story is presented without the force-feeding of plot and detail. It's just a great, and extremely entertaining movie.
I'd like to see an edit without the half-dozen tongue-in-cheek moments that mostly occur within a 2-minute period during the big battle scene. My least favorite of these occurs earlier (SPOILER WARNING: I am about to ruin the worst joke, and worst piece of dialog in the movie), when Obi-Wan says to Anakin, "You're going to be the death of me someday." COME ON! Self-referential jokes are boring and too basic for such a grand movie. It ranks right up there with the animal farts in Episode I!
So, go see this movie at the theater, if you can. Check to see if it's playing digitally or on IMAX in your area, as any enhancement of the amazing special effects should definitely be worth it!