Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

In “Star Wars Episode II–Attack of the Clones”, the second in the Star Wars cinematic epic, Anakin is ordered to protect Padme but they both find themselves caught up, along with Obi Wan, Yoda and the rest of the Republic, fighting traitors in the Senate who have aligned with a Sith Lord.

Reasons for the decision

When making classification decisions the Classification Board (the Board) is required to follow the procedure set out in the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (the Act). The Board is required to apply the National Classification Code and the Classification Guidelines, while taking into account the matters set out in section 11 of the Act.

In accordance with part 6 of the Films Table of the National Classification Code, in the Board’s opinion this film warrants a “PG” classification for depictions of violence and adult themes which could be confusing or upsetting to children without adult guidance, These depictions will not be harmful or disturbing to children but parental guidance is recommended for persons under 15 years.

Violence

Violence, is discreetly implied or stylised, mild in impact and not shown in detail. This film contains a number of battle sequences both on the ground and in space, which involve gunfire exchange, explosions and various people intergalactic creatures and robots falling and being thrown about during these sequences. The following depictions are of note.

1. 23 mins–A female approaches Obi Wan from behind, holding a gun. As she is about to kill him Obi Wan grabs his light sabre and slashes at the female. Sparks fly and she falls back, implicitly injured. She is carried outside and laid on the ground but is shot by a toxic dart. As she lies there gasping she changes form and then dies.

2. 60 mins–Obi Wan runs after the fleeing Jangu Fett. Jangu fires at Obi with laser guns and Jangu’s son Boba uses the weaponry on their ship to also fire at Obi Wan as he tries to deflect the blasts with his light sabre. They end up on top of a sloped metal roof, they both slide down and are in danger of falling into the abyss when Jangu manages to use his armour to keep them from going adrift. Obi Wan drops down and catches a hanging rope just in time. He manages to crawl back up and tries to stop thorn but to no avail.

2. 68 mins. A heat seeking missile follows Obi Wan’s ship as he flies through space, forcing him to engage in evasive manoeuvres between stars and asteroids.

3. 79 mins–Anakin enters a tent in the middle of the -night, discovering his kidnapped mother, who is tied up on a wooden triangle, There is a bloodied mark on her cheek. He cuts her down and they briefly speak before she dies in his arms. Furious, Anakin exits the tent and decapitates three guards with his light sabre. There is a later verbal reference by Anakin to having killed all the inhabitants of the camp, including the children.

4. 98mins–In a three minute sequence Anakin and Padme Amidala find themselves in the middle of a computerised production line operated by robots. They are trapped on the conveyer belt and must avoid being killed by the machinery and flying reptilian type robots which are trying to kill them. Anakin’s arm is trapped at one point and he panics as he struggles to free it.

5. 104 mins–A five minute sequence commences with Padme and Anakin being lead out into an arena where they are shackled to vertical poles and left as food for three large dinosaur like creatures. The two of them and Obi Wan, also in the arena as “blood sport”, battle the beasts with their metal shackles and the poles to which they have been attached. Padme is implicitly struck. by the claws of one of the creatures, there are rips in her clothing, but no injury detail, Obi Wan manages to obtain a guard’s spear and uses it against their adversaries, whilst Anakin manages to tame one of the animals. At 108 minutes assistance arrives in the form of incoming ships of Jedi knights and the army of clones, There is then an extended battle sequence lasting until 122 minutes during which the two battling armies fight each other. There is gunfire exchange, torpedoing, the use of missiles, explosions and hand to hand combat but no injury detail.

6. 124 mins–Anakin and Obi Wan follow Count Dooku into a cave. Against his master’s wishes, Anakin rushes at Dooku but is thrown against the cave walls. Obi Wan and Dooku then engage in a light sabre fight. Obi Wan is hit twice and defenceless on the ground with Dooku ready to deal the fatal blow when Anakin manages to struggle to his feet in time to save Obi Wan. Dooku and Anakin then engage in a brief light sabre fight, culminating at 127 minutes when Anakin’s hand is implicitly out off. There is no injury detail. Yoda then enters and after some skirmishing he and Dooku engage in a light sabre fight which ends by Dooku forcing Yoda to choose between killing him and saving his friends by using his power to send a column crashing down onto Obi Wan and Anakin. Yoda focuses his power on stopping his friends from being crushed and Dooku escapes.

Adult Themes

The treatment of adult themes is discreet and mild in impact. Anakin grieves at the death of his mother and as a consequence, exacts revenge by killing an entire community. He wraps and carries his mother’s body back to her home where his family buries her.