Cinema Review (From Penarth Times)

Cinema Review

Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones (U) ****

LET'S face it, despite the huge success, Episode I was a mess in many areas, with a more childish and cartoonish style that left fans furious, wondering if Lucas had lost it.

Ten years have passed and the Galactic Republic is under threat from separatists led by the evil Count Dooko. This has led young Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, to be assigned to protect Senator Amidala but the two fall in love while Obi Wan Kenobi discovers a threat from a secret army.

Attack of the Clones is a lot, lot better. The 'Star Wars feel' has returned and the serious approach of The Empire Strikes Back is present. It keeps your attention from start to finish.

But, as dreaded, Attack of the Clones still has some flaws including probably one of the worst scripts ever written. The dialogue is so clunky and over- dramatic that it has left the actors, especially Hayden Christenson as Anakin Skywalker, struggling throughout.

The love story should have been special due to it being a key point in the whole saga but the patriotic lines go over the top leaving you cheated.

If you forget the script and relax however, this instalment is the reason why fans queue up for five months before it opens. To surpass The Return of the Jedi is some task and so this film doesn't beat it, but it is still good.

The special effects are amazing and Lucas' direction during the action sequences is brilliant. It is better than Lord of the Rings in my opinion)and this will hopefully break a few box office records. But whether or not it will be watchable the second time round is debatable.