Episode III Novelization.
I know many people did not like the prequel Star Wars movies. The numerous complaints I've heard range from bad story to bad acting to too much CGI to Jar-Jar to Darth Maul being killed too early which I agree with to the CGI transformation of Jedi Master Yoda.
Some of this I agree with, some I do not. The prequels are definitely inferior to the original trilogy as a whole, but I was not as disappointed with them as other Star Wars fans. I thought the little boy that played Anakin was a pretty bad choice of actor. It was painful to watch him. BUT, that movie was not about him, per se. While it was about the Jedi finding him, it was more about how things started to go bad in the Republic, how the Emperor began to accumulate power, and how Obi-Wan met Anakin and came to train him as a Jedi. Also, the Pod Race was pretty cool.
Yes, I realize how I sound.
As far as Jar-Jar goes, here's his role. While all adults are instantly annoyed by his presence, as they should be, children are not. Nichole's daughter will be 4 in September. I have began to expose her to Star Wars for two reasons. One, I love the movies and loved them as a kid even more, therefore I figure she will like them, because she's a kid. Two, it drives Nichole nuts. Kelsey, her daughter, can point out and name R2D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca (Chewie, to her), Leia, Darth Vader, Yoda, and lastly, Jar-Jar. He looks silly, he talks silly, he acts silly. He's for the kids, people. Let it be.
So, way too long story short, I liked the movies well enough. The lightsaber action was great. What I intended to tell you in a much shorter format, though, was to try out the books.
Right now, I am reading the novelization of the third movie, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Written by an author named Matthew Stover, it is actually very, very good. There have been a ton of books written about Star Wars - commonly referred to as the Extended Universe. Some take place years after Return of the Jedi, some occur even before The Phantom Menace. Some are worth a read, others not so much.
If you were unhappy with the third movie... if you wanted more than what you got, then read the novel. It gets into characters' heads, gives you scenes that never took place in the movie but tie in perfectly, and expound upon some of the action scenes from the movie. If they had taken the fight with Count Dooku in the beginning of the movie and shot it according to what is in the book, it would have been 10 times better.
Even just the dialogue and character relationships are worth it. In the movie, Padme and Anakin love each other. Fine, good, super. In the book, though, you get a feel for the depth of their relationship. You get to experience Padme when she first sees Anakin after he is away for months, and how her emotion spills over when she simply glimpses him.
The utter confusion Anakin experiences between his loyalties to Obi-Wan, the Jedi Council, and Palpatine allows you to understand his eventual transformation to Darth Vader. In the movie, it seems almost anti-climactic. He gets mad, cries, then is Darth Vader. Way too easy. In the book, you feel his pain and insecurity. You can see how twisted Palpatine's manipulations become, and how easily he pushes and pulls Anakin until the end result is inevitable.
Again, I realize how I sound.
I could go on, and would like to go on. It is, however, past 2am. I plan on finishing this chapter - I am currently on Utapau, where Obi-Wan is confronting General Grevious - and going to bed. I hope this has been enlightening. Maybe I should do more Geek Book Reviews.
Some of this I agree with, some I do not. The prequels are definitely inferior to the original trilogy as a whole, but I was not as disappointed with them as other Star Wars fans. I thought the little boy that played Anakin was a pretty bad choice of actor. It was painful to watch him. BUT, that movie was not about him, per se. While it was about the Jedi finding him, it was more about how things started to go bad in the Republic, how the Emperor began to accumulate power, and how Obi-Wan met Anakin and came to train him as a Jedi. Also, the Pod Race was pretty cool.
Yes, I realize how I sound.
As far as Jar-Jar goes, here's his role. While all adults are instantly annoyed by his presence, as they should be, children are not. Nichole's daughter will be 4 in September. I have began to expose her to Star Wars for two reasons. One, I love the movies and loved them as a kid even more, therefore I figure she will like them, because she's a kid. Two, it drives Nichole nuts. Kelsey, her daughter, can point out and name R2D2, C-3PO, Chewbacca (Chewie, to her), Leia, Darth Vader, Yoda, and lastly, Jar-Jar. He looks silly, he talks silly, he acts silly. He's for the kids, people. Let it be.
So, way too long story short, I liked the movies well enough. The lightsaber action was great. What I intended to tell you in a much shorter format, though, was to try out the books.
Right now, I am reading the novelization of the third movie, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Written by an author named Matthew Stover, it is actually very, very good. There have been a ton of books written about Star Wars - commonly referred to as the Extended Universe. Some take place years after Return of the Jedi, some occur even before The Phantom Menace. Some are worth a read, others not so much.
If you were unhappy with the third movie... if you wanted more than what you got, then read the novel. It gets into characters' heads, gives you scenes that never took place in the movie but tie in perfectly, and expound upon some of the action scenes from the movie. If they had taken the fight with Count Dooku in the beginning of the movie and shot it according to what is in the book, it would have been 10 times better.
Even just the dialogue and character relationships are worth it. In the movie, Padme and Anakin love each other. Fine, good, super. In the book, though, you get a feel for the depth of their relationship. You get to experience Padme when she first sees Anakin after he is away for months, and how her emotion spills over when she simply glimpses him.
The utter confusion Anakin experiences between his loyalties to Obi-Wan, the Jedi Council, and Palpatine allows you to understand his eventual transformation to Darth Vader. In the movie, it seems almost anti-climactic. He gets mad, cries, then is Darth Vader. Way too easy. In the book, you feel his pain and insecurity. You can see how twisted Palpatine's manipulations become, and how easily he pushes and pulls Anakin until the end result is inevitable.
Again, I realize how I sound.
I could go on, and would like to go on. It is, however, past 2am. I plan on finishing this chapter - I am currently on Utapau, where Obi-Wan is confronting General Grevious - and going to bed. I hope this has been enlightening. Maybe I should do more Geek Book Reviews.
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