Ten years have passed since Obi Wan Kenobi discovered the young Anakin Skywalker on Tantooine. Now amidst his Jedi training Anakin is beginning to develop a little resentment to his mentor as he feels that he is holding him back from his true potential. The Republic is in trouble too as a separatist group has begun to build influence and break off from the Republic. A vote is about to be passed as to the creation of and army for the Republic, and the now Senator of Naboo Padme Amidilla is rushing back to Coruscant to be part of the vote. But when a failed assassination to take her life goes bad she is assigned the young Anakin and Kenobi to be her bodyguards. Anakin who has had feeling for Padme the last 10 years now is faced with trying to protect her as well as possibly do the forbidden and love her, as a Jedi is forbidden to love. When Obi Wan begins to delve deeper into the assassination attempt he realizes it goes further and deeper then he would have ever imagined. So he sets off to solve the mystery of the crime and leaves Anakin to stay behind and protect the young Senator as he battles his feelings for her.

Many critics and moviegoers were disappointed with the last movie, as it seemed to have lost a lot of the magic and flair that the original Star Wars trilogy had. But Attack of the Clones seems to capture some of that magic again as the story seems more action packed and the pace seems to have quickened in the movie. But while it gains a lot of the magic back it still falls short of what the original Star Wars had. I contribute this to George Lucas’ love of special effects and at times his inability to tell a story. When Star Wars was released in 1977 there was no other movie like it the effects were ground breaking and nothing could compare to its splendor. But today’s audiences are more cynical now because they have been spoiled by effects and are not as impressed as much as they once were. The middle of this movie seemed to drag a little and I think it is do to the fact that nothing spectacular visually was happening on the screen and it had to carry the movie with the story and acting. But when the action returns for the climax it is a visual ride that will blow you away, especially the fights scenes involving Yoda who is noq digitally done and the last of the puppets has been retired.

I was most impressed with the acting of Hayden Christianson and Ewan McGregor who at times had to carry this movie. Some people may not like how Christianson plays Anakin because he seems pouty at times but I liked the development that transformed him in the movie from that pouty character to slightly more sinister and serious character. But it was truly Ewan’s acting that carried the film at times as he has fit very well into the roll of Kenobi better than you could have hoped for after The Phantom Menace. Natalie Portman also did a good job as you can see her fitting in nicely into the much-sorrowed mother of Luke and Leia. It was her acting that carried the last movie and she still had the touch in this movie. Like always the visuals were stunning and breathe taking at times as is fitting only a Star Wars movie.

And of course nobody can forget the ever-stunning music of John Williams as he does another great job with the soundtrack. The acting was improved on as well as the story from The Phantom Menace making this a much more enjoyable movie. Besides a few downfalls in pace and chemistry (sometimes Portman and Christianson did not seem to mesh as well as you would hope) the movie regains much of the Star Wars legacy. A must see for everybody as are all Star Wars movies.
4 stars out of 5