ARTS
The Michigan Daily - Orientation Edition 2002 - 27
STAR WARS: RECLAIMING THE THRONE
Epic galactic saga continues
*triumphantly with 'Clones'
By Jeff Dickerson
Daily Arts Editor
It grossed over $430 million in the
United States alone and earned almost
$1 billion worldwide, yet for many peo-
ple "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phan-
tom Menace" was a disappointment.
Casual moviegoers and fanboys alike
complained of too much politicking,
confusing trade disputes
and a flop-eared Gungan
named Jar Jar. After
scathing reviews from both
fans and critics, it looked **
as though the most popular STAR
series in Hollywood histo-
ry had gone the way of the EPISc
dark side, but with ATTA
"Episode - Attack of the THE (
Clones," fans can take a
collective sigh of relief as Directed
George Lucas has created Lt
a more than worthy entry 20rh C
in the "Star Wars" saga.
The trademark scrolling
yellow text informs us of what has tran-
spired in Lucas' galaxy far, far away in
the 10 years since "The Phantom Men-
ace." Padme Amidala (Natalie Port-
man), former Queen of Naboo, is the
subject of several assassination attempts
while her future dark knight in shining
black armor, Anakin Skywalker (Hay-
den Christensen), continues his tutelage
among the Jedi. The mysterious Count
Dooku (Christopher Lee) leads a sepa-
ratist movement against the longstand-
ing Republic while Obi Wan Kenobi
investigates the creation of a clone army
on a lost planet. "Clones" may seem
more complicated than the beloved
entries of the original trilogy, but it's
just as entertaining, if not more so.
A mere 10 minutes into "Episode II,"
the action begins in a thrilling chase
sequence on the "Blade Runner"-
inspired plant Coruscant. The wizards
at Lucas' own Industrial Light and
Magic provide the most breathtaking
Y.
A
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,u
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visual creations ever seen in a motion
picture and the always brilliant John
Williams accompanies the on-screen
action with a sweeping score.
The film hits its stride in the final
hour and never lets up, from the colise-
um-style melee to the cartoonish trek
through the droid factory seen in count-
less trailers and television ads. While
entertaining for their unrelenting action
and jaw-dropping visu-
als, nothing in "Attack
of the Clones" matches
the "performance" of
Yoda, the "Empire
Strikes Back" Muppet
WARS: gone "Matrix." The
)DE II - perennial favorite little
ACK OF green man, now in CGI
CLONES form, finally lets his
lightsaber do the talking
by George ina scene that is sure to
ucas make even the most
subdued viewer crack a
ntury Fox smile.
Of the returning cast
members, Ewan McGregor gives the
most rewarding performance as the
fabled Jedi Knight. His Obi Wan Keno-
bi sounds remarkably similar to Alec
Guinness, and sporting a full beard, his
appearance mirrors the famed British
actor as well. McGregor has fun with
the role, most notably in a scene with a
filthy four-armed diner employee
turned informant named Dexter Jettster.
Relative newcomer Hayden Chris-
tensen ("Life as a House") plays Jedi-
in-training Anakin Skywalker in a style
reminiscent of Mark Hamill, which
may have some fans gagging in their
seats. The young Canadian actor was a
bold choice by Lucas, who also consid-
ered Ryan Phillippe and Colin Hanks
for the role. Christensen is able to bal-
ance the good and evil of Anakin's char-
acter, hinting at the eventual downfall of
the tragic hero. The romantic scenes
between Anakin and Amidala may lack
the charm of Han and Leia, but this is a
frustrated teenag-
er and a politi-
cian, not a
dashing rogue
and a rebel
leader. Critics
have condemned
the trite dialogue
of two young
lovers, but this is
a sci-fi serial, not
Shakespeare.
The casting of
Christopher Lee
as villain Count
Dooku is a master- He's carrying a message from an Obi-Wan Kenobi.
stroke. His haunt-
ing voice and snide smile blends well in CGI backdrops. The digit
"Episode II," much like Peter Cushing's provides sharper image
performance as Grand Moff Tarkin in vibrant color, providing the
the 1977 original "Star Wars." Cushing for the digital landscapes
and Lee starred in several low-budget Wars" universe. Lucas wa
horror films together, beginning with ater owners would rush to
the 1957 classic "The Curse of projectors in time for the M
Frankenstein." The "Hammer Horror" date of "Clones," but onl
veteran Lee has experienced a resur- across the country have dot
gence of late, also starring in a very "Attack of the Clones"i
similar role as Saruman in Peter Jack- film in the history of mo
son's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Whether or not "Episode]
The only way to
fully experience
the technical brava-
do of Lucas' latest
"Star Wars" install-
ment is to see the
sci-fi yarn project-
ed digitally. The w 6
movie was shot
using a revolution- n.) Pizza House's perfect combing
ary Sony digital Add turkey, tuna, chicken, o
camera that could
withstand the 125 'T1e rErsitresr- noe E
degree tempera- ie"MC YArIIIA 't W v*i' BAt 19p"5k4
tures of the wI$i S A r - .,,.-
Tunisian desert. (
When projected on
film, "Episode II"
can look grainy at
times, often within be s&
the extravagant I A
tal projection
es and more
e ideal format
of the "Star
s hoping the-
install digital
tay 16 release
y 58 theaters
ne so.
is a landmark
tion pictures.
II" fulfills the
high expectations of its devoted fans,
the filmmaking process itself is epic in
scale. The transition from film to digital
video will be a slow process, as theater
owners balk at the high cost of upgrad-
ing to digital projectors. Purists will
argue film has a distinct atmosphere,
but after watching "Star Wars: Episode
II - Attack of the Clones," it looks as
though George Lucas might be chang-
ing the way Hollywood makes motion
pictures yet again.
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