Let’s revisit the good, the bad, and the baffling of George Lucas' strangest prequel.
Every week, Entertainment Weekly is looking back at the biggest movies of the summer of 2002.
Join us for a rewatch of the first true summer of Hollywood’s strange new millennium.
Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) prepare for battle in ‘Star Wars: Attack of the Clones’.Lucasfilm
CHRISTIAN:Well, well, well.
Here we go again, contemplating theStar Warsprequels.
Devan, what do you make of Morrison’s originalStar Warsperformance from our 2022 perspective?
Hayden Christensen ridin' solo in ‘Attack of the Clones’.Lucasfilm
Like you, I have a complicated relationship with the prequels.
Today, I still stand by many of myClonescriticisms: The dialogue is bad.
The early-aughts CG is rough.
Yoda (Frank Oz), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), and Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) have a mini Jedi council meeting in ‘Attack of the Clones’.Lucasfilm
C-3PO has absolutely zero reason to be there.
A passionless kiss is preceded by a bizarre monologue about sand.
Remember when we went to new planets that weren’t just Tatooine 2.0?
Hey, it’s Rose Byrne! The actress appears briefly as Dormé in ‘Attack of the Clones,’ alongside Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, Ahmed Best as Jar Jar Binks, and Natalie Portman as Padmé.Lucasfilm
The neon-drenched noir and seedy bars of Coruscant!
The sweeping vistas of Naboo!
The blindingly white Apple Store vibes of Kamino!
With the prequels, Lucas vowed to explore the strangest and most colorful corners of the galaxy.
What otherStar Warsfilm has a whole sequence set in a ’50s diner?
There are also quite a few decent performances here.
You mentioned Temuera Morrison, and I think he’s quite good as Jango Fett.
(Star Warsis filled with bad dads, but there are a few decent father figures.)
One is a boy.
One is a man.
A hot, wise-cracking man who’s as deadly with a lightsaber as he is with a sassy quip.
Next week, he travels to Canto Bight to thwart a bank robbery.
If I were on the Disney+ Jedi council, I would giveDetective Kenobia full series order.
I’ve monologued enough (although I’ve only mentioned sand once).
Christian, what was it that impressed you most during this rewatch and what didn’t?
The subsequent plot of the movie revolves around an authoritarian leader building up a war under false pretenses.
I’ve always appreciated that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) brings up this critique inThe Last Jedi.
He should be the one we’re following and invested in.
Well, soon we’ll get that story.
Does this latest viewing make you excited for that show’s possibilities?
It’s a clear contrivance to give Obi-Wan physical evidence to hunt down.
Whoops, I’m getting carried away.
The prequels can do that to you.
Any last thoughts, Devan?
How would the payment plan for a massive clone army even work?
Does Darth Sidious have Venmo?
It’s also worth noting that some parts ofClonessimply haven’t aged well thanks in part toStar Warsitself.
(Ahem,Rise of Skywalker.)
