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Star Wars: Episode II— | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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here is unrest in the Galactic Senate. Separatists led by the mysterious Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) are mounting a campaign to split the Republic. The legislators—under the leadership of Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid)—are mulling whether to create a Clone Army to relieve the overburdened Jedi.
Naboo's Senator Padmé Amidala (Portman) arrives on Coruscant to cast her vote on the crucial issue. But an aborted assassination attempt brings her under the protection of the Jedi Council, led by Yoda (Frank Oz) and Mace Windu (Jackson). The council assigns Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) and his now-grown Padawan, Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) as bodyguards.
Anakin is troubled. He has been carrying a torch for Padmé over the 10 years since they last met. And he sleeps poorly, haunted by dreams of the mother he left behind on Tatooine. Anakin also chafes under the mentorship of Obi-Wan, whom he nevertheless regards as the father he never had. Palpatine, though, has great faith in Anakin. "In time, you will learn to trust your feelings," he tells the young Jedi. "Then you will be invincible."
A second assassination attempt leads Anakin and Obi-Wan on a chase through the skyscrapers of Coruscant. A vital clue points to a distant planet—the ocean world of Kamino, home to a race of alien cloners. While Obi-Wan sets off to investigate, Anakin and Padmé return to Naboo.
In the idyllic lake country of Naboo, Anakin confesses his love to Padmé, though he is forbidden by his Jedi oath. She resists, though her own feelings are conflicted.
Obi-Wan, meanwhile, follows his investigation to Kamino, where he encounters the bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison). He also makes a surprising discovery about the Kaminoans.
Tormented by his passion for Padmé, Anakin has a premonition about his mother and, violating his orders to remain on Naboo, takes off for Tatooine with Padmé in tow. Obi-Wan, meanwhile, receives orders to detain Jango Fett—who proves more elusive than expected. Meanwhile, Yoda begins to sense the stirring of the Dark Side, threatening the future of the thousand-year-old Republic.
Master of a starry domain
A friend—a movie buff and die-hard Star Wars fan—described Episode II this way: "It wasn't a perfect movie, but it was a perfect Star Wars movie." It's fair to say that the much-anticipated Attack of the Clones is a much better movie than Episode I, and will fulfill many of the hopes and expectations of Star Wars fans. But it will also exasperate less ardent devotees as writer/director Lucas proves once again that—though he remains master of his universe—he has definite shortcomings as a filmmaker.
First, the good things. Like The Empire Strikes Back—arguably the best of the Star Wars movies—Episode II explores dark themes and adult relationships as it delves into the psyche and heart of Darth Vader. It is light-years ahead of Episode I in its sophistication and atmosphere and strives to be epic and romantic. In this, it succeeds more often than it fails.
Christensen will appeal to fans with his portrayal of the haunted young man in whom the first stirrings of the dark side reveal themselves, both in word and deed. McGregor adds spunk to Obi-Wan, who has the best of the film's otherwise sparse punchlines—at one point, he tells Anakin, "Why do I think you're going to be the death of me?"
And fans will squeal with geeker joy at several things: the Lars homestead, lovingly recreated down to the blue milk; ass-kicking Jango Fett; ass-kicking Mace Windu; ass-kicking Yoda; Lee as the silkiest Jedi master ever; no midichlorian talk; a dramatically reduced role for Jar-Jar Binks; and no apparent 'N Sync cameos.
The action scenes are unparalleled—otherworldly, heart-stopping and thrilling. These include a Coruscant chase that references Blade Runner, a Gladiator-like arena escape and a massive ground battle with Black Hawk Down immediacy.
But the film has significant problems. Chief among these is Lucas and Hales' script, riddled in the first hour with the flat-footed dialogue and inert exposition that weighed down Episode I. Moreover, any time Lucas gets within hailing distance of a human emotion, the movie falters. The film is at its weakest when trying to impersonate romance, and scenes between Anakin and Padmé are awkward—which is not helped by Portman's stiff performance and distracting costumes.
Episode II does feature some of John Williams' best music, particularly the love theme. But watching Episode II, I can't help but feel that we're far, far away from that time long ago—1977, when the first Star Wars delighted audiences with its simplicity, high spirits, sharp wit and zippy pace. — Patrick
Also in this issue:
Starwoids,
Space Family Robinson—A Sci-Fi Musical
and
Phantom Investigators
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