Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

There are very few films that have been created in the past few decades that one might deem worthy of multi-generational hoopla. The most obvious reason for this is that culture changes seemingly overnight. A film thus has to appeal to concepts that can withstand the test of time if it is going to last through generations. One story that has been successful in doing this is the Star Wars saga.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the fifth of the six Star Wars films to be released (2nd in terms of chronology), was released in May of 2002 by 20th Century Fox. As with the other installments of the series, Star Wars creator, George Lucas, oversaw the film's production. Although Attack of the Clones did not gross as much as its predecessor, Star Wars Episode III: The Phantom Menace, the film was still a box office success. The film grossed well over $300 million in the United States alone.

Attack of the Clones is instrumental in the fact that it is the first film that was shot entirely by digital camera. The film served as a catalyst for the debate regarding whether or not Hollywood would reject traditional methods of film in favor of accepting more advanced filming techniques. The character of Yoda, for example, was generated completely with digital technology. The fact that Lucas chose to make use of the technology available to him at the time the film was made raised the bar in terms of video production quality, and the advanced computer generation and special affects only helped to hold viewer interest.

The success of Attack of the Clones can be attributed to two additional facts. First, the Star Wars series is one of the few film series that was able to achieve a feeling of continuity through the film score and certain visuals. Lucas decided to re-employ the composer of the original Star Wars scores, John Williams, for Attack of the Clones. Williams easily was able to reintroduce original themes in Attack of the Clones with which the public was already familiar. There are also numerous references to the other films, which helps the viewer to feel as if Attack of the Clones is a part of a larger whole. Secondly, Attack of the Clones was filmed with the highest budget of any of the Star Wars movies, with a reported $120 million spent in production.

Despite the fact that Attack of the Clones financially was backed well and made use of various technological advancements, the film still has two downsides. First of all, the plot is incredibly complex for younger viewers to follow. Secondly, the plot complexities are made worse by the fact that the script is often very dry. This is especially apparent in the love affair between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, which tends to hang on by an emotional thread as Anakin shifts back and forth from a conceited, rage-filled padawan to a devoted not-quite-a-Jedi in love for the first time.

Fortunately, the few kinks held in the film do not ruin the picture as a whole. Attack of the Clones is instrumental to the Star Wars series in part because the storyline provides for the first time insights as to the real reasons why Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side of the force and became Darth Vader. While previous Star Wars films had portrayed Darth Vader as little more than a power-hungry, merciless lord, Attack of the Clones provides reason for a different view of Vader. The murder of Anakin's mother by Tuscan Raiders gives Anakin Skywalker more legitimate reasons to feel hate, and his love affair with Padmé Amidala seems lodged in a too-deep passion rather than in a focused lust for power. It is in Attack of the Clones that Lucas also reveals the rationales and deceptions behind the creation of the Separatist movement and clone army that eventually threatens the entire empire. For those reasons, Attack of the Clones likely will continue to be viewed as part of the most beloved film series of all time.