Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

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It's funny to think back to a time when it felt like 'Star Wars' was slowly fading away. After all the hype of 'Phantom' led largely to fan let-down, I seem to recall feeling like no one cared as much to check out 'Clones'. On top of that, the story seemed to be the same from everyone uninterested; it was gonna be a mushy love story, and if it was anything like 'Phantom', it was gonna be terrible.

For my money, however, I've always considered this one vastly underrated, as far as the prequels go. I get that there's a lot of bad to it, but it's well-balanced with good. The love story is a part of it, sure, but I didn't feel it shoved down my throat. It's also a key factor to Anakin's character development... even if he is a whiny brat through the whole thing.

Ten years have passed since the events of 'Phantom'. Due to an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé (Natalie Portman), Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and a now grown-up Anakin (Hayden Christenson)  find themselves back in her service, acting as personal guards. During one attempt on Padmé's life, the two Jedi track a Bounty Hunter, Zam Wesell (Leeanna Walsman), which eventually leads Obi-Wan to the hidden water planet of Kamino, where he finds a Clone Army being constructed for the Republic, under the noses of the Jedi Council.

In the meantime, Anakin heads away with Padmé back to her home planet of Naboo, as her personal bodyguard. It is this side of the story that people dreaded, and to be fair, things do get pretty corny and melodramatic with it. I suppose it never truly bothered me though, as it was to be expected. It does get sidetracked with Anakin having terrible nightmares about her mother, which ends up giving us our first glimpses of his turn to the dark side. Padmé even eventually comes into her own as a tough, rebellious fighter when she goes against her orders for a rescue mission.

Said rescue mission eventually leads to the climax of the film, which, despite so much dated CG, is probably the coolest part of the movie. It's really the first taste we all got of a group of Jedi, battling an army of Battle Droids alongside a Clone Army. It has since become commonplace in animated series' such as 'Clone Wars', but when I first saw that on the big screen, I don't mind telling you I was a little mind-blown. Then there was the reveal of Yoda's fighting skills, which a lot of people tend to criticize, but it always sat perfectly well for me to finally get to see my favorite 'Star Wars' character's skills with a lightsaber.

This was always the 'Star Wars' film I met completely in the middle with my opinions on it. I would often use it as an example when someone asked me if 'Last Jedi' was any good. I'd say "worse than 'Episode II', better than 'Episode I'". That's probably gonna end up being an unpopular opinion of sorts, but I stick by it. I've always deemed this one perfectly passable for what it's doing, remembering that a lot of the charm of 'Star Wars' comes from how cheesy it can get. On top of that, there's just a lot of cool ideas in this one. For example, we get to see a water planet, it's interesting to me who the original clone host is, and the idea that Jar Jar (Ahmed Best) gets pushed to the background.

Perhaps what's strangest about this one, based on personal opinion, is that it may very well be the only 'Star Wars' film of the first 6 that holds no nostalgic ties of any kind. When I think back to standing in line for it, I remember it almost feeling like nothing. I wasn't super hyped, and it kinda felt like Christmas begins to feel as you come into adulthood. I was still a fan, and looking forward to it, but that excitement 'Star Wars' usually makes me feel was lost. The movie came and went, it was okay, and didn't really tend to be on anyone's radar until people wanted to catch up again before the release of 'Revenge of the Sith'.

By 2002, I was out of high school, working, and trying to figure out what to do next. Perhaps that has something to do with my lack of nostalgia on this one, but that's also not a bad thing. I do remember seeing it with a good group of friends, having a good time, and personally wondering why it wasn't getting a lot of attention. It was still very successful, but it is one of the weaker performing 'Star Wars' films for Box Office numbers, with six 'Star Wars' movies ahead of it by a significant chunk.

As far as how I see it now, honestly, I feel pretty much the same. The really big difference I caught this time around was CG that almost matches the CG in some of the animated series'. But even then, I've reached this point of acceptance in my mind where CG, much like the overall cheesiness of it all, is just part of the charm. Before CG came along, I would have said the same think about the Muppets in 'Empire' and 'Jedi' - which I DO find much more entertaining, but still. A lot of bad from these films become a part of the experience, in my mind, and as long as you leave happy, not much more matters. Nothing here was truly disappointing to me, except perhaps Anakin's attitude, but that will vastly improve in the next film!

3/5

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