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Star Wars Episode II / Attack of the Clones - 81

MPAA rating: PG
Running Length: 143 minutes
Year of release: 2002
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Pernilla August, Jack Thompson, and Christopher Lee
Director: George Lucas
Category: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Story: 20/25
Acting: 15/25
Cinematography: 15/15
Execution: 7/10
Music: 9/10
Spin: 15/15

Bad: George Lucas really needs to hire a writer/editor team to go over his screenplays before they get made into films. His dialogue is awful, especially trite in the love scenes (how many clichés can you pack into a scene, good man?) and it's painful to watch the actors struggle to deliver them in a way that's not laughable. (His pacing often needs help, too, as certain scenes drag interminably.) Additionally, actors doing scenes with CGI characters don't respond appropriately, and end up looking (and sounding) wooden in delivery.

Good: On the other hand, Lucas is almost unmatched when it comes to visuals. The worlds he creates are lush, rich, and incredibly compelling. The action scenes are impressively choreographed and as exciting as they've ever been in this saga; if the last 45 minutes of this movie don't have you breathless and cheering, I'm not sure what would. Moreover, CGI characters and effects have come a long way, and despite some slight vocal synchronization issues still remaining with CGI characters like Yoda, are downright amazing. I can't wait to see what Episode III will look like.

In short, it's much better than The Phantom Menace, and worth a viewing (or two if you're a fan) -- personally, I think it's the best Star Wars movie since The Empire Strikes Back, and its flaws are very much overcome by its strengths. Definitely see it on the big screen, though -- it won't be nearly as engaging on a TV at home.