THE IMAX EXPERIENCE
**1/2 (out of ****)
Starring Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, and Christopher Lee.
Directed & written by George Lucas
2002 PG
Converted to the IMAX format, “Attack of the Clones” is still brilliant to look at but tiring to listen to. Two things make “The IMAX Experience” preferable to the original theatrical release: 1) twenty minutes of deadweight have been shaved off the film’s runtime, making the film, if not tight, then at least tolerable, and 2) on a seven-story screen the visuals are truly awesome. Saying that a movie can only be enjoyed on a three- or four-thousand square foot screen isn’t much of a recommendation, and I don’t think I would have enjoyed “The IMAX Experience” as much on home video.
Perhaps the entire “Star Wars” prequel endeavor is flawed from its conception. The goal of the “The Phantom Menace,” “Attack of the Clones,” and the unnamed third film is to track the transformation of sweet Anakin Skywalker into the dreaded Darth Vader. But the Vader of “Star Wars,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and “Return of the Jedi” is such a wholly, deliciously, richly evil character, especially to those of us who grew up watching him, that no attempt to make his history concrete could be entirely satisfactory. No one can write an “origin story” for Vader that will be as good as the vague, shapeless fears we formed while hearing hints about him in the original trilogy.
George Lucas, the brains behind the “Star Wars” movies, may simply not have it in him to write an history that can live up to the expectations built by the original films. Lucas has taken a lot of flak for “Attack of the Clones,” including the Golden Raspberry for Worst Screenplay of 2002. But as the creator of the “Star Wars” universe, with all its aliens, intrigues, and hardware, and one of the driving forces behind the “Indiana Jones” films, he has undeniably written some great stuff. Maybe we are only given so much genius in this life and Lucas has used up his share.
But back to “The IMAX Experience.” The movie is still the story of how the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker (badly portrayed by Hayden Christensen) falls for a queen (Natalie Portman) he met in “The Phantom Menace” and is seduced by the forces of evil. The twenty minutes that have been shaved off are mostly comprised of their lame, cheesy, and platitude-laden romance. The edit is done seamlessly, and the only thing I missed was the awesome, giant waterfall where Anakin and his special lady get all soppy. Poor Jimmy Smits, who will eventually become the adopted father of the original trilogy’s Princess Leia, has all his lines cut, and is silently despondent in the last scene, perhaps mourning the loss of his dialogue.
“Star Wars Episode II: The IMAX Experience” looks so good, despite the mild murkiness of digital video. The hovering landing pads on the entirely urbanized planet are amazing, the “Black Hawk Down” combat sequence near the end is thrilling, despite being vaguely out-of-place, and the sheer size of the clone army on the ocean planet is awesome. Aliens and spacecraft come in all shapes and sizes, and chase each other through asteroid belts, deserts, and robot factories. Everything is more cartoonish than convincing, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is how gorgeous it all is.
But, golly, did Lucas really write a clunker with “Attack of the Clones.” The movie is still just a list of events, is still just this thing happens, then this thing, then this thing, moved stiffly from location to location with wooden acting. The movie is so permeated by the sense of being a foregone conclusion. There is a lifelessness to all the dialogue scenes. “The Phantom Menace” may share “Attack of the Clones’” flawed premise of trying to explain Darth Vader, but it is at least lively, organic, and creates the illusion that we don’t know how it all must inevitably end. Although the next chapter in Vader/Skywalker’s history may not live up to our expectations, maybe a smart guy like Lucas can get back on track and bring the fun back.
Finished December 25th, 2003
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