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Star
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The Visual Dictionary
of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace
Review:
Amazon.com
No matter what you thought of Phantom Menace, you just
have to love its visual effects and props. Episode I was
absolutely radiant with special effects, making use of
some 2,000 of them, dwarfing that of previous Star Wars
installments and even the CGI-happy Titanic with its now-paltry
500. And the low-tech effects, the physical props of Star
Wars, have always been unbelievably detailed, from Luke's
scuffed-up speeder to Vader's slightly dinged-up helmet
(don't pretend you didn't notice). Phantom Menace continues
this tradition proudly, whether it's with Amidala's baroque
headgear or the intricately machined (and deadly) armament
on a droideka.
A page-turning droolfest, Episode I: The Visual Dictionary
stops the film and zooms in on all this eye candy. As
he did with the first trilogy in Star Wars: The Visual
Dictionary, author-archaeologist David West Reynolds once
again elucidates and itemizes with glee, combining witty,
pseudo-scholarly prose with clear movie stills and excellent
closeup photos of actual props and characters. Every personality
and group of note gets its due in this well-labeled, picture-packed
book, from the Jedi High Council to the podrace crowd
to the sea monsters of Naboo. Craving a closer look at
Maul's double lightsaber? Wish you could tell a Neimoidian's
rank by the hat on its head? Need some ideas for filling
out your podracer toolkit? This is the book for you. --Paul
Hughes
From Booklist
Similar in size and concept to Reynold's Star Wars: The
Visual Dictionary (1998), which covers the movie series
up to that point, this large-format volume will appeal
to those who can't get enough of Star Wars: Episode I
as well as those who are still trying to understand what
they saw. Each double-page spread introduces one main
character or group of characters and includes several
extremely crisp photographs (movie stills and posed photos)
surrounded by captions and paragraphs of information.
Taking a deadpan approach, archaeologist Reynolds never
mentions movies or actors, he simply reports on creatures
and events, explaining history, technology, anthropology,
and politics in a galaxy far, far away, and perhaps helping
fans to figure out what the heck was going on there long,
long ago. Carolyn Phelan
Bought this book along with Star Wars Episode II: Attack
of the Clones, also by David Reynolds. The pages are falling
out of both books. I've had this problem with a few DK
books, even the children's books. The older DK books are
more sturdy. I give this item only 3 stars, and only because
of the content. A book with missing pages doesn't get
5 stars.
"Star Wars, Episode I: The Visual Dictionary"
combines text by David West Reynolds with a wealth of
excellent full-color photographs. Rather than rely on
shots from the film, the book primarily uses still shots
that appear to have been purposefully taken for a project
like this. This was, in my opinion, a wise choice, since
I have noticed that the photos in other movie tie-in books
can sometimes be a bit murky. The photos here are crisp
and colorful, and really allow you to analyze and enjoy
the details.
The text comes in the form of easy-to-digest nuggets.
The book covers characters, ships, weapons, clothing,
robots, animals, and other elements from the movie. The
text offers intriguing little tidbits of info about the
SW universe (although I imagine that more devoted fans
may argue about how "canonical" this info is).
A nice aspect of the book
is the fact that barely glimpsed elements in the film
are given loving attention here. For example, you can
"meet" the members of the Jedi Council more
intimately. I liked the comparative size chart of Naboo
sea monsters. And the fashion-oriented will have a great
time exploring the ornate costumes worn by Queen Amidala
and others. Overall, this book is a lot of fun.
Kid's Review
The Star Wars Episode I- The Visual Dictionary is great.
It has amazing facts about Star Wars episode I such as
all of the members of the Jedi High Council (which I was
amazed to find out that there is another one of Yoda's
species on it, and her name is Yaddle, and she is young
at 477), the species, name, and personalaty of the Trade
Fedration leaders, every last detail of a Battle Droid
and Droideka, Queen Amidala's dresses and makeup and the
reasons she wears them, the sea monsters of Naboo, Gungan
warfare, why Jar Jar was banished, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace,
and Yoda's lightsabers, the Queen's handmaidens, Darth
Maul's double-bladed lightsaber and speeder, and much
more!
This is a great book and will
provide hours of fun for any Star Wars fan (at least,
it did (and still does) for me).
We have a 4 1/2 year old daughter obsessed with the Star
Wars girls (Shaak Ti in particular) and this is good because
it tells all about the different charachters, places,
vehicles and robots of the movie in easy to understand,
yet complete language.
Very good for the little Star
Wars fan or anyone who would like to go a little deeper,
but not THAT deep.
This book likewise its similar for the classic Trilogy,
is a good buy for a Star Wars Fan. Depicts everything
that appears in the movie, except the starships, the only
thing I missed, but it is not a major problem.
The comprehensive dictionary of the first prequil is full
of detail that even the movie didn't cover. Big, bright
and easy on the eye, we are introduced to nthe characters
that would be and influence in this up and coming prequil
series.
A better read than the original Star Wars dictionary as
that edition had to compress down into one volume all
three of the trilogy.
The Dorling-Kindersley Visual Dictionaries are all top-notch
products, fascinating not only for children, but for adults,
as well. The STAR WARS, EPISODE I addition to this line
does not disappoint, with page after page of wonderful,
detailed photographs of the people, things and places
featured in the film. Everything, from lightsabers to
battle droids to Darth Maul, is examined closely and exhaustively
labeled.
The fun doesn't stop with the photographs, however. Written
in close concert with Lucasfilm, the book provides greater
insight into the film by providing information about even
minor characters with little screen time. As a result,
the next time readers watch EPISODE I, they'll find themselves
recalling these tidbits, and enjoying the movie even more
than they did before.
Readers, adults and children
alike, will find this Visual Dictionary a delight, and
it will rarely stay on the shelf. Fun to read cover-to-cover,
or just to leaf through, the book is an excellent addition
to any STAR WARS fan's collection, and comes very close
to being a must-have.
This is a superb book from the The Phantom Menace! It
has great details on every major character and everything
else! This is great for beginners and and hardcore fans
of Episode I!
This book features all stuff that appears in the movie,
excluding the ships. It has a lot of information and shows
the work that George Lucas crew had to create all the
props, models, etc.
Very good.
This book brings everything that appeared in the movie.
It is fantastic the details which George Lucas achieved
in this movie, building a lot of props and everything
else.
I recommend to all Star Wars fans.
"Star Wars, Episode I: The Visual Dictionary"
combines text by David West Reynolds with a wealth of
excellent full-color photographs. Rather than rely on
shots from the film, the book primarily uses still shots
that appear to have been purposefully taken for a project
like this. This was, in my opinion, a wise choice, since
I have noticed that the photos in other movie tie-in books
can sometimes be a bit murky. The photos here are crisp
and colorful, and really allow you to analyze and enjoy
the details.
The text comes in the form of easy-to-digest nuggets.
The book covers characters, ships, weapons, clothing,
robots, animals, and other elements from the movie. The
text offers intriguing little tidbits of info about the
SW universe (although I imagine that more devoted fans
may argue about how "canonical" this info is).
A nice aspect of the book
is the fact that barely glimpsed elements in the film
are given loving attention here. For example, you can
"meet" the members of the Jedi Council more
intimately. I liked the comparative size chart of Naboo
sea monsters. And the fashion-oriented will have a great
time exploring the ornate costumes worn by Queen Amidala
and others. Overall, this book is a lot of fun.
I like this book a lot. It explains everything in detail.
It even shows some things the movie doesn't show, like
Yoda's lightsaber. You get to see details of Naboo sea
monsters, profiles of the Jedi high council, inside Watto's
junk shop, Queen Amidala's different dresses, and lots
more. My favorite part is the battle droid section. You
get to see inside a battle droid's head, discover how
they unfold, and find out how many of them fit on a droid
rack of an MTT. A must-have for Episode 1 fans.
Even though I would usually prefer Star Wars books that
tell a story, I still like this book very much. It is
very valuable, and it has a lot of information on all
kinds of things you see from episode one. Usually, the
episodes don't really explain anything like what kind
of starship the people are standing in, what is this,
what is that. But this book tells you everything you need
to know. It has cool pictures and detailed information
to go along with it. If you want to find out about Episode
I, you should definitely get this book.
I am not one of those people who knows all the intricate
details of the Star Wars saga. Now there is a younger
person (my son) in my life, who saw Episode One, I find
myself answering questions about characters and events.
This book is fabulous. It is the usual beautifully crafter
Dorling Kindersley book with superb photo illustrations.
Anyone familiar with the "Eyewitness" travel
guides will appreciate the style.
The book details in archaelogical
type detail (the author is an archaeologist - he says
he approaches Star Wars as if it is an ancient civilization
- looking for all the evidence of how it works) all the
artefacts, and the people / characters, giving background
details and physical details. It also explains some history
and motivations which help you know the people and events
easier.
Highly recommended.
This book is the ultimate place for all the information
about anything from The Phantom Menace. Full of brilliant
pictures and diagrams, with information which is clear
on concise. This book is great as a reference which you
can pull off the shelf anytime to check something. When
looking up something, you always learn something new.
Buy it!
The book has more authentic items and devices than the
original visual dictionarie's devices. Shows things like
Yoda's lightsaber. E-mail me for questions about Star
Wars.
This Book is really cool. I looked at it in my school
library and i saw all the different parts of a destroyer
droid, Yoda's lightsaber, and Darth Maul's outfit.
This Visual Dictionary is so good. With detailed pictures,
easy-to-understand explanations, this is a must buy for
Star Wars fanatics. Get today!
The page on Battle Droids was really neat because it classifies
the droids by color and explains how they unfold and what
their duties are. I have read that page over and over.
My other favorite page is on the Jedi Council. It introduces
you to all of the Jedi - even ones that were not in the
movie. Very cool! Happy Reading and May The Force Be With
You!
This is a great book. I read the whole thing in the bookstore,
then I bought it! I look at it at least once a day. There
are things in the book that weren't in the movie (did
you see the representatives from Alderann? The hair on
the female looked like Princess Leia's!). I especially
like the 'background' information on the characters, especially
on Queen Amidala. You even learned a little about 2 of
her handmaidens. I just wish it told more about Obi-Wan
Kenobi (like who are his parents? Which is his home planet/system?),
he's my favorite. Go Ewan McGregor! Buy it for your collection.
The Episode 1: Visual Dictionary is quite an interesting,
and dare I say, useful book. Unlike the original trilogy's
Visual Dictionary, which mainly rehashed what we already
knew, this book gives otherwise obscured information a
reliable focal point straight from the source. This title
is interesting, colorful, and informative read, and I
would recommend it highly.
The Star War Trilogy, Episodes
IV, V & VI
Review:
From Library Journal
The three novelizations of the original Star War trilogy
each sold millions of copies. In honor of Star War'-or
technically Episode IV: A New Hope-silver anniversary,
Ballantine has released this handsome three-in-one hardcover
edition sporting a cover by conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie,
who greatly influenced the look of the films, e.g., Vader's
mask was his idea. Though Star War might seem like geek
fan boy stuff, creator Lucas (all the novels are based
on his initial treatments for the scripts) does use proven
literary motifs: a coming-of-age story as well as a search
for a father figure, with a talisman (daddy Darth's lightsaber)
linking the generations, it is most importantly about
redemption. Each of the novels also includes an introduction
by Lucas. A quarter-century later, millions of fans worldwide
remain ravenous for all things from a long time ago in
a galaxy far, far away; the new films rake in zillions,
and print titles in the "expanded universe"
(characters/plots not covered on-screen) are widely read.
This volume should do well.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
Luke Skywalker dreamed of advantues out among the stars
and alien worlds. But when he intercepted a message from
a beautiful captive princess, he got more than he had
bargained for--and that was how the adventure of his life
began....--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback
edition.
The 25th Anniversary edition of The Star War Trilogy breaks
no new ground or make any editorial changes to the three
movie tie-in novels based on the screenplays for Star
War (now known as A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back,
and Return of the Jedi. There are no adjustments or rewrites
to make the novels match the Special Edition re-releases
of 1997. It isn't even the first time all three novels
are collected in one volume...there are mass-market and
trade paperback three-in-one editions. The only new features
are the cover art by Ralph McQuarrie, the conceptual artist
whose paintings "sold" George Lucas' "out
of this world" ideas to leery 20th Century Fox executives
and short intros to each novelization by Lucas himself.
Whether or not those were written for the 25th Anniversary
Edition or if they appeared in other reissues of the novels
isn't important; what is important is that the 25th Anniversary
Edition's elegant package recaptures the magic of reading
the Classic Trilogy....
Like most novelizations of popular movies, the authors
(Alan Dean Foster being the ghostwriter for George Lucas,
Donald F. Glut, and James Kahn) have adapted the screenplays
to Episodes IV, V and VI with a certain sense of unity,
yet each writer has a distinctive style of his own. On
the whole, the best writer is Foster, who had, before
Star War, adapted the Star Trek animated series into the
Star Trek Logs series. Very few Star War authors, with
the exception of Timothy Zahn and a few others, capture
the essence of the characters and situations of the movies
as well as Foster. Glut is almost as good a writer, and
his style is not all that different from Foster's. Kahn's
style is minimalist. I like the Jedi novelization, but
there is a strange sense of connect-the-dots permeating
it all the same.
All right, so we aren't talking
great literature here, and I do know that the writers
work from drafts of the screenplay that are different
from the final shooting script. That's why Luke Skywalker's
comm sign in the novel of A New Hope is Blue Five; in
the movie the callsign is Red Five. And the novels do
expand the storyline and "restore" deleted scenes....the
literary equivalent of a DVD extra features disc, you
might say.
I rate this book 5 stars not
because it is brilliantly written or philosophically meaningful,
but rather because it recaptures the magic of reading
those dog-eared paperbacks, but with a bit more class.
The original Star War trilogy hit the movie industry like
a sack of gold falling from the sky, and has become a
modern classic in the years since then. Unfortunately
the same cannot be said of the novelizations. One is lackluster,
two are okay, with occasional moments of brilliance.
"A New Hope" is
technically not so great, but the energy and exuberance
of Lucas's first huge film just seeps out of the edges.
It makes up for its writing shortcomings by not trying
too hard, since this was before the immense success of
the movie trilogy. Not very detailed, but not too spare
either.
Ironically, the best film
of the trilogy, "Empire Strikes Back," is rather
dull as a novelization, coming across as fragmented and
forced; Donald F. Glut seems to have been feeling the
pressure. The flavor returns somewhat in "Return
of the Jedi"'s novelization, which has more energy
and spark than its predecessor. It feels like James Kahn
was able to move past the overwhelming expectations and
turn out something pretty good.
Not much has been changed
in the years since these novelizations were first published.
The first one, ghostwritten by Alan Dean Foster, was originally
published as "Star War: From the Adventures of Luke
Skywalker," which accounts for the slightly space-serial-esque
flavor of the first book. The second and third are less
laid-back, and more intense.
Since the novelizations were
crafted from scripts, it often reads like the writers
just inserted some detail here and there, along with "he
said" or "she shouted." But there are some
scenes and lines that aren't in the final films. These
make for some very interesting reading, especially when
they add dimension to already existing characters. One
example is Luke and Ben having a peculiar conversation
about ducks; another is Luke and Briggs chatting on Tattooine.
The "Star War" novelization
trilogy is something of a mixed bag, but it's worth checking
out for fans of Lucas's classic movies. It isn't too different
from the scripts, but revisiting it in print is a pleasant
diversion.
After watching the movies so many times, over and over
again, it was nice to step back and take a new look at
the material in print form. While they don't stray too
far from their film counterparts, they do approach it
in a way that makes it interesting, even for someone like
me who knows the movies by heart. They were never "boring"
even though I knew exactly what was coming next.
They are worth reading simply
for the little changes that don't stack up with the movies
such as the color of Yoda, the first chapter of A New
Hope, and the first Death Star Battle.
Overall, I recommend this
to people who have taken an interest in the Expanded Universe.
The little literary extras are worth revisiting these
classics. It's also nice to get all three of them in an
inexpensive paperback edition with cool front cover artwork.
Three novels in a single book is a good bargain. But this
edition is faulted. I mean, the first book I received
lacked the last chapters (not that I didn't know the ending).
BTW, thank you Amazon for replacing it so fast.
Star War is a reasonable novelization of the movie. I
liked it pretty much.
The Empire Strikes Back's novelization doesn`t follow
the movie in many parts, specially the famous freezing
chamber scene. But, is very entertaining anyway.
The Return of the Jedi is mostly a rough transcription
of the movie, not adding a bit of information to it. Except
for the last confrontation between Luke and Vader, which
is pretty well written.
As I said in the title, only for Star War fans.
This hardcover edition of the books is definitely way
better than having the pocket editions, it is a commemorative
edition of the 25th anniversary of the saga with a special
introduction to each novel written by no other than George
Lucas himself.
The first part of the book
is a prologue of two pages length that basically explains
the events we have seen in the new prequels, how the Republic
once existed and how a corrupt politician named Palpatine
made his way to become the galactic Emperor.
The three novels are basically
the same stuff we have already seen in the movies, there
are however, a couple of details that add up to the story
from the films.
In the episode IV we get to
read more of Luke and his friends in Tatooine as they
watch what seems to be a battle above the surface of the
planet; in episode V there is this little difference in
which Yoda's skin was blue and in episode VI, after seeing
Yoda die and confirming that Vader is Luke's father, Ben
Kenobi confesses to Luke the truth about his father and
describes the final duel we recently saw in episode III,
adding the interesting fact that Owen Lars is Kenobi's
brother!
A
piece of collection if you are a Star War fan and in a
very fancy presentation; Besides getting the three books
into one, don't look for another added value because there
are none, get ready to read line by line the same dialogues
seen on the original films if you buy it.
I am 14, I don't do hot in Language Arts, but I certainly
can read like my sister. This book is probably not for
kids though, there is some vocabulary in here that is
kind of hard to understand. I am on A New Hope right now,
on page 60 I think. So far, there are things that are
included that were never in the movie. For instance, when
in the book Luke is talking about a space battle he saw
with Biggs and Windy and some other people I think. In
the movie, this never happened. Also in the book that
didn't happen in the movie, is when Biggs was talking
to Luke about he was going to the Academy. I don't really
understand why this is, but it just is. There are also
some parts in the book that are reversed or in different
spots than in the movie. This is still very similar to
the movie.. except in words. I would definitely highly
reccomend this book to anybody that's about my age ( 14
) and up.
Dressing a Galaxy: The Costume of Star Wars Limited
Edition with DVD (Hardcover)
Book Description
· While the Star Wars saga is famous for its elaborate
sets and for revolutionary visual effects, it also features
some of the most unique and ornate costumes in modern
film. In this exquisite volume, the intricate and beautiful
fashions that have appeared in all six Star Wars films
are on display-from military gear to royal gowns and the
iconic garbs of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Every
costume is brilliantly displayed in intimate detail, from
preproduction sketches to the final creations. Actors,
including Natalie Portman and Samuel L. Jackson, provide
commentary on their experiences during principal photography,
while writer-director George Lucas and producer Rick McCallum
contribute their thoughts on this exploration of Star
Wars costume design. Accompanied by an exhibition at the
The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM)
Museum & Galleries at FIDM in Los Angeles, this unique
visual treat is a must-have for any Star Wars fan. This
limited-edition run of this book will be released with
lavish gatefolds, fabric swatches, a special dvd, and
a cast replica of a Wookiee belt-buckle, sure to be the
ultimate Star Wars collectible.
Limited Edition Special Features
Hardcover with French-fold
jacket encased in an elegant clamshell box with an Obi
Wrap cloth overlay. Special features include six bound-in
booklets and eight 6-page gatefolds, a costume index by
character for all six films in the Star Wars Saga, 16
additional pages of color photographs and fabric swatches
cut from the same bolts as the Saga's actual costume material
originating from the Lucasfilm archives including swatches
made from the same fabric used for Darth Vader's cape
as well as a cast replica "Wookiee Belt-Buckle"
symbolizing the valor and loyalty of these ferocious warriors.
Also includes a Certificate of Authenticity for the Wookiee
Belt Buckle replica and Costume Swatches.
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith
Review
From Publishers Weekly
Based on George Lucas's original screenplay and story,
Stover's smart, efficient novelization isn't as humorous
as the last of the Star War films, but it's packed full
of stunning fight scenes, entertaining interludes with
Obi-Wan Kenobi and delightful Yodaspeak ("Named must
your fear be, before banish it you can"). Picking
up where the movie left off, Stover (Star War: Shatterpoint)
makes a heartfelt attempt at deepening the characterizations
of Anakin Skywalker and his secret wife, Senator Padmé
Amidala. Haunted by his failed attempt to save his mother's
life and having a premonition of Padmé dying in
childbirth, Skywalker chooses to serve Sidious, the Dark
Lord of the Sith, in order to learn how to make his wife
immortal. Sidious, who has been masquerading as the Republic's
Supreme Chancellor Palpatine for many years, is determined,
with the future Darth Vader's help, to destroy anyone
who would defy him, including all Jedi and Separatists.
Stover fills in the blanks regarding one of cinema's most
fascinating villains with respect and relish, providing
answers to such questions as why Vader looked so weird
and how he became Luke's dad. This is the perfect companion
to the blockbuster film.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division
of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Book Description
The turning point for the entire Star War saga is at hand
After years of civil war,
the Separatists have battered the already faltering Republic
nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate
watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aggressively
strips away more and more constitutional liberties in
the name of safeguarding the Republic. Yoda, Mace Windu,
and their fellow Masters grapple with the Chancellor’s
disturbing move to assume control of the Jedi Council.
And Anakin Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One, destined
to bring balance to the Force, is increasingly consumed
by his fear that his secret love, Senator Padmé
Amidala, will die.
As the combat escalates across
the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame:
Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous mission to destroy the dreaded
Separatist military leader General Grievous. Palpatine,
eager to secure even greater control, subtly influences
public opinion to turn against the Jedi. And a conflicted
Anakin–tormented by unspeakable visions–edges dangerously
closer to the brink of a galaxy-shaping decision. It remains
only for Darth Sidious, whose shadow looms ever larger,
to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic
. . . and to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.
Based on the screenplay of
the eagerly anticipated final film in George Lucas’s epic
saga, bestselling Star War author Matthew Stover’s novel
crackles with action, captures the iconic characters in
all their complexity, and brings a space opera masterpiece
full circle in stunning style.
This is how it feels to be Anakin Skywalker:
The Hero With No Fear is what he's called, but it isn't
true. Fear is his constant companion. He fears for those
he loves, especially his secret wife, Padme Amidala. Dark
secrets are revealed and loyalties are pushed to the breaking
point. His love and dreams are falling apart before his
eyes. No longer does he feel he can trust those he's considered
his closest friends. He isn't even sure anymore the side
he has been fighting for in the Clone War is the right
side.
Revenge of the Sith doesn't
start out very dark, with lively banter between Anakin
and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but as it progressed I found it to
be the darkest, saddest, definitely the most emotional
Star War book I've ever read. It was obviously one of
the more difficult books to write but I think Matthew
Stover did an excellent job.
As a hardcore Star War fan
I found everything I would want in this book: the greatest
lightsaber duals ever dreamed up; enough built up suspense
to drive a person nuts; an in-depth look at all the characters
in the book, from the small role of Count Dooku to the
Sith Lord, Darth Sidious; and a climax to end all climaxes.
However, I do think that a Star War fan of any level could
enjoy it and won't become very confused if they haven't
read all the book between Episode II and III.
As the story opens, Readers already finds themselves in
a space battle. Chancellor Palpatine has been kidnapped
by Count Dooku and the hybrid known as General Grievous.
The planet Coruscant is in distress, knowing that Palpatine
is the very foundation upon which the Republic rests.
Obi-wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to the rescue via
one of their most breathtaking adventures yet.
Relations between the Jedi
Council and the Chancellor are now stressed. The Jedi
Council has always been directed by the Senate. But Palpatine
is arranging it so he has direct control of the Jedi Council
instead. Once accomplished, Anakin is asked by Palpatine
to accept a post on the Jedi Council as his personal representative.
Anakin may be thrilled, but the Jedi Council has kept
Anakin off before now for very good reasons.
Anakin and Senator Padmé
Amidala have been secretly married for a couple years
now. Jedi are not allowed to have attachments, so marriage
is not allowed. It is only a matter of time before Padmé's
pregnancy will show. Anakin and Padmé have yet
to decide what they will do once their secret is known.
Worse still, Anakin views a future where Padmé
dies on an alien table during child birth. He becomes
totally obsessed with making certain the vision does NOT
come to pass. Anakin's worry for Padmé's life is
not the only tension he has. Palpatine wants Anakin to
virtually spy for him on the Jedi Council and the Council
flat out orders him, but "off the record", to
spy on the Chancellor for them!
Of course, Readers already
know that Palpatine planned many, many years ago, for
all this to happen. Palpatine also knows that the Jedi
Council is hot on the trail of locating the identity of
the hidden Sith Lord. Before they learn that the Sith
Lord is Palpatine, he must convince Anakin to betray the
Jedi Order and become his dark apprentice. To do so, Palpatine
will offer Anakin his heart's desire; immortality and
the dark power to keep his wife from dying during child
birth. Anakin will face his hardest choice ever. Will
he save Padmé? Or betray and destroy the entire
Jedi Order?
It will be difficult to place
this novel on the big screen. The beginning will be full
of breathtaking special effects. The middle will be filled
with political strife and Anakin's temper tantrums. (I
apologize, but there is absolutely no other way to put
Anakin's emotions.) The climatic ending, however, will
have a huge impact on the Reader and promises to be the
most memorable scene EVER for Star War fans. I highly
recommend reading this book BEFORE going to see the movie
at the end of May 2005. If the book of Episode III is
anything like Episode II, then the people that reads this
novel before seeing it all unfold on the big screen will
understand a whole lot more of what is going on and why
things are happening a certain way. By reading first,
you understand why Anakin chooses what he does at the
end. Whether you agree with his reasoning or not, you
will understand. Also, there will be scenes omitted from
the movie version, just as some humorous parts and what
could have been awesome special effects were deleted from
the second episode.
Whether you read this novel
or not, buy it. You can bet money that this novel will
become and remain part of the most unique and original
sci-fi saga ever created! This novel is not to be missed!
Star War, Episode II - Attack of the Clones
From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-Salvatore has done a good job of fleshing
out the story of the Star War II movie. The book introduces
Anakin's mother; her husband; and her stepson, Owen, who
will raise the future Luke Skywalker, and describes her
capture and the failed attempt to rescue her. If that
doesn't appeal, there is always the chapter describing
Amidala's family on Naboo, whom viewers never even meet
in the film. Perhaps more enticing, the book treats readers
to the actual scene of Anakin's vengeful destruction of
the Tusken Raider encampment, an action so pivotal to
his future course in the Dark Side. Additionally, the
audience can easily get confused as to the sequence of
events during the movie-the book can clear that up. With
its easy style and vocabulary, and hook of popular interest
for young adults, this title may be just the needed spur
for not-so-avid readers.
From Library Journal
When talk of a series of Star War prequel films came out,
I was pretty excited. Not only for what it meant to me
as a child, but also for what it meant to me as an adult.
Three films in a row seemed to focus on young Luke Skywalker.
Now, with the prequel's we see the entire series actually
follows the character arc of Young Anakin Skywalker as
he turns to the dark side but in the end, is redeemed.
With the first of the prequels breaking box-office records
and breaking fans trust, George Lucas has set out to re-capture
the force with Episode 2. This book review was written
19 days before the film storms the theatres.
R.A.Salvatore adapted ATTACK OF THE CLONES from the screenplay
by Lucas and Jonathan Hales. It is an efficient read,
trading in flowery language for quick editing most likely
capturing the film structure. The initial reaction of
the story is that, although the stakes are high, the story
is intimate. In fact, until the final battle, the action
is very personal. Anakin and Obi-Wan split heroic duties
after Padme, the former queen of Naboo has two attempts
at her life. Anakin is deemed her protector, a job the
fellah really enjoys considering his long-standing crush
he carries for her. On the other side of the galaxy, Obi-Wan
is investigating the case, trying to determine who would
want Padme' killed. Either way you travel it's a fun adventure
but neither character experiences much growth.
We get to spend more time
on Coruscant, the planet entirely covered by a bustling
city. We also return to the sands of Mos Espa and Mos
Eisley on Tatooine. And just for aesthetic sake, we get
a nice stay on the gorgeous planet of Naboo. Apart from
those locations we also get to explore some new worlds.
Obi-Wan gets in a healthy skirmish on Kamino, a world
covered with turbulent ocean waters. And the final battle
takes place on the rocky planet of Geonosis. Wherever
we go, we experience new, creative life forms but, the
story experiences no new major characters with the exception
of the Bounty Hunter Jango Fett and the former Jedi Count
Dooku.
The adventure can be visually
splendid and, as Lucas states, this is a darker film.
Gone are talks of midichlorians, immaculate conceptions
and Anakin's goal to free the slaves. The greatest pleasure
in this book is seeing the connections to the original
series start to materialize. Even amidst the huge changes
that take place in the story, there are not too many `Spoilers'
to shock viewers, just a roller coaster ride of excitement
and action. But, all of that is to the credit of the screenplay,
this book is pretty ordinary in its speech and will sell
based on the name alone.
R.A. Salvatore is pretty much accredited to re-launching
the stagnant Star War novels with Vector Prime (the first
novel in the continuing New Jedi Order series) and killing
off Chewbacca. With his style of writing, and previous
work within the Star War universe, it was probably pretty
easy for Lucasfilm to get Salvatore to pen the second
movie.
I won't bore you with what you already seen in the movie,
but I do believe that the novel of Attack of the Clones
is required reading for all Star War fans, as it fills
in many blanks that seemed to be missing from the movie.
It also ties the spanning years between Phantom Menace
and AOTC. Actually the reader won't even recognize the
start of the movie until he is in chapter 5.
The first four chapters explains
where Obi Wan Kenobi and a 10 year older Anakin Skywalker
have been up to. We are also introduced to Padme Amidala's
family back on Naboo and learn much more on how she became
a queen. The detailed conversation between Padme and her
sister (never seen in the movie) are a great set up on
how she eventually falls for Anakin.
Also we learn how Shmi Skywalker
was abducted by the Tusken Raiders, and much more origin
information is given on Beru and Owen Lars (Luke's eventual
uncle on Tantooine) and the dynamics of the Lars/Skywalker
connection.
Throughout the remaining novel
the reader is treated to more bonus material (much of
which was indeed filmed, but hit the cutting room floor
before release) that seems to open your eyes to the bigger
political picture of that famous galaxy far, far away.
Questions such as: Who were the lost 20 Jedi? How did
Dooku ascend to power? Why Jango had Boba created, and
how was young Fett trained? How did the Separatist factions
begin? It was this great filler material which earned
4 stars for me.
However, there were a few
drawbacks. Salvatore seems to rush through many of the
epic battle scenes....I realize reading a novel is not
the same as seeing your favorite characters and millions
on CGI effects in a theatre, but I felt cheated reading
the Obi-Wan/Jango Fett confrontation, the chase scene
in the skylines of Courascant, and most of all the very
rushed feeling of the climatic battle. I couldn't shake
the feeling that Salvatore was rapidly approaching the
300 page mark, and hadn't got to the main battle at the
arena on Geonosis so he had to rush the writing taking
a lot of steam and strength out of what should have been
the mother of all battles for the book. After that, the
remaining plot points were only given a paragraph or two
to be wrapped up, end of book. This should only be worth
three stars, as it could have easily been expanded properly
with another 30-40 pages.
As I said above, it is much better than the motion picture.
I feel this way about all of the Star War books, though.
The storyline following Anakin and Padme is not as boring
and annoying as it was in the movie. It brings to the
table some details that the movie did not present. Like
how close Shmi really was to her family. Also, you get
an idea of how she was kidnapped. Much of the dialogue
is the same, but it is not as bad as when you are watching
the movie. Everybody already knows the plot and story
of it so I will not talk about it. I enjoyed it more than
The Phantom Menace, but not as much as Revenge Of The
Sith. If you are into reading the Star War saga I highly
recommend reading this novel. It won't be a waste of time.
Read, Read, Read.
When I first started reading Attack of the Clones I thought
I'd accidentally picked up the young adult version. The
first 30 pages are written very simply. Then R.A. Salvatore's
own writing style seemed to kick in and the book takes
off.
I won't get into the plot
because a SW fan already knows it. The strength of this
book is the way it fills in the background details that
were left out of the movie. It was good to see Shmi Skywalker's
life with Clieg and to know that she really was happy
before the Sandpeople capture her.
You also get to see that Obi
Wan isn't just stern with Anakin he's actually quite worried
about the kid and his desire to get back to Anakin and
have a talk with him never leaves his mind throughout
his adventures. Obi Wan is still a young man himself and
it's clear he has no idea of what to do with a Padawan
who is more powerful and yet more fragile than any other
Jedi learner.
Mace Windu, surprisingly seems
much more mellow concerning Anakin than he did in the
movie. When Obi Wan tells him that he thinks Anakin is
in over his head with Padme Master Windu does not flip
out and seems to not take it seriously at all. Mace is
intense in the book but the only one really disturbed
by Anakin in this episode in Obi Wan.
The relationship betwenn Jango
Fett and his son is beautifully shown. Even though Jango
is doing the wrong thing with his son(raising him to be
a cold blooded killer)he really loves the boy and you
wish that Jango had just taken his money and quit while
he had the chance.
The book spends a good deal
of time delving into the motivations behind Anakin and
Padme's relationship. I was surprised at how strongly
the book hints that the pairing isn't that healthy or
viable. After reading the scenes with Padme's family on
Naboo it's obvious that she's tired. She wants romance,
a home and a family. She's doing her duty but for the
first time she's thinking about life outside of politics.
Anakin is so emotionally needy and has idolized her from
the time he was a kid. In his eyes she's like a movie
star and saint wrapped into one. In the face of such powerful
devotion she's overwhelmed. The romantic scenses could've
been called The Siege of Amidala.
The book shows a relationship that's part crush and part
physical which is great for a summer fling but not so
promising for a marriage.
Other than the strangely slow
start, and a bit of weakness when describing the fight
scenes I was very happy with the Attack of the Clones
novel.
This book was written by my second favorite Star War Author-my
first being Matthew Stover. This book was a good gap-filler,
but you have to like the movie to like the book.
Some of the deleted scenes
in the movie were put into the book, like when Anakin
has dinner at Padme's house. It is good to travel inside
the mind of Padme and tell what she was really thinking
about Anakin, even though her hard-to-get role in the
movie was fooling no one.
It also exposed some more
about his mother. It goes into detail about what she was
thinking when she was being tortured and how she felt
about her new family. My biggest disappointment was about
what Obi-Wan said to Mace and Yoda about them being right
about them having been right all along and Anakin was
too old to have been trained. Damn, give the boy some
credit! He straight up dissed the boy. Thanks for the
vote of confidence in your own Padawan. I think one of
the biggest reasons for Anakin's fall was the lack of
confidence and constant nagging by Obi-Wan. Enough to
drive anyone crazy, isn't it?
Despite what other people
say, I think the first hint of Anakin turning to the dark
side is not displayed until this book. A lot of other
Star War readers think that it showed up before this book,
such as in Rogue Planet or The Approaching Storm. I think
his first step was when he slaughters the Tusken camp.
You also get to see how jealous and extremely possesive
Anakin is when it comes to Padme. He didn't like it at
all when she expressed gratitude toward Obi-Wan, he thought
she was "putting Obi-Wan above him". His true
jealous and possesive side is revealed in the Episode
III book.(He has to be a Scorpio...no offense to you Scorpions
out there!)
Like I said, this book fills
a lot of the gaps that the movie left out. It was interesting
to see Jango Fett as a loving father instead of a ruthless
killer....wait, he was teaching his son to be a ruthless
killer too! Like father, like son. The action scenes were
described in great detail but I have to see action scenes
to really get them. I would suggest that you see the movie
and then read the book.
Superman - The Movie
(Special Edition) (1978)
Plot Summary
Genres: Action,
Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Tagline: You'll Believe a Man Can Fly!
Plot Outline An alien orphan is sent
from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become
his adoptive home's first and greatest super-hero.
Plot Synopsis: Unable to convince the ruling
council of Krypton that their world will destroy itself
soon, scientist Jor-El takes drastic measures to preserve
the Kryptonian race: He sends his infant son Kal-El to
Earth. There, gaining great powers under Earth's yellow
sun, he will become a champion of truth and justice. Raised
by the Kents, an elderly farm couple, Clark Kent learns
that his abilities must be used for good. The adult Clark
travels to Metropolis, where he becomes a mild-mannered
reporter for the Daily Planet...and a caped wonder whose
amazing feats stun the city: Superman! Meanwhile, Lex
Luthor, the world's greatest criminal mind, is plotting
the greatest real estate swindle of all time. Can't even
the Man of Steel stop this nefarious scheme?
Richard Donner's 1978 epic about the Man of Steel showed
how a film about a superhero could be a moving and romantic
experience even for people who long ago gave up comic
books. Beginning on the icy planet Krypton, the story
follows the baby Kal-El, whose rocket ship lands in Smallville,
Kansas. He is found there by a childless couple and raised
as the shy Clark Kent (the young Kent is played by Jeff
East). The film is perhaps most touching in these sequences,
with expanses of wheat fields blowing in the wind and
with a young man who can't figure out what part in destiny
his great powers are meant to play. The second half, with
Reeve taking over as Clark/Superman, is bustling, enchanting
(the scene in which Superman flies girlfriend Lois Lane--played
by Margot Kidder--through the night sky is great date
material), and funny, thanks largely to Gene Hackman's
sardonic portrayal of nemesis Lex Luthor. --Tom Keogh
Additional features
Filled out with about eight minutes of additional footage,
this deluxe Superman almost doubles Marlon Brando's screen
time with added scenes on Krypton and in the Fortress
of Solitude and fills out the early life of Clark Kent,
contributing to a more mythic portrait of America's greatest
hero. There is also more disaster footage during the earthquake
climax, and Lex Luthor's "Gauntlet of Death"
sequence (seen on network TV broadcasts) is reinstated.
The commentary by director Richard Donner and "creative
consultant" Tom Mankeiwicz lacks the focus and detail
of a filmmaker really grappling with his work (it has
been almost 25 years, after all), but it's full of interesting
asides, casting trivia (Goldie Hawn as Miss Teschmacher?),
and the good-humored byplay of two old friends.
The three documentary featurettes
hosted by Marc McClure (Jimmy Olsen) are essentially chapters
of a comprehensive behind-the-scenes study, full of illuminating
interviews (Donner and Mankeiwicz are more revealing here),
special-effects tests (including all the failed attempts
to make you believe a man can fly), and the bizarre true
story of the unceremonious firing of Richard Donner after
he had turned Superman into a worldwide smash and shot
about 70 percent of the sequel.
A separate supplement features
screen tests for Christopher Reeve and five different
Lois Lanes (including a giggly Leslie Ann Warren and a
snappy Stockard Channing), and two legendary, delightfully
demented scenes featuring Lex Luthor's snarling "babies"
(also seen on TV broadcasts) are featured in the gallery
of Deleted Scenes. --Sean Axmaker
Review: 'Superman' on DVD...THE one to buy!
At last, Superman is presented the way it was meant to
be! The master print for the 1978 classic had deteriorated
so badly that the film, particularly the white-on-white
Krypton opening scenes, was almost unwatchable. (I had
even gone so far as to write a critique on Amazon.com
demanding a 'Director's Cut' DVD edition, digitally transferred
and remastered, be made!)
Somebody was listening! While this isn't a 'Director's
Cut' (Donner has said that the version that premiered
in 1978 was the version he preferred), the movie has been
expanded, to include a couple of brief scenes with Brando,
and the famous Superman Gauntlet sequence at Luthor's
underground lair (the remaining unused sequences can be
seen in the 'Deleted Scenes' Chapter, on Side 2).
Technically, the DVD is fabulous;
the Krypton sequences are now clean and sharp, a couple
of shots where, previously, color balancing problems had
turned Superman's costume green have been corrected, and,
best of all, the soundtrack has been digitally remastered
and sounds even better than it did in 1978!
Three fabulous documentaries
are included on Side 2 about the making of the film, and
how the flying effects were achieved. This was an incredibly
expensive and difficult film to make (so much so that
Donner, after 'Superman' was released to rave reviews,
was fired, and replaced by Richard Lester, for 'Superman
2'), and through interviews with Donner, Christopher Reeve
(who is honored for his work in the film, and his courage
since his crippling accident), Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman,
and several of the creative team, you can appreciate what
a unique and wonderful film this is!
Two other 'pluses'; a full-length
audio commentary track with Richard Donner, and a 'music
only' option, where you can admire one of composer John
Williams' greatest scores!
This Special Edition DVD should
be an essential part of any film lover's collection!
Review:
The best Superman
This film was the beginning in a series of Superman films
starring Christopher Reeve as the comic-book superhero.
It begins with Superman's birth, on the dying planet Krypton,
shows us how he came to Earth, was raised by good people,
and ventured out into the big, wide world. All the while,
he is discovering his superhuman abilities, and trying
to figure out, simultaneously, how to fit into human society,
and how to use his abilities for good.
Are the special effects stunning? No, the recent Spiderman
movies are better, in that respect, but Superman was still
very, very good, in the special effects department.
Was the acting great? I think that "great" goes
too far, but the late Christopher Reeve was definitely
credible in the role of a good man, who does not quite
fit in, but wants to be normal, and wants to help. Margot
Kidder was good, as well, and Gene Hackman, as Superman's
nemesis, Lex Luthor, was superb. Overall, the acting earned
an "A-".
Actually, most of the components of this film, if graded
separately, probably fall in the "A-" range,
which would normally earn four stars from me. But, when
everything is that good, across the board, and it is put
together just right, I move to five stars. That fits this
film. Even the musical score, which would fit no other
movie, fits perfectly. You see Superman, and you want
to believe in good.
Review:
Earth Or Bust ~ The Adventure Begins!
'Superman - The Movie' was released in '78 and became
an instant hit with both comic book fans and just about
every woman on the planet. Christopher Reeve was the perfect
choice for the part of the handsome young man from the
planet Krypton. Reeve was virtually unknown at the time
but producer Alexander Salkind and director Richard Donner
took a chance that his looks would overshadow any potential
lack in acting ability. Boy did they make the right choice
and yes he can act too!
Surrounded by a stellar cast
and a big budget to boot this film defined the process
of how to translate a comic book superhero into a highly
successful film.
A true classic in the genre
of superhero movies.
Review:
Christopher Reeve will always be Superman
It was painful watching Christopher Reeve in the DVD extra
section doing his interview after his riding accident
and before he died.I would like to say the studio made
the right choice in picking him to play The Man of Steel.The
other part of the DVD extras was how the movie was made
and the problems which occured.The part about the special
effects and building the sets blew me away.Bringing in
Mario Puzo to do the writing was a good idea. But John
Williams,what can I say about his works.The opening theme
music is a classic.If Mozart and the other music geniuses
were alive today they won't be able to compete against
John Williams who should be named the greatest music composer
ever.To me the movie with the DVD extras should be in
everyone's movie library.
Review:
The way a comic-book movie should be made
This is still the best comic book movie. (Spiderman is
#2 to me). The 1990's "Batman" movies to me
were just awful. This tells us the Story of "Superman"
from the begining (something that the Batman Movies just
started) and we grow to care about Clark Kent and then
we care about Superman even more. Now I hope that WB when
they release the DELUXE BOX SET OF "14" DVD'S
they will give us that 45 minutes of footage that was
added to the Network TV Showings. IF you have never scene
this movie then your in for a treat. THE Special effects
still hold up. The story is timeless. Christopher Reeve
should have won an oscar!
Superman Returns (Superman
Returns) (Mass Market Paperback)
Book Description
Following a mysterious absence of several years, the Man
of Steel comes back to Earth in the epic action-adventure
Superman Returns, a soaring new chapter in the saga of
one of the world’s most beloved superheroes.
While an old enemy plots to render him powerless once
and for all, Superman faces the heartbreaking realization
that the woman he loves, Lois Lane, has moved on with
her life. Or has she? Superman’s bittersweet return challenges
him to bridge the distance between them while finding
a place in a society that has learned to live without
him. In an attempt to protect the world he loves from
cataclysmic destruction, Superman embarks on an epic journey
of redemption that takes him from the depths of the ocean
to the far reaches of outer space.
Review:
Up, Up and Away We Go!
I am such a Superman fan you have no idea. I have been
waiting for the movie version of Superman Returns with
baited breath and on the edge of my seat. When I saw the
novel of the movie, I had an inner debate with myself
over reading the book before the movie is released and
possibly spoiling all the suspense and enjoyment of the
film when I finally get into the theater. I caved. Now,
I am a huge fan of the comic book medium and when I saw
Marv Wolfman was the author I was a little excited. This
guy has helped to shape the DC Universe to what it is
today. Surely in his hands, bringing back the big blue
boyscout would be an easy task. Right? If the movie plays
as well as the novel reads than we are in for a treat!
Basically the book reads like the movies of old played
out (Superman and Superman II are source material for
this universe - and Marv and the script writers thankfully
ignore the embarassments that were Superman III and Superman
IV). Marv does well in fleshing out the script into an
easily digested adaptation. Superman has been gone for
five years and nobody knows why, and his return hits the
front page just as big as his debut. Lex Luthor has some
plans of his own, and the untimely return of the man in
the red cape is both a pain and a pleasure for him. What
does it all mean? I won't tell. But if you want something
to tide you over before the movie - read it. If you see
the movie and just want a little more - read it. Nothing
beats escapist fiction like a good superhero - and Superman
is the original superhero.
Review:
An extremely fitting continuation for the man of steel!!!!
Compared to the garbage of Superman 3 and 4, this is a
great story and does keep the essence that is Superman
intact and takes it to a bit more serious level. Finally,
a story with heart, just like the original 1978 film.
Highly recommended!!
Review: The Last Son of Krypton?
Superman Returns is a good but not a great story. The
book and the movie take place 5 years after Superman 2
so if you have not watched Superman 1 and/or Superman
2 do yourself a favor and watch them!
The story begins with a history
of Krypton which was wonderfully written. Jor-el and Lara,
who are Kal-el's (Superman's) parents, have their story
told pertaining to how they met and how they eventually
met their demise.
The story then continues with
Superman reading an article stating that Krypton may still
be in existence so he takes off on a 2 and a 1/2 year
journey to Krypton to see if he is indeed the Last Son
of Krypton. He then takes the 2 and a 1/2 year journey
back to earth to continue his life in Smallville and then,
eventually, Metropolis.
In Metropolis, Superman learns
that Lois Lane has moved on with her life and now has
a 5 year old kid named Jason. Again, look at Superman
2 to find out why she probably has a kid that is 5 years
old. She also is involved with another man, Richard White,
to Superman's surprise. Soonafter, Superman saves Lois
Lane from an airplane crash and the world knows he has
returned. Superman then meets with Lois and they discuss
why he left.
In the meantime, Lex Luthor
is trying to find a way to own and destroy land (remember
Superman 1). He is using the knowledge from the Fortress
of Solitude to accomplish this task. He soon finds out
that Superman is alive and he tries to get rid of Superman
once and for all. Remember, Lex is still extremely upset
that Superman thwarted his plans in Superman 1 and sent
him to jail. Lex kidnaps Lois and Jason and Superman has
to come to the rescue. This Escalates into a final showdown
between Lex Luthor and Superman.
Again, the book was good but
not great. There were a couple of plot holes in the story
that did not make sense. The one that bothered me the
most was the Superman/Lois storyline. If Lois is still
in love with Superman, that kiss that Superman gave her
in Superman 2 obviously did not erase her memory of their
love affair or Superman's identity. That being said, in
Superman Returns, Lois was extremely upset with Superman
for leaving but nice to Clark when he returned to the
Dailey Planet; however, she should've been upset with
both of them for leaving knowing that Clark and Superman
are actually one in the same.
Also, I didn't really buy the explanation that was given
why Lex Luthor was released from jail.
Overall, the story was good
but not great. If you liked Superman 1 and 2 you will
most likely like Superman Returns.
Review:
Good but not great
This book is easy to read. I finished it in a day and
overall I enjoyed the story, though there were a few things
that I didn't think worked too well. I really enjoyed
the history pieces about Krypton. That'd make a fascinating
story in itself.
Here are my initial reactions:
(WARNING! Spoilers ahead...)
1. I was surprised that Superman
and Lex Luthor have so few scenes together - and that
all of their time together was clumped in just a couple
of chapters near the very end. I thought it was obvious
that Luthor planted the fake story about Krypton still
having life in an effort to divert Superman away from
Earth.
2. There were a lot of pieces
of dialogue that appear as direct quotes from the 1978
movie. This is not bad. In fact, it's a nice touch in
a lot of ways but after a while I started wondering if
the writers were afraid to create new "classic"
lines instead reusing the old ones. I don't know how many
of those lines will make it into the final release of
the movie.
3. I expected some closure
with Superman and Lois Lane but the story really only
progresses their relationship a small bit. The stuff with
Jason (where I think it's pretty obvious that he's really
Superman's son) goes unresolved - though they hint at
something that should be continued in the sequel. I'm
referring here to the scene where Lois visits Superman
in the hospital and tells him something private but we
as an audience don't get to read what she tells him.
4. I was surprised at how
little there was of Superman actually in action. Sure,
there are a few great action scenes, but for the most
part Superman/Clark Kent is a bystander, watching the
story unfold. The story seems to be more of a soap opera
about the world he lives in and not so much a character-driven
piece.
With that being said, I'm
looking very forward to the movie. I'm sure that the few
action pieces described in the novel will look fantastic
on the big screen. I know not to expect very much from
the "love story" now. When Bryan Singer was
making the movie he described it as a love story but after
reading it, I found very little love in it. I would describe
it as more of a story about Superman wanting to reclaim
his life after going off on a mission to find where he
fits in with the universe. I think my wife will be disappointed
that it's not a love story when she sees it next month.
So overall I'd say it was
a good story but not great. Nothing really surprising
happened in the story for me but it felt great to return
to that 1978 feeling. In a lot of ways the story felt
like you just finished watching SUPERMAN 1 and 2 and then
picked up with this. More than anything, this movie feels
like it's setting up a lot of plot lines that will be
resolved in the next movie.
I hope with future stories
they take some chances and throw some surprises. This
story feels like a transition piece - serving to bridge
the old movies with the sequels that will come out in
a few years.
Review: Superman Novel Fails
to Soar
Reviewer: Wantz Upon A Time Reviews "www.wantzuponatime.com"
(Chicago) - See all my reviews
The Man of Steel, Clark Kent/Superman, has disappeared
from sight as this novelization of the new movie Superman
Returns opens. When NASA astronomers discover Krypton
still exists and believe the planet may still support
life, Superman makes the 2 ½ year journey to discover
if his parents and his home planet still live. Sadly,
Superman discovers Krypton is a wasteland and makes the
long journey home only to discover that Lois Lane has
a child and fiancé, and the people of Metropolis
have learned to survive without him.
Clark wrestles with whether
or not he should leave his Superman identity behind, but
when Lois and a plane of reporters are poised for disaster,
he puts on the suit. He makes his triumphant return in
time to battle Lex Luthor and fight to save the planet.
Although lacking in action
and weak in the scientific explanation of Lex Luthor's
evil plot, Superman fans will find in this novel welcome
details about Superman's parents and his home planet that
movies and the comic book did not provide. We also are
treated to an in-depth look into the minds of Superman
and the Daily Planet staff. And while many questions raised
in the book are not clearly answered by the last page,
readers will probably be willing to forgive the plot holes
and look toward the next installment of the Man of Steel
for resolution.
Review: Fun . . .
But Can't Escape the "Been There, Done That"
Feeling
I'm a comic book fan. I have always dug Superman. The
first two Superman films stand high in my list of comic
films done right.
I also have a great deal of
respect for the accomplishments of Marv Wolfman, a veritable
legend of the comic book industry.
I read this book in about
3.5 hours. Some maybe/minor (not really) SPOILERS are
to follow:
Even with all the narrative
help that was provided, I didn't really buy Superman's
reasons for leaving Earth and, especially, not telling
Lois.
Given how the relationship's
progressed in the comic and in televised media, it seems
kind of weak seeing Lois react to Clark in the "Oh
hi" fashion.
Gene Hackman's Luthor worked
for it's time, but is not nearly as interesting (or scary)
as Clancy Brown's interpretation in the Superman/JLA animated
series. The writing of Lex Luthor in this novel seems
to portray him as a crackpot guy that's all id and ego,
but very little underneath. He doesn't really seem to
measure up as a legitimate villian, when his main ambition
seem to be to swindle real estate, even if on a grand
scale.
There were some thrilling
moments that I can imagine will play wonderfully on the
screen, but the character interaction, Lois loves her
son, loves the new man in her life and still loves Superman
. . . Superman loves Lois and can't believe she *gasp*
moved on without him . . . gets tedious just reading it
and unless handled very well -- will likely be more tedious
to watch.
Overall, while I enjoyed the
novelization and stand ready to plunk down the coin to
see it in theaters (and am still eternally greatful they
got Jon Peters off of the project and trashed the JJ Abrams
script), I think they should have tried telling a new
story rather than revisit all the landmarks (as someone
else astutely listed) from the first film.
Adventures of Superman - The Complete First Season
(1952)
Product Description
The legendary Man of Steel assumes the secret identity
of Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Metropolis
Daily Planet. And with powers and abilities far beyond
those of mortal men, he battles for truth and justice
as Superman. The first ever Superman TV series! Originally
aired in the 1950's, it features George Reeves as Superman
and enjoyed tremendous success during its broadcast. The
TV series premise was established a year before its broadcast
via the theatrical release of "Superman and The Mole
Men" in 1951.
Review: Superman - what to expect from this classic
series on DVD
First off, I've never been "the first" to review
a DVD on Amazon, so let me just say I'm thrilled. And,
since today is July 7 and this DVD isn't even going to
be released until October 18, I'm going to stick to some
general thoughts on the show and share some information
on what I have read pertaining to the bonus items to be
included.
For those who don't know,
this is the first season of the television program the
Adventures of Superman which debuted in 1952. This season
features Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane - she would be replaced
by Noel Neill in the later seasons. (Neill played Lois
in the Superman movie serials.) This first season is highly
regarded among fans of the show, and was much more gritty
or realistic than subsequent seasons. As for completeness,
we'll all just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope
the shows are released in their uncut versions - close
to 27 minutes each!
Here's what I've seen printed
elsewhere regarding the contents :
Disc 1
"Superman on Earth"
"The Haunted Lighthouse"
"The Case of the Talkative Dummy"
"The Mystery of the Broken Statues"
"The Monkey Mystery"
"A Night of Terror"
Disc 2
"The Birthday Letter"
"The Mind Machine"
"Rescue"
"The Secret of Superman"
"No Holds Barred"
"The Deserted Village"
Disc 3
"The Stolen Costume"
"Treasure of the Incas"
"Double Trouble"
"Mystery in Wax"
"The Runaway Robot"
"Drums of Death"
Disc 4
"The Evil Three"
"Riddle of the Chinese Jade"
"The Human Bomb"
"Czar of the Underworld"
"The Ghost Wolf"
"Crime Wave"
Disc 5
"Unknown People, Part 1"
"Unknown People, Part 2"
And special features should
be:
Superman and the Mole Men
theatrical movie (Reeves and Coates' first team-up)
Featurette: "From Inkwell to Backlot" retrospective
Vintage George Reeves short
Original Kellogg's Cereal TV spots
Commentary Tracks by Super-Experts (details to be announced)
I'm giving the release 5 stars
based s |