Attack of the Clones (Star Wars)

Rating:
Summary: Poor novelization
Review: I was immensely disappointed after reading this book, considering the high hopes that I had achieved upon reading "The Phantom Menace" novelization by Terry Brooks.
The main reason for my disappointment concerns the lack of detail described within this books' pages. A previous reviewer, one who I wished I had read before purchasing this book, was correct when he described these writings as if the author typed away a direct translation of the movie while viewing it. In other words, whatever action was going on-screen was quickly typed down with no further input into the thoughts or reasons behind the actions, as if the time alloted to writing was the same to the time on each scene. This is extremely infuriating when one considers that a novelization of a movie is theoretically made to further enhance the universe of the movie, not just mimic it. There are no restrictions in what can be written down onto a blank page, as opposed to the limitations of being able to only see and hear a movie and having it be roughly two hours.
For example, one of the scenes that is most poignant in the movie that simply deserved to have more input allowed in the book is when Anakin confers with Palpatine in his chambers. I was hoping so much to have "deleted dialogue" included in this scene, or perhaps some reference into the mind of Anakin as to why he has so much respect for this man and vice versa with Palpatine, but none was given. In the book it was simply a play-by-play description of the movie scene, down to the curt dialogue and eventual cut to the next scene.
Another important scene is the final duel with Count Dooku. In Terry Brook's description of the final duel in "The Phantom Menace", we are given insights into the feelings and thoughts of the characters as they battle one another: Obi-Wan wondering for example why this duel is taking so long, or Qui-Gon's sudden rage after Darth Maul kicks Obi-Wan off the platform. The duel as told by Brooks is an impressive rehashing of the movie duel, but with so much more candid description it almost feels like you are inside the scene. Not so in the case of Salvatore's description of his final duel. It lasts pretty much all of 4 pages, the Anakin duel and the Yoda duel lasting about a meager 3 paragraphs each. So much could have been given into the insight of each important character's minds: Dooku's regal cockiness, Obi-Wan's feeling of being overwhelmed, Anakin's eager machismo, or Yoda's regretful revenge, yet nothing was presented except a direct translation of the movie. Much of this writing manner occurs throughout the rest of the novel.
I must reiterate that I was extremely disappointed with this novelization. This is one example here watching the movie might actually drive the viewer deeper into its universe than the book. The only reason for the 2 stars is the inevitable "deleted scenes" described in the novelization, something that saved this review from becoming a complete thrashing.

Rating:
Summary: Star Wars Episode 2 Attack Of The Clones
Review: I was immensely disappointed after reading this book, considering the high hopes that I had achieved upon reading "The Phantom Menace" novelization by Terry Brooks.
The main reason for my disappointment concerns the lack of detail described within this books' pages. A previous reviewer, one who I wished I had read before purchasing this book, was correct when he described these writings as if the author typed away a direct translation of the movie while viewing it. In other words, whatever action was going on-screen was quickly typed down with no further input into the thoughts or reasons behind the actions, as if the time alloted to writing was the same to the time on each scene. This is extremely infuriating when one considers that a novelization of a movie is theoretically made to further enhance the universe of the movie, not just mimic it. There are no restrictions in what can be written down onto a blank page, as opposed to the limitations of being able to only see and hear a movie and having it be roughly two hours.
For example, one of the scenes that is most poignant in the movie that simply deserved to have more input allowed in the book is when Anakin confers with Palpatine in his chambers. I was hoping so much to have "deleted dialogue" included in this scene, or perhaps some reference into the mind of Anakin as to why he has so much respect for this man and vice versa with Palpatine, but none was given. In the book it was simply a play-by-play description of the movie scene, down to the curt dialogue and eventual cut to the next scene.
Another important scene is the final duel with Count Dooku. In Terry Brook's description of the final duel in "The Phantom Menace", we are given insights into the feelings and thoughts of the characters as they battle one another: Obi-Wan wondering for example why this duel is taking so long, or Qui-Gon's sudden rage after Darth Maul kicks Obi-Wan off the platform. The duel as told by Brooks is an impressive rehashing of the movie duel, but with so much more candid description it almost feels like you are inside the scene. Not so in the case of Salvatore's description of his final duel. It lasts pretty much all of 4 pages, the Anakin duel and the Yoda duel lasting about a meager 3 paragraphs each. So much could have been given into the insight of each important character's minds: Dooku's regal cockiness, Obi-Wan's feeling of being overwhelmed, Anakin's eager machismo, or Yoda's regretful revenge, yet nothing was presented except a direct translation of the movie. Much of this writing manner occurs throughout the rest of the novel.
I must reiterate that I was extremely disappointed with this novelization. This is one example here watching the movie might actually drive the viewer deeper into its universe than the book. The only reason for the 2 stars is the inevitable "deleted scenes" described in the novelization, something that saved this review from becoming a complete thrashing.

Rating:
Summary: Poor novelization
Review: I was immensely disappointed after reading this book, considering the high hopes that I had achieved upon reading "The Phantom Menace" novelization by Terry Brooks.
The main reason for my disappointment concerns the lack of detail described within this books' pages. A previous reviewer, one who I wished I had read before purchasing this book, was correct when he described these writings as if the author typed away a direct translation of the movie while viewing it. In other words, whatever action was going on-screen was quickly typed down with no further input into the thoughts or reasons behind the actions, as if the time alloted to writing was the same to the time on each scene. This is extremely infuriating when one considers that a novelization of a movie is theoretically made to further enhance the universe of the movie, not just mimic it. There are no restrictions in what can be written down onto a blank page, as opposed to the limitations of being able to only see and hear a movie and having it be roughly two hours.
For example, one of the scenes that is most poignant in the movie that simply deserved to have more input allowed in the book is when Anakin confers with Palpatine in his chambers. I was hoping so much to have "deleted dialogue" included in this scene, or perhaps some reference into the mind of Anakin as to why he has so much respect for this man and vice versa with Palpatine, but none was given. In the book it was simply a play-by-play description of the movie scene, down to the curt dialogue and eventual cut to the next scene.
Another important scene is the final duel with Count Dooku. In Terry Brook's description of the final duel in "The Phantom Menace", we are given insights into the feelings and thoughts of the characters as they battle one another: Obi-Wan wondering for example why this duel is taking so long, or Qui-Gon's sudden rage after Darth Maul kicks Obi-Wan off the platform. The duel as told by Brooks is an impressive rehashing of the movie duel, but with so much more candid description it almost feels like you are inside the scene. Not so in the case of Salvatore's description of his final duel. It lasts pretty much all of 4 pages, the Anakin duel and the Yoda duel lasting about a meager 3 paragraphs each. So much could have been given into the insight of each important character's minds: Dooku's regal cockiness, Obi-Wan's feeling of being overwhelmed, Anakin's eager machismo, or Yoda's regretful revenge, yet nothing was presented except a direct translation of the movie. Much of this writing manner occurs throughout the rest of the novel.
I must reiterate that I was extremely disappointed with this novelization. This is one example here watching the movie might actually drive the viewer deeper into its universe than the book. The only reason for the 2 stars is the inevitable "deleted scenes" described in the novelization, something that saved this review from becoming a complete thrashing.

Rating:
Summary: As good as the movie
Review: I watched the movie and realy liked so I picked up the attack of the clones and totally fell for it's fun action packed book.They described the romance between padma and anakin so well plus I really enjoyed the characters of Jango and Bobba fett. I know alot of the people didn't like the movie but try the book you might be suprised, I was. While I enjoyed the movie the book was at least as good if not better.

Rating:
Summary: Star Wars Episode 2 Attack Of The Clones
Review: If you love the movies and love to read get the book. Star Wars Episode 2 by R.A. Salvatore is a pretty good book. He did a good job on translating the movie into an interesting book.
Episode 2 is the movie after episode 1 so if you haven't read or saw the movie I would do that first. The story starts off with a dream that Anakin Skywalker had. It was a dream of his mother dying. It later has Anakin's mother Shmi and her point of view on the planet ?tatooiene?. This part of the book was not in the movie and I found that it filled up the empty spots in the movie. There are also many other parts in the book that aren't in the movie. You also get to read the characters feelings in side and what they are thinking. A cool part in the book is where it has Boba and Jango fett hunting which was very interesting. You get to figure out why Jango Fett wanted an unaltered clone.
Overall it was very good and it had great story line. The only negative thing was that I felt it lacked organization. The book often jumps to ideas to ideas without you realizing it. So if you're into Star Wars and want to know more, get Attack Of the Clones by R.A. Salvatore!

Rating:
Summary: More Depth
Review: Ok, I thought this book was excellant. In the movie (which I Loved also) you see Anakins love for Padma but you don't realy see how she feels untill the end of the movie b/c in movies you can't see what there thinking, in the book you see Padma feeling alot sooner and it makes more sense when she declares her love for him..Also Obi-Won doesn't seem quite as harsh. You sort of see his reasons for being so tough on Anakin. The book gives depth to the characters. It's very very good. If you liked the movie pick up the book you'll like the movie even more.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't tell you much beyond the movie
Review: Other than a few extra scenes featuring Shmi Skywalker and Padme with her family, this book doesn't go much beyond the movie. Maybe I wouldn't think this if I had read the book first. Then again, I have found that other Star Wars novelizations have given some added perspective to what you see on the big screen. The action sequences didn't translate that well onto text so without more in-depth characterization, I think the novel is lacking.

Rating:
Summary: Your ideology is showing, Lucas
Review: That's the only thing that keeps this book from copping 5 stars from me. I mean, we get a lot of stuff in this story that has been told nowhere else in the Star Wars body of work. Like where ruthless bounty hunter Boba Fett came from--a father he takes directly after in all ways, including the Mandalorian armor we now learn here who wore it first. Unlike in the film this book is based on, we get to know Luke Skywalker's Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru when they were an engaged couple. Instead of the embittered hard-bitten moisture farmer of "New Hope", Owen was once a devoted stepson to Anakin's mother--an adult stepson who calls Shmi "Mom" rather than by her given name. In the movie, all we saw of the developing romance between Anakin and Padme was some young-couple affectionate horseplay. I have to say, Padme is more of a babe than her not-yet-born daughter will be. We see how far back the cyber-Abbot & Costello byplay of See Threepio and Artoo Deetoo goes--Threepio's ingratitude and whiny self-pity and Artoo's stoic putting up with it as he always comes to the rescue is a generation old. But the Geonosian recycling of DeMille Roman Empire kitsch is a pointed indictment of the death penalty issue. We're expected to believe that it's all mean-spirited (God, that term makes me cringe!), differing only in degree from one society to another. We see it about to be used against political prisoners like Anakin, Padme and Obi Wan--nobody mentions the common criminal. What happens--or is supposed to happen--to home-grown Geonosian murderers, for example? And one leader of the Bad Guys being named "kinda-sorta-like" Republican cariacture icon and doofus ideologue Newt Gingrich is an aw-come-on if there ever was one. When the original "Star Wars" first came out, it was a semi-comic sci fi action story that counterbalanced the holier-than-thou preachiness of most films and books of its day. That was what was so great about it--no propaganda outside of the basic issues of good versus evil, which only the moral relativist would call propaganda. I sincerely hope today's "Star Wars" (the "Previous Generation") isn't going to do a full one-eighty on us. We're already seeing in the "New Jedi Order" series that Anakin and Padme's granchildren have the moxie to fight when ya gotta fight.

Rating:
Summary: Filling In the Gaps.
Review: The novel version of ATTACK OF THE CLONES describes everything that takes place in the movie, but it also fills in information that the movie leaves out. The motives of characters are explained, plot elements that were skimped over or skipped altogether in the film are described, and events that occured in the movie are illustrated in greater detail. The novel is a must-have for any Star Wars buff and can provide reasonable enjoyment for the average science fiction reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it provided me with a better understanding of the events in ATTACK OF THE CLONES and the Star Wars universe.

Rating:
Summary: Bob scores again!
Review: To put it as basically as possible, this is the novelisation of "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones", based on the story and screenplay by George Lucas, as told by fantasy author R. A. Salvatore. The novel based on the previous movie, "The Phantom Menace" was written by fellow fantasy writer Terry Brooks, and I'm not entirely sure why he was not enlisted to continue creating the books for this on-going saga. Unless he was busy with his own work, it was a big mistake not to have him also write "Attack of the Clones", not just because of his clear, concise writing style, but simply because when he wrote "The Phantom Menace" he added little details and hints that I expected him to follow up in the next two books.

In his place, Salvatore does an adequate, but hardly exceptional job. Let's face it, neither one could be called a truly great novelist, but Terry Brooks had a simple yet detailed style that perfectly matched the Star Wars genre, exploring several of the ideas (the nature of the Force, the beginnings of Anakin's fall), simplifying the somewhat complicated and politic-driven storylines, and beautifully creating the visual splendour of the movie in his articulate detail. Salvatore does little more than recap what happened in the previous book, add some background scenes that were not present in the movie (such as Shmi Skywalker's kidnap and an episode set at Padme's family home) and transcribe all the dialogue of the movie into written form. There is no personal touch, no deeper insights into what makes these characters tick, and no understanding presented on who all these political parties, diplomats, senators and governments are and what they actually want. The prequels are a lot more complicated than the simple goodie/baddie format of the originals, and whilst Brooks sorted me out on all the opposing groups, Salvatore didn't quite unravel the plot lines satisfactorily.

But this isn't to say that I wasn't completely baffled by all that was going on: for the few that don't know "Attack of the Clones" is set ten years after "Phantom Menace." Anakin is now twenty, studying under the mastery of Obi-Wan Kenobi against a backdrop of political turmoil. The Republic is facing a crisis as more and more systems abdicate from its leadership to join a Separatist movement under the belief that the Republic is corrupt. The nervous Republic is now at a milestone: to create an army to defend itself, or to try and keep the tentative peace between the two factions. On the Republic's side is Padme Amidala, no longer Queen of Naboo, but the planet's diplomat to the Senate, and the Jedi Council, both of whom reject the idea of a Republic army and instead support a peaceful resolution.

But after an attempt on Padme's life, the two Jedi are once more brought back into her life and assigned to insure her protection: Anakin to accompany her back to her home planet, and Obi-Wan to investigate the scanty clues provided to them via the assassin that narrowly failed in taking Padme's life. Whilst Anakin and Padme explore their own romantic inclinations toward each other, and Anakin grapples with nightmares concerning his mother, Obi-Wan is discovering a clone army that was seemingly ordered by a long-dead Jedi, a bounty hunter that served as the DNA donor, and the heart of the Separatist movement lead by the mysterious Count Dooku that suggests the Dark Side is at work.

Just as in the movie, the weakest part of the story is the truly awful love story between the two protagonists. Salvatore had the opportunity to improve the insipid dialogue, but unfortunately we're still left with lines such as "I'm haunted by the kiss you never should have given me," and "I've been dying a little bit each day since you came back into my life." Urgh. On the other end of the scale, the highlight of the movie were the remarkable special effects and battle sequences, which are inevitably more fun to watch on the screen then to read about in the book. Salvatore must realise this too, considering most of the action packed third-act is dealt with swiftly in the book, without much detail or description.

As mentioned, there are other sequences of back story that are reasonably interesting, such as the details of Shmi's kidnap, but I couldn't help but feel that in Brook's hands, these would be more poignant and meaningful. In his version of "Phantom Menace" he would often add in bits of detail that were there either for intrigue alone, or as a small nugget of information that would be mined later on - for instance, he described a scene in Anakin's youth that had him tend to a wounded Tusken raider. Salvatore mentions it in his book (testifying that at least he read the previous installment), but doesn't go any further with it than that. I couldn't help but feel that Brooks had plans for this little sequence - perhaps it would have added to Anakin's fury, or left him vowing never to help untrustworthy strangers. There are other moments of foreshadowing or clarifying in Brooks's story that just isn't captured here.

All I can hope for is that they reclaim Terry Brook's to write Episode III, for as it stands, "Attack of the Clones" is an okay read and clear-cut novelisation, but does nothing to extend the story, universe or saga in any interesting, original way. Maybe I'm being a mean. Salvatore had a job to do, and he did it, making this a good book for young readers to better understand the movie-story. I just wanted a bit more.