Other meanings of Star Wars (film)
Film
Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones is a 2002 American epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas, and the second installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Set ten years after The Phantom Menace, it follows Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker as they investigate an assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala, uncovering a Separatist conspiracy and the onset of the Clone Wars. The film was released on May 16, 2002, and received mixed reviews from critics, though it was a box office success, grossing over $649 million worldwide.
Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, Senator Padmé Amidala returns to Coruscant to vote on a bill to create an army for the Republic. An assassination attempt forces Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi and his apprentice Anakin Skywalker to protect her. Anakin, now a teenager, is assigned to escort Padmé to Naboo, while Obi-Wan investigates the bounty hunter Zam Wesell, leading him to the planet Kamino. There, he discovers a clone army created from the genetic template of bounty hunter Jango Fett, who is linked to the Separatist movement led by former Jedi Count Dooku. Obi-Wan follows Fett to Geonosis, where he is captured by Dooku, who reveals that the Senate is controlled by a Sith lord named Darth Sidious. Meanwhile, Anakin and Padmé fall in love, but their relationship is forbidden by the Jedi Code. Anakin has prophetic nightmares about his mother, Shmi, and travels to Tatooine, where he finds her dying after being captured by Tusken Raiders. In his rage, he slaughters the entire Tusken camp, including women and children. Anakin and Padmé then go to Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan, but they are captured and sentenced to death. A Jedi strike force, led by Mace Windu, arrives with the clone army, and the Battle of Geonosis begins. During the battle, Anakin loses his right arm in a duel with Dooku, who escapes. The film ends with Anakin and Padmé secretly married, and Yoda warning that the dark side has clouded the Force.
George Lucas began writing the script in 1999, drawing on influences from historical events such as the fall of the Roman Republic and the Vietnam War. The film was shot at Fox Studios in Sydney, Australia, and on location in Tunisia and Italy. It was the first Star Wars film to be shot entirely on digital video, using Sony HDW-F900 cameras, a decision that was controversial at the time. The visual effects were produced by Industrial Light & Magic, with over 2,000 shots containing visual effects, a record at the time. The film introduced the character of Jango Fett, played by Temuera Morrison, and featured the first appearance of the clone troopers. The love story between Anakin and Padmé was criticized for its wooden dialogue, which Lucas attributed to the actors' inability to deliver romantic lines convincingly. The film's score was composed by John Williams, who also wrote the love theme "Across the Stars." The production was marked by the use of extensive green screen sets, which allowed actors to perform in a virtual environment. The film's title, Attack of the Clones, was announced in 2000, and the teaser trailer was released in November 2001.
Upon release, Attack of the Clones received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the visual effects and action sequences but criticized the dialogue, acting, and the romance between Anakin and Padmé. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 65% approval rating based on 247 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The film was a box office success, grossing over $649 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2002 behind The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, but lost to The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. Over time, the film has gained a cult following, with some fans appreciating its darker themes and political intrigue. The film's depiction of the Clone Wars was expanded in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008–2020), which explored the conflict in greater depth. The film also introduced the character of Boba Fett as a child, who would later become a fan favorite. The film's legacy includes its influence on the prequel trilogy's narrative arc, setting up Anakin's fall to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith.
One lesser-known fact is that the film's opening scene on Coruscant features a cameo by a young Daniel Craig, who plays a stormtrooper in the crowd. Another is that the character of Zam Wesell was originally intended to be a shape-shifter, but this was cut from the final film. The film's script went through several drafts, with Lucas originally planning for Anakin to be older and for the romance to be more developed. The film's title was almost Jedi Trial, but Lucas changed it to Attack of the Clones to reflect the action. The film's digital cinematography was a pioneering effort, but it also led to a decline in practical effects, which some fans lamented. The film's depiction of the Tusken Raiders was controversial, as it showed Anakin slaughtering them, which was seen as a departure from the heroic portrayal of Jedi. The film also introduced the concept of the clone army being created by the Sith, which was a major plot twist. The film's soundtrack includes a track titled "The Meadow Picnic," which was not used in the final cut. The film's production was affected by the September 11 attacks, which led to changes in the script to avoid parallels with terrorism.
All box office figures are worldwide grosses from Box Office Mojo.
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