Fans not disappointed by 'Attack of the Clones'

• 'Star Wars: Episode 2 — Attack of the Clones'

By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer

Tony Nelson, left, Craig Campbell, and Dao Osrio came armed with light sabers for the opening of "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones" at Dole Cannery 18. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tommy Cummings wanted to see his favorite Star Wars character Yoda "kick some butt." (He did.)

Jeff Woodland was hoping to see "Darth Vader get it on with Amidala." (He didn't. Not on screen, at least.)

Cummings and Woodland were among the hordes of Jedi junkies — several hundred, at Signature Theatres' Dole Cannery 18 and about 1,300 at Ward Stadium 16-Plex — who braved hours of enervating inertia waiting for Wednesday's 12:01 a.m. premiere of "Star Wars: Episode 2 — Attack of the Clones." All were hoping the same thing: "Please let this movie be better than the last."

On the cold cement stairs leading up to Consolidated's Ward Stadium 16 theaters, David Lai sat with family and friends, wondering if all the waiting was going to be worth it.

"I heard some negative reviews, so I don't have high expectations," he said before the movie started. "But it's Star Wars. We came out almost out of sheer duty. It's like a tradition."

When finally Lai emerged from the theater at 3 a.m., he was beaming.

"It was great," he said. "It was much better than the previous one ("The Phantom Menace")."

Better but not perfect. Lai said some parts of the film were overdone, and that some of the characters lacked depth. Still, he said, the overall effect was "Star Wars" worthy.

Exiting the Ward Stadium theater in the middle of the night, Tamal White gave the movie strong praise.

"I think it was the best movie ever," White said.

White's brother, Ajita, was a bit more temperate with his praise.

"I liked it, but I don't think it's the best ever," he said. "I think it relied a little too much on special effects. The story and the characters weren't really developed."

The consensus among people who attended the premiere showings at Ward was that "Clones" was better than "The Phantom Menace," but not as good as any of the original trilogy of Star Wars films.

"There was a lot more action, a lot more fighting in this one," said Ilkka Roinosto. "I liked this one very much, better than the one before."

Ten-year-old Dani Old said she "doesn't even like 'Star Wars,' " but she really enjoyed "Clones," particularly the much talked-about fight scene with Yoda and Count Dooku.

Jason Apo, who bought advance tickets the first day they were available and who waited six hours Wednesday to get into the theater, said the movie put him in a difficult position.

"If it sucked, I would have been off the hook for the next one," he said. "Now I guess I have to do this all over again in a couple of years."

'Star Wars: Episode 2 — Attack of the Clones'

What worked: We joined the crowds at the "Clones" 12:01 a.m. premiere, and saw that as promised, Episode II offers far more action than "The Phantom Menace." The first chase scene happens just 10 minutes into the movie — and it's an eye-catcher. Likewise, the special effects are amazing in their scale and detail, creating a visual spectacle that almost overpowers the story (which, by the way, might not be that hard to do). In an otherwise forgettable set of performances, Ewan McGregor again shines as Obi Wan Kenobi. The underlying tension between Obi Wan and the brooding Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is perhaps the most credible human element in the film.

What Doesn't: Although "Attack of the Clones" is much better than the previous installment, its characters are still as flat at Natalie Portman's stomach. Director George Lucas continues to show signs of being altogether unconcerned with the burden of storytelling, using painfully awkward dialogue and endless coincidences to advance the plot. Furthermore, "Clones" abuses its audience's knowledge of future developments (seen in the original trilogy) with heavy-handed foreshadowing and incessant echoing of the previous four movies. George: A little subtlety, please! Also, while Christensen and Portman seem likeable enough, their scenes together constitute the worst combination of bad script and bad acting since "The Blue Lagoon."

Summary Judgement: "Clones" works best when the action is cranked up to 11. It suffers when it lingers on the hackneyed plot devices and cheap characterizations. The Big Jedi vs. Bad Guys fight? Winner! Anakin and Padme doing the star-crossed lovers bit? Time for more popcorn.