(I typed this all up and was getting ready to submit it when the hamsters went on their usual 4:30am constitutional. So just keep that in mind as you read this.)
This section spoiler-free*
If Episode I ruined your taste for Star Wars Episode II will bring it back.
I just came back from a midnight showing of Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones (that is the first and last time you will ever see me type that all out). This movie is incredible. In some ways it even managed to make up for some of the dreadful parts of Episode I; you know, the parts in between the fight scenes. It had a comprehensible plot, better dialogue, and the acting is much improved. The comedy relief even deserves a mention: it made me chuckle or laugh out loud on more than a few occasions.
The action scenes were phenomenal. Intense light saber duels a very cool chase scene and a massive battle scene. They even managed to throw in a good bit of plain old-fashioned street brawling. ILM really outdid themselves with the special effects for this movie. I’m planning on seeing this movie again and soon.
Just a heads up though, even though this movie is greatly improved over the last one there are still some cheesy lines spoken and some of the actors still acted wooden; not all, just some.
[spoiler]If you’re reading this then I hope you’re not going to see the movie or like having surprises spoiled.
I keep trying to decide which part of the movie was the best and I can’t decide. The battle between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi was pretty intense as was the three way battle between Kenobi, Anakin and Dooku.
Both Mace Windu and Yoda had dramatic entrances into certain parts of the movie that told you in no uncertain terms that they were getting ready to kick some ass. Windu’s little flip move down to the floor of a stadium where a battle was getting ready to move into high gear and his fighting thereafter was a wonderful contrast to the serious, careful brooding that he had done so far in the series.
Yoda’s fight scene gets it’s own paragraph. When I first heard months ago that Yoda was going to be in a lightsaber duel in Episode II I was scared to death that it was going to be cheesy. Low and behold Lucas pulled it off and how. Initially scampering around Lord Dooku’s legs, deflecting lightsaber blows he quickly moves more into the offensive jumping around, leaping behind Dooku and just generally being a little green badass. I don’t think that I can really do the fight justice because I know how lame it must sound that a little green midget is holding his own against a six-foot tall man in a sword duel, but trust me, it’s cool. One thing I don’t get however is why can he run around and do flips when he’s fighting but still needs a cane to walk. WAG, I suppose that he channels the force when necessary and other than that just lets nature take its course. Whatever, the fight scene rocked.
The whole Amidala-Anakin romance just didn’t click with me. I understand why it’s there and as far as the plot goes it’s entertaining and enjoyable. But why Amidala would fall in love with a whiny immature jerk is beyond me. Not a knock on Hayden Christianson’s acting overall, because I think he was supposed to be a whiny, immature jerk.
Back to straight up geek mode, it was a complete fantasy come true to see a group of Jedi fighting a massive force and doing some severe damage. Sure they would have lost but seeing Windu flick his wrist behind his back to deflect a laser bolt with his light saber and blow up the droid who sent it; he’s still a badass motherfucker. And then there’s the part when you’re wondering how Anakin and company are going to survive being surrounded by battle droids with no weapons only to see lightsabers flashing into life among the surrounding crowd and realizing mayhem is about to ensue. And then when it looks like the Jedi are about to die Yoda comes to the rescue! With a clone army?
Speaking of the clones, in the movie they look and act cool, coming across as well trained and very mean soldiers. Not remotely like the storm troopers in episodes IV-VI with their “couldn’t hit the ground if I fell down” accuracy and bumping of heads on door frames. When you first see them all in uniform and marching it is definitely a sight to behold; it was spoiled in the TV trailers, but believe me when I say it doesn’t do them justice. And overall I have to say that the clone troopers’ uniforms look cooler than the cool storm trooper outfits of IV-VI.
All in all, the movie was immensely enjoyable, even if it did have some parts that were a bit corny and/or cheesy. The fight scenes alone are worth double the price of admission IMO.[/spoiler]
