Parents' Guide to Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones

This film improves over its predecessor in almost every way. The plotting, character development, and pacing of Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones are all much stronger than in The Phantom Menace, and the CGI and special effects are also a step up. Like the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back, Attack of the Clones introduces an ever-growing darkness into the prequel trilogy story and splits its leading cast to pursue separate adventures before reuniting them for a desperate stand against evil. Fans also get to see the early romance between Anakin and Padmé, how it blossoms and how it starts to turn toxic—even if these ultra-dramatic scenes can be a bit much.

The climactic battle on Geonosis is a high point, as is a skirmish between Kenobi and the mysterious Jango Fett (Temura Morrison). But some of the issues that plagued The Phantom Menace are just as pronounced in Attack of the Clones. In particular, that "classic" Lucas dialogue continues to leave much to be desired, with its awkward phrasings, odd response timings, and general level of cringe. Although Lucas worked with a second screenwriter on this film (Jonathan Hales), the writing still has all of these Lucas hallmarks, love them or hate them. The scenes following Obi-Wan in galactic gumshoe mode trying to solve a key mystery are by far the most successful subplot. And, if nothing else, the spectacles on display, the gorgeous set pieces and art design, and the action-packed sequences in Attack of the Clones all help to smooth over any bumps in Lucas' writing. Kids able to handle moments of violence will enjoy several exciting and imaginative sequences, from a white-knuckle chase in flying cars to a battle against surreal space monsters.