Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Movie Name: Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Year of Release: 2002

Director: George Lucas

Stars: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Christopher Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, Frank Oz, Ian McDiarmid, Pernilla August, Temuera Morrison, Jimmy Smits, Jack Thompson, Rose Byrne

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 5
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Synopsis:

Following the disappointing "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace", director George Lucas returned with a sequel to that feature. The film picks up a few years later, again following the story of Anakin Skywalker, who is now a grown Jedi apprentice, under the tutelage of Obi Wan Kenobi. Both their path crosses with Padmé, who is now a senator in the Republic, but whose life is being threatened. The dark power of the force is trying to overthrown the republic, and install a dictatorship across the galaxy. Obi Wan Kenobi in his investigations on the murder attempt on Padmé, unveils the creation of a secret army of clones, that has been built for the Jedi. As Padmé and Anakin grow closer, so does the menace brought on by the dark powers of the force, and the army that they have successfully built, handled by the secretive Chancellor and his second in command, Count Dooku.
"Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" is a continuation of the saga shepherded by George Lucas, that attempts to add some gravitas to the previous chapter that resulted in a mediocre result. "Attack of the Clones" attempts at adding a bit more political context to the procedures, however the film is stilted in both fronts, the political and romantic, with only Ewan McGregor and his Obi Wan Kenobi actually adding some humor and depth to what is an otherwise shallow endeavor. Where George Lucas has succeeded with the more recent films, is in the luscious visual style that is built around these thin stories. The visual effects are stunning, as is the cinematography from David Tattersall (who sadly has not had much of a great career since then). This is a film that cannibalizes on an iconic saga and characters, but that sadly adds not much value to it. It's watchable, but it's far from memorable.