Customer Reviews

Star Wars Episode 1 : The Phantom Menace Movie Storybook

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First off, I thought the flick was pretty good, though a little too slow in the middle. It needed more action, more depth, less clumsy dialogue, and less kiddie stuff. We all know that now. Okay. With that in mind, the screenplay is great in some parts, and groan out loud bad in others. If you're one of the more forgiving (and less bandwagon-jumping obsessed) hardcore fans, it's a treasure. Even with all it's faults, it's cool to sit down and read how the pieces begin to fall into place. Also, this is an uncut script, so a lot of the deleted stuff you see on the DVD is in here, as is some cut dialogue. Again, I wouldn't advise this for the passive Star Wars fan, but it is a must-have for the REAL (being a relative term, of course) Star Wars fan.

This book is by far better than the movie. Why? Because lines in the script that were cut in the final product actually fill in the blanks and add more substance to the plot movement. The scene where Amidala appeals to the senate is just one example. There were a lot of little lines that were cut out here but, I feel, important lines. Another facet of this book is when you read it you really feel Anakin should have been at least 14 rather than nine years old and Amidala 16 rather than 14(You'll undertand why when you read the book but the "Angel" dialogue at Watto's was cut so you don't experience it in the movie). It also explains why Anakin was able to enter the Droid Control Ship when everyone else couldn't! The only downside is there isn't any color photos or reasons for the cuts made (Like in JC's Titanic Illustrated Screenplay). A Must Read for ALL Star Wars fans.

If you are willing to buy the TPM screenplay(you can get it for free on the Internet), this is your best bet. It has a selection of the orginal storyboards, cut scenes(this is the uncut screenplay), a introduction by producer Rick Mccalum, and the underwater and battle storyboards in order, kinda like a movie effect. If you like Star Wars, buy this!

Where other illustrated screenplay adapatations have failed, this one captures the magic of the film eloquently. Full of cutscenes, detail, and beautiful artwork, this book is a must have for any Star Wars fan or collection.

Similar to the Scholastic storybooks of the 70's and 80's, this book is a quick but inclusive retelling of the events of Episode I with some great photographs throughout. The serious Star Wars fan probably has seen most of the photos, before, but that doesn't take anything away from this book. I learned to read on a copy of Scholastic's Star Wars Storybook over twenty years ago, and this book is a venerable successor to that series; I hope some day my own children use this one the same way.

I have been fascinated with screenplays and the art of writing them since I read my first copy of Carol Titleman's The Art of Star Wars, a trade paperback which, along with production paintings, costume designs, photos of models, composites, and storyboards, contained the uncut fourth draft of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. (This, by the by, was the first time I saw the new moniker for the film everyone still calls "Star Wars.") In that book, I not only read lines of dialogue and relived some of my favorite movie moments (this was before I owned my first VCR), but I also saw scenes that had been left out of the final film, either left unshot or deleted after filming (such as Han's encounter with Jabba the Hutt.)

Shortly before the premiere of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, I was stunned when I saw The Illustrated Screenplay and Terry Brooks' novelization at my usual bookstore. Lucas had clamped down on the release of the Return of the Jedi novelization 16 years before (to prevent certain plot revelations from getting out too soon), and I had expected him to do the same with The Phantom Menace. Being the dedicated Star Wars fan that I am, I bought both and read them as the soundtrack album played in the background.

The Illustrated Screenplay's version of The Phantom Menace differs somewhat from the finished movie. It is essentially the same, of course, following the Naboo Crisis from the arrival of Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi aboard the Trade Federation flagship to the parade at Theed. However, in an attempt to cut the film's running time to just over two hours, several heavily political scenes set in the Galactic Senate were nixed, which in a way helped the film. Sadly, a few lines which I really liked, including one involving Obi-Wan and a shorted out lightsaber, didn't make it to the finished film. (Other scenes, which were filmed but later deleted, can be read in their entirety and in context; it's up to the reader to decide whether or not deletion was necessary.)

To me, reading the screenplay ahead of the May 19, 1999 premiere enhanced rather than detracted from the enjoyment of the picture. In fact, even while I was watching the much maligned Episode I (I think I am one of only the few non-Lucasfilm-connected persons on Earth who really likes The Phantom Menace) I not only understood what Palpatine was up to, but I could also see parallels between Anakin Skywalker's experiences and his son Luke's in Episode IV (which is set 32 years later).

The storyboards presented in this book are only a fraction of the thousands used during the pre-production stages, yet they give the reader a hint of the film's visual rhythm and energy. They are almost as good as the ones by legendary visual artist Joe Johnston, who worked on the more popular "classic" Star Wars trilogy more than 20 years ago.

For anyone interested in the finer points of screenplay writing and/or the strengths and weaknesses of the prequel saga, Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace: The Illustrated Screenplay is a good reference.

Alex Diaz-Granados

This storybook provides a great, but simple overview of the movie for my young children. They are too young for the movie I feel, but the book has an easy-to-follow storyline as well as stunning, but not inappropriate pictures for younger children. The kids love it, too, as the pictures are many, very colorful and, again, give them a really good sense of the story behind the movie.

Look, if you never liked the Star Wars saga, then this book is not for you. If Jar Jar Binks turned you off Episode I, then spare yourself this screenplay. If you just can't stomach sci-fi, go with Dennis the Menace.

However...

If hearing a phrase from any of those 6 episodes stirs your imagination, or if you find yourself muttering, "I don't care what universe you're from, that's gotta hurt!" when you view a collision, or if you want to tell your little brother, "Be mindful of the Living Force, my young Padawan"... then this screenplay is for you!

I've got three copies. Assemble some friends, and relive Episode I. Assign the various characters to those in attendance, and... have your own Episode I party!

This is a book for the Star Wars fan, period. Have fun with it!

I say this is WAY BETTER THAN THE NOVEL, you gotta read this if you want to know Lucas's TRUE vision of Episode I; but still the book has some low points however: they could at least improve the paperback quality, and I would had fill it with real screenshots among the storyboards. Besides you can use it to learn more about Lucas's storytelling style: this was written entirely by George Lucas that's why the whimp hollywood critics say that the film has a very chessy dialogue, I partially agree with them, but I still say Lucas is a wonderful storyteller and he deserves more credit, however there are some problems on these writtings that even a man with a big imagination has to deal with: I know that when you write a whole story and you make the dialogue yourself you tend to repeat the same lines again later (ex.: "you assume to much") the Star Wars IV's script has the same problem, good thing Lucas has hired another guy to help him finish the Ep.II script. I definitely liked the way this book is written, and I'm sure the film's dialogue would have been better if some lines of this book were not deleted.

I begged my parents to get me this book for Christmas, and after long hours of anticipation, I recieved it Christmas morning! I was sooo Happy! I just think you should get it to if you like action, adventure, and fantasy!