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Star wars II: Attack of the clones - Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, George Lucas

Threat advisory: Severe - Severe risk of entertaining activities

Movie propaganda

A Jedi shall not know hatred, nor anger, nor love.

Ten years after the events of The phantom menace, not only has the galaxy undergone significant change, but so have our familiar heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) as they are thrown together again for the first time since the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Anakin has grown into the accomplished Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan, who himself has transitioned from student to teacher. The two Jedi are assigned to protect Padmé whose life is threatened by a faction of political separatists. As powerful forces prepare to collide in epic battle, Anakin and Padmé find themselves torn between duty and honour and a love that is forbidden. These heroes face choices that will impact not only their own fates, but also the destiny of the galaxy.

Theatrical propaganda posters

Target demographic movie keyword propaganda

Film science fiction action adventure force Jedi Sith Empire Palpatine Anakin Skywalker Obi Wan Kenobi

Persons of interest

Ewan McGregor .... Obi-Wan Kenobi
Hayden Christensen .... Anakin Skywalker
Natalie Portman .... Padmé Amidala
Samuel L Jackson .... Mace Windu
Pernilla August .... Shmi Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid .... Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Anthony Daniels .... C-3PO
Kenny Baker .... R2-D2
Ahmed Best .... Jar Jar Binks
Christopher Lee .... Count Dooku
Temuera Morrison .... Jango Fett
Joel Edgerton .... Owen Lars
Bonnie Piesse .... Beru
Frank Oz .... Yoda
George Lucas .... Storywriter
Jonathan Hales .... Screenwriter
George Lucas .... Screenwriter
George Lucas .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Star wars II: Attack of the clones official movie site
Star wars II: Attack of the clones QuickTime movie trailers:

Breathing * Forbidden love * Mystery * Clone war

Awards and film festivals:

MTV Movie Awards 2003: Best fight (Yoda versus Christopher Lee)
Cinematic Intelligence Agency Trenchcoat Awards 2003

Full cast list
See also The phantom menace, Revenge of the Sith, A new hope, The empire strikes back, Return of the Jedi
Studios and distributors:

20th Century Fox

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Theatrical report

Yes! Attack of the clones is everything that The phantom menace could've been, should've been and wasn't. It has intrigue, mystery, thrills, special effects, gore, glory, anger, fear, agony and menace. And Yoda goes postal! Woo hoo!

Hayden Christensen is a great choice for the role of Anakin: he has the gawkiness of adolescence, he's as cute as a dream and he can act. Even when he's whining he's intriguing. He also does great things with a light-sabre (when he hasn't lost or broken it: a wonderful example of the unco nature of adolescence - in fact, Anakin is the picture of teenage rebellion (delayed due to his Jedi training), blaming his replacement father (Obi-Wan) for holding him back and an incipient Oedipal complex, adoring his mother in a deep and intimate fashion - puberty sucks).

Meanwhile, Ewan McGregor is Obi-Wan: he's powerful, he's wise, he's mature... the force is with him. Despite having to perform in someone else's character, Ewan rules.

And Yoda rocks. He takes a much more active part in this episode than he did in any of the others, leading the council, engaging with the senate, training the kiddie padawans (cute!), leading the battle and battling the baddies. Part of that is the move from puppetry to CGI (he has a much bigger range of expression) and part is the improved scripting. Finally you understand why Yoda is head of the Jedi Council, finally you know just how strong with the force he is. Woo hoo! The battle with Dooku is wild.

Beyond that, George Lucas gives you a greater sense of the galaxy in which this saga takes place. There is greater depth to Coruscant than fairy towers and flying cars: the senate exists in a rarefied atmosphere of deals and assassinations while ordinary people eat breakfast in diners run by four-armed short order cooks. The Jedi knights are like the United Nations peacekeepers, hard to find and never doing what you expect. You just know that someone has a list of Jedi jokes on their web site ("Top ten other uses for a Jedi light-sabre").

Ultimately, you have to take Star wars II: Attack of the clones on George's stated intentions. He promised a Saturday matinée action adventure and that's what he's delivered, in spades. The film won't stand on its own but it fits perfectly the episodic nature of the saga. See it, live it, love it.

PS: 1 point off for making Anakin say "mom". That word is used only in a small regional dialect and should've been replaced with "mum" (World English), although even "mother" would've been better.

Media intelligence (DVD)

Audio: Dolby 5.1 Surround EX
Disc: Single side, single layer
Features:

Disc 1:

Feature captured and created directly from the digital source
Commentary: George Lucas, Producer Rick McCallum, Sound Designer Ben Burtt, ILM Animation Director Rob Coleman, ILM Visual Effects Supervisors Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow

Disc 2:

Deleted scenes: 8 created just for this release, each with introductions from George Lucas, Rick McCallum and Ben Burtt
Documentaries:

Comprehensive, award-winning, 12-part web documentary series
Films are not released: they escape Ben Burtt and his team explain the process of creating the sound
From puppets to pixels featuring the creation of digital Yoda, Dexter Jettster and more
State of the art: the pre-visualisation of Episode II

DVD-ROM: Web link to exclusive Star wars content
Featurettes: general storyline, action scenes and love story
Gallery: production photo gallery with special caption feature
Music video: Across the stars featuring John Williams
Theatrical posters and print campaign from around the world
Trailers: