Day of the Clones Reviews: A Critical Analysis

Introduction

"Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones" (2002) is the second installment in George Lucas's prequel trilogy. The film follows Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Amidala as they investigate an assassination attempt on Amidala and uncover a plot to create a clone army for the Galactic Republic.

Upon its release, "Attack of the Clones" received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the film's visuals and action sequences, while others criticized its convoluted plot and lackluster dialogue. However, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $649 million worldwide.

Critical Reception

Critic Scores

"Attack of the Clones" received generally mixed reviews from critics. On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 66% based on 207 reviews, with an average rating of 6.10/10. The site's consensus reads: "While not as bad as some have claimed, Attack of the Clones is still a letdown after The Phantom Menace."

Metacritic, another review aggregator, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Reviews and Opinions

Many critics praised the film's visuals and action sequences. Roger Ebert wrote in his review for the Chicago Sun-Times: "The visual effects are spectacular, and the action sequences are thrilling." Peter Travers of Rolling Stone praised the film's "eye-popping special effects and rousing battle sequences."

However, other critics criticized the film's convoluted plot and lackluster dialogue. David Edelstein of Slate wrote: "The plot of Attack of the Clones is so convoluted that it's hard to follow even when you're watching it." A.O. Scott of The New York Times said: "The dialogue in Attack of the Clones is often excruciatingly bad."

Audience Reaction

Audiences were more receptive to "Attack of the Clones" than critics. The film received an A- CinemaScore from audiences, indicating "strong positive reactions".

According to a survey conducted by Fandango, 82% of audience members said they enjoyed the film, while 18% said they did not.

Box Office Performance

"Attack of the Clones" was a commercial success, grossing over $649 million worldwide. The film opened at number one at the box office, grossing $50.0 million in its opening weekend. It remained at number one for three weeks, before being dethroned by "Spider-Man".

"Attack of the Clones" is the second-highest-grossing film of 2002, behind only "Spider-Man".

Legacy

"Attack of the Clones" is a controversial film, with critics and audiences alike having strong opinions about it. However, the film has had a lasting impact on the Star Wars franchise.

The film introduced several new characters who would become fan favorites, including Jango Fett, Boba Fett, Mace Windu, and Count Dooku. The film also expanded the Star Wars universe, introducing new planets and species.

"Attack of the Clones" also set the stage for the events of "Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith" (2005), the final film in the prequel trilogy.

Conclusion

"Attack of the Clones" is a flawed but entertaining film that has its share of supporters and detractors. While the film's convoluted plot and lackluster dialogue have been criticized, its visuals and action sequences have been praised. Ultimately, whether or not you enjoy "Attack of the Clones" is a matter of personal opinion.

Tables

Table 1: Critical Reception of "Attack of the Clones"

Table 2: Audience Reaction to "Attack of the Clones"

Table 3: Box Office Performance of "Attack of the Clones"

Table 4: Characters Introduced in "Attack of the Clones"