Episode I: Attack of the Clones
The film opens with a spy droid landing in a seemingly desolate town in the deserts of Tattooine, it is similar in type to the one seen in The Empire Strikes Back, but since there's a difference of more than twenty years at work, there are at least a few superficial differences to demonstrate that this droid is of an earlier model. The shot shifts to the droids perspective, before cutting to the interior of a ship. We see Darth Maul speaking with another figure, dressed in the regalia of the Galactic Confederacy. Maul demands that their forces attack the planet immediately. The mysterious man urges caution, warning Maul of the danger of reckless action. In any event, he notes, a raid at this time would be pointless, since the harvest has not yet arrived and Tattooine has yet to recover from the last raid. Maul assents to this man's judgment, reluctantly decreeing that they will attack when the harvest arrives. The film cuts to the exterior of the ship, where we see a veritable armada surrounding the planet.
The film then shifts back to the town. Gradually, men and women emerge from their hiding places. Eventually the audience sees two familiar faces, Owen and Beru. Beru cries that she can't stand to see the Clones attack again, not after what they did last time. Another man in the crowd questions what they can do. They don't have an army to stand up to the invaders, and they are too far away from Coruscant to matter to the Senate. Owen scoffs that the Chancellor is skilled at arriving after disasters and appearing solemn among the wreckage, but not much else. And therefore, relying on the Republic for help appears to be a lost cause. One voice advocates seeking the help of Jaba the Hutt, to which Owen replies that the crime lord simply will not interfere. The Hutts and the Clones have an understanding, they leave each other entirely alone. And besides, Owen claims, Jaba is too much of a coward to stand up for people living on the outskirts anyway. Another voice claims they should just give everything they have to the Clones now, and beg for mercy while they still can. Owen shoots this down as well, telling that man that they should not act like cowards. They have lost too much to the Clones. If they have to lose the little that remains of their possessions, if they have to sacrifice what remains of their traumatized lives, Owen wants to die fighting. With a heavy sigh, Owen declares that he knows what he has to do. They have no choice but to recruit the help of Jedi Knights. Owen announces that he plans to leave for Coruscant. With an air of resentment, under his breath, Owen wonders out loud whether, after so much time, Obi-Wan and Anakin are prepared to actually take care of their own people. Beru interrupts him, telling him that, regardless of how he feels about them, they may well be their only hope for protection from the Clone Armies.
The film cuts to a brief scene in which Owen and Beru, handing over what meager possessions to hire a pilot and a ship. The three enter the ship, and fly off. Quickly they encounter resistance. Elements of the armada begin firing on them. It takes all of the pilot’s skill to avoid the destruction of the ship. It's a tense scene, and it is not altogether clear that Owen will be able to arrive at his destination. Eventually the ship evades enemy fire. The ship arrives on Coruscant, and lands. The pilot informs them that they only paid him enough for a one-way trip. And so, after Owen and Beru have disembarked, the ship once again flies off.
The film cuts to a scene of Owen and Beru standing outside the Jedi Temple. The way in which the film is shot demonstrates just how overwhelming the planet is to the provincial likes of Owen and Beru. The pair appear to be lost, and hopelessly confused. Corsucant has a distinctly urban appearance, and Tattooine is hardly an urban metropolis. Eventually, Anakin Skywalker, walks out of the temple. Recognizing his sister and her boyfriend, Anakin quickly walks towards the group. In spite of the urgency of the situation, Beru can't help addressing her brother with pleasantries, it's been far too long since they have seen each other. Beru refers to her brother as "Anie", a nickname no one else uses for Anakin Skywalker. Both Owen and Beru tease Anakin about his supposedly pretentious accent. Owen notes that Anakin is already speaking as if he were native to Coruscant. Owen heavily implies that the same thing happened to his brother, Obi-Wan. In the course of this conversation we learn that, in the intervening years, Owen and Beru were married. When Anakin asks how his mother is doing, Owen and Beru give each other an uncomfortable look. In a hushed tone, Beru tells him that their mother died "last harvest season"
Though grief is obvious in his face Anakin attempts to hide his reaction to his mother's demise, putting on a face of unflappability, he asks what brings them to Coruscant. He jokes that they've doubtlessly come sight seeing. Owen, speaking in a humorless and deadly serious tone, tells his brother in law that they are on a desperate mission. Tattooine is threatened by Confederate Raiders, and they need the protection of Jedi Knights if they hope to survive the coming onslaught. Anakin tells Owen that, of course, he's willing to help them. He tells his sister and his brother in law to wait while he persuades Obi-Wan and the other Jedi to join them. Anakin tells Owen with a confident air that the Jedi are the protectors of Justice and Order in the galaxy, and Anakin guarantees the Jedi Order will protect Tattooine. With that, Anakin Skywalker reenters the Jedi Temple.
The film cuts to the interior of that building. We see Obi-Wan Kenobi meditating. Anakin breaks his concentration. Kenobi tells his student that his action had better be motivated by something important. Anakin tells his teacher that Tattooine is in danger. He tells him about Owen and Beru outside. The ever-idealistic Anakin insists that they need their help. Reluctantly, Obi-Wan consents, warning Anakin that the other Jedi Knights are over stretched by the current crisis as it is, and the few who remain in the Temple are unlikely to join them. Seeing a look of distress on his student's face, Obi-Wan tells Anakin that they simply have to find another way to protect Tattooine and their relatives rather than relying on other Jedi. Anakin wonders aloud whether Senator Palpatine might be able to convince the Senate to help. We learn that the Senator has long been an advocate of full Republican intervention in the Clone Wars for a considerable length of time. Obi-Wan Kenobi sighs, and tells Anakin the prospect is unlikely. But it is nonetheless worth a try. Kenobi and Anakin emerge from the temple, and announce that they have agreed to help. Kenobi informs Owen and Beru , as Anakin looks on stoically, that the rest of the Jedi are too over stretched to join them, but not all hope is lost. Anakin and Obi-Wan will do all they can to save Tatttooine. Anakin smiles and tells his sister that they are going to meet with Senator Palpatine.
The scene shifts to that meeting. Palpatine tells the assembled group that he will not be able to convince the Senate to help them. The Senator briefly rails against the Republic’s leader, Chancellor Valorum, saying that if the Republic had real leadership, the Clone Wars would no longer be a problem. He says that he is ashamed that planets have been forced to see to their own defense. He says that he is trying to persuade the Senate to create a Republican Army to deal with the problem. But in the best of circumstances, the army won’t be ready in time to save Tattooine. There is, however another option. Palpatine reminds Anakin that Utapau, Palpatine’s native planet, has developed an army of its own to protect itself from raiders. Palpatine tells Anakin that he is confident that they will have no trouble convincing Queen Padme to help. Anakin turns to his sister, and tells her that they will be taking a brief detour to Tatooine.
The scenes shifts as the two Jedi, joined by their relatives enter a ship implied to belong to the Jedi, with a specific connection to Anakin. As the group makes their entrance, we briefly see them being watched by a suspicious looking figure in the distance. It's a very brief moment, but the fact that the group is being watched is clear enough. As the ship flies away, it suddenly comes under attack. It quickly becomes clear that the confederacy has caught wind of their attempt to stage an intervention on Tattooine, and they are not keen on allowing them to return to that planet. What follows is an intense battle scene, in which the survival of the passengers depends largely upon the ability of the Jedi to improvise. Anakin maneuvers with incredible skill as Obi-Wan and his brother fire with the weak weaponry available. Anakin demonstrates himself to be a superior pilot to the one who Owen and Beru hired. Eventually, the ship evades the attack, but not without sustaining some damage.
Just as the ship reaches Utapau, the film cuts back to the interior of the Clone Army command ship where we see the mysterious figure seen in the beginning of the film arguing with Darth Maul. He tells Maul that he's tired of attacking planets in the outlying systems. He laments that disorganized raids are never going to free them from the grasp of the Republic on a permanent basis. The man insists that they should attack Coruscant itself, or barring that, one of Republic's more important planets, like, for example, Alderaan. Clearly enraged, Maul snaps that the "Count" should know his place and follow his orders like a good soldier. Maul declares that he will not stand insubordination, as he begins to force choke the Count. Relenting before killing Deak outright, Maul warns that next time he will not be so forgiving.
The film cuts to Utapau where Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi are approaching the doors of the Palace. Nearby they find a woman who claims to be Queen Padme’s handmaiden. She asks what has brought the Jedi to the planet, questioning what a pair of adventurers would be doing on such a boring planet. The handmaiden laments that nothing ever interesting happens on Utapau. Obi-Wan tells her that she is lucky, these are dangerous times, and Utapau is fortunate to have avoided the calamities so many planets are facing. She concedes that this is the case. Still, she admits to wondering what life is like off the surface of Utapau, claiming never to have left the planet. She tells the pair that she’s barely been outside the palace itself. She asks where they had come from. Anakin tells her that they came from Coruscant, and she listens attentively as he describes the Republics capital to her. She says that all of what Anakin says sounds exciting next to life in the palace with Queen Padme. Frustrated, Obi-Wan tells the handmaiden that they need to see the Queen immediately. They need help urgently. Anakin describes their predicament. The handmaiden tells them that she is sure she will be able to quickly procure a royal audience for them.
The film cuts to Anakin and Obi-Wan enter the throne room. The Queen is visibly thrilled to see the two Jedi after so much time. She questions why that have arrived. Anakin explains the situation, and begs her to help. Surely the Queen has a few soldiers to spare to save poor Tattooine? The Queen tells them that after how they both worked so hard to save her planet and her throne, she could hardly refuse them anything. The Queen tells them that she will provide them with additional soldiers and ships. With a smile in Anakin's direction, she announces that she will insist on one of her handmaidens accompanying them, to the visible horror of her assembled officials, who understand precisely what the Queen means by this declaration. Panaka raises his voice, declaring to the Queen that there is no need for her armies to become involved in any capacity. The Galactic Confederacy, is now under the control of Count Deak. He explains that Deak is an idealist, he believes in the cause of Separatism, but he's by no means as brutal as the Confederacy’s former leaders. The raids will come to an end of their own accord. Panaka argues that the Count wouldn't allow for a brutal attack on Tattooine, a strategically unimportant planet as far as the Confederacy's goals are concerned. And in any event, Panaka claims, Deak is Valorum’s problem. So long as he leaves Utapau alone, they should leave Count Deak alone. Besides, Panaka argues, the Utapau does not have any men to spare. Allowing a group of soldiers to leave to save the desert planet would place the planet at risk. The Queen's decision to intervene on Tattooine could set the stage for an invasion. Finally, with a certain level of sarcasm, he tells the Queen that surely she realizes that her handmaiden is needed on Utapau. The tone of his voice makes the fact that he understands the real situation clear. While officially this won’t be revealed until later in the film, the handmaiden is actually a disguised Queen Padme.
The Queen objects to Panaka's argument, telling him she cannot allow another planet to suffer. She tells him that they have a solemn duty to aid in the resistance of aggression throughout the galaxy. The decision had been made, the die has been cast, and there will be an intervention. Anakin and Obi-Wan quickly conclude that all of those intending to aid in the intervention will have to land on Tattooine as secretly as possible. They cannot afford to arouse suspicion. Padme orders her men to commandeer a Spice Freighter. The group will land on Tattooine posing as Spice Traders.
The scene cuts to the interior of the spice freighter, where Obi-Wan, Anakin, Owen, Beru, and "the handmaiden" are speaking to each other.. The two Jedi and the handmaiden exchange pleasantries. A mutual attraction between the handmaiden and Anakin is clear, but of course, is not directly conveyed in the dialogue. Neither Anakin nor Padme say anything about being romantically drawn to the other. Padme asks Anakin to tell her what the life of a Jedi is like. Anakin obliges, and tells her of a number of off screen adventures. Padme listens to his story and is enraptured by Anakin's depiction of his history. As the soldiers enter into the freighter, Anakin notices that they are Clones. He briefly yells at the handmaiden, wondering what the Queen could possibly be thinking. Abruptly, she drops the charade. As she herself enters the freighter, she announces that she is the Queen, and that she had ordered the creation of a Clone Army in order to fight fire with fire. Anakin follows her, apologizing. He tells her that he had associated Clones with the Confederacy, and had been taken aback when he had seen them under more or less Republican control. The Queen says that she accepts his apology, and tells him that the soldiers are "a gift from Prince Bail." She then reminds Anakin that the time has come for them to leave. The young Jedi enters the pilot’s chair. The film cuts to the exterior where we see the ship fly off.
The film cuts to Tattooine, where the Spice Freighter, has landed. Anakin, Obi Wan, and the rest exit the ship. Owen and Beru lead them to the village. A crowd quickly assembles. The Jedi declare that they, along with a contingent from Utapau, have come to help save Tattooine. Anakin tells the assembled crowd that together, they can defeat the Clone Armies and ensure that the raiders will never return to Tattooine. A few scenes of preparation follow. The Jedi and the military figures, including the Queen herself, plot strategy. The Jedi train the populace to resist the Clones. Gradually the residents learn how to turn their largely agricultural equipment into military material. The residents will play a serious role in their own defense.
Shortly following these scenes, the film cuts back the Clone command ship. Darth Maul and Count Deak are once again bickering with each other. Deak still expresses his reservations about attacking. He reiterates his argument that they are wasting their time here. Tattooine isn't even entirely within the jurisdiction of the Republic anyway, so an attack is unlikely to persuade the Chancellor to agree to the secession of the Galactic Confederacy. Maul smirks, and tells the Count that the Chancellor will not remain in power for much longer. There will soon be someone far more flexible in control of the Republic, Maul predicts. Maul tells Deak that the harvest time has come, there can be no more delay, and the time has come for the raid. The film then cuts to the landing clone armies. The battle commences.
What follows is a battle scene in which everyone participates, from the residents to the Utapau contingent to the Jedi to Padme herself. Reminiscent of Return of the Jedi, the locals use hastily and somewhat crudely developed weaponry to hold off the Raiders onslaught, thought the majority of the work is done by Padme's soldiers. The Raiders are clearly surprised by the resistance they encounter, and that surprise proves disastrous for them. In short, they are routed. The Raiders are compelled to retreat. For a brief moment, it appears as if the heroes of the film have already won. But of course, that isn't the case. The film cuts back to the command ship, where Maul is informed of the disaster on the ground. His voice filled with rage, he claims he knew he should never have left the Clones to their own devices. He storms out to his private quarters, and walks towards his ship.
Maul's ship lands, another fight commences. This time the Raiders arrive in overwhelming force. Both the soldiers and the locals have far more difficulty this time holding their advance back. When they land, the Raiders are accompanied by Darth Maul, who briefly threatens Padme's life. Anakin intervenes, preventing her premature demise. This is followed by a duel between Maul and the two Jedi. Scenes of this duel alternate with scenes of the locals trying to hold off the Raiders, with Owen serving as a kind of commanding General for both the locals and Padme's army. Owen emerges in this film as a kind of hero. At the same time, it is clear from both his words and his expressions that he is deeply disturbed by the damage his homeland is incurring due to the fighting.
Though he succeeds in his heroic effort to save the Queen's life Anakin doesn't last very long in his duel with the Sith Lord, Maul quickly tosses him aside, removing his hand in the process. Maul briefly taunts Anakin, asking him if had yet found the present he had left him the last time he was on Tattooine. The duel between Maul and Kenobi resumes. Maul dares Obi Wan Kenobi to give into his emotions and kill him, hinting that Obi-Wan is in the process of falling to the dark side. Maul, in an echo of things to come, tells Obi Wan that if he would only cast aside the arrogant ways of the Jedi and kill him, like he knows he wants to, he would become more powerful than he could ever imagine. With this, Obi-Wan becomes more subdued. Maul walks towards Skywalker with a clear intent to kill him. Before he can do so, he is hit by a blaster shot. It doesn't kill him outright, but it does prevent him from killing Anakin. It is clear Owen has fired that shot. Injured, Darth Maul retreats along with the remnants of the second wave of the Clone Army.
Own rushes to his brother-in law, and reveals to Anakin that his mother had been killed last harvest when Maul and his Clone Troops launched their first raid on Tattooine, as hinted earlier in the film. Owen tells Anakin that he didn't want him to know about the horrific details. Without explaining everything, he tells Anakin that he and Beru were forced to witness "that beast" murder Schmi Skywalker in an effort to intimidate the villagers into handing over the harvest. Owen tells Anakin that it was cruel, random, and pointless, anyone of the villagers could have been killed instead. The audience of course, knows this isn't true. Maul killed Schmi with malice aforethought. Enraged, Anakin storms out, injury and all. He is clearly aware that the killing was intentional. Maul’s cryptic taunt was a confession to such premeditation. He soon finds the injured Maul. Maul and a collection of Clone Troops regrouping and preparing for their third assault. Enraged, Anakin attacks the group, killing the soldiers guarding Maul. Before Anakin can reach Maul he is taken into his waiting ship, which flies away. The film cuts to a close up of Anakin, and we see that he is crying silently.
The film quickly cuts back to the home of Owen and Beru, where Anakin is speaking with Padme. He tells how he regrets not being able to save his mother. He wonders why the Jedi could not protect Tattooine. He wonders aloud if the Jedi are strong enough to truly keep the Galaxy safe. Padme comforts Anakin, telling the anxious Jedi that he has done precisely what his mother would have wanted. She asks him to think about all the other people he was able to help since he became a Jedi, rehashing the stories Anakin told her earlier in the film. She tells him that he’s had adventures, saved countless lives, and that his life has not been wasted simply because he failed to save his mother. Padme tells Anakin that she knows what would have happened if he had stayed behind. He would have grown bored and resentful on Tattooine, cut off from all adventure. And when the Clone Armies inevitably attacked, he would not have been able to save his mother, he might well have died along side her. Obi-Wan briefly butts in. Echoing a later declaration on his part, he tells Anakin that if he had stayed here, “you would have been killed too.” Padme asks the two Jedi to take her back to Utapau. Anakin tells her that he'd rather be anywhere but the desolation that is Tattooine. He vows never to return. The film then fades to black and the credits role.