Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful special effects, cardboard acting
Review: EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES is a spectacular looking movie! These are incredible special effects, perhaps the best ever. But the storyline is weak at best, the acting cardboard, the dialogue often laughable, and the romance (between Amidala and Anakin) somewhat stale. You aren't allowed to care about the characters in EPISODE II the way you were in the original three movies: STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RETURN OF THE JEDI. The characters and the storyline of EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES seem to be mere footnotes to the special effects, rather than the effects elaborating on the storyline. I have to be honest here: I found it hard to even detect a storyline in this movie. In light of all the effects, the storyline seems incidental. After viewing the behind-the-scenes footage given on the free DVD in this package, I realized why we were allowed to care about the characters/actors in the original three movies released in the late 70s and early 80s: because the technology available during that era was not sufficient for Lucas's vision; he *had* to rely on dialogue. He *had* to make us care about the actors and the plot. He also had to introduce the basic premise of the series of movies. With the technology available in the new century, and the world well-versed in the saga's premise, Lucas is free to go wild with effects. I fear that if it ever becomes possible, he won't even employ actors at all. My main disappointment with EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES is that the Jedi seem to be mere policemen with light sabers. In STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE and EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Obi-wan talks about the "glory days" of the Jedi Order, and speaks about their spiritual enlightenment. They ruled the galaxy with peace, spirituality, and compassion. I had expected these prequels to elaborate on that ideal time in Jedi history. But, as before, that spiritual enlightenment is merely hinted at. There is that other thing that makes EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, seem not quite as mythic as the originals: age. Most diehard Star Wars fans were mere teens and pre-teens when we were first introduced to this galaxy far far away. It's inevitable that these stories and characters wouldn't seem as enchanting to us 20 years later. We're older. :( I think it is the bonus DVD with the behind-the-scenes footage that really saves this DVD. We are given previews, theatrical trailers, behind-the-scenes specials, "making of" specials, deleted scenes (with commentary by the directors and Lucas), interviews with the actors and even extras. We even get to see a brief - very brief! - clip of the late 1970s cartoon special that introduced Boba Fett to the world. We are also given the option to watch the DVD in Spanish and French (I have watched it twice in Spanish now; the dubbing is beautifully done! In some scenes it looks as though the actors actually read the script in Spanish, or at least that they digitally altered the actors' lips to match the Spanish version of the dialogue.) Ironically, I found the footage of the filmmakers talking about their craft - and displaying the process of their craft - to be more engaging than the actors in the movie. I ended up caring more about the filmmakers, techies, etc., in the behind-the-scenes footage, than I do the stars of the movie. And it is their work that makes this a five star movie. This is an incredibly looking movie. If you want good acting, look up something with Streep. If you want great effects, amazing visuals, and a movie to take you to another universe, EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES is the droid you're looking for.
Rating: 
Summary: So good, and yet so bad...
Review: Before I say anything about this movie, let me clearly state for the record that I have considered myself a HUGE Star Wars fan since the very first time I saw Episode IV. And after being somewhat disappointed by the thin plot, poor acting, boring dialogue, and irritating characters of Phantom Menace, I thought Attack of the Clones was much better when I saw it in the theater. But now, watching it again on DVD, I found myself disappointed once again. Just like in Phantom Menace, Lucas & Co. put all their effort into the action, visuals, and sound. Unfortunately, they seem to have forgotten that truly good movies also require a good story, good dialogue, and good acting. Perhaps if I had a home theater setup with surround sound, I could still get swept away in the intoxicating worlds Lucas has created. I can't deny the brilliance and beauty of Coruscant or the eerie, stormy world of Camino (Kamino?) where the clone army is bred. The problem is that watching Episode II on a plain ol' TV with plain ol' sound just emphasizes the movie's bad points, which are numerous. I found myself surprisingly bored for much of the middle of the movie, especially during the scenes with Amidala and Anakin. The growing love between the future Mr. & Mrs. Darth Vader should be one of the high points of the movie, but it falls embarassingly flat: the actors have no chemistry at all (the kid playing Anakin, in particular, conveys all the depth of a mousepad), and the dialogue sounds exactly like the half-baked afterthought that it undoubtedly was in Lucas' mind. The plot has holes you could drive the Death Star through and no discernible logic other than to support the action/visual sequences and to explain what we already know from Episodes IV-VI. I could go on, but I imagine you get the idea. I should mention a couple of good things, aside from the spectacular effects. Ewan McGregor does a fine job, giving Obi Wan the only real spark or charm among the human characters, though I suppose the guy who plays Senator Palpatine does okay as well. Aside from Obi Wan, though, Yoda is far and away the most interesting and expressive character. The creature in the diner, Dex, is also interesting. Lucas should just forget about working with human actors and focus on his light and magic tricks, since he obviously has no ability as a director to elicit good performances. In the end, however, I give this 3 stars because the action scenes and visual landscapes are so overwhelmingly spectacular, and because there are some nice payoffs for Star Wars fans, like seeing the origin of the Stormtroopers and finally getting to see Yoda wield a lightsaber. One great thing about DVDs: you can easily skip the lame parts. Better yet, take a mind-altering substance, put on Pink Floyd or Radiohead, and just forget about the story entirely!
Rating:
Summary: The Best
Review: The movie left me on the edge of my seat with the beautiful love affair, the engaging light-saber battles, and the colorful characters. I never had such a fun time watching a movie until I saw Star Wars Two: Attack of the Clones. As you probably guessed, I'm a major Star Wars nut.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome addition to my DVD collection
Review: How can you go wrong with a Star Wars DVD?
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed to say the least.
Review: I look through the various reviews of this title, and am consistently amazed at the lengths to which a fan of this series will go to justify George Lucas and this quickly dwindling franchise. I am a Star Wars fan. I grew up watching the classic trilogy, and was as excited as anyone could be about the prequels. Unlike a lot of Star Wars fans, I enjoyed the Phantom Menace. But I cannot say for an instant that Attack of the Clones was a good motion picture.
Let me make one thing clear, however. As a visual artist, George Lucas has no peer. The worlds that he creates are astounding, rich, and full of life. It does not take long for the viewer to become lost in Mr. Lucas' unbelievable creations. Coruscant is a bustling hive of activity, immense and claustrophobic at the same time. Tatooine is a hostile land, teeming with grit and barely perceived danger. These are just two examples of George Lucas' artful hand at work. He is a creator of wonders. A purveyor of fantasy. A genius working at the top of his game.
Now for the problems. This may be the most poorly written movie I have ever seen. The script is laughably bad. There were several points during the film, where I had to mentally keep myself from cringing. The scenes between Padme (Natalie Portman) and Anakin (Hayden Christiansen) are painful to watch, and frankly juvenile. I especially enjoyed the "Sound of Music" moment once Padme had made it back to her home planet of Naboo. (Watch the film, you can't miss it)
I had hoped that Mr. Lucas could have distanced himself from the stilted and moronic dialogue that plagued the Phantom Menace. Sadly, it has gotten worse. He had reduced the Jedi Knights to mumbling, bickering old men, and he had made Senator Amidala a whiny, petulant crone. And Anakin....this character was butchered. Hayden Christiansen is so miscast in this role it is hard to believe he made it through his screen test. Mr. Christiansen is a fine actor, see My Life as a House for proof of his skill. But in the hands of Mr. Lucas and his script, he has been relegated to skulking in the corner like a reprimanded child.
All in all, the Attack of the Clones is a Star Wars film, and for fans of the series, that is a great thing. I own the movie, as I own them all. But, heaping undue praise upon this film just because it is THIS film is not warranted. Even the greatest stumble from time to time. With this material, I had hoped for more from Mr. Lucas and company. Sadly, my expectations for Episode III are fading.
One piece of advice. Mr Lucas, please give Larry Kasdan a call when you start the script for the third film. Please.....he does not seem to be very busy at the moment.
Rating:
Summary: FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE RIPPED THIS MOVIE!
Review: FIRST AND FOREMOST I HAVE TO SAY THAT I THINK IT IS HILARIOUS THAT PEOPLE ARE GIVING THIS MOVIE ONLY A STAR AND THEN GO ON TO WRITE THESE REALLY LENGTHY REVIEWS ON HOW BAD THE ACTING WAS AND THIS AND THAT AND BLAH,BLAH,BLAH. PLEASE PEOPLE QUIT TAKING MOVIES SO SERIOUSLY AFTERALL THEY ARE JUST MOVIES, RIGHT! P.S. THIS MOVIE KICKS A**
Rating: 
Summary: Bad Acting & No Character Development -- A+ Special Effects
Review: I gave this 2 stars for the neat graphics. The biggest problem "Attack of the Clones" faces is that of 'The Phantom Menace" -- lack of character development. In "Star Wars," the actors and actresses were good enough to add personalities to their characters. Harrison Ford personified Han Solo; Mark Hammill's name is synonymous with Luke Skywalker (for better or worse for his career). Lucas hit the jackpot with some excellent actors. In the case of "Attack of the Clones" and "The Phantom Menace," you have bad acting, bad dialog, lack of personality and no character development. There is absolutely no chemistry between Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen. Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford did a great job in the first three movies in that they made their relationship believable. Is it fair to compare the movies? I think so; they're part of the same storyline -- AND -- Fisher and Harrison were relative unknowns at the time. It's over 20 years later and Star Wars Episodes 4, 5 and 6 are still attracting new viewings and creating faithful fans. I don't see this happening with Espisode 1 and 2 -- the main fact is that no one cares about these characters. How many Senator Padmé Amidala fans are out there? "Clones" has been praised for it's special effects (which are good), but FX should only should contribute to 50% of any movie that aspires to be a classic. The other 50% should be the basics -- acting for one. Granted, in the here and now, a lot of viewers really don't care about character development, it's the special effects that matter. But give a film 20 years, let the special effects become outdated and see if you watch it for the storyline alone... that's what separates the good movies from the bad. This movie, just like its predecessor, while I tried to like them, falls into the later category.
Rating:
Summary: An very entertaining sequel to Star Wars.
Review: Ten years later... When Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is grown into an accomplished Jedi apprentice thanks to his Mentor/Father Figure (Ewan McGregor). But Anakin faces his most difficult challenge must choose between his Jedi duty and his forbidden love with Padme (Natalie Portman) that she was a former Queen. Directed by George Lucas (THX-1138, American Graffiti, Star Wars) made a thrilling Sci-Fi/Adventure/Fantasy. This film does goes a little too long at times but this has a great story and cast with terrific Visual Effects by Industrial, Light & Magic (ILM) highlight this flick. DVD's has an superb anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) transfer from the captured and created directly from the digital source and an amazing Dolby Digital 5.1 Expanded Surround Sound. DVD Extras are:an entertaining commentary track by Writer/Director:George Lucas, Producer:Rick McCallum, Picture Editor and Sound Designer:Ben Burtt. ILM Animation Director:Rob Coleman and ILM Visual Effects Supervisors:Palbo Helman, John Knoll & Ben Show. (This Film recieve an Oscar Nomination for Best Visual Effects.) DVD has 13 Mintues worth of Deleted Scenes, Behind the Scenes feautrette, a mockmentary on R2-D2 and more. Don't not miss this one. Screenplay by Lucas and Jonathan Hales (The Scorpion King) from the story by Lucas. This has an impressive and unique climax and also lightsaber duel between Jedi master-Yoda (Voiced by Frank Oz) and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku are one of the great things about this Sequel. HD 24P Widescreen. Grade:A.
Rating: 
Summary: A new standard in DVD quality
Review: I purchased this DVD along with the new Fellowship of the Ring: Extended version on the same day. While the Fellowship 4 DVD set is the finest, most ambitious DVD experience to date, the Star Wars came out on top in terms of video and audio superiority. Lord of The Rings is also a better movie by far, but if I want to test my speakers, or impress my neighbors with my home theater, Episode 2 is going to be the movie I show them. The picture is, by far the closest thing to perfection I've ever scene on my TV. It is clear and it is beautiful. Everything looks crisp and clear and the colors are so vibrant they make the rest of the world drab in comparison. Granted, the DVD format obviously benefited from the digital recording, digital editing and digital everything. In fact, it looks far better than it did on the big screen. The digital clarity really comes through in the DVD in a way it didn't come through on film. The sound is peerless. Lucas owns THX and he obviously keeps a few tricks in the bag for his own movies. At first I was a bit disappointed that he didn't release a DTS soundtrack, but after hearing the DD Ex sound, I will never scoff again. Sounds not only go around the room, they go through the room in a way I've never heard before. Unlike many movies, it was very difficult at times to tell exactly where the sounds were coming from i.e. what speakers. It is 3D sound like you've never heard it. Obviously you will benefit more from a receiver with DD EX, but the sound is incredible just the same. The extras are decent, but after seeing the new Fellowship 4 DVD behemoth, it's hard to rave. I will say that some of the cut scenes, while not very exciting, made the Anakin/ Padme romance slightly more tolerable. There were even some scenes where the acting wasn't wooden and stiff and the dialogue didn't make me want to burn my eyes out (gasp!). There were a couple of good SFX shots, like the one of Obi-Wan departing Curascant in his Jedi Star fighter, but they are few and far between. I haven't watched all of the documentaries, but the commentary is far better than the one in Episode 1. While a lot of it is overly self-congratulatory or toadying at the heels of Lord Lucas, there are actually some good behind the scenes nuggets hidden in there and Lucas does a decent bit of foreshadowing. While most of Lucas' crew outside of the SFX guys come off as sycophants, Lucas himself seems to have a clearer picture of what his movies are, or at least what they should be. And while he never admits it outright, he seems to know why Ep. 1 didn't work so well and Ep 2 did beyond the technology. Anyway, he seems a bit more in touch with reality than he has come off in the past and it restored much of my wavering confidence in him. Ok, I won't bore you too much with another review of the movie. By now you love it, hate it or fall firmly in the middle. I'll admit to liking it a lot, but droning audibly at all the tired loved scenes. I go see Star Wars movies to see cool science fiction ... kicking, and the last 40 minutes of this movie is the greatest...kicking ever. Every time I see Yoda come out swinging that lightsaber I giggle uncontrollably. It is the greatest action sequence of any movie ever in my book. Granted, the rest of the movie falls far short of Citizen Kane, but I'll take lightsaber wielding Muppets over mean, old newspaper tycoons any day.
Rating:
Summary: Fool me once, shame on you...
Review: But, as the old saying goes, fool me twice, shame on me. Having almost walked out of the theater during the "first" movie, I vowed never to watch this movie. However, while in the video store recently, I found myself renting this movie. Oh, the mystery of the mind. Plain and simple, I did not like this movie. It just seems to lack any heart, feeling, or emotion of the Original Trilogy. This movie seems to be only an exhibition of what special effects George Lucas can create, and plot be damned. The scenes between Anakin and Padame are excrutiating. Anakin comes off as a college frat boy trying to get into Padame's you-know-what. The "political" scenes are dull. Ewan McGregor might be the only redeeming actor in this movie. The Yoda-fighting scene was laughable. I think the best example of comparison would be "The Shining". If one were to compare the Stanley Kubrick masterpiece to the made-for-TV abortion, I think you would understand my comparison of these two movies to the original Trilogy. They just don't stack up. Just a side note: Please, please, please George Lucas, when you do finally release the Original Trilogy on DVD, please release the original versions, not the "revisionist-Special Edition" versions. Please, please, please...
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