Why This Movie Doesn't Work

Rating: 4/10 (16 May 2002)

Warning - some plot spoilers probably contained herein.
Lucas has manufactured an interesting trap for himself. By telling episodes 4, 5 and 6 first and then going back to the first three, he is essentially telling us a story we already know. Some of the details are new, but every Star Wars fan knows all the broad strokes already.
Granted, there are only a dozen plots in all of literature and success or failure stems from the way in which the plot has been told. But this very point dooms Lucas to failure because his strengths have never included writing dialogue or directing actors. Given the exposition-heavy nature of this film, he clearly needed both a better co-writer and needed to hand this over to another director, as he did so successfully with Empire Strikes Back.
Beyond that, one reason that the original Star Wars movies worked so well was the influence of Joseph Campbell and the way Campbell's theories on mythology were applied to give an incredible back story to the characters and action. It's one of the reasons Lord of the Rings always worked so well for so many. Now we're seeing that back story on film, but it needs its own back story to give it resonance, and that's not provided.
We are left with two hours of really embarrassing dialogue and acting, in some cases from some excellent actors who are truly wasted here, especially Samuel Jackson. Plus a final half hour that basically gives us what we want and expect from a Star Wars (tm) franchise vehicle. But by the time you get there, you may not care.
Other problems:
Throwing away logic for convenience. As one example, in this film R2-D2 flies. He never flies in 4,5,6. So how could he fly now and not later?
Lack of suspense. Lord Dooku is carrying the only plans for the Death Star. We know the Death Star is built in #4. Therefore, we know that Dooku will escape in his duel with Yoda and Obi-wan. And since we know that both Yoda and Obi-wan will appear in future installments, we know that they are not in mortal danger either. (And frankly speaking, that hurling of electric bolts back and forth reminded me of the cheesy wizards' battle between Karloff and Price in Roger Corman's 1963 "The Raven".)
I'm sure Clones will gross 400 million in the US and double that globally. That does not make it a good movie. The joy that was in every frame in the original Star Wars is completely gone, bogged down in a $140 million 2-1/2 hour trailer for the technical capabilities of ILM.
Clones' guaranteed success means that Lucas will follow the same path for episode three, and it will fail in the same ways. Lucas needs to open up, release an iota of control, bring in a stronger collaborator or two. Right now all I can do is hope that he will not make a 7, 8 or 9. And I'll sit back and wait for future installments of Lord of the Rings and Matrix instead.