While The Phantom Menace rang those box office tills, the fans who judged it found it seriously wanting. Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones is George Lucas' last defence against eternal damnation in fandom hell. And it's half successful.

So what's good about it? Banished - - almost - - are the politics that plagued the first film, replaced by a definite sense of adventure. The improved action doesn't hurt either, with a certain small, green Jedi master picking up a lightsaber and providing one of the few sit-up-and-cheer moments of recent cinema.

But then there's the dialogue, carved out of cliché - - multiple variations on "'my young Padawan learner'" still grate - - and delivered with all the emotion of a malfunctioning droid. Plus Lucas' all too apparent shortcomings as a director, especially his lack of chemistry with actors. Just take a look at the supposed grand romance: Natalie Portman proves a yawn and newcomer Hayden Christensen is sadly miscast, his expressions ranging from blank to constipated.

Result? A suspended sentence: we'll await Episode III.

DVD Extras:

No crime here. Loaded with more extras than we have space to report, the Clones disc comes with a commentary from Lucas and documentaries covering everything from the development of the new CG characters to scouting locations. Add to that the webisodes that ran as the movie was being made, "specially created" deleted scenes, effects tests and casting vids - - and you have next weekend planned out.