Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

Whereas Star Wars: Episode I “only” lacked the heart of the original trilogy, Episode II is just a dramaturgically lame comic-book popcorn flick. At the same time, however, it’s jam-packed with so many great characters, bombastic action, romance and plot twists that are important to the development of the Star Wars saga that it’s impossible to be bored for even a second. The visual effects are shoddy in some places, but the best of them are stunningly good. This is not the good old heartwarming Star Wars of before, but in the context of contemporary eye-candy popcorn entertainment, it’s great. (20/05/2002)

If you were expecting some significant darkening after the infantilism and overwroughtness of Episode I, well... You can wait on. That said, it's definitely better than Episode I, but the question is whether better is enough when it's still an overstuffed popcorn nonentity with the most annoying CGI character in history. (12/03/2005)

I like the first trilogy (the older one) better. It is more real and realistic. The first episode still holds on to that, but in the second one, George Lucas became infatuated with CGI and started stuffing it everywhere (practically every scene has some). He could have at least refrained from this with Master Yoda. Well, what can you do, on the other hand, it was something new and unfamiliar at the time and he simply went all out. I actually feel that the second episode kind of lost the spirit of the whole series. Even though Hayed Christensen is a good Anakin in his best years, but also a terrible scumbag. The only thing you can lean on is the fact that with the second episode, the epic climax of the transformation of Anakin into Darth Vader is born, which is, in and of itself, flawless. But that’s all. Obi-Wan himself as the only philanthropist of the movie isn’t going to salvage it. (04/11/2015)

I have never really loved the new trilogy, but if I set aside the romance from this film, it's actually a pretty good bridge to the third and best film of the new trilogy. Visually, it's captivating, and especially the planet Kamino seems absolutely enchanting to me. It's probably because of the water, rain, and constant darkness. Obi-Wan is definitely the best character of the entire trilogy. (22/03/2015)

The love scene with the couple by the waterfalls looks like a Nivea commercial. During the battle in the arena, the Jedi look so bored with their lightsabers that I keep waiting for them to roll a joint. The final battle is a massive mess. Add to that directorial shortcomings such as the final chase, in which Padmé falls out of a flying machine, drops from a great height to the ground and, as if in a last ditch effort, shakes her legs like a beetle, gets back on her feet like nothing happened and starts giving orders. There is no point in going on about other lapses, there are plenty of them. Lucas wanted to pay homage to everyone: Beverly Hills 90210, Gladiator, Chaplin's Modern Times, Blade Runner – it's all here. Unfortunately. But this is still Star Wars, and as the episodes roll in, this new coat of the magic that I love so much from the original trilogy takes on a new look. (21/04/2003)