Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones [DVD] [2002]

It’s a Star Wars film so what can you say. It’s a dazzling mix of effects and actors fighting good versus evil in a galaxy far far away along time ago ! It’s pure entertainment on a grand scale. George Lucas and his production team really nail the look with sumptuous costumes and sets. I have actually grown to enjoy these later made films more than the original first trio which kick started the franchise. They are squarely aimed at family entertainment for all. Star Wars , love it or loathe it you can’t ignore it ! It has a host of characters played by Ewan McGregor, Christopher Lee to name but a few with Frank Oz voicing over Yodas voice. The plot centres around Emperor Palpatines meddling to start a War to gain control of the Universe. So it’s no small plot. I actually have started watching these in chronological order so Phantom Menace first, Clone Wars then Revenge Of The Sith to actually watch the plot build but they all work as stand alone films. Recommended so may the Force be with you.

This 2-DVD set goes with the matching sets for parts 1 and 3. In common with the others, it includes a range of extras. I would like to have seen more included, but then George Lucas is not Peter Jackson, if you see what I mean. Even so, it offers a reasonable amount for the money.The movie itself follows on from part 1 "The Phantom Menace", of course. It is, thankfully, a better movie, mainly it seems because the ghastly "hi mom!" child Anekin Sywalker has grown up. However, it's not all good news, as he has grown into a ghastly "it's so unfair!" teenager. This plays into the story arc, but I found him difficult to like. If you have seen part 1, then you will recognise the amazingly poor acting and lousy script immediately. Looking kindly upon it, I suppose it is a good example of the backgound overwhelming the subject. The special effects spinning all around the characters are wonderful, and they do rather dominate the screen at moments when they are actually unimportant.What we have then is a solid sci-fi action movie with some amusing moments, some awful acting, great special effects, plus many insights and glimpses into the backstories of the characters and the world in which they live.The DVDs are mounted on flip-over plastic trays inside a standard DVD box. There is also a nice colour leaflet explaining the DVD contents in more detail.This set is certainly better value than the 1-disc version. For it being a pretty good movie, and having a nice range of extra goodies, I give it generous 4 stars.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones is written and directed by George Lucas. It`s the fifth Star Wars film to be released but the second in terms of story chronology. It stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Temuera Morrison & Ian McDiarmid. Music is scored by John Williams and cinematography is by David Tattersall. Set 10 years after the events featured in The Phantom Menace, the story sees the Galactic Republic under threat from separatists and a civil war looms. As Naboo Senator Padme Amidala is in danger of assassination, Jedi Padawan Skywalker is assigned to protect her. Meanwhile, Obi-wan Kenobi makes the worrying discovery of a clone army, a discovery that spells chaos for the galaxy.Now that the dust has settled on the prequel trilogy, it seems that Attack of the Clones is the one of the six film`s that is most unliked by the fans. Which on structure terms is perhaps understandable given its heavy leaning towards the romantic strand between Amidala and Annakin (they are no Han & Leia that`s for sure). Yet for all its problems (script/dialogue/acting/CGI mania) it`s a marginally better film than Phantom Menace; nicely whetting the appetite for part three as well. If you can negotiate the mundane periods and accept it`s merely the bridge to a better part of the film galaxy? Then it`s a more palatable experience. Lucas has thankfully learnt some lessons from his first instalment (for example it`s practically bye bye Binksy), but being the episode in which so much has to be set up in the franchise (reasons for love/hate/politics/family ties), Lucas is hand-tied as to how he can please the masses; and you feel that away from blunderbuss action he`s not very comfortable directing such dialogue driven passages of play. However, the characters are now better formed, with the likes of McGregor looking more at ease playing such an iconic role, and if it`s action you want, then you get payed up in full with colourful carnage: particularly for monster smack down time in a gladiatorial arena. Bonuses see Jackson more prominent as an ass kicker, Lee delicious as the villainous Count Dooku and Yoda (with a digital upgrade) makes a telling mar;, these are things that greatly improve the final third of the piece. While the print (it`s all shot on HD Digital) positively sparkles in a way that insists you see it on the best available format you can.After the mixed reaction to Phantom Menace, and with it vying for punters in 2002 with Spider-Man, Harry Potter and the second Lord of the Rings, Attack of the Clones suffered at the box office in terms of financial expectation. For even tho it made around about $500 million in Worldwide profit, it remains (allowing for adjusted inflation) the lowest performing Star Wars film in the series. Revisits to the film show it to still have the same old flaws, but it`s far from being a bad film. It has the darker edges that were required (ala Empire Strikes Back) and there`s too much high octane entertainment for it to ever be considered dull as a whole. But does the charge of action and effects over script and characters still stick, then? Well, yes, but this is George Lucas after all.....7.5/10

I actually quite liked Phantom Menace, but I can understand why many didn't.THIS film, however, starts with a BANG, and apart from the slightly nauseating lurve bit in the middle (although probably necessary in the grand scheme of things), sustains it for pretty much the whole film. One section is a bit too close to The Fifth Element, and that plus the lovey bit contrived to knock a star off, IMHO.The light sabre action is excellent, and I personally really enjoyed the arena bit, especially Sam L Jackson's contribution - and his customised purple light sabre (Jackson asked Lucas if he could have it, was told no: red for baddies, blue/green for goodies, and then, on the preview, there it was!!!).A lot of continuity issies are addressed in this film, including why Luke Skywalker ended up on Tatooine, and his family background is also expanded. Boba Fett's origins are also revealed (if you're on the ball!), and some of the events have significant implications for the future - for example, Yoda may have unwittingly furthered the cause of the Emperor, and one could speculate that this is partly why he is in exile: shame???And Yoda-Lee (Bruce) in action at the end of the film is a sight I will remember until I die - Lucas deserves an award for the most energetic muppet ever!