DVD Review: Attack of the Clones

TP and I had the displeasure of watching Star Wars: Attack of the Clones recently and I have to say that it wasn't as bad as all the reviews made it out to be.  It was worse. 

We did find a way to make most of the movie tolerable: skip every second chapter.  This allowed us to avoid the cringingly bad love story and concentrate upon the Ben Kenobi adventure, which while not good wasn't entirely bad.

One thing I will compliment the film on is the production design.  It was simply outstanding - albeit a little confused at times melding the Star Wars universe with Blade Runner with 1930s US.

As for special effects, this film is nothing to rave about.  Yoda was more convincing as a muppet than as CGI.  There are ample numbers of obvious mistakes - something that is unforgivable given a budget this size.  Basically, the stuff they did well 20 years ago in Empire and Jedi they've done well again except there is more.  Too much more.  A hundred jedis fighting a few thousand combat droids just isn't interesting.  It's like watching a video game that someone else is playing.

Lucas has forgotten what made the Star Wars franchise a phenomenon.  It was the characters.  It was the story.  It was the world.  The characters in SW:AotC are cardboard cutouts.  The story is meandering, boring and has a large so what factor. The world looks great but has no soul.

Avoid at all costs.

Rating: 3 out of 10 Sith Lords