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All-Reviews.com Movie/Video Review
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
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  out of 4
Review by Susan Granger
3 stars out of 4
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Just what "Star Wars" fans have been waiting for: an action-packed,
fun-filled adventure. The story begins ten years after "The Phantom Menace."
Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) has grown into an arrogant Jedi apprentice
of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), while Amidala (Natalie Portman) is a
distinguished Senator who becomes a target for assassination. While Obi-Wan
investigates the threat on her life - battling a fierce bounty hunter, Jango
Fett (Temuera Morrison), father of Boba, and evil Count Dooku (Christopher Lee)
- Anakin is made Amidala's protector, and they fall in love. That's the bare
bones plot, but what's remarkable is how George Lucas interweaves their youthful
passion with mythological themes of heroism, duty and honor, plus growing
political unrest in the Republic under the evil Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).
That's set amidst big, bold, awesome, high-tech battles - with lightsaber
thrills from the incomparable Yoda and comedy relief from R2D2 and C-3PO, even
Jar-Jar. While Ewan McGregor is a sensationally roguish Obi-Wan, taking on more
Alec Guinness mannerisms, Natalie Portman is wooden and Hayden Christensen is
labored. Their lame love-scenes are wretched. (What's lacking is the charisma of
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill and Billy Dee Williams.) In Episode
III, Amidala will be the mother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, while
Anakin goes to the Dark Side as Darth Vader. The foreboding psychological
foundation for that pivotal transition becomes apparent here as an enraged
Anakin kills Tusken Raiders, and Obi-Wan mutters, "Why do I think you're going
to be the death of me?" On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, "Star Wars
Episode II: Attack of the Clones" is an energetic, exciting, escapist 8. Buckle
up for the thrill ride!
Copyright © 2002 Susan Granger
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