|
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
|