I respect reviewer Roger Ebert, but with a comment like that, it affirms that he just doesn't get Star Wars. Sadly, I am thinking many don't "get" Star Wars either.
Despite mostly positive feedback for the film, I have still come across a rash of negative reviews and comments regarding the latest prequel Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. Having seen the film twice already, I honestly can not see what a fan of the Star Wars mythology will not like in this movie. If you call yourself a Star Wars fan and you can admit to disliking this latest chapter, I must question your enthusiasm towards George Lucas's opus. If I may geek out for just a moment, this film was an absolute dream. It was everything I hoped for and more so. It was visually stunning, exhilarating, provided important plot points in the overall tapestry of the story, and easily established three new quintessential Star Wars moments. It made my heart race and it inspired cheering. But most of all it evoked that same feeling I have had for all four previous; a feeling of pure awe. As a fan of Star Wars, it was pure gold.
There's that point again…a fan of Star Wars. "Getting" Star Wars. Let me explain…Star Wars is cheesy. Star Wars is glorified "B" moviemaking. Star Wars is space opera where characters speak of Sith Lords, tractor beams, and light speed. Star Wars has characters named Greedo, Lando, and Admiral Ackbar. Are you getting the point? No one is winning academy awards for their acting, no tears will be shed from the drama, and the dialogue…Shakespeare it is not. But Star Wars has never tried to be anything it is not. It is what it always has been…pure fantasy. And Star Wars hasn't changed. But people claim it has.
I feel that people are being unfairly critical towards these new prequels. It is obvious that an entire generation has formed a very strong emotional attachment to those previous films. They grew up with these films that were definitely a first of their kind. People hold those films in such high regard that they have become virtually untouchable. I strongly share these feelings. Whenever involved in a "top five favourite film" discussion, I always preface with "…well not including the Star Wars movies, they don't count". But I feel people have set an incredible bias towards the Star Wars franchise. They are unwilling to accept any of the new material, dare it tread on the memories of the original trilogy. None of the new films are worthy enough to be considered "Star Wars" because we have created this inflated perception of the originals. Now clearly I am not knocking Episodes 4-6, but I am knocking the complaints about the new films. There is persistent talk of problems with the dialogue, humor, and acting. But these are cut from the same cloth of the originals. Have you watched Empire Strikes Back with C3PO's constant comic relief antics? Have you seen the schmaltzy romance of Han and Leia in Return of the Jedi? Do you remember the "…power converters" acting job by Mark Hammil in the original Star Wars? Nothings changed folks. That's Star Wars.
What people need to remember about these films is that when we saw the first three most of us were eleven. George Lucas continues to make these films for that demographic. That's never changed, what has changed is we grew up. When you watch these new films now, you need to take off your pretentious "28 year old independent art film" hat and remember what it is you are watching. A Star Wars movie. A movie that will include weird talking aliens, asteroids, jedi masters and space opera dialogue. If you can let go for just 2 hours and look through those wide eyes again, you'll catch a glimpse of that world you loved when you were eleven. Because it is back in all its glory on the big screen. Attack of the Clones IS Star Wars and it is also a damn good Star Wars!
…but that's just my opinion.
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