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Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Edition)

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Edition)

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $13.99
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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: A Sad Effort...Here's Hoping III is an Improvement
Review: If ever there was a movie where special effects tried, but could not quite manage, to overcome bad acting and stupid dialog, this is it. What can you say about the special effects? They're simply spectacular. Of course it's always interesting when events that supposedly happened sooner take place against more spectacular backdrops that anything in movies 4-6. (R2D2's "new" flying skills seemed to be dormant in key 4-6 scenes where it could've helped.)

I cannot recall a movie where I laughed out loud so many times at either lines of dialog or their delivery. ("I killed ALL of them. They're ALL dead.") Three fourths of the fiction authors on Amazon could write dialog better than the stuff that's in Clones.

The actor playing Anakin is horrible--the only time he's good is when he gets evil. But even then he quickly snaps back to simply whiny his next scene. Queen Padme is clueless as well. Toward the end of the movie they throw in a scene where her already-skimpy outfit gets swiped and torn up by a creature. It makes you wonder if they just decided, "Hey, enough with giving her dialog, let's just make her as PG-naked as possible."

The Jango/Bobba Fett stuff is supposed to have some real malice, but they come off more like caricatures of once-good villians. Bobba Fett--the legendary bounty hunter and future nemesis of the great Han Solo--is a grimacing, arch-eyebrowed Hispanic kid.

Speaking of villains, man did this movie ever miss a Darth Maul or a Darth Vader (I know, the latter is actually Anakin...yeesh). Seeing it, I realized how "rescued" Episode I truly was by how well Darth Maul and Qui Gon held the screen. Neither, of course, is in Clones. Christopher Lee's "Darth" character has a deep voice and that's about all you can say.

The Yoda lightsaber scene is a classic, one that almost offset the disappointment from the rest of the movie. But not quite.

I'm a fan of the series and it pains me to admit the magic is gone. I'd heard some interview comments by Ewan McGregor about how this was a better and funnier movie than Menace. I did laugh more, but not for the reasons intended. Watching this movie is like going to buy your favorite fast food sandwich, getting served, only to find that they changed the menu but didn't bother to tell you when you ordered.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Where's Jabba, baby?!?
Review: I thought the idea of "Star Wars" prequels was a bad one. I couldn't have been more wrong.

"Phantom Menace" made me think they might be pretty good after all, but it was "Attack of the Clones" that convinced me. Brimming over with intrigue, action, and an all-too-human love story, the second film in the Star Wars Saga is the best one yet.

Two independent plot threads weave through the film's narrative, colliding in a massive battle-royal at the picture's end. Each storyline is satisfying in its own right - whether you're watching Obi-Wan Kenobi investigate the mysterious clones, or Anakin Skywalker coming to grips with his past and present, you get a full movie within a movie!

Plus, "Attack of the Clones" refreshes our affection for characters from the other films in the series. See-Threepio is at his best, providing uproariously funny slapstick. Jango Fett (as a substitute for his son, Boba) provides the thrill of a mysterious, competent soldier-of-fortune, and contributes to some of the coolest action sequences in the whole Saga.

But the best surprise is how Yoda deals with the nefarious Count Dooku!

Character relationships are fleshed out, and ominous hints to the identity of the evil mastermind Darth Sidious make it almost impossible to wait for Episode ! (I used exclamation points because I'm so excited)

The special effects go beyond anything we've ever seen before, and I can't wait to watch them on a crisp DVD.

As a DVD, "Attack of the Clones" is sure to be as tremendous as its predecessor. I'll have to plan an entire weekend of combing through the bonus material, because I want to be an expert in every process George Lucas used to craft this incredible space fantasy!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Absolute Garbage
Review: Coming off more like a made for TV movie than a high tech Hollywood blockbuster, Episode II confirms that George Lucas can no longer write a screenplay nor direct a movie.

Few directors have the ability to make good actors, such as Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and Samuel Jackson, come off as stiff, stilted, amateurs. Yet Lucas acheived this amazing feat by too much attention to digital effects, and of course, probably the worst script ever written.

From the silly, predictable, wooden and shallow dialogue to the plot holes and inconsistencies, Episode II has feela like Lucas never actually wrote ANY script, but rather had the actors ad-lib the entire story as they went along, telling them to imagine their fantastic surroundings while trying to ignore the green light.

As probably the worst example, the dialogue between young Anakin and now Senator (since when do queens have elected terms?) Amidala leading up to their eventual love-climax is entirely juvenile and unbelievable. From the start of the movie, Anakin comes off as a [spoiled] punk, with no respect for the ways of the Jedi or Obe One. Then he forces his "love" upon Amidala (which was supposedly festering for 10 years) with lines that would get him slapped at a pick-up bar (beleive me). Finally, after admitting his wholesale slaughter of the Sand People, Amidala confesses her own love for him with no apparent reason or motivation, making the entire relationship unreal, unbelievable, and well, scripted (so maybe there was a script).

Lucas created an entirely unsympathetic Anakin character, with little genuine conflict between wanting to be a Jedi and a normal, loving, man. Rather, we get a member of Boy Band with a bad accent in a brown robe. To the Dark Side I say!

As a final insult, the much touted Yoda fight scene is not only too short, but it is set up in such an in-your-face manner that it not only betrays the character of Yoda as a humble servant of the Force, but its only one step away from Lucas himself coming on the screen as saying: "Hey everybody, check THIS out!"

It is sad to see what Lucas has done to the greatest Space Opera ever written. ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Womb to Tomb Star Wars Fan
Review: There you have it. You know I'm biased. So is this really an objective review? Proabably not. Ahhhh, that being said I can say whatever I like - right?

I was 6 when Episode IV, A New Hope, came out in theaters, and I was instantly transported into a world that I would know for the rest of my life. I won't bore you with the details of how my entire childhood through Episode VI (Jedi) was saturated with Star Wars toys, videos, games, etc. (or did I already?).

I'm now 31, and not only did I attend the Star Wars Celebration II in Indianapolis (what a geek!!), but I also stood in line for the midnight showing of Episode II. My life pretty much revolved around the opening of yet another Star Wars movie. There was such anticipation - so much time between Episode VI and I, and now for Episode II, and then for Episode III - AGHHHH. I think most obsessed fans (like me) are like this, and I think most people who aren't as connected with these movies get sick of the hype and the fans talking about them. Add into that media coverage and promos - and you get the impression that if you don't see this 'earth-shattering' movie - you'll be less for it.

The truth is, the new Star Wars movies are still the same type/quality of movies they have always been. It's just around ten years later than the originals, and we've all changed a little. We don't get as impressed by movies the same ways we used to. Lucas compensates for this a bit with the added digital effects, but in keeping true to the originals, a lot of the style is still grounded in that original movie.

To cut to the chase: If you are an obsessed Star Wars fan - you've probably already seen this movie at least 3 or 4 times, and getting the DVD is like buying gas for your car - you just have to do it. If you 'saw' the films and remember bits and pieces of them and kinda have a good feeling about the whole thing, and aren't too critical of movies - you'll have a great time watching this new Star Wars movie. (Rent the others to watch before you see this one and it'll make more sense).

If you are an insane movie buff, and aren't connected to the Star Wars saga, and like to dissect movies in regards to dialogue, developed plot, character development, brilliant acting - you're going to be disappointed and wonder what the insane buzz is all about. Go rent Life as a House (an excellent movie by the way).

In closing, I'd like to just reiterate what George Lucas said he was originally trying to create: A new kind of fairy tale. That's exactly what these films are - fairy-tale-type stories - nothing else. With that approach in mind, I've certainly been captivated over these 25 years by this story, and hopefully my son will be too.

Enjoy, and May the Force.......ah I can't rembmer how that goes...
Nevermind...

Matt

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Episode 2 = 2nd best SW film
Review: Ok, ive heard enough of the bashing of this film! Star Wars movies were never meant to be Oscar worthy films with astonishing performances, they were always meant to be old-fashioned entertaining serials. And Attack of the Clones delivers greatly on that level. This one brought back the reasons i loved star wars in the first place. I never ever thought i would get to see yoda handle a lightsaber, but Episode 2 brought that to us. I never thought I would witness the epic clone wars, but episode 2 brought us its first battle!! The last 30-40 minutes are almost the best moments in the StarWars series period. Only flaw: the love story is a little too Soap Operaish for me. This one is only second to Empire Stikes Back, which got everything right, including the love story. Cant wait till Episode 3!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: unbiased truth
Review: the story was slow at first. fans knew something was going to happen and wanted something to happen, but it took too long for the ending to be revealed. the last 20 minutes made the movie. if the movie storyline was replacded with 20 more minutes of the clone battle, this movie would have been the best of all star wars films

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Way better then episode 1
Review: For many people the Phantom Menace (episode 1) was a big disappointment. Those people can now be relieved by seeing this episode 2 (attack of the clones). It brings back the old "star wars feeling" and comes pretty close to the original trilogy movies. I recommend everyone to see this movie at least once, it really is a great story-telling movie at least.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Star Wars Episode II
Review: An awesome movie even more so with the DVD Deleted Scenes, the sound is amazing as well as the special effects. ...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: episode 2
Review: I've now seen this film 2 times.I have to say i love it.George Lucas has defininitly improved the trilogy.The special effects are great.Great performaces,especialy from Ewen Mg'regor who personnaly i think is better than sir alec Guiness.Hayden Christean does a decent peformence and natalie portman does a great performance.The love scenes are a bit cheesy though but it doesnt put the movie down.This truly is a great star wars movie!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Better than Phantom Menace- but could have been better
Review: Despite the fact I am a self admitted Star Wars nut, I am going to resist getting into a love fest over this movie simply because it is a Star Wars movie.
Whereas the cumbersome Phantom Menace was unwieldy under its own weight and really let's face facts folks - it really blew, George Lucas thankfully took the criticism to heart and corrected many of the problems with Episode One. Hopefully he paid attention to the problems people had with this episode, because let's face it the more we constructively criticize the show, the better the chances are we really will get an incredible episode three.
On with the review. I really did enjoy this show, particularly the evolving love story between Padme and Anakin. I think the presence of a romantic backstory has been a sorely missing element of the Star Wars movies since The Empire Strikes Back and although it is a truly crucial element of the overall story here it is treated with passion and care. Despite the fact that Natalie Portman has lost that "squeeky clean" image since this movie opened, she really turns in a great performance here.
Another improvement on TPM is a more involved role for Ewan McGregor as Ben Kenobi. It's remarkable how much McGregor really looks like a younger version of Alec Guinness and he seems to have the mannerisms down pat.
Another welcome addition to the cast is the always great Christopher Lee as Count Dooku.
Now onto the points where Attack of the Clones has problems. The obvious and easiest target is the wooden dialogue. I hope Lucas brings in a tried and tested scriptwriter into the next episode to help clean up the dialogue. The other fault (and this is purely in my opinion) is the over reliance on CGI technology. I know a lot of people where blown away by the special effects, but it seems that the newer Star Wars movies are all about special effects. What made the originals so charming was the fact that it followed the adventures of a group of characters we cared about in three movies that happened to contain some groundbreaking (for the time) effects.
I may seem harsh on this movie but for a couple of hours of entertainment you certainly can do worse than pick up a copy of Attack of the Clones.


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