A Star Attack! Matters of the heart find expression in the 5th Star Wars film

Arthur J Pais

Is there anyone in the galaxy who doesn't think the fifth Star Wars movie, Attack Of The Clones, won't be a big hit?

Even The New York Times reviewer who drubbed the film, following a special screening at the Tribeca film festival in New York last week, conceded the new George Lucas opus could soar through the roof --- just the way its predecessor The Phantom Menace ignored the mostly negative reviews and amassed $430 million in America and over $500 million abroad.

Attack Of The Clones has been getting far better reviews than Phantom, with many critics praising its awesome battle scenes, its faster and more impressive space fights than in any other Star Wars movie, its surprises involving the pint-sized wise Jedi called Yoda, and better performances by Ewan McGregor and Samuel Jackson.

You will miss Indian artiste Ayesha Dharker (of The Terrorist) if your eyes wander away from the screen even for just a minute. Heavily made up, she looks anything but glamorous and has just about four or five lines.

There is intense speculation whether the new movie could match, if not surpass, the collections of its 1999 predecessor. And if it will make more money than Spider-Man, which amassed an awesome $223 million in just 10 days. By the time the Clones opens across America on Thursday, Spider-Man would have scaled at least $240 million.

The Spider-Man lobby believes their film will be a winner in the long run because it offers better romance and stronger emotions than the Clones. Lucas has been saying that the Clones has added attractions such as the forbidden romance between the young Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen, a relative newcomer), and former princess Padme (Natalie Portman). As a Jedi he is expected to be more duty-conscious --- and he is not especially expected to fall for Padme.

For Lucas, the love story held a special appeal. None of the other Star Wars movies had a long love story, he says.

But the romantic scenes are disappointing: they lack emotions and depth, and many in the audiences laughed as Anakin tried to convince Padme of his love for her. Lucas believes the current film gives fans what they want most: the start of the war that splits the universe's governing Republic which will lead towards the creation of the youthful heroes Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

It also shows how the young, ambitious and temperamental Anakin is turning into an angry man. He starts his journey here that will eventually make him the dark Vader.

Anakin is ten years older than he appeared in Menace. Now, he is an apprentice Jedi who slowly starts rebelling against teacher and father figure Obi-Wan Kenobi, played again by Ewan McGregor.

But we do not see Anakin as a one-dimensional character. He is torn between right and wrong, between matters of heart and head.

Also back in the new movie is Padme, who was a queen of a planet in the previous film and now has risen to become Senator of the Republic. She is good-looking, smart and savvy --- but she doesn't like the idea of creating a powerful army to defend the Republic. She thinks the Jedis are capable of protecting it.

The movie starts with an assassination attempt on her life, which brings Obi-Wan and Anakin to protect her. Soon there is second attempt and she sent back to Planet Naboo with Anakin as her bodyguard. Though she rejects Anakin's overtures initially, she loses her heart to him, leading to their marriage that will eventually produce Luke Skywalker and twin sister Princess Leia.

Young Anakin's life is fraught with many dangers. He sets out, for example, to rescue his kidnapped mother. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan has discovered a plan to produce an army of clones.

The scene is set for an epic battle between the Republican clones and an army of androids led by former Jedi, now rebel, Count Dooku (Christopher Lee in an arresting role).

The impressive battle scenes, set in a vast arena, are thrilling but the confrontation between Dooku and Yoda, the pint-sized and wise old Jedi, are even more exciting --- and drew the wildest applause at the press screening and the premier show.

Lucas is on record noting that creating a digital Yoda was the biggest challenge for him. Yoda was a puppet, manipulated by Frank Oz in the earlier movies. The director has said his technicians worked for several years to make the puppet look "absolutely lifelike." But this time Yoda is a man of action, not just a spiritual adviser --- and only a digitally created Yoda would do this time, Lucas decided.

Perhaps the most memorable character in the new movie, Yoda, who still uses Oz's voice, has a far more expressive face, nimble feet and a sturdy determination to fight for the right cause.