Related Articles:
Yoda retains essential Muppetude |
Back, in another cameo role: Luke’s aunt and uncle |
Fetts’ popularity is a puzzlement to actor |
Slicing through to “Clones” clues
By Scott Bowles, USA Today; Contributing: Andy Seller; May 10, 2002
LOS ANGELES – Anakin has become a man, Jar Jar Binks has become a bit player, and ‘N Sync’s rumored role has become a
distant memory.
Send in the Clones.
After leaving some audiences disappointed with Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, an unapologetic George Lucas
returns Thursday (just after midnight in many cities) with Episode II: Attack of the Clones. And while Clones returns to
some of the franchise’s darker themes – a la The Empire Strikes Back – Lucas says he still plans to tell the story he
wants, not simply satisfy fans.
Lucas faces more than jittery fans in his return to the big screen, namely Spider-Man. The web slinger shattered box
office records with a $114.8 million debut. Clones is not expected to top that opening because it will open on considerably
fewer screens. If the film can do well over the course of the summer, Lucas will keep his crown as box office emperor.
But it’s not at all clear that moviegoers will rally behind it. While outlets pre-selling tickets have reported strong
demand, early reviews have been mixed, even among fans.
“I thought it was a better picture than Menace, but it still had serious problems,” says Patrick Sauriol, who will post
his own review Thursday on his Coming Attractions Web site (www.corona.bc.ca/films). He registers moviegoer opinion and
says positive reactions are slightly outweighing the negative. “I don’t think it’s going to do the same kind of business
as the last picture.” (Menace grossed $431 million.)
Yet Berge Garabedian, who operates JoBlo’s Movie Emporium (www.joblo.com), another Web site that gathers reviews of
sneak previews, says the early word is extremely positive. “The resounding feedback seems to be that ‘Lucas got it right
this time around.’” He concedes, though that devotees are “slightly annoyed” by “the cheesiness of the romance.”
That slight annoyance could grow into a big negative for those not emotionally invested in the myth. After all, the
entire film hinges on the love story as Anakin Skywalker discovers his Jedi powers, drifts toward the dark side – and falls
head over heels.
“This one is centered around a love story, which we’ve never tried,” Lucas says.
For some, that spelled danger from the start. Says Ty Ingram, critic for the film review site zap2it.com: “Star Wars
is strongest when it explores good vs. evil. That’s the strength of the franchise, and it has to be present to keep the
longtime fans satisfied.”
The film’s maker and stars promise plenty of action to go with the love scenes. Yoda wields a light saber for the first
time. There are more dueling Jedi kinights in Clones than in all the previous movies combined.
But Lucas, who once said his primary concern was that his current Star Wars installment would make enough money to fund
the next, no longer has that worry. The story line, he says, is more important than the bottom line.
“I knew that people wouldn’t be crazy about having a 9-year-old lead,” he says, referring to Jake Lloyd, who played a
young Anakin in Menace. “But when you are telling the full back story, you have to begin with him as a kid. And you have
to include the love story that gave birth to Luke and Leia.”
Natalie Portman, who plays Padme Amidala – love interest of Anakin and future mother of Luke and Leia – says the
romantic angle should help draw new fans to the franchise, not drive old ones away. She admits she wasn’t much interested
in Wookies and droids before signing on for Menace.
“I hadn’t even seen a Star Wars movie until I got the part,” Portman says. “I mean, come on. I’m a girl. But in
this one, you’ve a hunky guy in Hayden. Even when he’s not being lovey-dovey, the girls can focus on his muscles when he’s
fighting. There’s always something for the girls to keep their eyes on.”
And what about the boys? Say hello to Jango Fett.
The father of Boba Fett, one of the most popular characters in the original trilogy, makes his debut. Lucas and other
Star Wars aficionados admit they are puzzled at what made the bounty hunter Boba a cult favorite, considering he spoke
only a handful of lines in earlier films and suffered a shrieking, unceremonious death in Return of the Jedi.
“It has to be the costume,” says director Kevin Smith, who is a big fan and has made dozens of Star Wars references in
his own films. “He’s quiet, has a cool job and a mean costume. That’s all it takes.”
Yoda retains essential Muppetude
By Scott Bowles
What’s cool in Clones? Yoda.
The Jedi Master, voiced by Frank Oz, has always looked pretty rickety. Even in Phantom Menace, when he was at his
youngest, he resembled an elderly Kermit the Frog who spent too much time in the sun. But in Clones, Yoda demonstrates
that he’s deft with a light saber.
For all the pyrotechnics of Clones, creator George Lucas says the toughest task was making a believable Yoda.
“We worked for years and years to get a puppet that would look absolutely lifelike,” he says “But I wanted him to be
computer-generated for this film because he does more.”
Indeed, Yoda turns from spiritual adviser to swinging action hero. And it took more than a good software program, Lucas
says.
“All of our other CGI characters are original, so we don’t have to worry as much about their appearance,” he says. “But
for Yoda, we had to make a CGI character look exactly like a puppet that looks lifelike. It’s the effect I’m most proud of.”
Back, in another cameo role: Luke’s aunt and uncle
By Scott Bowles
They had only brief moments in the original Star Wars before Darth Vader had them barbecued, but Owen Lars and Beru
Whitesun are back, younger and more naďve, in Clones.
And though their screen time wasn’t much longer than a Jawa’s, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru became fan favorites with their
prophetic exchange about their trouble charge, Luke Skywalker.
Owen: “Where are you going?” Luke: “Looks like I’m going nowhere! … I have to go finish cleaning those droids.”
Beru: “Luke’s just not a farmer, Owen. He’s got too much of his father in him.” Owen: “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
They don’t get many more lines in Clones, but George Lucas says part of the joy of the franchise is bringing back
characters a quarter century old.
“In this fantasy world I created, it’s funny how fans pick up on certain characters and run with them,” he says.
“A lot of characters have taken on a life of their own on the Internet, books, comics. I wanted Star Wars to spark fans’
imaginations beyond the movie. It’s great to see that happen.”
Fetts’ popularity is a puzzlement to actor
By Scott Bowles
There’s no question: The Clones character most likely to be a breakout success is Jango Fett.
He may be the source of all clones in the Clones War. He may provide the origins to one of Star Wars’ most enduring
characters, Boba Fett.
But actor Temuera Morrison still doesn’t get it.
“OK, I understand that I’m Jango Fett, and I’m Boba Fett’s dad,” the 42-year-old actor says. “But who in the devil is
Boba’s mother?”
Never mind, he quickly adds. “I’m sure someone will tell me at the next Star Wars convention. They seem to know more
about me than I do.”
Not that the New Zealand-born Morrison is complaining. After roles in Speed 2, Vertical Limit and Six Days, Seven Nights,
he had been “looking for work for a year” when Lucas picked him for what promises to be the franchise’s next cult-fave character.
“I had done a little TV, some small movies,” Morrison says. “Then you walk onto the Star Wars set and it’s huge. It’s truly like
walking into another galaxy. It was about then that I realized, ‘Jeez, this is kind of a big deal.’”
Suddenly, Morrison finds himself miniaturized into an action figure on toy shelves worldwide. “They even got my whiskers
on this little guy,” Morision says, showing off one. “I’m not sure whether to be flattered or scared.” He admits to a
little of both.
He has already attended one Star Wars convention and occasionally peeks into the Internet to see the “buzz” surrounding
him. “I don’t know exactly what I’ve gotten myself into,” he says. “But I appreciate everything that’s happening around
me now.”
He says his role “may not inspire Oscar-caliber scripts to come pouring my way. But it does give me plenty of
exposure. That’s the best way to keep getting acting jobs.”