Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

George Lucas (2002)

136min

PG Certificate

Review

Our Score

by Andrew Collins

On points, this beats the underwhelming Episode I: more action, less politics and better gags. Though the old truisms about saga creator George Lucas still apply - as a director he's uncomfortable with actors (apart from those created in post-production) and as a writer he excels at stage directions - fans of the original Star Wars will find much to enjoy here, particularly the cleverly planted story seeds for what we all know is to come. Ewan McGregor relaxes into the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, playing master rather than pupil now, and combines withering humour with credible superheroics. Samuel L Jackson finally gets to wield a lightsaber in the climactic gladiatorial showdown - an improvement on all the sitting and talking he did in The Phantom Menace. By cutting between three major plot strands - Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Amidala (Natalie Portman) fall in love; Obi-Wan confronts bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison); the Jedi prepare for war - Lucas never loses our attention, and the computer-generated imagery is impeccable, not least when Yoda duels with Jedi gone bad Christopher Lee. If only the outcome - still one long episode away - wasn't set in stone. But then, this isn't a film - it's part of a cinematic institution.

Summary

Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and apprentice Anakin Skywalker are sent to protect Senator Padme Amidala from an assassin. However, as galactic civil war threatens to erupt, the pair are forced to split their efforts, leading Anakin into an ill-advised romance and the beginnings of a journey toward the dark side. George Lucas's second prequel to the original sci-fi trilogy, starring Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman and Christopher Lee.

Cast & Crew

Obi-Wan Kenobi Ewan McGregor

Padmé Amidala Natalie Portman

Anakin Skywalker Hayden Christensen

Count Dooku Christopher Lee

Mace Windu Samuel L Jackson

Yoda Frank Oz

Supreme Chancellor Palpatine Ian McDiarmid

Shmi Skywalker Pernilla August

Jango Fett Temuera Morrison

Senator Bail Organa Jimmy Smits

Cliegg Lars Jack Thompson

Zam Wesell Leeanna Walsman

Jar Jar Binks Ahmed Best

Dormé Rose Byrne

Sio Bibble Oliver Ford Davies

Dexter Jettster Ronald Falk

Captain Typho Jay Laga'aia

Watto Andrew Secombe

C-3PO Anthony Daniels

Boba Fett Daniel Logan

R2-D2 Kenny Baker (2)

Director George Lucas

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: 20th Century FoxGuidance: May be edited for violence.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-rayReleased on: 17 May 2002

Drama

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George Lucas (2002)

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