Episode II overcomes the Fiasco of Episode I

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2002)

The applause began immediately, as soon as the familiar green letters crawled up the screen.
Then Keanu Reeves did a back flip, and you could see his cool new haircut. Oh wait...that was the "Matrix Reloaded" preview. (Very cool indeed. Great anticipation for that film, safe to say.)
No, we were here to see "Episode II: Attack of the Clones". First showing in Los Angeles, 2002. No applause when seeing the familiar yellow letters crawling across its screen. In fact, more like mass tension. The audience still having the revulsion in its bones of how robbed we had been with the debacle that was "Episode I". Memories of Jar Jar danced in our heads. And so, we waited, not wanting to give in, not wanting to love this one.
When I sit down to a Star Wars movie, I want to be swept away, as I was that first time in 1977. I want to feel the magic. I want to just shudder with awe. Well, I am happy to report, that happened with "Episode II."
Fresh from its wounds at having lost the visual effects Oscar to the upstart "Matrix" the last time, ILM took NO chances this time. Thank you, Photoshop master John Knoll. (Indeed they were given a reprieve with Aaliyah's death, and the resulting delay until 2003 of "Matrix Reloaded".) From the first moment until the last, it is chock full of amazing visual effects. In fact, the only frames which didn't work for me were the ones with Jar Jar's face in them.
Tending toward the "Blade Runner" look this time, it was a science fiction film we could care about, at least visually. Not only new worlds to explore, and old ones which looked suspiciously like Italy and Tunisia, but whole new effects. Groundbreaking sound effects too. Some truly amazing stuff here.
Oh yeah, the story. Hm. Well, it was better than the pathetic mess that was "Episode I," though not quite as heart-wrenching as the "originals". Jar Jar wasn't as jarring, and Yoda kicked some major ass (provoking laughter; with him, not at him). There was some nonsense about the beginning of the Clone War, which I'm going to have to return to understand. There was a love story, and the beginnings of Anakin/Darth Vader's hatreds. Not really such a big deal when we concurrently have Willow turning to the Dark Side on "Buffy." (MUCH more scary.)
Lucas seemed to have cribbed from many elements of current culture. Watching "Episode II", I could see the effects on this movie of: "The Matrix," "Gladiator," and even "Buffy." But the good news here is that he seems to have listened to his detractors from the last fiasco. No pod race. Less Jar Jar, less stereotypical voices, less noticeably wooden acting, some actual real feeling even. God bless Natalie Portman. What a wonderful Queen/Senator/girlfriend she is.
All in all, it won me over. So, I'm here to report that "Episode II" is worth seeing. But so too, is "Spiderman." The difference, I believe, was noted by audience members afterward. Which one are you going to see again? "Episode II" wins, sabers down.
--Michelle Belaskie