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Who can doubt George Lucas' marketing genius? At a time when the public might be tiring of the numerous "Star Wars" films, we are only at "Episode II" twentyfive years after the release of the first film. The original "Star Wars" (aka "Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope") was directed by George Lucas and became one of the most successful science fiction/fantasy films of all time after its release in 1977. The mythological tale of good-versus-evil set a longstanding box office record and received massive critical acclaim. It was nominated for ten Academy Awards, and won in six categories: Best Art Direction/Set Decoration, Best Sound, Best Original Score, Best Film Editing, Best Costume Design, and Best Visual Effects. Its other four nominations were for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Director, and Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen. The film was also received a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects. Mostly shot on location in Tunisia, Death Valley, and Guatemala, it used computerized special-effects to a previously unmatched degree. It brought the phrase "May the Force be with you" into everyday usage and a few years later the Soviet Union became the "Evil Empire" and Reagan's space-defense program was dubbed "Star Wars." The original blockbuster film was followed by two equally popular films: "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)"and "Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi (1983)". A prequel was released in 1999: "Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace."
"Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" is set ten years after the events of the previous episode, "The Phantom Menace." During this time, both the main characters and the galaxy have undergone tremendous change. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor), Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) join together again for the first time since the Trade Federation invasion of Naboo. Anakin has become an accomplished Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan, who has reached the status of teacher. These two Jedi are assigned to protect Padmé from political separatists who are threatening her life. As tensions build and the fate of the Republic hangs in the balance, these characters become pivotal in history's outcome. Hayden Christensen, the actor playing Anakin Skywalker, was a near-unknown, having only had a few minor roles until this film. Lucas was hesitant to cast him, but sizzling on-screen chemistry with Natalie Portman helped seal the deal. Portman and Christensen have since become romantically involved. Production started on this movie on June 27, 2000 in Sydney, Australia, with production moving to Italy (Naboo), then Tunisia (Tatooine) and finally Elstree Studios. The "Attack of the Clones" novel will be available April 23 in hardcover from Del Rey Books. The novel's author, R.A. Salvatore, adapted the script by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales.
"Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" director and writer George Lucas started his career as director of the science-fiction film "THX 1138," a 1971 film that was a take-off of a prize-winning feature film he made at USC. He then directed the hit "American Graffiti (1973)," a nostalgic tale of California teenagers in the early 1960s. Four years later he released "Star Wars" and the rest was history. Later, Lucas founded Industrial Light and Magic, a state-of-the-art special effects house located in Marin County north of San Francisco, and launched a massive line of Star Wars-related merchandise. Lucas' major influences include Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon; films such as "Forbidden Planet (1956)," "2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)" and "633 Squadron (1964);" the story of King Arthur and Camelot, and Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings."
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