If any of you out there know me, than you know that I have a fascination with the Star Wars universe, the prequel films included. I am fascinated that Lucas was able to combine the philosophy and mythological teachings of Joseph Campbell, with allusions to world religions and historical falls of republics and the eventual rise of tyrannical dictators like Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler, and bring about the most fascinating story ever assembled by just one simple man with a dream.
With that said, the prequel trilogy is one of the worst trilogies of films of all time in terms of acting, writing, and generally less than spectacular special effects, proving that Lucas is more interested in telling a story that is visually compelling instead of relying on the kind of writing that brought out such classics as "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back". In these posts, I will be focusing on what could have made Episodes I-III not only as good as the original trilogy, but even more superior when compared to such famous trilogies as "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Dark Knight".
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
The Film begins with it's traditional opening crawl:
The Republic is on the brink of destruction. The Confederacy of Independent Systems
has had a string of victories since their defeat at Naboo five years ago, and with Master Yoda
refusing to allow the Jedi to be involved in the war, it seems
that Coruscant may yet be in reach.
As the Republic's casualties mount, the systems in the senate are
all debating whether or not the Republic is worth losing millions of lives
each day. As each system withdraws from the Republic, the Republic's volunteer army
continues to deteriorate.
On Coruscant, a major bill is currently under debate, which would place the Jedi Council
under the jurisdiction of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, a bill that doesn't sit well
with the Jedi....
On Coruscant, in the Jedi Temple, Mace Windu, Yoda, and informant Padme Amidala discuss the bill. Mace begins to question Palpatine's intentions, including his rumored involvement in the assassination of Chancellor Valorum. Padme defends Palpatine, but does understand where the Jedi are coming from. She also informs the Jedi that she will be taking some time off, due to her oncoming wedding to the nephew of Duchess Satine of Mandalore.
Meanwhile on the planet of Raxus Prime, Obi-Wan and Anakin (26 and 19) are in hot pursuit of Darth Maul, who has been attacking many Republic shipments in the Outer Rim. Maul eludes his Jedi enemies, and is ordered by Count Dooku to move to their base on Mandalore. Anakin and Obi-Wan square off against a group of battle droids and escape in hot pursuit of Maul. The two are contacted by Chancellor Palpatine, who requests that the two return to Coruscant.
Anakin and Padme reunite in the Senate building, and the maiden informs her old friend about her engagement to the young Duke of Mandalore. Obviously, the young Jedi is visibly jealous. The three meet with Palpatine, whom informs them that the bill had been passed. He requests that both Jedi escort Padme to Mandalore, telling Obi-Wan to negotiate with Duchess Satine, whom he knows Obi-Wan has been in love with all his life (he intends to test both Jedi with the temptation of both revenge on Maul and being around the girls that they love). Anakin confesses his love to Padme, who decides to shoot him down, citing that the Jedi Code forbids them from ever being together, and that her marriage to Duke Armon will save the Republic.
As their ship enters hyperspace, Anakin is viewing the HoloNet, and learns that Bespin and Kashyyyk have both fallen to the Confederacy. Just as he is about to turn it off in frustration, he is contacted by a mysterious billionaire named Jango Fett, who offers him a chance to save the Republic during the war. The temptation of being a hero makes Anakin immediately agree, but when Obi-Wan asks him about the phone call, Anakin brushes off the notion.
Duchess Satine meets the group on a landing platform, and immediately whisks Padme away to be with Duke Armon. Obi-Wan goes off with them, while Anakin secretly departs for Fett's mansion. Anakin meets with Fett and learns that the billionaire scientist has perfected cloning and has created his own private army. He also explains that he was approached by Qui-Gon Jinn a few weeks prior to the Battle of Naboo and that Jinn had ordered an army to be created for the Republic. Anakin is in awe of the army, but his thoughts still linger on the fact that Qui-Gon hadn't told anyone about the army.
That evening, Anakin returns to Satine's palace only to find Padme and Armon kissing, which drives the Jedi into a rage. Obi-Wan comes to calm him down and the two exchange banter regarding both of their personal relationships. The two begin to realize their growing friendship, and Anakin tells Obi-Wan about his meeting with Jango. Obi-Wan immediately reports this to the Council, but he only reaches Palpatine, whom informs the Jedi that not only is Darth Maul on Mandalore, but that Qui-Gon had ordered the creation on behalf of the late Chancellor Valorum.
During the engagement party, Anakin is thrown into more jealousy. This time, he contacts Palpatine about his emotions, and Palpatine tells him of a secret plot that the Republic has discovered: Armon intends to murder his Aunt and bring Mandalore into the war on Dooku's side. Anakin tries to tell Satine about this, but is distracted by a young boy who is wearing a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter's suit. Anakin goes on the attack, but learns that the boy is Boba Fett, Jango's son. Before Anakin can arrest Fett for trespassing, the young Jedi senses Count Dooku and goes to find him.
During a speech she makes, Padme accidentally says she loves Anakin instead of Armon, which dives the Duke into a rage. He is about to chastise her, when Darth Maul enters with his Magnaguards and force chokes the Duke to death, claiming Mandalore for his own. Obi-Wan, despite being tempted to go after the Sith, decides to protect Satine and takes her deep into the castle. Despite bravely fending off droids and protecting the guests, Padme is captured and the droids begin their coup of Mandalore.
Anakin and Boba find Dooku in the study. Anakin faces off against Dooku in a lightsaber duel, which Dooku wins by electrocuting Anakin with force lightning, rendering him unconscious. Dooku is about to murder Boba when Jango arrives. Through a discussion, it is revealed that despite his offering of the Clone Army to the Republic, Fett secretly supports the Confederacy. Anakin is left to Boba, who decides to revive the Jedi and take him back to his loft.
Obi-Wan and Satine rekindle their relationship, as Obi-Wan reveals that he was willing to leave the Jedi Order for her when they first fell in love, but Qui-Gon had made him leave. The two talk more about how the Republic is crumbling, until Maul finds them. He and Obi-Wan duel, which ends with Obi-Wan nearly having his chest sliced open. Maul takes Satine away with him, believing Kenobi to be dead.
Boba and his father are shooting targets. Boba asks his father if Mandalore will enter the war, to which Jango tells his son that they will be joining the Confederacy, as soon as Duchess Satine agrees to Darth Mauls treaty. Jango then tells his son that they would be leaving Mandalore forever and go to Naboo to have Boba study politics, something the boy despises.
Obi-Wan wakes up and contacts Yoda to tell him about Mandalore being overrun. Yoda tells him to use the Clones, but Kenobi informs him that the Senate must approve it, since Qui-Gon ordered the army for the Republic and not the Jedi. And with the Senate in endless debate mode, the army would never be passed.
Yoda and Mace go to Palpatine and tell him about this. One of the officers, Sergeant Tarkin, suggests that if the Senate were to vote the Chancellor emergency powers, he could approve the army's creation.
Anakin awakens in Boba's room. Boba tell Anakin that he was supposed to kill him, but decides to help him save Mandalore, having stolen his father's codes for the Clone Army. The two go off to save Padme and Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan enters the throne room and prepares to duel Maul again, who taunts him with insults about Qui-Gon and how Obi-Wan should have picked Dooku over Jinn. Obi-Wan is about to attack Maul, when he brings out Satine in chains. He demands that Obi-Wan surrender and choose whether or not Satine or Padme would die.
Anakin and Boba enter the dungeons and rescue Padme. Padme finally confesses to Anakin her love and the two kiss. Unfortunately, the three are captured by Jango, who has them all, including Boba, sentenced to death.
On Coruscant, the Senate marginally approves the Emergency Powers Act, and Palpatine uses it to announce the creation of the Clone Army and the Jedi's now personal involvement in the crisis. Mace decides to go and bring an army of Jedi to help out on Mandalore. Yoda decides to go too, sensing the Dark Side growing stronger.
Obi-Wan decides to endure, and Maul brutishly stabs Satine in the chest. Obi-Wan lunges at Maul in a rage and the two re-engage in their duel. The duel gets very intense and when Obi-Wan is about to slay Maul in hatred, Yoda arrives. Yoda shows Obi-Wan the light and the Jedi decides to spare Maul. Maul lunges to strike back, but Yoda blasts him into a wall. As he returns to the fray, he and Obi-Wan duel onto a catwalk until Maul is tripped up and is blasted by Obi-Wan into a vat of acid.
The three prisoners are about to be executed, when Mace, Obi-Wan, and the Jedi Army arrive. After a long battle, Jango is killed and the Jedi are surrounded. The Clones arrive, being led by Yoda. The Battle of Mandalore begins.
Anakin goes after Dooku alone. The two duel again. Though the fight is much more even, Dooku severs his arm off. Yoda arrives to protect Anakin and ultimately decides to duel his former apprentice. But instead of using his lightsaber (which is retarded), he and Dooku have a Force duel, which includes hurling rocks and lightning at each other. Clearly outmatched by his former master, Dooku is forced to to retreat. He vows that the Jedi and the Republic will eventually bow before him.
In a turn of events, Dooku goes to Maul's scorched body. Maul is crippled and scarred beyond legitimate repair, but Dooku explains that he is ordered by Sidious to revive Maul until the "Final Operation" is at hand, causing Dooku to look up towards the sky as Republic warships circle overhead.
Kenobi and Padme talk outside Anakin's hospital room, and Kenobi tells her to end her relationship with Anakin, before it gets too dangerous. Padme refuses, not willing to lose Anakin again. As Obi-Wan leaves, Boba arrives to give Kenobi the keys to the Cloning Facilities, telling him he is going off to become the world's most feared Bounty Hunter. Padme bids Fett farewell, and goes into the hospital room to be with Anakin.
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