Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

Review Date: May 10th, 2022

The next chapter of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy. This movie has some form of romance in it. However, the romance might bore some Star Wars fans though. But it also builds the events of The Clone Wars that a lot of people love. So let’s get down to the review for today.

CAST:

Hayden Christensen - Anakin Skywalker

Ewan McGregor - Obi-Wan Kenobi

Natalie Portman - Padmé Amidala

Christopher Lee - Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus

Samuel L. Jackson - Mace Windu

Frank Oz - Yoda

Ian McDiarmid - Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious

Temuera Morrison - Jango Fett

Anthony Daniels - C-3PO

Kenny Baker - R2-D2

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!!

10 years after the events of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999), the Galactic Republic is threatened by a Separatist movement that’s organized by Count Dooku. Then, Padmé Amidala arrives on Coruscant to vote on a motion to create an army so that they can assist the Jedi against the threat.

Narrowly avoiding an assassination attempt upon her arrival, she is placed under the protection of Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker. They thwart a second attempt on Padmé's life & subdue Zam Wesell, who is killed by her employer which is a bounty hunter, before she can reveal his identity. The Jedi Council instructs Obi-Wan to find the bounty hunter, while Anakin is tasked to protect Padmé & escort her back to Naboo, where the two fall in love in spite of the Jedi Code that forbids attachments. Looks like love’s in the air though. ❤️

Obi-Wan's search leads him to the ocean planet of Kamino, where he discovers an army of clones that’s being produced for the Republic, with Jango Fett serving as their genetic template. Obi-Wan meets with Jango, who reveals that the clones were the idea of a man called…

Tyranus

Obi-Wan assumes Jango to be the bounty hunter he is seeking, & after a short battle, places a homing beacon on Jango's ship called…

Slave I.

Then, he follows Jango Fett & his son called…

Boba Fett

To Geonosis.

Meanwhile, Anakin Skywalker is troubled by visions of his mother in pain, & decides to return to his homeworld of Tatooine with Padmé so that he can save her. Shortly after they arrive on Tatooine, Anakin is informed that his mother was abducted by Tusken Raiders weeks earlier, & is likely dead. Determined to find his mother, Anakin ventures out, & finds her at the Tusken campsite, still barely alive. After she dies in his arms, Anakin massacres the tribe with his own anger. Sometime after, he vows to Padmé that he will find a way to prevent the deaths of those he loves.

On Geonosis, Obi-Wan discovers a Separatist gathering led by Count Dooku, who is developing a droid army with Nute Gunray, & ordered the attempts on Padmé's life. Obi-Wan transmits his findings to the Jedi Council. But is captured by Separatist droids.

Count Dooku meets Obi-Wan in his cell, & explains his role in the Confederacy of Independent Systems' formation, while implying that Darth Sidious is in control of a large portion of the Galactic Senate. Then, he invites Obi-Wan to join him & stop Darth Sidious. But Obi-Wan refuses.

Meanwhile, Jar Jar Binks proposes a successful vote to grant emergency powers to Chancellor Palpatine, allowing the clone army to be authorized.

Sometime after, Anakin and Padmé head to Geonosis so that they can rescue Obi-Wan. But Anakin loses his lightsaber, & they get captured by Jango. Count Dooku sentences the trio to death. But they are saved by a battalion of clone troopers led by Yoda, Mace Windu, & other Jedi.

During the battle, Mace Windu beheads Jango Fett. Elsewhere, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker intercept Count Dooku, & they engage in a lightsaber duel. Count Dooku injures Obi-Wan, & severs Anakin's right arm. But Yoda intercepts & defends them.

During the lightsaber battle, Count Dooku uses the Force to distract Yoda, & escapes to Coruscant. Upon his arrival, Count Dooku delivers the plans of a super-weapon to Darth Sidious. The Jedi Council is left disturbed by Count Dooku's claim of Darth Sidious controlling the Senate. As the Jedi acknowledge the start of the Clone Wars, Anakin is fitted with a robotic hand, & marries Padmé on Naboo, with C-3PO and R2-D2 as the only witnesses.

The End

This movie may have similar elements to Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980). But in some of the scenes, the movie does focus on the romance part. But it’s cool that we get to see a purple-bladed lightsaber in action. My mother’s favorite color is purple. 💜

But despite the similarities to Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), this movie is definitely a great introduction to the Clone Wars. More like a prologue to the Clone Wars though.

OVERALL: 9/10

End of Review