In Star Wars episode II, Jedi Anakin is buckling under the pressure to succumb to the ways of manipulative Senator Plapatine and in episode III Anakin buckles.
Both episodes II and III take on the crumbling mantle of a grown-up Anakin, who is strong and accomplished, but also ambitious and selfish, which is his downfall. His desires of ambition and selfishness are manipulated for Palpatine’s purposes.
Here was my review of episode II:
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Forget Star Wars. I’m looking to George Lucas’ collaboration with director Steven Spielberg to make the next Indiana Jones adventure. Let’s hope that magic doesn’t get lost in the new century, as it has with Attack of the Clones. It is not all bad news, though.
Attack of the Clones is hugely entertaining mainly because of its visual experience to be only fully felt at the cinema. State-of-the-art computer effects are eye blowing and conceptual design is highly imaginative.
But the storytelling is a tad deflated and nowhere in Attack of the Clones is there a smooth operator like Han Solo, a feisty princess, an intimidating Wookie, a fear inducing dark villain and a great actor named Alec Guinness who brought a lot of expression to his character Obi-Wan Kenobi more so than his “padawan learner” Ewan McGregor who plays a younger version of Kenobi in Attack of the Clones.
Anakin Skywalker, now accomplished Jedi, falls in love with the former Queen of Naboo. He is assigned to look after her as her life is under threat from those dividing the Republic into Separatist states. The Republic is slowly crumbling and war is imminent.
Anakin also has recurring nightmares over his mother and his separation from her which has an after effect. These nightmares foreshadow Anakin’s fall from grace to become Darth Vader. Yet, we will need to wait until the third installment for it to reveal the pseudo-religious or spiritual significance to this fall from grace.
This prequel has a high sense of soap opera, especially evident in eloquent and melodramatic conversations between characters. The decisions political figures, a Jedi’s contemplation followed by wise action and the consequences of these are dished out with Days of Our Lives self-importance as if this is the story of the century.
There is pleasing development of action, if looking closer. Unlike the rudimentary action set piece that stands out because it is wham-bam, Attack of the Clones seamlessly weaves action scenes within the fabric of plot.
The special effects though eye boggling don’t overcome the central story and instead assist it. But it could have been a better story.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Director: George Lucas, Genre: Science Fiction, Year: 2002, Rating: 6/10
