Reel Critics

Allen MacDonald

The good news is there’s significantly less Jar Jar Binks, absolutely

no Jake Lloyd gleefully shrieking “Yippee!”, and yes, it’s an improvement

over 1999s lackluster “Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace.” The

bad news? “Star Wars - Episode II: Attack of the Clones” is still a huge

disappointment.

One could argue that it would have been impossible for writer/director

George Lucas to satisfy audience expectation, but I don’t agree. If his

story didn’t collapse under its own weight, this could have have been a

fantastic film.

“Episode II” details the forbidden love between Jedi in training

Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and the current Senator/former

Queen of Naboo, Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman). Jedi Knights aren’t

allowed to fall in love, so it’s unfortunate Anakin would be assigned to

protect Amidala after an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi

(Ewan McGregor) searches for a bounty hunter named Jango Fett, who

appears to be connected to a secret plan to mass produce a Clone Army for

the faltering Trade Federation, still run by the duplicitous Chancellor

Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).

There’s more plot, of course, but that’s the central weakness of

“Episode II,” a total lack of focus. There are too many elements being

shoved together. No single story line is given enough time to breath. The

original “Star Wars” trilogy made the story personal by focusing on Luke

Skywalker’s struggle to become a Jedi. The new trilogy is about Anakin’s

(Luke’s father) gradual descent to the Dark Side of the Force and his

conversion into the evil Darth Vader, the villain of the original

trilogy. But Anakin is just a single element in this bloated narrative.

This is a tragedy because Lucas’ story is inherently dramatic. The

fact we already know Anakin’s eventual fate is a strength rather than a

weakness: where Anakin ends up is not nearly as interesting as how and

why he gets there, and “Episode II” fails to successfully mine the

potential of this truly fascinating mythology. Lucas’s prodigious

imagination has created a remarkable world, but I’m not sold on the

details, and the details, as they say, are everything.

Love stories need to develop in a convincing fashion to engage an

audience. We need to see the emotions develop between the lovers so we

can identify with why they have fallen for each other. This film has so

much to ground to cover that Anakin and Padme are thrown together in the

first 15 minutes and instantly fall in love. No development. No

explanation. It’s forced drama and I didn’t buy it.

For me, the chemistry wasn’t there with the actors nor the script.

This couple felt like they were in love because Lucas said they had to

be. In 1980s “The Empire Strikes Back,” we saw the stubborn Princess Leia

struggle to resist the rogue charms of the wise cracking Han Solo. The

romantic tension was on the screen, it existed between the actors. They

were real characters with personalities that clashed, but we still

understood the attraction. I don’t understand it in this new movie.

Another lost opportunity is Obi-Wan Kenobi. McGregor is a pleasure to

watch in “Episode II.” He possesses Harrison Ford’s charm and often gives

his dialogue the same wry, ironic inflection. Here is a character who is

crucial to the dramatic thrust of the new trilogy: he is Anakin’s mentor,

the very same man who will be betrayed by his protege, and who will feel

responsible for Anakin’s eventual fate. Yet McGregor is given very little

of interest to do. Obi-Wan navigates through “Episode II” by himself,

also with precious little development.

In 1982 during the making of “Return of the Jedi,” George Lucas said,

“Special effects without story is really a very boring thing.”

I was reminded of this quote as I watched “Attack of the Clones.” The

digital animation is dazzling but cartoonish. I find the original trilogy

more convincing because when Luke, Leia and Han ran through a forest, I

know they were really in a forest, not standing in front of a blue screen

with an animated forest added in during post-production.

It’s unfortunate this dependence on technology has rendered the visual

two-dimensional, but then, I guess it fits well with the story. There’s

too much going on in every shot -- it’s overkill. It reminded me of

something Jeff Goldbloom’s character said in 1993s “Jurassic Park,” “They

were so busy trying to find out if they could, they didn’t stop and think

if they should.”

I’ve just taken a tranquilizer, so let’s move on to some positive

notes. There are indeed a few magical moments that are courtesy of CGI.

First, a scene where Obi-Wan consults Yoda’s about locating a hidden

planet during Yoda’s training class for a young Jedi. A virtual universe

unfolds around Obi-Wan and the children watch with awe-struck wonder. The

second is an adrenaline pumping scene where CGI allows Yoda to finally

break loose and kick some butt with his light saber.

Last, but certainly not least, John William’s sweeping score is

outstanding. It captures the magic and romance in a way the script and

actors failed to. William’s has consistently outdone himself with each

successive picture. His music lifts you out of your seat and inspires

your soul. I only wish I could say George Lucas had done the same.

Oh well. There’s always hope for “Episode III.”

* ALLEN MacDONALD, 29, is currently working toward his master’s degree

in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles.