5/17/2002
Episode II stars Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Natalie Portman as Senator Padmé Amidala, Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, Ian McDiarmid as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, Pernilla August as Shmi Skywalker, Jack Thompson as Cliegg Lars, Christopher Lee as Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO/ Lt. Dannl Faytonni, Frank Oz as Yoda, Andrew Secombe as Watto, Oliver Ford Davies as Sio Bibble, Silas Carson as Nute Gunray/Ki-Adi-Mundi, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks (voice)/Ahck Med-Beq.
Episode II allows us to follow the exploits of the Jedi and the Republic. It is the continuation of Episode I. The special effects these days no longer wow us. We have become used to superior effects in movies, especially a Lucas film. They have become totally believable and that is now the problem with Star Wars. We now notice the dialog and the plot.
The story in this episode, is a very fast paced, many faceted adventure. It is the emergence of the Dark Side of the Force. The Republic is in danger of being split apart by the Trade Federation and their allies. Anakin Skywalker, the padawan of Obi-Wan Kenobi starts a relationship with Senator Padmé Amidala while on his first assignment to guard her against assassins. Obi-Wan Kenobi is trying to find the leader of the assassins in another part of the Galaxy.
During his investigation, he discovers a clone army in production and training secretly ordered 10 years earlier. While tracking the assassin, he is taken captive by Count Dooku. This officially triggers the Attack of the Clones.
This is a must for Star Wars fans, I'm one. Episode II has failed in the dialog and acting departments. The original Star Wars used new faces, to give it a fresh look. But they were also flanked by good and great actors. The fresh faces in this episode do not have enough great acting to offset their poor performance. The dialog is void of any techno-speak or scientific references. My assumption is that the young actors couldn't pronounce anything larger than two syllables. This leads me to an actor I like who does not belong in this film as a Jedi Master, Samuel L. Jackson. He is superb in other films, but in this one, he is not believable. His delivery is shallow and lacks the performance required to convince us that he is one of few individuals in the Galaxy with the power to use the Force.
I give it 3 out of 5 broken lightsabers: 