In common with many people across the globe, I caught up with Attack Of The Clones this weekend. The visit to the cinema seemed more of an event than normal due to the fact that this was the first time in a long while that I've gone with a group of friends strong enough in number to take up two rows of seats. Well, the first time since the last Star Wars film, actually. Hopefully, we can get a similar-sized crew to the Spiderman movie when that opens over here June 14.
Anyway, I enjoyed the film (mostly) and recommend it with the caveat that you need to go in expecting only to be entertained and have fun. This is an adventure movie not rocket science or a political treatise. The other rider I ought to inform you about is that I actually enjoyed Episode 1 - Phantom Menace too. No, really. In fact, although Episode 2 is on the whole more action-packed than its predecessor it never quite hits the heights of that film's pod race sequence and climactic lightsaber-fight.
Having said that, it's pretty clear that Lucas & co. have taken some of the criticism of The Phantom Menace on board and made some sensible adjustments. There's less Jar Jar Binks for a start, leaving C3PO to provide the (apparently) necessary comic relief during the battle sequences, and there's much more of that genius creation Yoda, who near as damn it steals the whole movie.
As previous stated, the ratio of action-to-exposition seems weighted much more in favour of the former this time, and the movie has a darker, more adult feel, with an increased level of violence some parents may not feel suitable for very young children. Visually, a lot of the film (particularly in the first chase scene) owes as much to Blade Runner than it does the original Star Wars trilogy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Where the film does suffer badly is in its handling of the crucial love story between Annakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Senator Amidala (Natalie Portman). This has to be the dullest, least passionate love affair in screen history. I know that Lucas is intent on recreating the feel of old sci-fi serials from the 30s/40s but if I remember rightly the likes of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in those days generated considerable amounts of smouldering lust and heaving bosom. The young performers look particularly uncomfortable - Christensen at least tries to emote even though he looks to be suffering more from constipation than thwarted desire, while Portman manages the considerable feat of being out-performed by her abdominal muscles. Ultimately though, it has to be Lucas the director who should take the blame for the central romance being so limp and drab. It's particularly sad to see Portman seeming to have forgotten all the skills that came so naturally to her in Leon.
Would-be toyboys should take note however that there's nothing like a bit of one-man genocide to turn a lady's head, and the romantic conundrum solved, it's not just the cast that are relieved that the plot can then go full pelt towards a brilliantly-conceived all-action climax. Like I said, it's mostly fun, so treat yourself, switch off your brain, sit back and enjoy.
And no, don't worry the movie is not racist. These people are fuckwits who can't tell the difference between Mexicans and Maoris fer christs sake. These morons are condemned by their own words. Of Maori actor Temeura Morrison's character -
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
"And his kid," says Wayne State history professor Jose Cuello, referring to the young Boba Fett, "looked even more Latino."
Could. Not. Make. It. Up.
Related links: The Force.net for all your up-to-date Star Wars gossip.
AOTC fails to break opening weekend box-office results. Should be added that it played many fewer screens in America than Spiderman did.
The Case for the Empire: Everything You Think You Know About Star Wars is wrong.
Anyway, I enjoyed the film (mostly) and recommend it with the caveat that you need to go in expecting only to be entertained and have fun. This is an adventure movie not rocket science or a political treatise. The other rider I ought to inform you about is that I actually enjoyed Episode 1 - Phantom Menace too. No, really. In fact, although Episode 2 is on the whole more action-packed than its predecessor it never quite hits the heights of that film's pod race sequence and climactic lightsaber-fight.
Having said that, it's pretty clear that Lucas & co. have taken some of the criticism of The Phantom Menace on board and made some sensible adjustments. There's less Jar Jar Binks for a start, leaving C3PO to provide the (apparently) necessary comic relief during the battle sequences, and there's much more of that genius creation Yoda, who near as damn it steals the whole movie.
As previous stated, the ratio of action-to-exposition seems weighted much more in favour of the former this time, and the movie has a darker, more adult feel, with an increased level of violence some parents may not feel suitable for very young children. Visually, a lot of the film (particularly in the first chase scene) owes as much to Blade Runner than it does the original Star Wars trilogy. This isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Where the film does suffer badly is in its handling of the crucial love story between Annakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Senator Amidala (Natalie Portman). This has to be the dullest, least passionate love affair in screen history. I know that Lucas is intent on recreating the feel of old sci-fi serials from the 30s/40s but if I remember rightly the likes of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers in those days generated considerable amounts of smouldering lust and heaving bosom. The young performers look particularly uncomfortable - Christensen at least tries to emote even though he looks to be suffering more from constipation than thwarted desire, while Portman manages the considerable feat of being out-performed by her abdominal muscles. Ultimately though, it has to be Lucas the director who should take the blame for the central romance being so limp and drab. It's particularly sad to see Portman seeming to have forgotten all the skills that came so naturally to her in Leon.
Would-be toyboys should take note however that there's nothing like a bit of one-man genocide to turn a lady's head, and the romantic conundrum solved, it's not just the cast that are relieved that the plot can then go full pelt towards a brilliantly-conceived all-action climax. Like I said, it's mostly fun, so treat yourself, switch off your brain, sit back and enjoy.
And no, don't worry the movie is not racist. These people are fuckwits who can't tell the difference between Mexicans and Maoris fer christs sake. These morons are condemned by their own words. Of Maori actor Temeura Morrison's character -
"He looked totally Latino," says Martina Guzman, a Detroiter who's managing a State House election campaign.
"And his kid," says Wayne State history professor Jose Cuello, referring to the young Boba Fett, "looked even more Latino."
Could. Not. Make. It. Up.
Related links: The Force.net for all your up-to-date Star Wars gossip.
AOTC fails to break opening weekend box-office results. Should be added that it played many fewer screens in America than Spiderman did.
The Case for the Empire: Everything You Think You Know About Star Wars is wrong.
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