STAR WARS EPISODE II: ATTACK OF THE CLONES (PG)

The eagerly awaited second instalment of George Lucas's sprawling space opera is finally here - and it's certainly been worth the wait.

Writer-director Lucas has marshalled all of the Episode I cast and crew for a hugely entertaining and visually stunning sequel.

This should re-energise the Star Wars franchise, and it offers a tantalising foretaste of the events that will transform Anakin Skywalker into the evil Darth Vader.

It has been 10 years since the events of Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) has grown into an accomplished apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).

The 19-year-old is a skilled lightsabre fighter and an eager pupil to his mentor, but he is beginning to feel suffocated by the rules of the Jedi and his inability to express himself.

When rumours surface of an attempt on the life of Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), the former Queen of Naboo, Obi-Wan and Anakin volunteer to protect her.

While the Jedi master travels to the outer rim of the galaxy to investigate the threat to Padme's life, Anakin remains by the Senator's side and finds himself falling in love with the beautiful young woman.

But it is forbidden for Jedi to form emotional attachments, so Anakin and Padme must conceal their feelings.

Meanwhile, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is granted special powers to create a Great Army of the Republic.

This is meant to assist the dwindling forces of the Jedi in overthrowing a separatist movement led by the once-revered Jedi Master Count Dooku (Christopher Lee).

As political tensions boil over, Anakin faces an agonising choice, which will determine not only his own fate, but also that of the Republic.

Attack Of The Clones is a glorious return to old-school Star Wars, and there are numerous references to the later instalments.

We see a crude plan of the Deathstar, six-legged AT-TE walkers (recalling the Empire Strikes Back's AT-ATs), our first glimpses of Owen Lars and Beru Whitesun - who become guardians to Luke Skywalker - and a young Bobba Fett.

Christensen is excellent as the hero in conflict with himself, ably conveying the bitter internal struggle which will eventually turn Anakin to the Dark Side.

He shares an electric screen chemistry with Portman, who thankfully gets into the thick of the action. McGregor is solid as ever, while McDiarmid and Lee delight as two of the villains of the piece.

Of course, Episode II does have its flaws. The narrative is incredibly dense and all the political sub-plots will probably confuse younger viewers.

Dialogue is occasionally clumsy and Anakin and Amidala's forbidden romance does become drippy towards the end. And, yes, Jar Jar Binks, Phantom Menace's bete noire, actually plays a pivotal role in the unfolding drama.

The Star Wars films are noted for their action sequences and Episode II certainly doesn't disappoint.

Within the first 30 minutes, Lucas orchestrates a thrilling aerial chase above the streets of Coruscant, with Obi-Wan and Anakin racing at dizzying speeds to capture a fleeing assassin.

A Gladiator-style sequence, in which Obi-Wan, Anakin and Padme fight three snarling beasts in a giant colosseum, is another highlight, as is a high-velocity game of cat-and-mouse through an asteroid field.

But these all pale into insignificance next to the final battle between 200 Jedi, hundreds of thousands of newly-manufactured clonetroopers and giant missile droids.

Even Yoda gets in on the act, proving that his skills as an orator are easily matched by his dexterity and accuracy with a lightsabre.

The Force is strong in Episode II - roll on May 2005 and the opening of Episode III.