Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones

Release Date: May 16, 2002

Watch Date: June 4 – June 5, 2024

“Watch the seeds of Anakin Skywalker’s transformation take root in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Ten years after the invasion of Naboo, the galaxy is on the brink of civil war. Under the leadership of a renegade Jedi named Count Dooku, thousands of solar systems threaten to break away from the Galactic Republic. When an assassination attempt is made on Senator Padme Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo, twenty-year-old Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her. In the course of his mission, Anakin discovers his love for Padme as well as his own darker side. Soon, Anakin, Padme, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are drawn into the heart of the Separatist movement and the beginning of the Clone Wars.”

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   You know something? This film makes a lot more sense when someone is around to actually explain it to you.

   For example, did you know Count Dooku was a Jedi? I didn’t. I just thought he was some random dude. Actually, I might have even thought that he was also Palpatine? Or possibly the deposed Chancellor from the first film? That made sense to me. And once you realize he was also apparently Qui-Gon Jinn’s master and his Padawan’s death is the reason he turned to the Dark Side of the Force.

   The one mystery, to me, was how Palpatine arranged Shmi’s death, which Bob was quick to tell me was just a happy coincidence. Good luck for Palpatine.

   Also, because I’m trying to actively like these movies, I’m choosing to look at Anakin, and the way he’s portrayed in a different light. On first viewing, he seemed wooden, unlikeable and slightly unstable. But I think that’s kind of the point. Here’s a man who spent 10 years living with emotion, and then another 10 doing everything he could to suppress them. He’s not going to act like it’s natural. He’s going to seem forced because he is forcing himself. He was a passionate kid, and he’s trying very hard to not be a passionate adult.

   Now the complete lack of believable chemistry between Padme and Anakin, that can’t be acted out of. There’s just nothing. Padme is allowed to feel emotion but she barely seems like she’s in love. And I understand after years of suppressing it out how Anakin could develop the obsession he has with Padme, but Padme still clearly sees him as a child. And even if she cares about him as a friend, she should be reporting to the Jedi Counsel that Anakin isn’t the right fit for the job.

   Now what I can’t understand, despite my best attempts, is why Jango Fett is so popular. But then again I don’t get why Boba Fett is so popular either. But Jango Fett doesn’t do anything particularly impressive other than die kind of. He doesn’t fight for very long. Or that well. I don’t like his armor, even if Bob says it’s the strongest or best armor in the galaxy which makes no sense.

   But all and all, I’m getting into this series. This film is much stronger than the Phantom Menace, a little less heavy on the whole trade negotiations thing, and actually has several pretty cool fight scenes.

   Also, Jar Jar Binks totally screws over the Galaxy by giving Palpatine emergency powers, and the downfall of the Republic is entirely his fault – 100% – and he should be hated for that, not just for how he talks or acts otherwise.