FOR anyone left disappointed by the first instalment of the new Star Wars trilogy, the second offering from the George Lucas camp should see you leave the cinema with a huge grin on your face.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a massive disappointment, especially considering the hype that surrounded its release, but the new film - Episode II: The Attack of the Clones - is astoundingly good.

It's a gripping, stunning, hugely enjoyable fantasy action movie, with all the ingredients to have you on the edge of you seat all the way through the film.

Which is good, because at almost two-and-a-half hours long, it's not short.

The film continues where Episode I finished, only now Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) is a young man and has almost finished training as a Jedi under the tutelage of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan Mcgregor).

The galaxy is troubled, and the Jedi knights - the galaxy's equivalent of UN peacekeepers - are struggling against a dark force trying to undermine the Federation and it's ruling body, the senate.

Enter the stunning Natalie Portman, as senator Amidala, who tries to convince the senate that they need to create an army to protect the Federation from collapse.

The film develops into a classic battle of good versus evil, but with the added undercurrent of a developing love story between Amidala and Anakin - and anyone who has seen the first trilogy can guess where that relationship goes.

There are gigantic intergalactic battle scenes, beautifully crafted sets, and breathtaking chases - all wonderfully enhanced by computer animation and graphics.

However, unlike Episode I, this time the effects don't take over the plot, and as a result the film fits seamlessly into the mould that the first trilogy established of a cracking story made better by brilliant effects.

Episode II also introduces some of the more familiar aspects of the first trilogy. We know Anakin becomes Darth Vader, and Attack of the Clones sees him begin his journey to the dark side, starting with arrogance, then anger, then revenge and ending with him losing an arm in a fight with the evil emperors current Jedi favourite, the excellent Count Dooku (Christopher Lee).

There are also references to plans to build a super weapon - the Death Star, and the clones themselves bear an uncanny resemblance to storm troopers.

I won't spoil it for you by giving Andrew White andrew.white@soton-echo.co.ukay any more, but regardless of the history of the Star Wars genre, this film could hold its own separately.

You won't be leaving disappointed this time.

CS