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Editorial Reviews
If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones
is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are
sure to be enthralled. Ten years after Episode I, Padmé
Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic
Army to combat an evil separatist movement. The brooding Anakin Skywalker
(Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi
(Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging
"dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins.
Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original
Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher
Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set
pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking.
All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged
by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying
as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III.
--Jeff Shannon --
DVD features
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones is a superior
DVD, repeating many of the elements that made its predecessor, Episode
I, The Phantom Menace, so good. The picture and sound are spectacular,
helped immensely by the fact that the film was shot entirely in digital,
making this the first live-action direct digital-to-digital DVD transfer.
This version of the film was the one shown in digital theaters; there
are subtle differences from the standard theatrical version, such as showing
Anakin's right hand in the final scene. Again, there's a commentary track
compiled from various people, including George Lucas (why can't he pronounce
the names he created?), producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben Burtt, ILM
animation director Rob Coleman, and three visual effects supervisors discussing
how the film was made and offering teasers to Episode III.
On the second disc are eight deleted scenes with optional introductions.
Most interesting are a scene of Padme addressing the Senate to oppose
the creation of a Republic army, and some bits with her family and home
on Naboo, but it's probably telling that, unlike with Phantom Menace,
none of the deleted scenes was incorporated into the film on the DVD.
Three substantial documentaries on digital characters, animatics, and
creating sound elements are complemented by three insubstantial featurettes,
a recycled but interesting 12-part Web documentary, and various other
items that should keep fans busy while they wait for Episode III.
--David Horiuchi
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