Logan Sork Film Reviews
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones
After the lukewarm reception to The Phantom Menace, George Lucas had to work hard to get fans invested in his new trilogy. He promised that this new film would focus on the older Anakin Skywalker and that the center of the film would revolve around the romance that would ultimately sway him towards the dark side of the force. This, along with the fact that Lucas admitted the mistakes of the previous film, was enough to persuade viewers to return. The film they got ,however, was, despite some small improvements, more or less the same in terms of quality.
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is once again written and directed by George Lucas and is the second installment in the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. It stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, and Christopher Lee. The story is set ten years after the events of the previous film, with Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) having grown to be a skilled but arrogant Jedi thanks to the teachings of Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor). The two are called back to Coruscant to protect senator Padme Amidala (Portman), who has had many attempts made on her life. One night, the two thwart another assassination attempt, but the assassin is killed before they can ascertain any information. To provide extra protection, the Jedi Council instructs Anakin to take Padme to her homeworld and protect her there. Obi-Wan, meanwhile, investigates the assassin and soon uncovers a vast conspiracy that could plunge the galaxy into war.
Much like the first prequel, you cannot deny the sheer imaginative power behind this film. Every frame of the film is interesting to look at as some of the best production and costume designers come together to create lavish and fantastical worlds that our story takes us along the way. The locations this film visits are so vast and different, from the deserts of Tatooine to the oceanic world of Kamino, that you can’t help but look for the small details the designers have laid throughout the film. The special effects are also quite good and haven’t aged as badly as the ones in The Phantom Menace, meaning that most of the worlds and characters realized through this medium are still good to look at. So, much like the previous Star Wars films, this one is filled with an imagination that can make you look past some of the film’s problems.
The action sequences are also fun, although they do run a little long. The small skirmishes that are spread throughout the film are competently executed and help to maintain the audience’s attention even when the narrative lags. The large battles are also well-choreographed and fun to watch and are aided by some incredible sound design. It is here however that it can go on a little too long, with the large battles, particularly the last one, going on much longer than necessary. This can leave the impression that the filmmakers are attempting to pad the runtime and, to be honest, they probably were. An area that pales in comparison to other Star Wars films however is the lightsaber battles. The ones in previous films are very well choreographed and easy to follow, neither of which are found here. The climatic battle tries to hard to be cool, using fast-paced editing and dark lighting to make up for the uninspired choreography only to fail miserably. So yeah, while most of the battles are good, there are some improvements to be made.
As for the actors in the film, most of them turn in good performances, with some notable exceptions. Ewan McGregor once again shines as Obi-Wan Kenobi, with his wise words and quick quips adding some much-needed personality to the film. Samuel L. Jackson has a larger role this time around and stands out as Mace Windu, a wise and stern Jedi master. Frank Oz is also great as Yoda, who’s visual effects make him a little more believable than his last turn as the character. Also good is Christopher Lee as the villainous Count Dooku, who does his usual schtick but is. There are, however, some downright terrible performances in this film. Hayden Christensen is so bland and flat as Anakin Skywalker I still cannot figure out how he got the part. This is a serious problem as there are a lot of dramatic moments resting on his shoulder, but his line delivery just makes them comical. Not much better is Natalie Portman, who does her best to compensate but her efforts are ultimately in vain.
To be fair, the acting is not the only problem this film has as Lucas fails yet again to deliver a well-paced script. The story in this film is all over the place, with too much time being dedicated to the romance between Anakin and Padme. This is a problem because the two actors sharing this romance have no onscreen chemistry whatsoever. This makes the scenes between them feel awkward and almost unbearable, not helped by the truly melodramatic dialogue that the two have. The plot involving Obi-Wan investigating the assassination attempts and the journey it leads him on however is quite interesting. There is a genuine mystery to be solved, and Ewan McGregor really sells it. However, the plot doesn’t really have a conclusion and gets lost in the romance, despite it being the more interesting of the two. The film’s pacing is also a big issue, with a lot of parts that drag on and a villain who isn’t properly introduced until well past the halfway mark. This film could’ve used some extra re-writes and some trimming in the cutting room.
Much like the previous installment, the film has many problems that keep it from being a genuinely good movie. The plot is all over the place, some of the action sequences go on for too long, and there are some truly terrible performances. However, much like the previous installment, there are a lot of things that are good enough to keep you engaged. There are some interesting plot threads, fun action sequences, most of the cast is pretty good, and the imagination is so appealing. So, while you may have to dig around to find the good, it is still there none the less.
6/10