Art and entertainment

I share my thoughts on Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Here's the non spoiler review then the spoiler review.  

Non spoiler review

Story

I love the fresh, new views of planets and new kinds of ships. The civilizations we see differ from Episode 1. Like the last film, episode 2 is intense and dramatic from beginning to end! 

Star Wars episode 2 is much darker than episode 1 starting with the opening scene. Star Wars Episode 2 challenges the characters internally far more than the last episode.    

Characters

Cinematography 

The cinematography was outstanding! The shots from vast distances do a spectacular job of showing you the gravity of the situation and the vastness of other worlds. 

Dialogue

Like Episode 1, i love how simple and straight-forward the dialogue was. There were some clever lines that made you love the story and characters even more!

Theme

The theme here is about how important trust is and how deception can damage it. To be trustworthy, you must be truthful. 

Acting

The actors all did fantastic. All played their roles extremely well!   

Music 

Overall, i love Episode 2. The film was very well made. 

Spoiler review

Story

I love the fresh, new views of planets and new kinds of ships. The civilizations we see differ from Episode 1. Like the last film, episode 2 is intense and dramatic from beginning to end! 

Star Wars episode 2 is much darker than episode 1 starting with the opening scene. I suppose Padme has her first experience of seeing her friend die and feeling guilty for it.

I love how Anakin and Obi-Wan have grown very close. Its also natural for Anakin to be nervous before meeting Padme not only because he hasn't seen her in so long but also because he's unfamiliar with his own feelings. As a Jedi, he was taught to suppress them and avoid love interests.  

Palpatine seems suspicious.You can't help but wonder why he is flattering Anakin.     

I love how flawed the characters are. For example, Obi-Wan can be too analytical that he fails to be creative like Anakin. Without Anakin, he doesn't do as well.  

The heated exchange between Obi-Wan and Anakin made me uncomfortable. I was anxious Padme would lose attraction for him seeing his aggression and rebellion. 

The assassination attempt on Padme had me nervous. I was disturbed and uneasy imagining what would happen if one of those alien creatures bit her. 

The chase scene was very creative and had me anxious! I felt Anakin was going to crash, fall by accident, or get Obi Wan killed! The intensity is raised when you learn the bounty hunter can shapeshift.    

Jar Jar is more mature than Episode 1 by taking himself more seriously.  

I'm impressed by the Jedi's vast array of knowledge in their library. 

The scene when Obi Wan and Yoda discover a Jedi deleted the archive of Kamino shocked me. I think it was probably Anakin or Palpatine. 

Kamino is somewhat scary but also beautiful because of its oceans and rain. 

The scene between Anakin and Padme reflecting on their past lives was romantic. Anakin indirectly tells her despite what they suffered, they would've never met each other had they not endured it.   

The scene where Anakin reveals how he feels about politics is somewhat disturbing.

The confrontation scene between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan was fierce! The way they looked at each other gave me the impression they knew exactly who they were. Jango was clever for speaking to his son in another language and telling him to hide his suit. 

The scene when Anakin confesses his love for Padme is powerful. This scene highlights why Anakin is different from the other Jedi.   

The fight between Jango Fett and Obi-Wan was utterly ground-breaking! I felt he was going to die despite being a skilled Jedi knight. He was fighting against Bobba and Jango at the same time! I was surprised Jango could skillfully disarm a Jedi knight.

Watto apparently became a beggar after Qui Gon affected his business drastically in Episode 1. 

The scene when Anakin searches for Shmi was disturbing especially when you hear Duel of the Fates faintly playing. It reminds you of the battle between the Sith and Jedi over Anakin in Episode 1. You can slowly see anakin becoming more aggressive and darker. 

Shmi's death scene was heart-breaking! Who knows what the Tusken Raiders did to her before Anakin arrived. It was cruel and almost traumatizing realizing Shmi couldn't even finish the sentence "I love you" before dying. Seeing Anakin's emotions shift from grieving in sadness to enraged was deeply disturbing! Maybe even terrifying! We're slowly seeing him turning to the dark side more and more.    

One of the most powerful and disturbing scenes of Episode 2 is when Anakin expresses his real feelings over his mother's death. This is where we see him grow even further to the dark side. He knows he shouldn't let these feelings overcome him but he can't deny his real self. This is why he feels Obi Wan is holding him back. 

Another disturbing scene was when count Dooku reveals Qui Gon knew the Senate was corrupt but still served them. 

The battle between the Jedi and the droid army was savage! It was visually impressive, nerve-racking, suspenseful, and exciting! I was impressed by how well a small mission escalated into an all-out war! I loved characters like Mace Windu and was curious to see how he fought in Episode 1. When i got to see him fight for the first time, i had an adrenaline rush!

The internal and external conflicts were powerful like they were in Episode 1! For example, in the scene where Obi Wan and Anakin argue over whether to rescue Padme or not was heated! Anakin was forced in a position to choose between helping Obi Wan or Padme externally and internally. What made this such powerful conflict was he had to overcome his fear of loss in either case!

The battle between the Jedi and Count Dooku was so ferocious! When you hear Count Dooku speak before drawing his lightsaber, you instantly know he's not to be trifled with! Although Obi Wan was careful in fighting him, you still felt Count Dooku could've easily killed him when he insulted him. Dooku tried to get him to give into anger and make mistakes. 

When Yoda slowly appears to face Dooku, that was probably the most pivotal point of the film! I got very excited to see him fight for the first time! When he deals with Dooku's sith lightning, you think its going to overpower him but he absorbs it then says "much to learn you still have.." I'm surprised at how much wiser Yoda still is compared to Dooku! When Yoda turns on his lightsaber, the hum feels as if it hasn't been turned on in ages! I was shocked and a bit disturbed by how aggressive Yoda was in a lightsaber duel with Dooku! You would think he would be more relaxed and peaceful but he delivers fast blows from different angles screaming! 

The fight between Anakin and Dooku was also hard to watch! Anakin cuts off the lights almost as if he's trying to make it harder for both of them to see in an attempt to challenge himself to be the best Jedi he can be!

Anakin and Padme's wedding was bittersweet. On one hand, it hurts because they're the only humans there. The Jedi wouldn't approve of their marriage nor would the Senate. Anakin also lost his arm. On the other hand, its romantic because they make the best of what they have.    

Characters

I love Padme's character development. In Episode 2, she's more vulnerable than Episode 1.   

Cinametography 

The cinametography was outstanding! The shots from vast distances do a spectacular job of showing you the gravity of the situation and the vastness of other worlds. 

When Anakin fights Dooku, the camera is very close to their faces. We don't see them do any complex combinations which is special. You can see the fear, determination, and aggression in Anakin's face when he struggles with Dooku.     

Dialogue

Like Episode 1, i love how simple and straight-forward the dialogue was. There were some clever lines that made you love the story and characters even more! When Anakin blocks Dooku's strike against Obi Wan and Dooku says "brave of you boy but i would've thought you learned your lesson..", Anakin replies with "I am a slow learner!" That had finnesse! It was not exactly arrogant nor weak. Just right!   

Another example is when Dooku tells Obi Wan "it may be difficult to secure your release.." He wasn't just talking about physically freeing him from the Geonosian prison. He was also talking about the mental prison the Senate allegedly have him in.       

A minor flaw with this film is the humor seems forced. When Anakin says "you call this a diplomatic solution?" and Padme says "I call it aggressive negotiations..", i felt the punchline was dull and trying too hard to appeal to children. This film would've done better without most of the comic relief.         

Theme

The theme here is about how important trust is and how deception can damage it. To be trustworthy, you must be truthful. Padme recognizes this when she tells Anakin "our lives are destroyed anyway.." after confessing her love for him. She wasn't just referring to the strong probability they were going to die. She was also referring to the probability even if they survived, they would be living a lie and in torment by denying their love for each other. Yoda trusts his own instinct when he calls for a ship because he didn't trust Anakin would succeed in helping Obi Wan defeat Dooku. Had Yoda not appeared to face Dooku, Anakin and Obi Wan would've been killed.    

Acting

The actors all did fantastic. All played their roles extremely well!   

Music 

In this review, i'll give my thoughts on Star Wars: Episode 1. There will be a spoiler review and a non-spoiler review. 

Non-spoiler review

Story

I love the creativity in this universe! The civilizations are unlike anything ever imagined! They inspire curiosity. 

I love how villains nullify the heroes' strengths which makes them strong villains and the heroes more flawed than we like to believe. The film involves more than just mindless violence.    

The internal conflicts this film has are very powerful. Characters are forced to make hard choices that conflict with others and maybe even themselves. 

Characters

Queen Amidala perhaps has the most beautiful dress, make-up, and hairstyle! Reminds me of a Japanese Geisha's outfit! Amidala's mannerisms and deep tone of voice show her deeply commanding presence as Queen.     

Amidala is a very interesting character because she is almost completely reserved emotionally. She barely expresses emotions through body language or a change of voice. Nevertheless, you can tell how she's feeling from the way her dress changes as the film progresses. 

Jar-Jar Binks is a charming character because of his mannerisms. He's a powerful and important character because he doesn't understand why civilizations need to divide themselves. He doesn't discriminate. He shows kindness to all.   

Dialogue

The dialogue was mostly strong and bone-chilling! 

At times, i felt the dialogue was too repetitive and unnecessary. We don't need to be reminded of facts we already know.    

Cinematography 

I love how the film opens. The camera angles invite you to be part of the journey.   

The cinematography and story universe of this film are absolutely amazing! It doesn't matter what camera shots appear on the screen whether near or far. The end result is the same - you are completely stunned by the beauty of the environment and curious about the world. 

Acting

Almost every actor did a superb and amazing job acting. You didn't recognize the actors at all. You just saw characters. They get you highly energized and immersed in the story. The only actor i didn't think play his role well was the person who played Anakin.      

Music

Spoiler review

Story

I love the creativity in this universe! The ship designs and droids are unlike anything ever imagined! It inspires curiosity. 

When Obi-Wan senses trouble, you're already interested in finding out more about the story! Perhaps its related to the droid's treachery or something far deeper.

I love how the Jedi stare out the window in deep contemplation. Without dialogue, we already know what kind of people the Jedi are. The Jedi show what they believe when talking to Boss Nass. They believe harmony with nature is what brings wealth. You further see this during the scene where the fish attacks their vehicle. 

When we're introduced to Sidious, i'm disturbed by his mysterious figure especially when he says "I will make it legal!" A powerful and shocking statement!   

The action is intense! I loved how creative the fight choreography is! Makes me think their moves are from an ancient combat system similar to martial arts. 

I love how villains nullify the heroes' strengths which makes them strong villains and the heroes more flawed than we like to believe. For example, the Jedi managed to fend off droids but couldn't successfully destroy droidekas who remind me of trilobites. The Jedi are forced to flee.         

The battle between the Jedi and Darth Maul is simply legendary! The moment Maul turns on his two-handed lightsaber, you fear for the lives of Qui Gon and Obi Wan. Maul channels his rage and hate just as he attacks them. Maul shows intelligence by trying to separate Qui Gon from Obi Wan to kill them one at a time.

I feel Qui Gon knew he was going to die when he closed his eyes and meditated. Just when you think the stakes couldn't be raised any higher, Qui Gon dies. This leaves Obi Wan to face Maul alone. Obi Wan must fully rely on the force and be completely independent from Qui Gon. When Maul paces back and forth, its like he takes sadistic pleasure in watching the Jedi suffer mentally. My favorite part of the fight is when Obi Wan bounces on his feet before he fights with such ferocity, speed, energy, and focus! Its not just a battle for survival! Winning this battle is the only way Obi Wan can achieve his destiny and apply everything Qui Gon taught him. It was his transition from Padawan to Knight. 

Watching Qui Gon's funeral is emotional. It almost feels like hope is gone.   

The pod racing scene is intense and scary! The death scenes were hard to watch. It was sad and awful for Sebulba to cheat by practically killing competitors. There's no regard for sportsmanship or life.   

The scene where Maul attacks Qui Gon on Tatooine makes you feel Qui Gon is about to die right on the spot! 

The internal conflicts this film has are very powerful. Queen Amidala is compassionate but refuses to go to war which causes the trade federation to exploit her. She realizes she must make hard choices that apparently go against her compassionate nature such as choosing war. 

I was disturbed by how Sidious anticipates Queen Amadala is naive as if he knows her.     

I love how smart the Jedi are. For example, they realized the trade federation would not look for them on Tatooine. 

Right when we meet Watto, i already sense he's corrupt and greedy based on his demeanor. I loved this film's sense of humor. For example, when Qui Gon tries to Jedi mind trick Watto multiple times - Watto says "credits don't work on me, only money!"   

The internal conflict Anakin faces between choosing to be a Jedi and leaving his mother is heart-wrenching. It was emotional too watching him grow.

Anakin's mother protests against him helping the Jedi to preserve their values. She ultimately decides to let him help after he convinces her. Either way, its a tough choice. 

The relationship between Anakin and Padme gets interesting. After they leave Tatooine, that's when they realize they have problems adjusting to their new lives. Nevertheless, their relationship gets stronger. 

Obi-Wan relies heavily on Qui Gon from the beginning of the film. Gradually, he becomes more independent and starts distancing himself from him to form his own opinions. For example, Obi-Wan is displeased to meet Anakin. You can see this exceptionally well when they argue over Anakin being dangerous.   

Its easy to see why the Jedi dislike Anakin. They can sense he's arrogant, selfish, and reckless. However, they also feel he has great potential as a Jedi so they're forced into training him.   

Characters

Padme is kind but firm when she needs to protect her people. She's curious about the world around her to better understand it. Her relationship with Anakin is complex. She is compassionate to him because he lost his mother like she lost her homeworld to the trade federation.

Jar-Jar Binks is a charming character because of his mannerisms. He's a powerful and important character because he doesn't understand why civilizations need to divide themselves. He doesn't discriminate. He shows kindness to all. As an outcast, he represents balance. Although he's clumsy, he shows bravery and a will to help even after all the dangers he faces. He's also curious.     

R2-D2 is charming due to the noises he makes and his reactions to people. C3PO is also charming due to his accent and choice of words. They have an interesting relationship because C3PO communicates to us exactly what R2D2 is saying.

Episode 1 succeeds in making you despise characters like Nute Gunray. They're cowardly but when they have the upper hand, they act as if they were always fearless and powerful.  

Maul's stare is so intense, ambitious, and full of hate as if he has a point to prove when he's introduced!

You can see how close Maul is to Sidious with the way they interact.  

Dialogue

The dialogue was mostly strong and bone-chilling! For example, when Sidious says "wipe them out...all of them!" - that is powerful, cold, heartless, and brutal! Another scene that shocked me is when Sebulba tells Anakin he would've basically crushed him if he weren't a boy. 

At times, i felt the dialogue was too repetitive and unnecessary. For example, in the scene when Anakin and his mother discuss whether she's a free woman - we know Watto didn't allow her to be freed. We don't need to be reminded of it. The scene would've worked just as well without Qui Gon mentioning that fact.   

Cinematography 

I love how the film opens. The camera angles invite you to be part of the journey.   

I loved how the cam. slowly reveals the impressive underwater city awaiting the Jedi! The music also inspires awe!

The shot of Amadala looking out the window in the heat of the day just takes you into a trance as if she embraces what's coming with dismay! Although she's strong, she is willing to open her mind when it benefits her.

During the pod-racing scene, the first-person camerawork does a splendid job of making you feel you could crash head-first into rocks! 

The cinematography and story universe of this film are absolutely amazing! It doesn't matter what camera shots appear on the screen whether near or far. The end result is the same - you are completely stunned by the beauty of the environment and curious about the world. 

Acting

Almost every actor did a superb and amazing job acting. You didn't recognize the actors at all. You just saw characters. They get you highly energized and immersed in the story. The only actor i didn't think play his role well was the person who played Anakin.      

Music

The Jedi's music that plays during the opening fight scene makes you think of heroic and noble medieval knights.

The Duel of the Fates is what took this battle to new heights. The choir makes it seem like a ritualistic battle in a sacred temple. It makes you feel like they're fighting for the fate of the Jedi, Anakin, and the universe!  

Theme

I loved the theme of Episode 1. No matter how technologically advanced a civilization is, it can still be overpowered by human innovation and hope. When Amadala united with other civilizations, that made them stronger. Although Jar-Jar won battles despite his clumsiness, it shows victory is not given to the most skilled but to those who succumb to the will of the force.   

In conclusion, Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace is an exceptional and amazing film that keeps you highly engaged all the way from beginning to end! There's a ton of complexity in the story world, the internal struggles of the characters, external conflicts, and the theme.