Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Director:

George Lucas

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
George Lucas (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

16 May 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

A Jedi Shall Not Know Anger. Nor Hatred. Nor Love.

Plot:

Anakin Skywalker shares a forbidden romance with Padmé Amidala while his teacher, Obi-Wan Kenobi, makes an investigation of a separatist assassination attempt on Padmé which leads to the discovery of a secret Republican clone army.

Plot Keywords:

Assassination Attempt | Army | Clone | Senator | Bounty Hunter

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 35 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Obi-Wan Kenobi
Natalie Portman	...	Senator Padmé Amidala
Hayden Christensen	...	Anakin Skywalker
Christopher Lee	...	Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Mace Windu
Frank Oz	...	Yoda (voice)
Ian McDiarmid	...	Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Pernilla August	...	Shmi Skywalker-Lars
Rose Byrne	...	Dormé
Temuera Morrison	...	Jango Fett
Daniel Logan	...	Boba Fett
Jimmy Smits	...	Senator Bail Organa
Jack Thompson	...	Cliegg Lars
Leeanna Walsman	...	Zam Wesell
Ahmed Best	...	Jar Jar Binks (voice)

Also Known As:

Attack of the Clones (USA) (short title)
Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience (USA) (IMAX version (promotional title))
Star Wars II (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones (USA) (video box title)
Star Wars: Episode II (Australia) (TV title)
Star Wars: Episodio II - El ataque de los clones (Argentina) (Peru) (Spain) [es]
Star Wars: Episode II - Angriff der Klonkrieger (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Star wars: Episode II - L'attaque des clones (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Star wars: Episodio II - El ataque de los clones (Argentina) (Peru) [es]
Звёздные войны: Эпизод 2 - Атака клонов (Russia) [ru]
Gwiezdne wojny: Czesc II - Atak klonow (Poland) [pl]
La guerra de las galaxias: Episodio II - El ataque de los clones (Venezuela) [es]
La guerra de les galàxies: L'atac dels clons (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Ratovi zvezda - Napad klonova (Serbia) [sr]
Ratovi zvijezda: Epizoda II - Klonovi napadaju (Croatia) (poster title) [hr]
Star Wars II - Ataque dos Clones (Brazil) [pt]
Star Wars: Episódio II - O Ataque dos Clones (Portugal) [pt]
Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (Argentina) [es]
Star wars II. rész - A klónok támadása (Hungary) [hu]
Star wars episod 2: Klonernas attack (Finland: Swedish title) [sv]
Star wars: Bölüm II - Klonlar'in saldirisi (Turkey: Turkish title) (poster title) [tr]
Star wars: Episod II: Klonerna anfaller (Sweden) [sv]
Star wars: Episode II - Klonene angriper (Norway) [no]
Star wars: Episode II - Klonernes angreb (Denmark) [da]
Star wars: Episodi II - Kloonien hyökkäys (Finland) [fi]
Star wars: Episodi II - L'atac dels clons (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Star wars: Episodio II - El Ataque de los clones (Spain) [es]
Star wars: Episodio II - L'attacco dei cloni (Italy) [it]
Star wars: Episodul II - Atacul clonelor (Romania) (poster title) [ro]
Sutâ wôzu: Kurôn no kougeki (Japan) [ja]
Vojna zvezd: Epizoda II - Napad klonov (Slovenia) (poster title) [sl]

MPAA:

Rated PG for sustained sequences of sci-fi action/violence.

Runtime:

142 min | USA:120 min (IMAX Version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.81 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-ES | Dolby Digital EX | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:U | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Hong Kong:I | South Africa:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Austria:10 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-11/9 | France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:10 (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Netherlands:MG6 (video rating) | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:G | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Chott el Djerid, Nefta, Tunisia

Company:

Lucasfilm

Trivia:

According to the official web site, one of the many considered ideas for the character who eventually became Dooku was a female sith. The rejected concepts for this later found their way into creating a new character, Asajj Ventress, who appeared extensively in the Clone Wars comics, cartoons and novels.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Obi-Wan is talking to Jango and Boba in their "apartment", Obi-Wan pauses. He's not moving and you can see the back of his head. When Jango walks behind Obi-Wan on the screen, you can see Jango's "shadow" through Obi-Wan.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Naboo lieutenant: Senator, we're making our final approach into Coruscant.
CordÈ: Very good, Lieutenant.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (2007) (V)

"Begun, the Clone War has...."

It seems as though there is no way to dispel negative atmosphere once it has been started. George Lucas's STAR WARS trilogy was well-loved by audiences (even though critics were split) but for some reason (and I can't figure it out), the first entry in the prequels, THE PHANTOM MENACE, earned a HUGE onslaught of critically divided posts just about everywhere in the world, from the press to the internet to fans in real life. While I do agree that the original trilogy is a tough act to follow, I wasn't as grossly let down by this movie as some were.

The same thing has happened to the second of the STAR WARS prequels, ATTACK OF THE CLONES, released in 2002. Many predicted that this movie would satisfy those who disliked Episode I with a vengeance, but alas, such was not the case. Once again, critics damned the movie for one reason or another, and the heated debate on whether Lucas "trashed the original trilogy" or not is still going on. I find it very sad that Lucas would still receive unfair critical attack, even after making a much darker, somber, and ominous movie in ATTACK OF THE CLONES. I'm guessing that such naysayers will continue to say nay to Lucas no matter what just like rabid fans of Anime would continue to slam-dunk dubs... even if a lot of them have recently proved to be excellent.

This is not to say that ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a flawless film. It actually has its share of problems that THE PHANTOM MENACE didn't have. The dialogue, although nowhere nearly as bad as critics and some disgruntled fans say, lacks the spark of the original trilogy. My biggest gripe with the movie is that it moves at a leisurely pace, with lots of weak, unsatisfying sequences that last too long. Most of these scenes consist of a love subplot involving Anakin Skywalker and Amidala Padme. When not interacting with each other, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman are fine in their respective roles. (Christensen's monologue about his slaughtering of not only Tusken Raiders but--horrors!--women and children is frightening.) But there is a sense of awkwardness when they contribute to scenes which involve schmaltzy lines and screen kisses. I'm guessing that they both felt uncomfortable doing these scenes, hence why the chemistry between them isn't as interesting as, say, Han and Leia's from the original trilogy.

Only when the movie is in action does ATTACK OF THE CLONES become worthwhile--there's a dizzying chase through Coruscant on floating cars, maneuvering through a dangerous asteroid field near a planet, and a half-hour long showdown that showcases a lot of amazing CG work. Actually, what also make Episode II worth watching are the fantastic set designs. Every location in the movie, from the metropolis skyscrapers of Coruscant to the water planet where prototypes of Stormtroopers are being constructed literally bursts with imagination and eye candy.

Of the performers I liked Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan) the best; his acting is still a little shaky at times, but here he seems more comfortable with the role. Christopher Lee makes a surprise appearance as the new villain, Count Dooku, and once again he delivers first-rate evil with this character. And it's great to see C-3PO and R2-D2 up to their usual banter again (although sometimes some gags occur when not necessary). Ultimately, however, the film belongs to Jedi Master Yoda, played to perfection by Frank Oz. His appearances in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI featured him as a rubber puppet (and a delightful creation), but in this movie he really comes alive, thanks to first-rate CG effects. His mouth is perfectly in sync with every word he says, and the final showdown between him and Dooku is an absolute highlight.

While ATTACK OF THE CLONES is, in some ways, a lesser entry in the STAR WARS franchise, its assets outweigh its weaknesses; most of the questions I had from the first episode seem to be addressed a little bit in this chapter, and, frustratingly enough, provides more questions for Episode III. Flawless or not, this is still a STAR WARS movie, and for what it is, it's still worth a look.