Star Wars: Attack of the Clones

Released 16th May 2002, Star Wars: Attack of the Clones follows Anakin Skywalker’s blossoming romance amidst rising tensions or war brewing in the galaxy. As a sequel to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the film does a superb job of building upon the themes of war through bureaucracy and how the politics corrupt all branches of the society it connects to. However, we also receive an insight into making sacrifices for our occupations; this idea is most frequently highlighted by the relationship between Anakin and Padme (the emotional crux of the story).

Despite how essential Anakin’s relationship is to the narrative, Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman’s performances as Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala are completely abysmal. Whilst the writing for the younger characters was minimised in the previous film, these younger characters are at the forefront this time which makes Lucas’ clunky script collapse very early on. As a result of this, Christensen and Portman clearly had no idea how to make the dialogue flow naturally and therefore succumb to either monotonous or melodramatic performances with not in between. No-one is exceptional through the film; however, Ewan McGregor has enough charisma as Obi-Wan Kenobi to carry his subplot and Christopher Lee rises to the occasion as the aristocratic villain; Count Dooku.

One thing that the film succeeds with s that it balances its wide cast a lot better this time around with every single character enhancing the plot in some way or another (even Jar Jar serves a greater purpose this time). The visual effects have an improved quality overall with the only real qualms being the clone trooper amour throughout. John Williams manages to deliver one of his best soundtracks in the franchise with Across the Stars being particularly ensnaring in its beauty. For as great as the technical elements are, however, they only manage to polish Star Wars: Attack of the Clones’ mess to make it somewhat enjoyable.