20 years in the past, on Might 16, Star Wars Episode II: Assault of the Clones hit theaters. And whereas a youthful technology of Star Wars followers are excited to see the place the journey continues, an older technology of followers are complaining on-line about how outdated they’re. How their poetry was ruined. I used to be a type of folks, and I used to be mistaken.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to see Return of the Jedi in theaters when it first got here out; nonetheless, I simply filmed one, so do I even actually see it? My childhood recollections all revolve across the authentic trilogy – though these motion pictures have been aimed toward what we now name Era X, and I’m a type of millennials. that outdated period. I’ve obtained toys. I purchased the film on VHS – and the flicks replayed afterwards, like a bloodsucker. I learn books that increase the lore of the galaxy.
My love for Star Wars was particularly deep till Might 19, 1999, once I skipped college and watched The Phantom Menace. Each grievance you’ve seen in regards to the film, I most likely made on the time as a result of I felt betrayed that “my childhood was destroyed”, and that ache obtained worse/continued on Might 16, 2002 when Assault of the Clones was launched.
Now, I’ve nothing to show to you who’re studying this. Our tackle the issues we love and hate in Star Wars is only subjective based mostly on expertise, private desire, and so on. There’s one individual I want to say, me in 2002.
Hear Mat 20 years outdated, I do know you assume you’re actually essential since you’re about to be promoted to supervisor that flooring on the native toy retailer – as a substitute of going to school proper after highschool – however you’re very mistaken about Assault of the Clones for thus many causes. First, let’s discuss prequels usually.
They don’t seem to be made for you. You aren’t the audience. That is the brand new Star Wars for the brand new technology, and it’s marketed primarily in the direction of youngsters – the identical method you liked Star Wars as a child. In the case of Assault of the Clones, you’re proper to say that CG doesn’t look good – and particularly because it doesn’t maintain up 20 years later. You’ll be able to talk about how stiff and unnatural Anakin and Padme’s relationship has grow to be. You might even say the Commerce Federation’s Neimoidian appears like a racist stereotype. These are honest critiques of the film. Nevertheless, that’s loads higher than you giving credit score as a result of it makes its personal path. It wasn’t the unique trilogy, and that’s what makes it so nice.
Phantom Menace establishes the world. The Galactic Republic guidelines the galaxy by dialogue and consultant democratic guidelines. There may be additionally a Commerce Federation, which is the supply of all issues. Anakin Skywalker is launched, a Pressure-sensitive boy from Tatooine – a planet Lucas can not depart. Obi-Wan will prepare him to be a jedi.
Now, 10 years after the occasions of that film, that’s when Assault of the Clones takes place – a title that I nonetheless discover terrible. Within the film, now we have an grownup Anakin working with Obi-Wan to hold out the Sepratist motion within the Republic. They’re a risk to order within the galaxy. The Sifo-Dyas of the Jedi order commissioned a military of clones – when his Pressure imaginative and prescient noticed an important battle impending and he needed the Republic to be ready. After Dyas died – by the hands of Rely Dooku / Darth Tyranus – Obi-Wan found this military of clones, however Dooku needed management so he despatched Jango away. Ultimately, the Republic took management of this military to confront Dooku and his Geonosian military.
This film is a recreation of chess between the Sith and the Republic. Every part is sharp – for essentially the most half – within the galaxy so as, and that is the place issues begin to disintegrate. With the unique trilogy, there was one villain from the beginning: Empire. The prequel is a little more ambiguous, because it talks in regards to the fall of the “utopian” Republic, so that you don’t actually know who the dangerous guys are – apart from the second Sith – till the top of Episode III.
Now, let’s discuss Jango Fett as a result of this can be a large, horrible speaking level for you. You’re keen on Boba Fett, however not due to his appearances in Empire Strikes Again or Return of the Jedi. You’re keen on this character primarily due to Tales of the Bounty Hunters, Tales from Jabba’s Palace and The Bounty Hunter Wars: The Mandalorian Armor. Anyway, the whole lot that occurs in these books is just a few years away from being dominated out.
Due to your love for this character, you have been hoping to get greater than he was right here, however he was a child and his moments within the film are simply the start line for one thing else – a part of an animated collection that may premiere years later. Additionally, he’s hardly a highschool child right here, in an already packed film. Sure, it’s annoying that the Star Wars motion pictures have a knack for introducing minor villains and never attending to grips with them – or killing them off in the identical film – however for essentially the most half the attraction of Star Wars is only a secondary ingredient. You’re keen on Boba Fett for the novel, and also you’ll love The Mandalorians usually for 2 animated motion pictures and one live-action movie. Star Wars is huge, and the flicks we all know – with all however two of them at present – revolve across the Skywalker lineage.
And talking of that Skywalker lineage, Hayden Christensen is improbable within the position. Your complaints that he’s lame, overly emotional, and unwieldy is precisely what makes him nice. That’s how the character is meant to be. I’m sorry should you like your Jedi to be tremendous stoic, however that’s not the story being instructed right here. That is Obi-Wan’s largest mistake. Jedi are speculated to be impassive, however that’s not Anakin. He’s about to slip to the Darkish Facet all through the complete film, and now we have a couple of moments the place we are able to clearly see which course the character is headed.
Assault of the Clones isn’t the perfect film within the Star Wars franchise – not by one shot – but it surely’s definitely loads higher than you would possibly initially bear in mind. It’s a part of a trilogy, a giant departure from the unique motion pictures, and that’s okay. It was made for an additional technology of followers and it’s exploring the transition from Jedi to Sith. No, it’s not essentially the most memorable of the Star Wars Universe movies, and at instances, it’s a complicated movie. Nonetheless, it’s significantly better than the “finish of the franchise franchise” that I claimed was when it first got here out. I’m mad that this isn’t the unique trilogy, and I didn’t charge it pretty.
You’ll be able to evaluate Assault of the Clones for your self on Disney+.
