The emotional climax of "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones" is fabulous. Soaring and majestic, it reaches deep inside you to stroke chords of fond memory, to reaffirm the pleasure and healing power of narrative, to liberate the imagination. Unfortunately, it comes in the first two seconds. After that, the movie doesn't go downhill or uphill; it doesn't go anywhere. It flatlines. Memo to George Lucas: Hire an editor, bud. ... It's too long, it's too dull, it's too lame. Lucas seems to have based this episode on "The McLaughlin Group." ... What little story creeps out in dribs and drabs ... Hmmm, I forget what happens next. This is now the second "Episode II really sucks" review I've seen; NYT's A.O. Scott said much the same thing in last week's review. [ Add Ebert to the list. I just re-watched IV and V. George Lucas may be making money, but he's losing a lot of people's respect. -Rek ] Force Fizzle | 
