The excitement surrounding The Phantom Menace had faded considerably by the time Attack of the Clones was released. Many viewers had moved on to other films, leaving George Lucas with a smaller group of dedicated fans – those who hoped their favorite filmmaker could regain his standing. There are moments throughout this film when the dialogue feels weak and struggles to keep audiences engaged—Anakin’s courtship of Padmé lacks any genuine feeling and comes across as awkward. However, once the final act begins, the movie largely lives up to the reputation of being a groundbreaking sci-fi spectacle. When Yoda finally uses his lightsaber and fights, fans can be found cheering as if victory were assured. Still, it was far from certain. Unlike The Empire Strikes Back, which moved quickly across the galaxy with youthful confidence, this film carries a heavier burden right from the start. It seems aware that its primary goal is to correct the mistakes of Episode I. Consequently, Jar Jar’s role is minimized, an updated version of Yoda appears, and the Amidala clones are eliminated early on. On Coruscant, we see Anakin as a teenager—a significant improvement over the child audiences were asked to support in 1999. Ewan McGregor's portrayal of Obi-Wan has also improved; the somewhat lackluster Jedi from The Phantom Menace is now a more assertive Master with a beard, handling lengthy explanations and even delivering some witty lines. As in Empire, the main characters are separated for much of the film: while Obi-Wan investigates the clone conspiracy, Anakin and Padmé’s romance feels like a pale imitation of Han and Leia's relationship. There are both enjoyable scenes—like Obi-Wan facing off against Jango Fett—and disappointing ones—such as Anakin and Padmé having a picnic. Overall, this middle section feels artificial, serving as a necessary link to Episode III but forcing Lucas into areas – romance and politics – where he is uncomfortable. The final forty minutes are considerably better: Christopher Lee’s Count Dooku adds much-needed gravitas, C-3PO appears to be himself, and Padmé wears a revealing white outfit. Best of all, Lucas finally lets loose. The original trilogy was characterized by spontaneous filmmaking, with the heroes constantly moving from one cliffhanger to the next; in the final portion of Episode II—nearly four hours into this prequel series—Lucas achieves that same pace: from the cartoonish droid factory sequence to the grand arena battle, the action is relentless. The ending also offers glimpses into Lucas’ overall plan, with ironic twists for attentive viewers – it's the seemingly foolish Jar Jar who enables the creation of a clone army and Yoda who first leads what will become Stormtroopers into combat. The conclusion of Episode II is as somber as the famous end of Episode V. Not surprisingly, this film—the least anticipated in the series—did not perform as well at the box office as its predecessor; it also remains unpopular with many fans due to its focus on the central love story. However, despite no real improvement in dialogue or acting, it functions effectively as a traditional romantic epic, complete with self-contained action sequences, complex political maneuvering, and a rich visual style. Lucas seems heavily influenced by David O. Selznick here; he might have been better off abandoning his trilogy structure and condensing Episodes I and II into a three-hour classic—an approach that would have at least reduced the intense anticipation. Ultimately, bridging films are uncommon, and while The Empire Strikes Back thrilled with its suspenseful cliffhangers, Attack of the Clones is more typical of the type, necessary but not essential. Nevertheless, the film’s digital presentation allows for plenty to admire, including a small green character who is surprisingly agile. 3/5 - Colin Kennedy, Empire Magazine

Source on TMDB