Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)

STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES  (2002)  ¢ ¢ 1/2
    D: George Lucas
    Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christiansen,
    Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz,
    Pernilla August, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker
"Star Wars 5", in case you're keeping score. Like the middle episode in the first trilogy (which is technically the second trilogy), this one catches up with our heroes at a time when things look bad for the Republic. Well, not completely bad. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) has become an accomplished Jedi knight, learning the Force and honing his skills for the time later on (in the earlier films) when he'll look like Alec Guinness. Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) isn't a queen anymore, but she still gets to model lots of neat costumes, most memorably a form-fitting white commando outfit that stays glued to her through the climactic battle scene. But Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen) is edging closer to the Dark Side, and in serious need of some anger management work. (Why Master Yoda doesn't pick up on this is one of the script's many unsolved mysteries.) And evil Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) is creating a cloned army, with an eye toward bringing the Republic's cherished democratic institutions to a screeching halt. Under the circumstances, Lee, McGregor and Samuel L. Jackson (as Jedi Mace Windu) acquit themselves admirably, knowing they're going to be upstaged by the special effects crew at every turn. Portman and Christiansen aren't as lucky, getting stuck with the romantic load, as well as some of the lamest dialogue this side of Naboo. Portman at least stays focused. Christiansen just seems lost. What's fun is what's going on in the background and around the edges: the political references, the strange-looking creatures, the Bond-worthy puns. Along the way, Lucas pulls out bits from westerns, hot-rod flicks, gladiator epics, Saturday afternoon serials and Leni Riefenstahl. But what this is mostly is a coming-of-age story set in outer space. Not a very good one, either.