Page 24 - Star Wars Insider #187

THE SKYWALKER SAGA

power to the man who will infl ict 09
terrible tyranny upon the galaxy for
a generation. The most innocent
character in the fi rst fi lm becomes
a pawn of evil in the second, and
nothing will ever be the same.
The climactic events happening
on Geonosis gather each of the
story’s threads toward an epic
conclusion. Anakin and Padmé
infiltrate the droid factory to try

to rescue Obi-Wan, only to end up
prisoners themselves. On the brink
of execution, they choose to accept
their love for each other. In the
arena, Padmé rescues herself while
the two Jedi talk, before the three of
them fight off a trio of beasts. If the

stakes had been simply personal,
Lucas would have let the heroes
effect their own escape. But Star
Wars as modern myth is grander
in ambition.
The Jedi and the clone army
burst onto the scene, engaging in
all-out battle with the Geonosian
warriors and their multitude of
battle droids. The very Jedi Masters

who began the film insisting that
they must be keepers of the peace,
not soldiers, now command clone
troopers in a planetary invasion
of a secessionist world. Those who
are supposed to be the guardians
of peace and justice have become
executors of war. The fight for the On the planet at the center of the Republic,

moral compass of the Jedi Order
Palpatine’s clone army is on the march, deploying
is a battle they have already lost.
With the tide turned on the
desolate planet, it might still be as the shadow of war descends across the galaxy.
possible to stop a full-scale civil
war if Dooku can be captured or
defeated. Obi-Wan, Anakin, and and only the timely intervention 09 Anakin and Padmé’s love
will have dire consequences
Padmé chase after him, but when of Yoda spares the Jedi duo from a
for the galaxy.
the senator falls from the gunship swift demise.
to the sands below, Anakin nearly The opening moments of Attack
gives in to his fear and abandons of the Clones take place amid low shadow of war descends across
the mission. Only a reminder from clouds, creating a portentous and the galaxy. Meanwhile, on Naboo,
Obi-Wan that Padmé would want heavy sense of mystery as Padmé’s two young people commit to each
him to put duty fi rst convinces silver starship passes through the other during a forbidden wedding.
him to back down—foreshadowing shrouded spires of the Coruscant As so often happens in the face of

his choices not to do so in Star capital. In contrast, the movie’s conflict, people choose to express
Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005). closing scenes take place at sunset their love, fearful of what the
In the Geonosian hangar Anakin’s on two different worlds, but the future may hold and no matter
impatience gets the better of sense of foreboding from that what the cost. As John Williams’
him against the Sith Lord, and earlier scene is only heightened. evocative love theme soars, the
the mistake costs him an arm. On the planet at the center of the audience is left in no doubt that for
Outmatched, Obi-Wan holds fi rm Republic, Palpatine’s clone army Anakin and Padmé, that cost will
in his duty and duels Dooku alone, is on the march, deploying as the ultimately be heartbreaking.

24 / STAR WARS INSIDER