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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 strictly on the fact that the series is finally being released and the hope that the DVD set will surpass all our expectations.

Review: A classic series, nice bonus features, a great low price....Super!
What a treat, both for Superman fans and people who just enjoy classic t.v. shows of the fifties. It's pretty much universally acknowledged that season one of THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN is far and away the best of the series. George Reeves was a no-nonsense hero, and quite believable in the role. The series had plenty of action and the first-season scripts were usually solid.

And I'm pleasantly surprised to see the rare theatrical feature, SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN included here. Although it's essentially Superman on a b-movie budget, there's plenty to like about this forgotten piece of Superman history.

A common practice in the early days of television was to get a show's actors to endorse the advertisers' products. Perhaps the rarest and most unusual treat for fans of classic t.v. are the orignial Kellog's cereal commercials, featuring cast members from the show. Clark Kent sells Frosted Flakes!

There's an informative documentary, with comments from Superman experts and a VERY old Jack Larson, who played Jimmy Olsen on the show. With all these extras and a first-rate presentation of the episodes, this is a classic t.v. lover's dream come true. Highly recommended.

Review: SOME GOOD THINGS JUST NEVER GET OLD OR DATED - THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS

FIRST THOUGHTS - I NEVER MISSED THIS SHOW WHEN IT WAS ON T.V. IN THE 1950s!
The first season is really different from the others, as Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane gives these first episodes more of an appeal to adults and older kids. Of course, when this DVD Set came in the mail I had a Superman marathon which meant I played all the episodes round the clock. Yes, this series is that good, and especially this first season, which I recall well, although I had not seen the episodes for decades.

Of course I still get a chill during the introduction as the announcer zips through the usual discourse of: "faster than a speeding bullet", "more powerful than a locomotive", "able to leap tall buildings in a single bound", "can change the course of mighty rivers" etc.!

ABOUT THE FIRST SEASON: Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane just can't stay out of trouble! She really had a nack for getting into trouble and she behaved like a very independent woman. Only a super-man could keep this Lois Lane out of trouble!

Without giving too much away about the plots, this first season is filled with mystery adventures and, as others have pointed out, has a film-noir quality that is hard to miss. Phyllis Coates as Lois Lane is rather over-the-top but she has always been my favorite Lois, perhaps because I saw her in that role first. George Reeves *is* Superman, make no mistake about it, as he plays the role without overdoing the hapless Clark Kent role. In fact, he plays a rather strong and emotional Clark Kent which is nice to see and fits the role quite well.

5th DISK HAS FEATURE LENGTH TREAT: "SUPERMAN AND THE MOLE MEN"!

ABOUT THE DVDs: Excellent transfer, Features, Value!

A fantastic transfer of a 55-year-old TV show is too good to be true, but true it is. The episodes appear to be uncut, as the lengths run about 25 minutes and some seconds which is consistent with their original running times. There is commentary for a few of the episodes, but frankly I have been too anxious to see all the episodes a few times first. The package is nice too! Subtitles are available in English, French, and Spanish.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE SPECIAL FEATURES:

RETROSPECTIVE DOCUMENTARY - Made in 2005 and runs about 18 minutes. Includes footage from most of the first year's episodes and interviews with Leonard Maltin and an nicely-aged Jack Larson [Jimmy Olson].

*COMMENTARY ON 4 EPISODES [2 by Gary Grossman - 2 by Chuck Harter]

*ORIGINAL KELLOGG'S CEREAL COMMERCIALS

*PONY EXPRESS DAYS: "VINTAGE WARNER BROTHERS HISTORICAL SHORT", Starring George Reeves

*THE 2 PART EPISODE, "The Unknown People", which had been theatrically released earlier as "The Mole Men", is included as well.

RECOMMENDED: SEASON TWO, PLUS SEASON THREE/FOUR, which has just been released in one DVD set. I will be getting that one this month, as I pre-ordered it from Amazon in March! The 3rd and 4th season set has many of my favorite episodes, [eg. "The Big Chill"] and both years are within 1 DVD boxed set as they made only half as many episodes during the third and fourth seasons as the previous two. Although color TVs did not exist 50 years ago, the shows from these later seasons were shot in color, unlike the first two seasons, giving them a warmer, and more modern look when seen today on color TVs.