Movie Review: Star Wars Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Stars: 3 out of 5
Pros: Action scenes and the political story

Cons: Poorly written romance; Hayden Christensen's acting

The Bottom Line:

Great fights and duals

But the romance in painful

Still just average

"Why Do I Think You Are Going to be the Death of Me?"

After the first movie didn't live up to my expectations, I was wondering what I would think of seeing Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones again.  I am surprised to say it might be the best of the new trilogy, which isn't saying much.  It's still got issues, but it is still entertaining.

It's been ten years since we last checked into that galaxy far, far away.  Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is now a young man, the Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).  The two have been given a new assignment, to protect Senator Padme (Natalie Portman).  This makes Anakin very happy since he still has a crush on the woman.

After two attempts on her life is rapid succession, the two Jedi split up.  Obi-Wan begins to track the assassin and discovers a project that has been building for 10 years.  Meanwhile, Anakin goes with Padme back to Naboo where she goes into hiding.  With few people around, Anakin tries to woo her.  Will he succeed?  And what will Obi-Wan uncover?

This movie has two stories running simultaneously, and it's those two stories that provide the conflicts in quality in this film.  On the one hand, there's the political intrigue as Obi-Wan tries to get to the truth behind the assassination attempts.  This part of the film is pretty good with a story that is interesting and provides a few nice surprises.  It also provides some amazing fight sequences that are thrilling even if you watch them twice in a row.  (I know; I did this last time.)  I'd even put the sub-plot about Anakin's mother into this part.  It seems a little forced into the movie, but it does provide some much needed character development.

Then there's the romance.  And here is exactly where the movie falls apart.  The writing is beyond cheesy and cliched.  You can't help but laugh at how bad some of the dialogue is.  And it's not helped by the acting.  Hayden Christensen is only adequate at best, and anything that requires much emotion from him just winds up coming across as forced.  The problem is partially the acting since even Natalie Portman has some trouble with her lines.  And, frankly, I never believe the development of the love story.  It all seems forced and rushed.  Then there's the fact that the age difference between the two established in the first movie has completely disappeared.

Honestly, the entire movie is riddled with poor writing at times, it's just most obvious in the romantic scenes.  The actors do a pretty good job of covering up for this weakness, although there are occasional cracks in all their performances.

I will say the special effects are better than in the first movie.  A couple of times, the CGI looked dated, but for the most part I bought everything I was seeing on the screen.  Amazing how far they came in those three years, isn't it?

And once again, I've got to plug the fight and action scenes.  They are completely enjoyable and very well choreographed.  You might even be on the edge of your seat a few times watching them.  It's worth watching the movie for them alone.

While I did enjoy this more than the previous movie in the series, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is still only an average movie.  The bad romance weakens the great action too much.