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Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

George Lucas (2002)

136min
PG Certificate
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Review

Our Score
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
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Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: 20th Century FoxGuidance: Violence.Available on: video, DVD and Blu-rayReleased on: 17 May 2002
Drama
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