20th anniversary of Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Happy birthday to Episode II: Attack Of The Clones! Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

I actually got to see AOTC projected digitally on release. The first film I saw that way -- just as Lucas would have wanted it.

It was the movie that really brought the PT to life and legitimated it as a creative endeavour and major storytelling project. Prior to that, it wasn't clear where the prequels were really going, but here is where the bigger storyline really started clicking into place.

It was also the movie -- of course -- that divided fans more deeply than ever. A difficult, surly Anakin; an old-fashioned courtly romance; political conspiracy; clones; a bizarre and dreamy digital feel; and bright, lush, gaudy action. In many ways, the perfect Star Wars movie. And what is the response to perfection? To freak out and be upset about it.

And yes, compositionally, this movie is nigh-on perfect: a masterclass in how to use a camera and frame scenes in that crisp, layered, clear, "Golden Age of Hollywood" way. Of course, all the Lucas Star Wars movies are fantastic on this level, but AOTC is just that bit better: a little wider a little more often, incredibly environmental and epic in its panoramic, panoptical brilliance, and stunning with its heady mixture of delicate character moments, sweeping vistas, and multi-dimensional action sequences.

In short, AOTC is a wonderful confection of myth and mood. Add in John Williams' awesome love theme, combined with those picturesque settings, culminating in what is possibly the most satisfying and stirring end to any Star Wars movie, and you have the most perfect wedding cake imaginable. AOTC remains a sensational entry in the Star Wars canon. It somehow fits perfectly in the wider franchise firmament, yet still sets itself apart as a radiant work of deep-hued fantasy cinema unique unto itself. Goofy and gauche, yet with a painterly precision and something of the otherworldly heft of a 19th Century novel. The competition would quiver in this movie's presence, if only it knew how. Many thanks to George Lucas and a hearty bravo to everyone else involved.

Great reminiscences on Twitter, AD. Where were these voices twenty years ago?

I feel Hayden has a point in that wonderful (if short) interview you gave a link to:

www.starwars.com/news/clones-at-20-hayden-christensen-interview


This, too, is an extremely heartening statement from him:


That page has some great pictures included, my favourite of which has got to be the last one:

(I believe this image, or a similar one with Anakin meditating in the same position with his eyes closed, was first released on Hyperspace, the members-only area of the official site, many years ago. Looks to be a frame from a deleted scene, not an on-set photograph. Note the digital noise and Anakin reaching for his saber.)

Attack of the Clones is one of my happiest memories at the movie theatre. The seats were jam-packed, I sat in the very front row, so all of that Clone Wars action was right up in my face! Hard on the neck, but absolutely thrilling! The sound effect for the seismic charges was the most badass thing I had ever heard in a movie, Natalie Portman the hottest babe I had ever witnessed, and everyone LOST it when Yoda busted out his lightsaber!

To be honest, I have only seen the theatre as packed for Titanic and Avatar. Not even Endgame had as many seats filled (although there were nearly as many).

Whenever ranking my favorite works of cinema, Star Wars and Indiana Jones often get lumped into one slot for the No.1 taking, yet cousin franchises broken down respectively to single delegates, it would be Last Crusade for sure and...tentatively...Attack of the Clones ...which then, in a way, makes Episode II my favorite movie, period.

I'm just gonna link to past summaries here, because I'm lazy and I don't give a shit about the fact that I'm lazy, which is in-and-of-itself part of being lazy, or lazy part of not giving a shit, I can't remember which—sort of a 'chicken or the egg' thing. Anyways, shut up. Because Attack of the Clones is six things: 

1. real reel magic
2. all the Christmas mornings
3. the cat's motherfuckin' pajamas
4. a copper-vapor laser of space pulp
5. Star Wars folded onto itself like Japanese steel
6. a thing that I like a lot 

note: copper-vapor is a gas that produces the most powerful laser, stupid. 

AOTC is still my favorite SW movie and I often rewatch it. Astonishingly beautiful, incredible world building, very complex and interesting story and yes, I like the love story arc. AOTC indeed has very strong feminine vibe in it and is not because of the romance itself it is like the main thread of the movie, the boiling emotions (of any kind), the complexity of the world building and the story. While it includes one of the most intensive battle of SW, its pace is somehow slower than other SW movies, more melancholic in a way. The duels of AOTC are more like dances or dialogues if I can say so, not exactly battles. I like also the strong motive of masters and apprentices relationship that is maybe more emphasized here than in other movies.
AOTC shines as standalone movie but also as the "bridge" between the introduction and the culmination of the trilogy that is very hard to achieve.

I'm still in a way surprised by the bad fame that AOTC has into the geek community. The regular users generally like it. I see it even in the YouTube reactions lastly that I check sometimes.