Awesome Star Wars Plot Ended Up Being the Worst Franchise Movie
Star Wars fans are inherently divisive, constantly at odds with each other about the best movies, the studio's current direction – and just about everything.
One thing every Star Wars fan agrees with: Attack of the Clones was far and away the worst. With a plot as good as it was, it's even more disappointing that the execution was so bad.
Attack of the Clones was the second of the prequels, released in 2002. Set 10 years after The Phantom Menace, it followed Anakin training under Obi-Wan Kenobi to become a Jedi Knight.
On the surface, its plot was really interesting.
It followed Obi-Wan uncovering the secrets of the Sith, a decade-long mystery stemming from their interaction with Darth Maul. That set up the twist of Palpatine controlling the Senate, eventually leading to his ascension to Supreme Emperor. It also introduced the Clone Army as an ally to the Senate and Jedi – though fans knew they'd eventually become the Stormtroopers of the original trilogy.
It also showed Anakin as he slowly turned to the Dark Side, allowing his anger and fear to take control as he protected the one he loved from assassins.
Despite an enthralling story, its execution was severely flawed.
While Star Wars creator George Lucas is an icon in the realm of world-building, his screenplay left much to be desired. In the original trilogy and the eventual sequels, Star Wars characters spoke in a likable, realistic (if occasionally cheesy) manner. In the prequels – especially Attack of the Clones – the script was written like a classical play, with every line sounding wooden and unrealistic. The "I don't like sand" line was particularly egregious.
Fans also didn't like that the film focused its efforts on Anakin. Obi-Wan was the apparent lead of the prequels, and Ewan McGregor gave a beloved performance. Anakin has the most screen time despite only having a mildly interesting storyline.
They also rushed to show the darkness in Anakin. There was no point where a viewer (ignorant of the original trilogy) doubted that Anakin would become evil. Fans have said that they wish they would have shown more goodness in Anakin, rather than a brash, cocky, hateful Jedi who sticks out negatively among his Jedi peers.
It's been accused (along with the rest of the prequels) of focusing on making a marketable franchise for toys, video games, and mementos rather than creating a quality movie. That left the movie feeling immature, incomplete, and ultimately disappointing.
While it had an incredibly interesting plot and was ultimately crucial in Star Wars lore, Attack of the Clones is remembered as the worst of the beloved series.