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Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (2002)
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman Director: George Lucas
If The Phantom Menace was the setup, then Attack of the Clones is the plot-progressing payoff, and devoted Star Wars fans are sure to be enthralled.
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones
(DVD) Ten years after Episode I, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman), now a senator, resists the creation of a Republic Army to combat an evil separatist movement.
The brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is resentful of his stern Jedi mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), tormented by personal loss, and showing his emerging "dark side" while protecting his new love, Amidala, from would-be assassins.
Youthful romance and solemn portent foreshadow the events of the original Star Wars as Count Dooku (a.k.a. Darth Tyranus, played by Christopher Lee) forges an alliance with the Dark Lord of the Sith, while lavish set pieces showcase George Lucas's supreme command of all-digital filmmaking.
All of this makes Episode II a technological milestone, savaged by some critics as a bloated, storyless spectacle, but still qualifying as a fan-approved precursor to the pivotal events of Episode III.
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones
(Widescreen DVD)
DVD features
Star Wars: Episode II, Attack of the Clones is a superior DVD, repeating many of the elements that made its predecessor, Episode I, The Phantom Menace, so good.
The picture and sound are spectacular, helped immensely by the fact that the film was shot entirely in digital, making this the first live-action direct digital-to-digital DVD transfer.
This version of the film was the one shown in digital theaters; there are subtle differences from the standard theatrical version, such as showing Anakin's right hand in the final scene.
Again, there's a commentary track compiled from various people, including George Lucas (why can't he pronounce the names he created?), producer Rick McCallum, editor Ben Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman, and three visual effects supervisors discussing how the film was made and offering teasers to Episode III.
On the second disc are eight deleted scenes with optional introductions. Most interesting are a scene of Padme addressing the Senate to oppose the creation of a Republic army, and some bits with her family and home on Naboo, but it's probably telling that, unlike with Phantom Menace, none of the deleted scenes was incorporated into the film on the DVD.
Three substantial documentaries on digital characters, animatics, and creating sound elements are complemented by three insubstantial featurettes, a recycled but interesting 12-part Web documentary, and various other items that should keep fans busy while they wait for Episode III.
Other Formats: VHS,
VHS
dubbed in Spanish, DVD,
Theatrical
Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones
(Widescreen DVD) (2002)
Encoding: Region 1 (US and Canada only)
Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby
Studio: CBS/Fox Home Video
DVD Features:
- Commentary by writer-director George Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, picture editor and sound designer Ben
Burtt, ILM animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors Pablo
Helman, John Knoll, and Ben Snow
- Eight exclusive deleted scenes with introductions: Padme Addresses the Senate, Jedi Temple Analysis Room, Obi-Wan and Mace on Jedi Landing Platform, Extended Arrival on
Naboo, Padme's Parents' House, Padme's Bedroom, Dooku Interrogates Padme, Anakin and Padme on Trial
- "From Puppets to Pixels: Digital Characters in Episode II": all-new full-length documentary about the creation of digital characters in Episode II
- "State of the Art: The Previsualization of Episode II": witness the vital role of the animatics team
- "Films Are Not Released: They Escape" sound documentary
- Three featurettes examining the story line, action scenes, and love story through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the cast and filmmakers
- 12-part Web documentary
- "Across the Stars" music video: an original composition by John Williams crafted exclusively for this DVD
- Exclusive production photos
- One-sheet posters
- International outdoor campaign
- Trailers and TV spots
- "R2-D2: Beneath the Dome" mockumentary trailer
- ILM visual effects breakdown montage
- Exclusive DVD-ROM content
Widescreen anamorphic format
Other Formats: VHS,
VHS
dubbed in Spanish, DVD,
Theatrical
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