I clearly have to go back and watch the second disc material – looks like I missed a few things, eh?
Yes, I finally got around to watching Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones on DVD. Including the second disc material. Including all the material cut from the film. Which turns out to be, in large part, dialog that establishes character. Discussions between Padm and Anakin that brings out her past life choices, between Padm and her parents(!) that establish that she is a person with a family and a history, and parents who think she should have been married a long time ago. In other words, scenes that establish the Queen/Senator as a person.
ãItâs emotionally touching, it gives her a lot of character, but in terms of moving the story along it isnât necessary.ä ÷George Lucas
Any surprise that all these scenes died? This is where the missing heart of the film is, for me, the stuff that makes the awkward adolescent fawning between Padm and Anakin bearable. And of course they got cut out. Because the target audience÷kids who will buy the action figures÷wonât care.
Iâm not sure whether this makes me feel better or worse about Star Wars as a universe. I know how it makes me feel about Lucasâs skills as a moviemaker.
[Jarrett House North]