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Star Wars Episode II: The Book Review
Hello, Mr. Salvatore! For the folks who want to get the details on the story without downloading the bootleg version, there's always the novelization based on the screen play, adapted by R. A. Salvatore (the same man behind the many D&D books in the fantasy section of the bookstore).
The last time this happened, Terry Brooks was the captain, guiding us through his interpretation of Episode I: The Phantom Menace. It was a good book, filling in the gaps that the movie missed, while telling the story in style. To be honest, I wish we had Mr. Brooks back. It's not that I don't like Mr. Salvatore, but -- well, maybe I don't after reading this book.
It's clear that Salvatore had access to the screen play for the movie, with every move, look, and nuance that was put inside. He also has access to the choreographed scenes, which becomes clear since he feels the need to tell us every single detail of the fights. Thanks to him, I now know that in a fight scene between Obi-Wan and Jango Fett, Obi-Wan "...ducked the blow and did a tight, stationary somersault right under the swinging arm, double-kicking as he came over...", and every other minor detail, blow, kick and jump. A fight scene that probably takes 2 minutes in the movie now takes up 15 pages of text.
It's overkill, and Salvatore does this over and over again. I would say he's wordy, but the definition is too short by at least 30 characters. In another scene, where Anakin goes all Dark Side on us, Salvatore writes it like this (well, not exactly - but it feels that way):
And as the rage raged through Anakin's rage, he raged through his raging rage to rage the rage rage.
I'm not clear here - is Anakin angry? It's a formula that is used over and over again with as much verbage as Salvatore can invent - how much Shmi Skywalker misses her son, or how Padme has chosen professional life over personal life.
You almost want to scream out "We get the point - move on to the story!"
Jedi and Bounty Hunters and Clones, Oh My!
The story itself is predictable sci-fi fiction. We can spot a plot device half a mile away, and in many ways, it emulates Episode I in its setup.
The story involves the attempted assassination of Padme Amidala, who is no longer Queen of Naboo (seems they can only serve 2 terms), but is now Senator of Naboo, fighting to prevent the creation of an army for the Republic to defend it from the Separatists. So the Jedi Council, at the advice of Emperor^H^H^H^H^H^H^H Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, enlists the help of Obi-Wan Kenobi and his Padawan Apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, to protect the young Senator.
While Obi-Wan takes off to chase after the assassins, Anakin is holed up with Padme all alone on her home planet on Naboo. Of course, nobody else seems to notice that Anakin has been Jonesing for Padme since he was 10. Even though Obi-Wan seems to think that Anakin might get himself into trouble, but is overruled by the Jedi Council, who don't seem to realize that a barely 20-year-old man with raging hormones around Natalie Portman might feel a little tempted.
This soon leads to romantic moments between the younglings, boiled down to this:
Anakin: Padme, I love you, and I'm not even vaguely trying to uphold my vows as a would-be Jedi to never marry. Kind of like a Catholic Priest, without the altar boy scandal. Padme: Anakin, we can't be together. You're a Jedi, and are forbidden to marry. (Even though I think those brown robes are so hot on you.) Anakin: What was that? Padme: Oh, nothing. Let's to romp in the meadow and hold hands even though I say we're not going to fall in love. Anakin: Sure. Can I look longingly at you at times? Padme: If you must. (While I undress you with my eyes.) Anakin: What? Padme: Nothing!Gaps in the Universe
So while Padme and Anakin are making goo-goo eyes at each other, Obi-Wan is discovering the creation of a clone army, an army based on the genes of Jango Fett, the best bounty hunter of the galaxy, who's cloned son, Boba Fett, is being trained by his "father" to be even better.
But then the questions come up. Who would want the creation of a clone army to fight the Separatists, when the Senate is still arguing about creating an army in the first place? What is Count Dooku, the former Jedi who is labeled as "the best kick ass lightsaber duelist in the history of the galaxy", doing at the head of the Separatists - and what is his plan? And how long until Anakin and Padme finally give in to their lusts and make the beast of two backs?
The story, in and of itself, isn't that interesting. But the story does a good job at tying up the lines between Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope and the prequels. For the first time, we meet Owen and Beru, and understand how they fit into the Skywalker family. We see how the future Emperor manipulates the public to put himself as the head of the Republic. That alone is enjoyable as you go "Ah...now that makes sense."
But for the cost of the $26.00 book, you might as well just wait a week and pay $11.00 at the movie theaters for the same information - in much less time.
You can purchase Attack of the Clones from bn.com. Want to see your own review here? Just read the book review guidelines, then use Slashdot's handy submission form.
I didn't read the Zahn books but much of what I have heard from friends who did sounds like what you are saying. I don't know anyone who read them who didn't at least like them a little. I once picked up "Han Solo at Stars End" or something like that and have never touched a Star Wars book again. God it was terrible.
Anyway I have to disagree with you on Salvatore. Granted there probably wasn't much there to work with but he is hardly the guy you would want to try and fill in the gaps. I have read a few of his books and can only say that this man couldn't write his name in 50 words or less. He's earned his place in literary history with an ability to crank out books fast but he's repetitive to the extreme and as the reviewer pointed out incapable of brevity even when it's needed.
One of the problems I am seeing is that Lucas is attempting to back-reference *everything* in Episodes 4-6 and a few other things that cropped up in the Star Wars Universe.
So C3P0 and R2D2 come about when, in truth, there is no need for them. Fett's story is (re)created and explained (why not just use the story that was originally given and leave it out of the movies?), &c, &c.
He would likely have more luck if he wouldn't attempt to throw in everything for everyone and just try to write a story.
I will reserve judgment on this movie until I see it, however, some of the things that Lucas has been doing with the story in an effort to make it widely appeal are just frustrating.
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Just before Mr. Salvatore broke big, he was a guest at a convention I was running (ConFusion in Massachusetts) and he is a nice guy and writes passable enough novels but let's give him a break. Look at the material he has to work with. I'm not surprised it's bad.
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With the caveat that I haven't seen EpII yet, I think that it comes down to a simple fact: Lucas is too excited about using digital toys to produce a vision than he is about the actual storyline and character development. You had to admit, Episode I - and let's use this as a reference point - looked impressive, visually. The CGI was rendered in great detail - even Jar Jar Bink's movements seemed both organic and fluid. The problem is that he spent too much time with A) the Anakin subplot - and that's what it should have been - a subplot, B) Jar Jar Binks's antics. Essentially, he confused the comic relief with the main story. Now, say what you want about Lucas, but this is not Lucas. Star Wars (I will never call it Episode 4) had humor in it, but it was mostly from character *interaction* and exploitation of circumstance. You have the rough mercenary Han Solo dealing with the strong and politically motivated Leia... with each one in a contest to become the alpha male. You also have the exchanges between Threepio and Artoo, (and did anyone notice that it's Artoo, the one that communicated in blips and beeps, who plays the straightman in the comic venture?) You also have humor of circumstance - "I think i just blasted it." Even so, "Star Wars" characters can be very serious when the plot calls for it. This is where Lucas should have been focusing humor. Instead, he misapplies it - Jar Jar & Anakin, the pod racer announcer, etc. Instead, what does he do well. Well, from the trailers and the origional, I think he's doing the fight scenes well, and I think he's also showing the setting. Unfortunately, these aren't Lucas's hallmarks - they're the hallmarks of, perhaps Jackie Chan and Speilberg directly. Then again, maybe he *has* to emulate other directors. Remember, these plots weren't just developed to suit the fans - they were written before "Star Wars" was released. Let's face facts, Lucas developed the middle trilogy first because he thought it would be the best of the 3... No matter what, then, we should expect the plot of the prequels to be of an inferior quality. Lucas can only try to make this deficiency up by promising eye candy - perhaps why he is so adamant about having the digital projectors installed. That said, I'm sure that those who go to see Episode II for the lightsaber fights and the stunning CGI planet-scapes will enjoy it. But for those looking for plot, it's time to swallow back that taste of bile in your throat once again. Brian.
Greetings,
A few posters in this thread complained that Lucas may be trying to fill too much backstory in the current Star Wars I-III movies, that the continuity isn't there, or that there is too much detail. To all of you, I would advise you to read the novel "Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker", by George Lucas, written in the 1970's. A new edition was printed in the 1990's, tied with the re-release of the movies.
A lot of the backstory that Lucas refers to today in the movies is explained in a one page prologue "written by Senator Leia Organa" of Alderaan. The Trade Federation, Emperor Palpatine, the Clone Wars, Skywalkers' abilities as pilots running in the family, the relationship between Luke Skywalker and Biggs (who is jarring in the movie because they greet like old friends in Yavin-4 but viewers don't know *why*), etc. are all mentioned in that book.
The Star Wars movie novelizations of the first trilogy were better written, and in the case of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back they add significant backstory that explains why some things happen the way they do in the movie. So far The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones seem to adhere to that chronology.
There are also a few glaring discrepancies that are later kludged to fix (i.e. like Darth Vader being Luke's father), but they are forgivable in the context of the whole saga. One of the most important ones is that in Star Wars, Tatooine is an unimportant planet in the outer rim of the galaxy, yet it's in every movie except for TESB. Lots of things going on in that little, unimportant planet. Finally, there are a few screenplay drafts (for the original Star Wars movie) written by Lucas that you can find on the 'Net, that also provide interesting backstory.
I mention this because a lot of people don't realize that what Mr. Lucas has been saying all along, that he had the underpinnings of the story worked out long ago, is probably true. Read the book, and then make judgement.
My copy of "Star Wars" is in Spanish (the Editorial Argos Vergara Edition, "La Guerra de las Galaxias" of 1977-78) and I left it in my native country, so I'm quoting by memory here. I read it at least 30 times when I was 11 or so, and I remember the prologue quite well because it didn't say the same things as the yellow scroll at the beginning of the movie. I tried Google-ing for a reference to this prologue but couldn't find one. Can someone transcribe it or post a link?
(Also, there was a Star Wars book that chronicled the first duel between Vader and Skywalker published in 1978 or 1979 titled The Mind's Eye, by Alan Dean Foster. I have a copy back home, but I've never seen it in the US. That story takes place at some point between Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back; it explored some interesting backstory issues but didn't hint of Vader being Skywalker's father.)
As far as novelizations from the movies (or from the screenplays), Star Wars by George Lucas and The Empire Strikes Back (I don't remember the author) were probably the best. The Mind's Eye by A. D. Foster was excellent, and it made me wonder if it had been a screen treatment at some point. The novelization of Return of the Jedi *sucked*, and I never bothered to read more than one the books not based on the movies because they don't capture the essence of the story the way Lucas' stories/movies do.
Cheers!
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Whaat? Now hold on here folks. What really did happen with Boba Fett? My readings up to now indicate that he was a deposed journeyman protectorate that got kicked out for he turned in one of his clients due to the bounty that was on his/hers/its head. But nooooo.. Now ole George has him as a clone now.. Hooboy, i'll bet the bookwriters are ripping their hair out trying to get this sorted out on WHY he went off the beaten path that was already laid in front of him on Boba's past... Help me clear some of this air up, hey?
First rule of holes; When in one, stop digging.
As I watched (reviewing ;^) the bootleg version of the movie this morning all I could think of was "How can this movie not get an R rating?"
/.ers out there with kids (or those thinking of taking young children to the movie) beware!
* Beheadings
* Arms cut off sans blood
* Monsters eating 'people'
* A village massacre (implied women/children too)
* Soldiers/Jedi knights killed various ways
* A boy holding his "father's" head!
Personally, this movie was an amalgamation of Braveheart, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, 5th Element, all previous Star Wars movies, and Lord of the Rings. Needless to say I was extremely disappointed and glad I didn't waste my money.
See the movie before taking the kids and you'll see what I mean. Lucas must have tremendous power in Hollywood with his 1 trick pony.
his Mother. Of course I thought Jedi would have to do with the accidental death of her and he'd get pissed off at them, but this works as well.
So what entity is refered to when Lucas talks of the Phantom Menace? The Dark Side? Perhaps there is some yet unrevealed entity influencing the entire Star Wars universe subtly from the shadows. The Jedi and the Sith are merely pawns in a multidimensional struggle between the Yin and Yang of The Force. The Jedi and Sith are nothing more than channelers for the manifestations of these 2 warring continui. (plural of continuum?)
I agree with earlier posters. The magic is gone with the Star Wars series. EP1's visual polish only helped to further distance it from Ep4-6's feel. I like the older, grainier look of the original trilogy. It presented a harsh, gritty reality of dirty spaceports and slimy aliens and people struggling to get overcome ridiculous odds. What's Episode 1? Gloss and polish and render farm fmv. Those guys worked their asses off to make 4-6 using PHYSICAL models of everything! What's Episode 1? An air-conditioned office full of dweebs trying to get Jar-Jar's skin to be sufficiently flappy.
It'll be nice if the new movie recaptures some of the heart of 4-6, but I think the odds are not favorable. End Rant.
I've read several of R.A. Salvatore's books and I must say that this review was overly critical of him as an author. If you read any of his books you will know that Salvatore LOVES to write fight scenes, and he does them well. The content of the story wasn't Salvatore's to begin with, it was based off the screenplay (same with episode 1), so to say that Salvatore can't write a book, based on this review is ignorant.
/. this review was horrible.
How about a point and counterpoint next time