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A RTS MMonday
May 20, 2002 1

EAR WAR-: IRCAIMING 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 namedJar **
Jar. After scathing reviews STAR
from both fans and critics, S
it looked as though the EPisc
most popular series in ATTI
Hollywood history had THE (
gone the way of the dark At Sho'
side, but with "Episode II Qua
- Attack of the Clones,"
fans can take a collective 20th Ce
sigh of relief as George
Lucas has created a more than worthy
entry in the "Star Wars" saga.
The trademark scrolling yellow text
informs us of what has transpired in
Lucas' galaxy far, far away in the 10
years since "The Phantom Menace."
Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), for-
mer Queen of Naboo, is the subject of

Al
tli
'en

several assassination attempts while her
future dark knight in shining black
armor, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden
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
WARS: the original trilogy, but
: it's just as entertaining,
DE II ' if not more so.
CK OF A mere 10 minutes
LONES into "Episode II," the
rcase and action begins in a
ity 16 thrilling chase sequence
on the "Blade Runner"-
ntury Fox inspired plant Corus-
cant. The wizards at
Lucas' own Industrial Light and Magic
provide the most breathtaking 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 countless
trailers and tele-
vision ads. While
entertaining for
their unrelenting
action and jaw-
dropping visuals,
nothing in .
"Attack of the
Clones" matches
the "perform-
ance" of Yoda, Thank the maker. "Epi
the "Empire
Strikes Back" Muppet gone "Matrix"
The perennial favorite little green man,
now in CGI form, finally lets his
lightsaber do the talking in a scene that
is sure to make even the most subdued
viewer cracka smile.
Of the returning cast members, Ewan
McGregor gives the most rewarding
performance as the fabled Jedi Knight.
His Obi Wan Kenobi sounds remark-
ably 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 ofAnakin's char-
acter, hinting at the eventual downfall of

isode 11" stars Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman chat with the

the tragic hero. The romantic scenes
between Anakin and Amidala may lack
the charm of Han and Leia, but this is a
frustrated teenager and a politician, not
a dashing rogue and a rebel leader. Crit-
ics 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 masterstroke.
His haunting voice and snide smile
blends well in "Episode II," much like
Peter Cushing's performance as Grand
Moff Tarkin in the 1977 original "Star
Wars." Cushing and Lee starred in sev-
eral low-budget horror films together,
beginning with the 1957 classic "The
Curse of Frankenstein." The "Hammer
Horror" veteran Lee has experienced a
resurgence of late, also starring in a
very similar role as Saruman in Peter
Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
The only way to fully experience the
technical bravado of Lucas' latest "Star
Wars" installment is to see the sci-fi
yarn projected digitally. The movie was
shot using a revolutionary Sony digital
camera that could withstand the 125

degree temperatures of the Tunisian
desert. When projected on film,
"Episode II" can look grainy at times,
often within the extravagant CGI back-
drops. The digital projection provides
sharper images and more vibrant color,
providing the ideal format for the digital
landscapes of the "Star Wars" universe.
Lucas was hoping theater owners would
rush to install digital projectors in time
for the May 16 release date of"Clones,"
but only 58 theaters across the country
have done so.
"Attack of the Clones" is a landmark
film in the history of motion pictures.
Whether or not "Episode 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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