Enjoyable, but over-compensating perhaps?

Rating: 6/10 (17 May 2002)

Minor spoilers contained within...
I would like to start by saying that I watch movies to be entertained, to be whisked away to another time and place. I do not dwell much on the acting, or the direction etc unless these are poor enough to get in the way of my enjoyment.
I enjoyed watching "Attack of the Clones", mostly.
I have no real problems with the acting and dialogue. The action was fast paced, the fight scenes impressive, but after a while I began to tire of the continual barrage of visual effects.
The galaxy it seems is a place of absolute diversity. Each planet is an amazing vista with weird and wonderful aliens. This in itself is not a bad thing, but I felt that there were no normal or everyday places, no average people going about their average lives, to keep the events and actions of the main characters in perspective.
It seems to me that George Lucas has over-compensated for the poor showing of "The Phantom Menace". The effects are continuously thrust at us, each one more fantastical then its predecessor. One example of this, during the big climactic battle, one side has these big two-wheeled missile launchers that look very impressive but don't make a lot of sense as a weapon (to me at least). Can't missiles be launched from a solid platform out of harms way to similar effect?
Finally I guess I am a little disappointed that the story doesn't seem to have got much nearer the already known conclusion. Darth Vader to me was a character of considerable power and evil, but most of all a character in total control. Annakin on the otherhand, seems to be an impetuous, spoilt brat with obvious ability but minimal self-discipline. So am I to believe that the dark-side will teach him this? Hmmm...
As for the two sides of the battles just begun, I am none the wiser as to which side is which. If everything is to be revealed in Episode 3 (as it seems it will be) then what is the point of Episode 2???