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Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Critics Consensus

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones benefits from an increased emphasis on thrilling action, although they're once again undercut by ponderous plot points and underdeveloped characters.

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 251

56%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 852,709
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Movie Info

The second prequel to the original Star Wars trilogy takes place ten years after the events depicted in Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace. Now 20, young Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is an apprentice to respected Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Unusually powerful in the Force, Anakin is also impatient, arrogant, and headstrong -- causing his mentor a great deal of concern. The pair are ordered to protect Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), the former queen of the planet Naboo, now representing her world in the Galactic Senate. Someone is trying to assassinate her on the eve of a vote enabling Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) to build a military force that will safeguard against a growing separatist movement led by mysterious former Jedi Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). After another attempt on Padme's life, Obi-Wan and Anakin separate. The young Jedi and Padme fall in love as he escorts her first to the security of Naboo and then to his home world of Tatooine, where the fate of his mother leads him to commit an ominous atrocity. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan travels to the secretive planet Kamino and the asteroid-ringed world of Geonosis, following bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison) and his son, Boba (Daniel Logan), who are involved in an operation to create a massive army of clones. A vicious battle ensues between the clones and Jedi on one side and Dooku's droids on the other, but who is really pulling the strings in this galactic conflict? In late 2002, the movie was released in IMAX theaters as Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones: The IMAX Experience, with a pared-down running time of 120 minutes in order to meet the technical requirements of the large-screen format. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Cast

Hayden Christensen
as Anakin Skywalker
Natalie Portman
as Padmé Amidala
Ewan McGregor
as Obi-Wan Kenobi
Samuel L. Jackson
as Mace Windu
Christopher Lee
as Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus
Frank Oz
as Yoda
Ian McDiarmid
as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
Pernilla August
as Shmi Skywalker
Temuera Morrison
as Jango Fett
Jimmy Smits
as Bail Organa
Ahmed Best
as Jar Jar Binks
Anthony Daniels
as C-3PO
Jack Thompson
as Cliegg Lars
Leeanna Walsman
as Zam Wesell
Ron Falk
as Dexter Jettster
Rose Byrne
as Dormé
Oliver Ford Davies
as Sio Bibble
Jay Lagai'aia
as Captain Typho
Andrew Secombe
as Watto
Kenny Baker
as R2-D2
Silas Carson
as Nute Gunray
Daniel Logan
as Boba Fett
Graeme Blundell
as Ruwee Naberrie
David Bowers (II)
as Mas Amedda
Ayesha Dharker
as Ayesha Dharker
Matt Doran
as Elan Sleazebaggano
Joel Edgerton
as Owen Lars
Claudia Karvan
as Sola Naberrie
Alethea McGrath
as Jocasta Nu
Trisha Noble
as Jobal Naberrie
Rena Owen
as Taun We
Anthony Phelan
as Lama Su
Susie Porter
as Hermione Bagwa
Matt Sloan
as Plo Koon
Steve John Shepherd
as Naboo Lieutenant
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Critic Reviews for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

All Critics (251) | Top Critics (53) | Fresh (164) | Rotten (87)

View All Critic Reviews (251)

Audience Reviews for Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

  • Jun 22, 2016
    This was George Lucas's attempt to appease the fans for what he did in Episode I. Despite the film being better, it still felt a little flat. The story deepened a bit and Ewan McGregor still turned in a very strong performance as Obi Wan Kenobi, but Hayden Christensen's performance as Anakin Skywalker seemed very "emo" and whiny. Maybe this was the director and the script's fault, but Christensen turned many (including myself) off to this character. Best part of the film is the Count Dooku lightsaber duel at the end of the film. Many did NOT see it coming and it was pretty enjoyable.
    Patrick W Super Reviewer
  • Mar 26, 2016
    Attack of the Clones is singlehandley saved by a stunningly spectacular final act that is both thrilling and fun. The rest of the film slogs with horrible pacing, wooden acting and a tonally confused script that never reaches the heights it wants to achieve.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 14, 2016
    Lacking the exciting action that would make it great and the undercooked characters that couldn't fill in the roles they were supposed to play, Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones is another disappointment from George Lucas.
    Jonathan W Super Reviewer
  • Jan 29, 2016
    In "Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones" (2002), a grown-up Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is charged with protecting Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) from some mysterious person who wants to kill her. Meanwhile, the Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) is on a mission to find out, among other things, the purpose of the creation of a strange new army of genetically identical clones. A third plotline concerns Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and his increasing consolidation of power in the Galactic Senate under his supreme command. Much of this latter plotline parallels the fascist rise to power in Germany and Italy, and serves as a cautionary tale for our own time. The movie does a lot in the way of fan service, but which will be fascinating to viewers if they have no familiarity with the series. For instance, fans of the original trilogy were likely long interested in seeing what kind of fighter the short green Henson-creation Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) was, and they get to see his frenetic style for the first time in this film. Even a newcomer to the series will delight. The Star Wars franchise is and always has been space opera, so the amount of vitriol this film and the other prequel trilogy have received seems disproportionate in retrospect. "Attack of the Clones" is a fun, fast-paced popcorn Sci-Fi / Adventure movie. No doubt some of the criticisms are justified. Hayden Christensen DOES give a wooden performance, and some of the CGI in the film didn't even look good at the time. So it goes.
    Billie P Super Reviewer
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