Yet many people who felt let down by The Phantom Menace (I was not one of them) will likely be encouraged by what Lucas has accomplished here. This is still viewed as the summer blockbuster-to-beat, but the publicity engine has been toned down, and the other studios are not afraid to "counterprogram" (for example, the Hugh Grant movie, About a Boy, opens opposite Attack of the Clones). By comparison, Attack of the Clones reaches theaters almost unheralded (and in the long shadow of Spider-Man). The Phantom Menace was probably the most overhyped motion picture of the last decade (if not longer), and its reputation suffered as a result of its inability to satisfy unreasonable expectations. And it also shares elements in common with Lucas' earlier Star Wars middle episode, The Empire Strikes Back. Attack of the Clones has a starting point and a stopping point, but no true beginning or end. Admittedly, the primary purpose of this film is to advance the overall story, bridging the gap between the lightweight, heroic antics of The Phantom Menace and the overwhelming darkness of the as-yet unnamed Episode III. Thankfully, George Lucas has managed to avoid that pitfall for Episode II of the Star Wars saga, Attack of the Clones. But if I never see this one again, I'll be fine.Middle episodes in trilogies have the potential to be fundamentally dissatisfying. Seeing a bunch of Jedi at the end is cool, the worlds are unique, and Ewan McGregor is always good. There are glimmers of that Star Wars fun here and there. A large chunk of this movie is just Anakin whining and complaining that things "aren't fair" in Christensen's dull monotone, and then aggressively cringey romantic scenes with him and Padme. ![]() Even when I've seen him in good movies, he's awful, I don't like him. That just makes it even more annoying when she falls head over heels for the angst king himself Anakin. God damn it do I hate Anakin and Padme! Padme's actually a more competent character than I remember her being, and I like seeing her hold her own in the action set pieces. Maybe they're making up for all the talking, but when stuff does go down, it's fun for a little while but gets boring fast. Some of the action pieces actually feel like they go on forever. When we do have action scenes, they're okay, but just okay. It all feels like exposition and set up for future entries rather than its own thing, and it just makes the movie kind of boring. I'll even make a modest defense for some of Anakin's moments of turning, like the bit with the Tusken Raiders that's actually more well put together than I remember. ![]() Jango Fett is still cool, if not a little underutilized. Obi Wan's investigating is a little more interesting, even if it all feels like vague set up for the inevitable TV show. But there are things in it that are okay, and better than I remember. Okay look, I spent years hating this movie and building up that loathing, and watching it again…yeah, it's earned. ![]() Just TRY to watch this again and tell me any other entry in the main saga didn't at least do SOMETHING better. To all the prequel apologists who say the sequel trilogy is the worst thing to happen to Star Wars, please, watch this movie again.
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