Star Wars: Attack of the Clones is underrated and finally essential

The once-canonical dying of bounty hunter Boba Fett could have been undone by The Mandalorian and elaborated on by the present spinoff sequence The Ebook of Boba Fett, however his revival has nothing on authentic Star Wars death-defier, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Kenobi, desert hermit and last-minute mentor to Luke Skywalker, perished three-quarters by way of the very first Star Wars film, and proceeded to look in 5 extra anyway: as a force-ghost in The Empire Strikes Again and Return of the Jedi, performed by Alec Guinness by way of gritted enamel, after which as a significant character within the prequel trilogy, performed by Ewan McGregor.

And nonetheless Star Wars isn’t accomplished with Obi-Wan. His subsequent return might be one of the crucial anticipated tv occasions of 2022, as McGregor will reprise the function in a restricted sequence for Disney Plus. He can be joined, in some as-yet-unknown capability, by his prequel co-star Hayden Christiansen as Anakin Skywalker–the person contained in the Darth Vader equipment. Like The Ebook of Boba Fett, the upcoming Kenobi sequence is notable partially as a result of whereas it revives beloved characters from the unique Star Wars trilogy, it does so using casting from the prequel trilogy. Keep in mind, as a result of Boba Fett was revealed to be a clone of his father Jango in Episode II: Assault of the Clones, he’s performed by Clones actor Temuera Morrison within the new present.

Because it occurs, Assault of the Clones turns 20 this Might, and the Obi-Wan sequence might nicely have its premiere timed to coincide with that milestone. (No official launch date has been introduced on the time of publication.) Even when that specific anniversary goes uncelebrated past a cursory tweet from the official Star Wars account, the very existence of Kenobi represents a formidable double-back for the prequels, which can have been the primary main film sequence to expertise the newfound lightspeed of web backlash. All three films have been big hits after they debuted in 1999, 2002, and 2005, and all three noticed their reputations take successful in subsequent years.

Now, although, loads of prequel touchstones are greeted with open arms by followers — even when Disney ceaselessly acts as if something that doesn’t relate on to both the unique trilogy or The Mandalorian (together with their very own sequel trilogy) is radioactive. Given this now years-long Mandalorian-centric marketing campaign and the prequels’ basic popularity amongst embittered Gen-X followers, some is perhaps moved to marvel why, precisely, the prequels appear to take pleasure in a lot ongoing nostalgia.

There are many explanations feeding into one another: Most prominently, a youthful viewers that grew up with the prequels and regards them as kind of equal to the originals, just like how some original-release disappointment in Return of the Jedi softened over time. There’s additionally a sure section of followers that appreciates films so clearly keyed into George Lucas’ private sensibilities, particularly now, throughout a interval of more and more impersonal and unimaginative blockbuster filmmaking. Some followers additionally really feel that the animated TV present The Clone Wars, which ran in spurts from 2008 to 2020, “redeemed” prequel-era storytelling and characters. Lastly, there are some reactionaries who’ve come to understand the prequels by way of the Darkish Facet, channeling their rage and frustration over the Disney sequels into acceptance of Lucas’ less-beloved work.

However I believe there’s one other, easier motive individuals are excited to see their previous prequel buddies once more 20 years later: Assault of the Clones completely guidelines.

Picture: Lucasfilm Ltd.

To be clear, I believe this about all three Star Wars prequels. (I additionally love The Final Jedi. I comprise multitudes — as do loads of much less vocal Star Wars followers.) However even some prequel defenders will quietly dismiss Assault of the Clones. The Phantom Menace has been praised, on reflection, for representing Lucas’ pure, unfettered imaginative and prescient for what a then-new Star Wars film would feel and look like, whereas Revenge of the Sith appreciators will rightfully describe its operatic grandeur. In the meantime, Assault of the Clones is now extensively considered the worst of the three, an tried course-correction from Phantom Menace that wasn’t fairly right, neither pure Lucas nor profitable fan service.

And but I’m undecided we’d be getting an Obi-Wan TV sequence starring Ewan McGregor with out Assault of the Clones. (Or somewhat, we is perhaps, as a result of each single beforehand filmed piece of style leisure is now truthful recreation for nostalgia trawling, nevertheless it may not be so hotly anticipated.) The character is a supporting participant in The Phantom Menace, and Revenge of the Sith calls upon McGregor’s formidable dramatic abilities to promote the sense of tragedy and betrayal between Obi-Wan and his odd son/brother determine Anakin. However Assault of the Clones is the place McGregor appears to be having essentially the most enjoyable, rolling with the punches as Lucas retains throwing new planets, creatures, and pictures in his path.

Kenobi’s adventures in Clones are largely solo, a little bit of screenwriting engineering to offer Anakin (Christiansen) and Padmé (Natalie Portman) time to fall in love and trade emotions about sand. Kenobi’s galaxy-hopping subplot additionally appears designed to point out off the infinite potentialities of Star Wars. Investigating a bounty hunter’s poisonous dart, Kenobi performs detective, which suggests visiting an intergalactic greasy spoon to talk with outsized alien Dexter Jettster, poking across the Jedi archives searching for a lacking planet, bluffing his means by way of conversations with the mysterious cloners of Kamino, tussling with Jango Fett, and, after reuniting with Anakin and Padmé, preventing Harryhausen-style monsters in enviornment fight.

Whereas Obi-Wan does all of this legwork, Lucas often cuts again to Yoda and Mace Windu pontificating about whether or not to reveal the Jedi Order’s diminishing energy. For all of the complaints concerning the drudgery of the prequel trilogy’s plotting, Clones affords a concise depiction of a civilization in unwitting decline, as Kenobi’s imprecise peacekeeping mandate includes him getting knocked round and manipulated by any variety of cogs within the machinations of Darth Sidious, whereas his supposed allies do little however provide a present of navy may on the very finish (which, as we all know, will solely speed up their doom). One motive that Kenobi by no means will get wherever sussing out the true motivations or plans of Jango Fett, Rely Dooku, or the Geonosian engineers is as a result of regardless of their involvement in an unlimited and dastardly plan, they’re additionally largely out for their very own pursuits: “I’m only a easy man making an attempt to make my means within the universe,” as Temeura Morriosn’s Jango says, by the use of explaining how his DNA has contributed to a clone military that can facilitate a fascist takeover.

Regardless of depicting the galaxy’s march towards dictatorship, Assault of the Clones can also be a blast, very like the best way that pulpy noir may be enjoyable on its option to a doomy ending. Bits of the film even look noirish: the neon and shadows of Coruscant at night time, or the tough and wet battle Kenobi has with Fett (which contrasts fantastically with the antiseptic whiteness of the cloning facility the place they meet). And anybody who loved the scrap between Boba Fett and a multi-armed monster on the primary episode of Ebook must take one other take a look at the arena-monster scene in Clones that provides the Jedi (and Padme) extra to do than simply twirl laser-swords and fireplace blasters. The Assault of the Clones set items, so quite a few and different, make the same old house battles and trooper shoot-outs of different Star Wars footage look rote by comparability. (Has Din Djarin ever jumped out of a constructing to seize onto a courier droid zooming by way of speeder visitors?)

A lot of Clones seems to be cartoonier than both the unique or sequel trilogy, however no matter it lacks in tactility, it compensates with a way of real discovery that Star Wars solely often come across in live-action TV kind. Even when the movie revisits acquainted territory, Lucas has a knack for mixing up his personal creations: The Outlander Membership on Coruscant, visited by Anakin and Obi-Wan early within the movie, is mainly the one Star Wars watering gap that doesn’t resemble a knockoff of the beloved Mos Eisley Cantina (with the doable exception of the on line casino in Canto Bight, which has a far much less moody, visually putting lighting scheme). The desert planet of Geonosis focuses on craggy rocks and a rusty-looking droid manufacturing facility, somewhat than recreating Tatooine vibes.

All collectively, it’s a spectacular work of creativeness, and one which McGregor holds along with a allure that’s equal elements laddish and daddish. The way in which he softly, even smugly chuckles when Anakin mentions rescuing him from a nest of gundarks; the best way he reigns in Anakin’s emo-compulsive oversharing whereas nonetheless providing tacit encouragement (“she was completely happy to see us”); the best way he casually drops a Jedi thoughts trick to dismiss a death-sticks seller or quietly bristles on the officious librarian on the Jedi Archives … piece by piece, McGregor creates a “new” Obi-Wan, his remnants of Alec Guinness impersonation serving as grace notes on a personality he has made his personal. All of it provides as much as a portrait of the Jedi life as each swashbuckling and laborious, a neat trick that retains Obi-Wan’s adventures enjoyable with out turning him right into a smirking motion hero. Assault of the Clones could be the most detailed portrayal to date of what being a Jedi Knight truly entails. And who amongst us hasn’t accomplished their greatest in a piece scenario that was in the end unrewarding?

After all, Obi-Wan isn’t in each scene of Assault of the Clones. The romance between Anakin and Padmé would absolutely be better-served by a writer-director who had any sort of endurance for writing dialogue or directing actors, however with that appreciable handicap, the corniness is interesting within the method of the old-timey melodrama Lucas was supposedly going for. On the very least, these scenes keep on the spirit of previous Hollywood productions that would come with a separate “robes by” credit score. (Padmé goes by way of round 10 outfit modifications, one other signal of the Lucas group’s informal inventiveness.) The romance plot is only one extra ingredient of the film’s power-clashing, which finds a spot for journey, thriller, romance, slapstick, and grief. Star Wars can clearly accommodate quite a lot of tones, and it doesn’t must attempt all of them directly with the intention to succeed.

However for all of its Yoda-with-a-lightsaber fan service, Assault of the Clones feels much less slavishly indebted to the sequence’ previous than sure different entries, and extra open to the myriad potentialities of this bizarre universe. It’s this spirit that the brand new crop of Star Wars TV exhibits would do nicely to recollect. To date, The Mandalorian and The Ebook of Boba Fett have collectively spent an terrible lot of time on Tatooine, a location that the Obi-Wan present will presumably use as nicely, on condition that it’s the place the character supposedly spent nearly all of his time in between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. A extra intimate Star Wars isn’t a nasty factor, and these TV exhibits have typically been enjoyable. However I can’t fairly purchase the notion that they revive the spirit of Lucas’s authentic creation. These exhibits don’t exist as a result of Lucas stored rehashing A New Hope and Empire. They exist as a result of he handled his prequels like a complete new sandbox.