"The shroud of the dark side has fallen."

Rating: 8/10 (13 June 2007)

This might be the most intricately detailed and plotted of all the Star Wars films, but judging from all the negative reviewers on this board, I have to wonder if they paid attention long enough to understand what was going on. Conspiracy and double crosses abound, with the introduction of Christopher Lee's character Count Dooku leading the separatist movement against the Republic. Then there's Chancellor Palpatine pulling strings that will eventually give rise to the supremacy of the Sith and the Dark Side of the Force. His flattery of young Anakin Skywalker is recognition of the Jedi's powerful potential, and is intended to hasten his corruption.
For this viewer, that was the real story in "Attack of the Clones", and even though the relationship between Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Amidala (Natalie Portman) was necessary for events of "A New Hope", that was secondary for the moment. At about the time of events of "The Phantom Menace" ten years earlier, we come to learn that a clone army has been commissioned by former Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas for service to the Republic. Even more fascinating is the fact that all of the clones are descendant from a single original host, Jango Fett. Fett's death later in the Arena against the assembled Jedi Masters offers a convincing hint to the reason behind his son's chosen profession as a galaxy bounty hunter.
As for the romance between Anakin and Padme, and even though there were hints of it in 'Menace', it was still somewhat difficult reconciling their relationship given the age difference and their chosen paths in life. The film handled that progression in a manner that made sense, but not enough to explain Padme's acceptance of Anakin's berserk rampage on Tatooine in response to his mother's death. It was at that moment I feel, that Anakin became Darth Vader, even if the formality was left to "Revenge of the Sith".
On a lighter and more technical note, the CGI effects and action sequences of this episode were the most stunning yet, not even accounting for the battle scenes. The night time chase scene at the start of the film to catch the assassin Zam was incredibly detailed, looking more exceptional on my wide screen home TV than I even remembered it in the theater. And say, did anyone else get the impression that the inhabitants of Kamino resembled Whitley Strieber's aliens?
Anyway, I enjoyed this installment of the series even if the reviews are mixed and I find myself in a minority. I can only assume that the nay sayers operate somewhere beyond the Outer Rim, just outside the Rishi Maze.