Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones Movie Review

 Growing up, I mainly stayed with my Aunt Dayle when my family and I would visit North Florida. Every once and a while, if my aunt had to work or go somewhere we would stay with my other aunt, Aunt Kathy.  Aunt Kathy's children were much older and we honestly didn't see them very often.  Aunt Kathy was the best, when we stayed with her, we ate raw cookie dough and she is the person who first introduced me to Star Wars.  My cousins and I would stay up late excited to watch Luke fight to save the galaxy.

That is why when I heard that a new Star Wars Trilogy was coming, I was so excited.  However my excitement didn't last long.  After watching the Phantom Menace I was disappointed but was still ready to see what comes next on Anikin's journey.  After watching Attack Of The Clones I was so disappointed that I didn't watch the third installment of Star Wars until I was much older.  After rewatching Attack Of The Clones I have reached the same conclusion that I did when I was 13,  this movie is so boring.  Alas, however, read below to see my true thoughts On Star Wars: Episode II.

My Thoughts on Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of The Clones

 After three attempts to rewatch Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, I finally made it through the movie and honestly, it's still a bit of a mixed bag for me. 

Let's start with the positives. Visually, the film is stunning. George Lucas really pushed the boundaries of digital filmmaking here, and you can see it in the sheer scale of Coruscant, the Geonosis arena, and the Kamino cloning facilities. The action sequences, especially the chase through Coruscant and the Battle of Geonosis, are pretty exhilarating. Seeing Yoda in full lightsaber action for the first time was a definite "wow" moment – a truly iconic scene that still gives me chills. I also appreciate how much more we learn about the Jedi Order and the political landscape of the Republic, which was essential for understanding the eventual fall.

However, the biggest issue for me is the slow pace of the movie and the forced dialogue, particularly between Anakin and Padmé. Their romance is central to the plot, but the lines they're given often feel clunky and unnatural.  It also is a little weird the age difference for me.  Padme was almost, if not an adult when she met Anakin the first time. It’s hard to feel a passionate connection between them.  

Anakin's character arc seems rushed at times. We see glimpses of his inner turmoil and his struggle with the dark side, then he changes and becomes an arrogant Jedi. He is as moody as a teenager.  For a Jedi who is in training to control his emotions he handles the transitions poorly and so did the screen writers for this movie.

Overall, Attack Of The Clones is a film with grand ambitions and some truly spectacular moments, but it's hampered by its weakest link: the poor execution of its central romance.  It's a necessary bridge in the Skywalker saga, setting up the Clone Wars and Anakin's ultimate destiny, but it's one I often find myself fast-forwarding through certain scenes to get to the good parts. It's a film I respect for its visual innovation and its importance to the overarching story, but it's not one I revisit for pure enjoyment.

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