In his Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, director George Lucas revisits the young characters of Episode I – The Phantom Menace, with a story that places them ten years later, during a time of unrest in the galactic Senate. Shot entirely on high-definitionb hollywood digital video (instead of 35 mm film), Attack of the Clones is densely populated by computer-generated characters (creatures of all shapes, colors and sizes that keep the viewer’s eyes constantly working), and imaginative, futuristic sets that encourage dizzying panoramic shots and out-of-worldly atmospheres. Attack of the Clones exalts the character of Senator Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), whose impressive array of costumes appropriate the actress’ natural beauty and make her resemble a modern Queen Nefertiti or a respectable, ageless matrona). More significantly, Attack of the Clones follows the mythical character of Anakin Skywalker, now at nineteen years of age (played by Hayden Christensen) who, in the 1977 Star Wars was seen as the evil Darth Vader and in subsequent episodes was revealed to be the father of the heroic Luke Skywalker. Having grown from the nine-year-old boy of Phantom Menace, Anakin is portrayed as the impatient yet extremely powerful Jedi, still under the tutelage of the reputable Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor [Moulin Rouge], formerly played by Alec Guinness as the older Obi-Wan). When Anakin reencounters the young Padmé, having last seen her ten years before, he is utterly impressed by her serene beauty and eagerly accepts the task of protecting her against impending deadly threats by her enemies. Struggling with the growing admiration for her, Anakin becomes increasingly defiant toward the strict rules of the Jedi, which clearly forbid love and possessions, and which prove most inconvenient as he stands before the young girl. Padmé, however, seems more focused on her role as Senator, helping with the formation of an army that would serve to help the Jedi Knights defend the Republic against a dangerous political separatist movement led by Count Dooku, a.k.a. Darth Tyranus (Christopher Lee: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring). Attack of the Clones explores the antagonistic forces that would eventually lead to the transformation of the Republic and the birth of an Empire.
It does so by emphasizing those elements which introduce the origins of future conflicts, such as Anakin’s growing thirst for power, his trouble with submission, his arrogance, and his ideas on the benefits of a dictatorship. More importantly, while also focusing on Anakin’s charm and boyish rebellion, Attack of the Clones establishes the seeds of his evil and embitterment through a series of scenes that expose his personal rage against the fate of his mother. In this respect, Attack of the Clones is most enjoyable for those viewers who accept this hollywood movie as a retrospective journey that offers answers to some of the questions raised in Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. (In one humorous scene, this retrospection is toyed with as Obi-Wan worries over Anakin’s rebelliousness, stating: “Why do I get the feeling you’re going to be the death of me?”) Not surprisingly, the film exploits a subplot about the love that flourishes between Anakin and Padmé, and portrays both characters as very young, beautiful, independent, intelligent, and heroic. In fact, the characters’ young age accentuates the degree of their adult-like qualities; a choice which will ensure sympathy and admiration from young viewers. (Interestingly, the focus on Anakin’s inner conflicts also raises valid questions regarding the character’s immaturity.) Visually, Attack of the Clones’ most impressive achievement is the army of clones and the factory that produces them. These clones –thousands of soldiers modeled after one man– elevates the fictionalization of technology to dramatic proportions and opens narrative possibilities for the film: with the clones’ intimidating number, force, amoral origins and unfeeling nature, their loyalty remains questionable until the concluding moments of the film.
Attack of the Clones’ best persecution scene is suspenseful and serves to guide the viewer through impressive sets, amusing vehicle designs, as well as Anakin’s and Obi-Wan’s extreme physical abilities, their stamina and courage. However, another important scene in this english movie news, which depicts a physical struggle between the digitally reinvented Yoda and a towering Darth Tyranus, provides a “problematic” type of amusement that devalues the scene’s intended climactic seriousness with awkward comedic representations of the new Yoda. (No longer portrayed as a strictly intellectual hero, the character loses its uniqueness.) All in all, Attack of the Clones is evidently George Lucas’ ambitiously sustained attempt to present –to old and new generations– this updated, highly fictionalized world; a world that evolves off-screen and periodically resurges, bringing identifyable political and philosophical conflicts that rule its incredibly diverse population of grotesque species; a world that insists on reserving all familial and affective dilemmas for its beautiful, human citizens.