Star Wars Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones Edit Notes

Attack of the Clones probably had the least amount of material to work with - it really is an atrocious story linking together some pretty cool action sequences. As with the edit of Episode 1, I largely retained the action sequences and fiddled with the story and linkages in-between.

I don't want to give away too much if you haven't read my screenplay yet, but here are the major changes and enhancements:

• If the movie is called "Attack of the Clones," why do they not attack until the very end? I have the clones attack immediately.
• The Coruscant chase action sequence is moved to the very beginning of the film, grabbing the audience by the collars and shaking them into submission.
• The Jedi discover the clone assassins, and it is this discovery that leads Obi-Wan to Kamino, not some stupid bounty hunter dart.
• The love story between Padme and Anakin is changed dramatically, centered around events and action rather than a bunch of hokey speeches with Padme dressed in all manner of seductive clothing. The love story is gradual, subtle, and not forced - and Padme is just as much a player as the horny Anakin.
• A backstory of the assassination of Padme's parents not only explains why she was a Queen so young, but also that the same murderer may be after her as well. This is the murder mystery portion of the film, and creates a real sense of danger on Naboo.
• Obi-Wan discovers Kamino and the Clone Army being created for the Republic, but I have added that the clones are to be infused with cloned midi-chlorians - thereby allowing them to be commanded by the Jedi with a single thought. This is part of the overall reason why I retained the midi-chlorians, the final reasons coming to fruition in Episode 3.
• The attempt on Padme's life for a second time, with the weird creepy worms, occurs on Naboo, when she is under the protection of Anakin. Again, placing our heroes in direct danger on Naboo, where it was supposed to be safe, raises the stakes - rather than having Naboo be this lovey-dovey wonderland with no sense of danger, and we wonder "Why did they leave again for Tatooine? Just because Anakin had a dream?"
• Anakin reprograms the droid that delivered the worms (he's good at fixing things, remember?) and rides the droid to the Sith Temple from Episode 1 much the same way Obi-Wan rode it in the original version.
• At the Sith Temple, Anakin discovers the identity of the assassin and that he is working for the Sith Lord Sidious. Anakin again has visions in the temple, this time of his mother in pain and dying. We see a bit of the manipulation and seduction of Sidious and the Dark Side here, as well as Anakin's character flaws.
• Anakin is not a whiny-childish jerk on Tatooine, but a cruel one - angry, but sympathetic (thereby not scaring the crap out of Padme, leaving the audience wondering why she is falling for this whiny brat that throws temper tantrums).
• Much of the end of the film is the same, with only the climax of the love story much more dramatic and well-earned (and hinting at problems to come in Episode 3), and the addition of the midi-chlorian infused clone troopers and how they are commanded in battle.

Episode 2 has some bigger changes to the story than Episode 1, and hopefully the movie you see in your head is more engaging, the characters more sympathetic and real in their words and actions, and the action more exciting because you care about the characters and thus outcome. Enjoy!