Why Do I Get The Feeling You're Going To Be The Death Of Me ?

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2013)

Young Jedi Knight in training Anakin Skywalker is tasked with escorting and protecting the beautiful Senator Padme. Meanwhile Anakin's master. Obi-Wan Kenobi, is sent to the hidden world of Kamino to investigate the origins of a mysterious clone army. It seems dark forces are amassing to threaten the safety of the Galactic Republic ...
The second film in the modern trilogy of Star Wars movies is beautiful, exciting, visually dazzling and filled with extraordinary scenes. If it has a weakness, it's that it doesn't really have a beginning or end (like The Empire Strikes Back); instead it picks up directly where The Phantom Menace concludes, gradually building up the story of the opposing forces vying for control, and finishing with an extended grand battle. In some ways though this is also its strength - the characters come fully developed and the movie can take its time to weave its two main tales of love story and detective thriller around each other. Both of these work well, although it's the latter that really captures the imagination as Obi-Wan plunges first into an icy waterworld filled with sleek, polished architecture, and then onto the craggy brown mining planet of Geonosis, littered with igneous rocks, shale and brimstone, and populated by vicious insectoids. The story documents Anakin's combined rise to power and fall from grace as his desire to prove himself and dominate those around him corrupts his judgement and morality. Christensen acquits himself well in this tricky role; he must be heroic enough to make his tragedy bite, but also selfish and petty in his immaturity. As with the previous movie the ensemble are excellent, but the villainous parts are the choice ones, with Lee as the tricksy Count Dooku stealing the film. His triple duel with Anakin, Obi-Wan and then Yoda at the end is a showstopping finale. Equally, the movie is a tour-de-force of presentation and visual dynamics. John Williams' soaring love theme is the triumphant overture in a blaze of musical and sonic excess, combining with Ben Burtt's outstanding sound design in a unique and thrilling feast for the ears. During a space chase through an asteroid field with villain Jango Fett, Fett unleashes sonic bombs at Obi-Wan, and Burtt incredibly pulls all the sound out of the mix for one second then batters us with an explosion - incredible ! Just as impressive are the visual effects by Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow; the last half-hour of the movie is a stunning array of amazing scenes; the gladiator-style fight-for-life in the arena, the epic Jedi/droid fight, the dropship battle in the desert and Count Dooku's retreat. But for every action-packed moment there are as many quiet, pensive, tensely understated scenes; Obi-Wan's guarded meeting with Jango, the moment with the now-down-at-heel Watto, Owen and Beru's introduction. As with all his work, it's Lucas' gift to blend action, drama, romance and escapism into a rounded, satisfying whole. In some ways this movie is all set up for the big finale of its sequel (Revenge Of The Sith), but despite this it's one of the richest and most enjoyable fantasy movies ever made.