# Attack of the Clones - what's the problem? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094 "2001-12-05T20:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/1 "2001-12-05T20:34:15Z")
What’s with everybody picking on the title of Star Wars Ep2 for? As far as I understand it, it’s a reference to the Clone Wars, in which Obi-Wan Kenobi distinguished himself as a warrior. What’s the beef? I mean, if it were called “The Clone Wars” would it be better? Is it the construction of the title or the subject matter? Enlighten me. ---
**Author:** ![Oblong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c0e974/32.png) [@Oblong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblong)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/2 "2001-12-05T20:39:53Z")
I’m not a star wars buff but I think it’s because the name is similair to those silly 1950s sci fi movies. “Attack of the killer tomatoes”, “Attack of the 50ft woman”, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Gartog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/22d042/32.png) [@Gartog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gartog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/3 "2001-12-05T20:45:45Z")
> [@](#): > > I’m not a star wars buff but I think it’s because the name is similair to those silly 1950s sci fi movies. “Attack of the killer tomatoes”, “Attack of the 50ft woman”, etc. and _Return of the Jedi_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/4 "2001-12-05T20:48:36Z")
I still think the name is a [jab at the fans.](http://www.digiserve.com/eescape/shirts/attack-clones/index.phtml)😉 ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/5 "2001-12-05T20:49:30Z")
Yes, it’s the retarded kitch-factor that everyone is poking fun at. I heard that Ep.3 was going to be called “Revenge of the Day of the Night of the Return of the Sith” :rolleyes: IM **H** O “the Clone Wars” would have been much, _much_ better. But sometimes titles just suck, and in fact “Return of the Jedi” was a pretty weak moniker back in the day if you’d think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/6 "2001-12-05T20:49:51Z")
lets not forget Attack of the the Eye Creatures and Attack Of The Giant Leeches, both excellent cimema fare (for nutters!) ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/7 "2001-12-05T20:56:49Z")
Eh _shrug_ I never watched all the campy 50s monster flicks so I must not be as jaded to the title as some of y’all. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![broccoli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@broccoli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/broccoli)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/8 "2001-12-05T21:02:16Z")
[hijak] Damn firewall. It takes my comp so lone to post by the time it’s done There are 500 replies between mine and the first. Sad. [/hijak] ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/9 "2001-12-06T09:14:52Z")
…or maybe, oh, I dunno **The Empire Strikes Back**. About five years ago, I realized, all of a sudden-like, “Hey that’s a pretty goofy title.” Good movie though. Let’s take a quick look here **The Phantom Menace** **Attack Of The Clones** **???** **A New Hope** **The Empire Strikes Back** **Return Of The Jedi** Now really, do any of those seem out of place? I submit that they all share a common flavor. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/10 "2001-12-06T10:33:33Z")
Well, Genseric, let’s examine the titles more closely… -The Phantom Menace: It’s vague. That’s really about it. It is lame, but it also comes with the implication of “Hey… something’s not right about this.” Kinda ominous, if you get past the hokiness. -A New Hope: Very generalized, although the overall tone is optimistic, like there’s a paradigm-shift in the galaxy. -The Empire Strikes Back: This one evokes images of the Big Bad Guys getting in their licks with the Good Little Guys. Again, it carries images of paradigm-shifts, that the tide is turning. -Return Of The Jedi: Granted, one must know what the Jedi are in order for this title to make sense, but it evokes an image of peace and justice finally returning after being absent for so long. Again, a massive change in the atmosphere of the galaxy. What do those four titles have in common? Enormity. The feeling that something big is happening. Look at the key words/terms… “menace”, “new hope”, “strikes back”, “return”. Now let’s look at “Attack of the Clones”: You know what mental image I get from this? I see a bunch of clones running into a bar to beat everyone up. It seems so _limiting_ and constricting, as if the whole movie revolves around an isolated, singular event without any side-story going on. It’s the difference between being out in a whole world of possibilities, and being stuck in a tiny room. In other words, the titles of the other movies evoked images of massive size, scope, and dynamics… Ep.2 seems _small_ and bland, by comparison. That is how I see it. Granted, I do not think the movie itself will be bad because of the title… in fact, I believe it will be better than TPM. However, I will insist on calling it “Episode 2”. ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/11 "2001-12-06T11:06:59Z")
**SPOOFE** , then you see it different than I. I don’t think it’s a great title. However, I don’t think the others are all that great either. As a kid I never looked critically at the Star Wars trilogy. It was always worshipped on high by me. A few years ago, I guess advancing age and a wider range of movie experience gave me a new perspective on the series. I am able to enjoy it in a different manner and see the films for what they truly are. I guess that’s why I was not particularly disappointed by TPM, and continue to enjoy it to this day. They’re all flawed movies. Cheesy titles. Bad acting. Poor writing. Ham-handed direction. I still like 'em though. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/12 "2001-12-06T11:36:34Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t think it’s a great title. However, I don’t think the others are all that great either. Hey, that’s fair. I’ve never deluded myself into thinking that the SW titles have been the epitome of wit. But, again, the difference can be expressed thusly… the other four titles seem like this: > [@](#): > > _ **THIS IS A TALE OF GALACTIC WAR, INTRIGUE, ADVENTURE, MYSTICISM, AND GOOD TRIUMPHING OVER EVIL!!!** _ …while AOTC seems like… > [@](#): > > Uh… there’s clones… and um… they’re attacking… See the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/13 "2001-12-06T11:52:09Z")
I must confess that I haven’t seen TPM (:eek:!), but I did see the trailer to AotC this past weekend (while watching the Harry Potter movie, which was “okay” except for the Quidditch match, which was excellent. But I digress.). Anyhow, I have to say that it was appalling. Hundreds of millions spent on this thing, and they can’t get decent writers or actors? Natalie Portman used to be reasonably talented (See _Leon/The Professional_)-- what happened to her? And who’s the wooden Anakin? And I thought the trailers were supposed to show the BEST parts of the film. It’s disgraceful, I tell you. Now, the LOTR trailer, that’s another story – _there’s_ a film I’m drooling to see… P.S. For some better titles for [Episode II](http://www.brunching.com/features/feature-episodeii.html) (and [Episode III](http://www.brunching.com/toys/starwarstitles.html)), you can always count on Lore… ---
**Author:** ![Genseric](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Genseric](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Genseric)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/14 "2001-12-06T12:14:57Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by SPOOFE \* \*\* > [@](#): > > See the difference? \*\* No, sorry. Attack Of The Clones seems to me to be on the same level as The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. They just seem a little prosaic to me. The Phantom Menace and A New Hope are a little better since they’re more symbolic. The others are more narrative. I never thought The Phantom Menace was too swift though. I am referring solely to the titles here, by the way. In context of the motion pictures, I think they work pretty well. They evoke the feeling you mentioned, because I know the films and know what the titles symbolize. Perhaps AOTC will fall along the same path. Or perhaps not. It makes me think of a conflict with the clones on a scale smaller than war. Possibly the first salvos of The Clone War proper take place in Episode II. Maybe just a single attack by the clones. If that is the case, I would think the title appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/15 "2001-12-06T14:24:37Z")
While “Attack of the Clones” isn’t all that great, I think that “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” would be a bit too repetitive. However, it wasn’t like these were the only two options… ---
**Author:** ![Montfort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Montfort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Montfort)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/16 "2001-12-06T14:32:50Z")
I groaned when I first read “Attack of the Clones,” too, I admit. But, it doesn’t matter. I remember the screaming over “Return/Revenge of the Jedi” and “The Phantom Menace.” Nevertheless, I’m ambivalent towards “Attack of the Clones” now. And, it doesn’t really matter, anyway, since we’re all going to be asking for “Star Wars” at the box office in May, right? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/17 "2001-12-06T15:20:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jr8 \* > **Natalie Portman used to be reasonably talented (See _Leon/The Professional_)-- what happened to her?** She signed on to be directed by a diretor who doesn’t care about emotion anymore, only plot and special effects? –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/18 "2001-12-06T15:28:53Z")
I’ve always found it odd that fans of a series based on pulpy 1930s science fiction serials are so upset that the movies have names that sound like, well, pulpy 1930s science fiction serials. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/19 "2001-12-06T18:27:02Z")
Hey, it could be worse: _ **Star Wars: When Clones Attack** _ ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094/20 "2001-12-06T18:50:45Z")
There is something about Clones. or Clones, Muppets and Bad Comic Relief CG Character’s or Star Wars: Just give me your damn money already. -me [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attack-of-the-clones-whats-the-problem/97094.md?page=2)