Reviews by Darth Goalie

Not Quite As Bad the Second Time

Posted : 1 year, 11 months ago on 24 December 2007 12:54 (A review of Star Wars Republic - Starcrash)

I absolutely hated this issue the first time I read it, and I dreaded reading it again. It was completely predictable, includes a character that doesn't even re-appear anywhere in the Republic series (I'm fairly certain), and should have been a one-shot.

Obviously, it was filler between Infinity's End and The Hunt for Aurra Sing. Not even the plot in this issue has anything to do with what's happening in Republic.

For some reason, though, it didn't make me want to puke as much as it did the first time I read it. Maybe because I was already dreading re-reading it and was expecting worse.

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NOTE

Posted : 1 year, 11 months ago on 18 December 2007 03:20 (A review of Star Wars Infinity's End # 1, 2, 3 and 4 (Issues 23, 24, 25 and 26.) (The Complete Four Part Limited Series))

NOTE: In order not to violate anyone's copyright, this image was taken from a customer image (not mine) on Amazon.com.

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The Book is Better Than the Movie

Posted : 2 years, 1 month ago on 13 October 2007 09:40 (A review of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace)

Books tend to be better than their movie versions, and in this case, though the movie was released first, the book is still better. I'm not a big sci-fi/fantasy lit. fan (except for Star Wars obviously, and Harry Potter I suppose), so I'm unfamiliar with Terry Brooks's work, but it's clear he's an excellent writer. I just don't like his writing style.

Brooks wrote in scenes and in some places, entire chapters, but The Phantom Menace isn't his story. If I read one of his own novels, I may have a different opinion. I realize that what bothers me about his writing style is nitpicky. For example, he often refers to Obi-Wan as Qui-Gon’s protégé, which he is, but I don't believe that word exists in Basic (the predominant language in the Star Wars universe). "Padawan" and "apprentice" are more appropriate. At one point, Brooks uses the word glass, but in SW, this is called "transparisteel," just as paper is "flimsiplast" or "flimsi" for short, and concrete is "permacrete."

As mentioned earlier, TPM novelization is an improvement over the movie. One reason, and this is certainly true for most books-to-movies, is because the storyline is expanded. Brooks's additions provide more insight into the characters' qualities and relationships with one another, along with their intentions and motivations. He achieves this even in chapters directly from the screenplay by cutting a bit here and writing in something there, which results in more fully developed characters. The author also allows readers into the characters' heads, successfully transforming Jar Jar from an annoying fool into a tolerable being with intelligent thoughts and sincere feelings but without the capacity to express them.

If not for the special effects and Darth Maul's gratifyingly menacing face, all of which are described well, I'd recommend the book over the movie. Without a doubt.

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"Yippee?"

Posted : 2 years, 1 month ago on 3 October 2007 08:00 (A review of Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition))

I made the mistake of beginning to read the novelization for this movie before watching it again, so about midway through the book, I stopped to put in the DVD. However, I admit that what I'd read of the book has colored my current opinion of the movie.

It was probably only the third, maybe fourth time I had watched it, the first time being at the theater; and my friends had to drag me to go. I tried so hard to resist seeing the first of the prequel trilogy, but I'm glad I went. When Darth Maul made his first appearance, we all thought he rocked. And when he lit the second blade of his lightsaber, we simultaneously leaned back in our seats and breathed, "Whoa!" Like many Star Wars fans, we were disappointed that there wasn't more Maul.

That opinion still holds for me. As for my first impressions, a few have changed. Jar Jar is tolerable as the trickster figure, but what inspired George Lucas to create the Gungan species, or at least their way of speaking, is still beyond me. Though a cute little boy, Jake Lloyd's acting isn't all that impressive. "Yipee"? And for someone who grew up on Tatooine, you'd think his Huttese accent would be a little better. I would cut him some slack, but there are plenty of child actors out there who are better. Don't ask me to name any, though. Heh. (Although Natalie Portman really impressed me in The Professional, the first movie in which I saw her -- the first movie in which she starred.) Ewan McGregor's and Liam Neeson's performances are definitely not less than you'd expect.

The plot itself is fine, except for the fact that Anakin Skywalker was conceived without a father. When I first saw the movie, I thought, "Oh, what, so he's like some kind of Jesus, or something?" I still think that. For the ridiculous characters and plot lines Lucas created, at least there are cool ones to make up for it. The politics revolving around Coruscant and Senator Palpatine's blooming climb to power is well done. Mace Windu rocks the house. And of course the special effects are awesome. It's a Star Wars film -- how could they not be? Overall though, it's just OK.

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Ki-Adi-Mundi's Story

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 24 September 2007 06:02 (A review of Star Wars: Prelude to Rebellion)

Prelude to Rebellion is a six-issue series with a bonus mini story arc in issue #s 4, 5, and 6. Both are biographical accounts of Jedi Council Master Ki-Adi-Mundi, including how he was named to the Jedi High Council and, in the mini-series entitled "Vow of Justice," how he was discovered to be Force-sensitive as a child.

Prelude and "Vow" describe life and culture on Cerea, Ki's homeworld. For example, the ratio of men to women is one to twenty, so men, including Ki, have a bond-wife and several honor-wives. Some men will go as far as kidnapping a male child in order to have a son, so one can understand Ki's father's relief and reluctance in allowing him to study at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Once he finishes his trials (approximately 67 BBY), Ki returns as the guardian of peace and justice on Cerea. Only his lightsaber marks his difference from the rest of Cerean security, as he wears the same uniform rather than Jedi robes.

When Prelude begins (33 BBY), Cerea, a world far from the Core, is a non-technological planet, still relying on pack animals as transportation, for instance. Despite Republic representatives' presentations of the benefits of bringing technology to Cerean society, the planet's governing body of Elders refuses after a counter-presentation by Ki. As it turns out, one of his daughters is involved in pro-tech rallies. Thus, Prelude also covers themes such as family life, and generation and gender gaps -- Ki may be an esteemed Jedi, but that doesn't mean he's a great husband or father.

Prelude encompasses the first six issues of the 83-issue Star Wars comic series, Republic. Unfortunately, both the larger and mini-series rely too heavily on narrative rather than dialogue and artwork to tell the stories. The art, particularly for Prelude, more than makes up for this and keeps the action exciting.

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Michael Reaves and His Thesaurus

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 15 September 2007 07:23 (A review of Shadow Hunter (Star Wars: Darth Maul))

Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter centers on Maul and what should have been, for him, a simple mission that Michael Reaves turns into a novel with potential but falls flat. Not only is the story predictable, the author's writing is . . . not good.

The narrative is written mostly in the vernacular, that is, in plain language, which is fine. However, on many occasions he suddenly incorporates one word that, though perhaps accurate in usage, simply does not belong in the phrasing. Some examples: "Darsha felt the stairwell shift and shudder as if in the throes of a temblor" (153). "Temblor"? Is there something wrong with "earthquake"? Or: "It was a twisty path that Green Hair led them down, even for Coruscant -- through dark alleys and back utility routes grown vermicularly complex over the centuries" (277). "Wormlike" would have worked just as well if not better than "vermicularly," especially since one character here is called Green Hair. Reaves also uses weak similes such as, "a stab of pain like a blaster bolt through her skull" (199) to describe a headache.

Shifts in point of view are not smooth. A situation or action takes place in just a few paragraphs, then abruptly continues from a different character's viewpoint. This happens often between Maul, the antagonist, and Darsha Assant, one of the protagonists. Indeed, what Reaves does best is draw parallels between the Sith apprentice and the Padawan by describing both characters' interpretations and subsequent actions via the Sith and Jedi Codes, respectively. Still, disappointing all the way around.

The good news is, James Luceno's short story, "Darth Maul: Saboteur," previously available only in electronic format, is included in the paperback version of Shadow Hunter and is a real treat.

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Darth Maul: Tool

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 14 September 2007 04:27 (A review of Star Wars: Darth Maul (Star Wars))

Just before he's sent on assignment, Darth Sidious presents Darth Maul with the Sith Infiltrator, a state-of-the-art spaceship complete with hyperdrive, cloaking device, and speederbike stored aboard. Maul is sent to cripple the Black Sun criminal organization, which Sidious warns is a powerful and dangerous operation that stands in the way of his larger designs. Maul proposes annihilating its master and nine vigos, but Sidious disagrees, as Black Sun may prove useful in the future.

The word "vigo," which Darth Sidious uses to describe Black Sun's lieutenants (issue 1), is incongruous in the Star Wars universe. "Vigo" conjures images of men in suits with guns, not a number of alien species wielding just as many different weapons. Further, Sidious calls Maul his "tool" (issue 1), and that's exactly what his apprentice is in this story arc -- merely a killing tool, presumably so Sidious doesn't have to get his own hands dirty.

But despite Sidious's description of Black Sun as dangerous, composed of one master, nine lieutenants, their bodyguards and other soldiers, as well as his express order not to destroy the entire organization, that's what Maul does. There are, however, a couple of opponents Maul fights that are surprising in a good way, particularly the Black Sun master and his bodyguard.

The most impressive part of the 4-issue series is the artwork. Well, admittedly, Jan Duursema is my favorite Star Wars comic book artist, so no surprise there.

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More to Him than Just His Looks

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 9 September 2007 10:02 (A review of Star Wars: Darth Maul - Saboteur)

Originally published as an ebook, James Luceno's short story, "Saboteur," introduces Darths Sidious and Maul to the Star Wars Expanded Universe canon. Though it is unrequired reading, it serves as an excellent introduction to Luceno's novel, _Cloak of Deception_, and is now available as bonus material in Michael Reaves's paperback novel, _Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter_, which follows _Cloak of Deception_ chronologically on the EU timeline.

Darth Sidious does not play a large role, but the essence of the Sith Master's relationship with his apprentice, Darth Maul, is revealed. Indeed, the story centers around Maul's first solo mission to the Outer Rim planet, Dorvalla.

Dorvalla's main resource is lommite ore, one of the substances employed in the creation of transparisteel, used for windows, ground vehicle windscreens, air- and spaceship canopies, and the like. Maul barely interacts with any characters on Dorvalla, but "Saboteur" exemplifies Sith cunning and subterfuge in orchestrating events, both on local and galactic scales. Luceno not only describes Maul's peak physical condition and swordsmanship through his actions, but brings readers into his mind -- his very thought processes. Because of Maul's intense focus on discipline, his brief display of sensitivity (from which he quickly recovers) and sense of humor are nice surprises, as is his deference to Sidious. Darth Maul is so often portrayed as the face of evil and ruthlessness, a man of few words, that it is easy to view him as two-dimensional, which Luceno overcomes by imbuing him with these other qualities. Maul is eager to be on his own and to please his Master: he is so confident in his physical abilities and intelligence that failure seems not to be a part of Darth Maul's worldview.

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Jedi Council: Acts of War

Posted : 2 years, 2 months ago on 31 August 2007 01:49 (A review of Star Wars - Jedi Council: Acts of War)

The Jedi Council we first encounter in The Phantom Menace are introduced in Acts of War. We also meet Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi, who along with other Council members and Padawans, pay a visit to the Yinchorri, a violent species admitted to the Republic a mere 20 or so years before this story takes place. They've taken advantage of the Republic's technology: ships, blasters, and especially cortosis ore, fashioning them into shields that can burn out a lightsaber. It's a suicide mission not just to Yinchorr, but to two other nearby planets in search of the Yinchorri's command base.

Meanwhile, an army of Yinchorri barge into the Jedi Temple to obliterate the Jedi. This is a nice foreshadowing of what happens in Revenge of the Sith, as Darth Sidious has a background role in the Yinchorri's attacks, something Yoda senses but not clearly. Thus, readers are introduced not just to the Dark Lord, but to his apprentice, Darth Maul and best of all, to Vilmarh "Villie" Grarhk, a Devaronian who fancies himself a bounty hunter, but will take on any shady mission. Those who only read the novels or watch the movies won't encounter him again unless they read the Republic comic series.

Mace Windu, coolest Jedi ever, leads the mission to Yinchorr, which isn't the success he would have liked, but ends as he expected. Strangely, it's Saesee Tiin who sports the purple lightsaber rather than Windu -- weird, especially because this series was released after The Phantom Menace.

Aside from the mix-up in lightsaber colors, the artwork is phenomenal. What else is there to say? ;)

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Freedon Nadd Isn't Too Bad

Posted : 2 years, 7 months ago on 18 April 2007 09:39 (A review of The Freedon Nadd Uprising (Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi))

This is more of a summary than a review, so watch out for ***SPOILERS***

The Freedon Nadd Uprising is a continuation of the battle on the dark-side imbued planet of Onderon (see my review of Tales of the Jedi: Knights of the Old Republic). Despite the presence of Jedi Master Arca and his three apprentices, brothers Ulic and Cay Qel-Droma and Tott Doneeta, as well as newly arrived Jedi Oss Wilum, they are unable to fend off the Naddists, worshippers of the ancient Sith Lord Freedon Nadd who once ruled Onderon. Although Ulic defeats the armored dark side apprentice Warb Null, who looks like a cross between a Transformer, a Bionicle, and a Shogun Warrior -- but with a lightsaber -- he planet's dark power is so forceful that it weakens Master Arca. King Ommin, the "dying" old ruler of Onderon, and father of Princess Galia, is actually a dark side master who has plans for Master Arca.

Princess Galia, the heir to Iziz, is now married to Odon Kira, son of Beast Rider Lord Modon Kira. The Beast Riders have been long-time enemies of the Iziz citizens, and despite the union, the two cultures aren't necessarily at peace -- a perfect opportunity for the Naddists to begin their uprising. While Princess Galia is whisked away to safety among the Beast Riders, a group of Jedi who were studying at the academy on Ossus are chosen to be sent to Onderon to help.

These Jedi are Dace Diath, Shoaneb Culu, Qrrrl Toq, Kith Kark, and Nomi Sunrider. Nomi has finally embraced her role as a Jedi and has been under the tutelage of Master Vodo-Siosk Baas on Ossus, where she successfully constructed a lightsaber, a weapon she was once reluctant to wield.

Yet the Sith power on Onderon is so strong that even Nomi's Battle Meditation ability is affected. Cay loses his arm again during a battle, but fortunately, it was the prosthetic. Ulic looks more and more troubled -- like Master Arca, his skin tone has darkened as though dark side power is permeating his body.

While chaos reigns on Onderon, two young aristocrats, cousins Satal Keto and Aleema Keto, heirs to the Empress Teta System, have begun dabbling in Sith magic and even dubbed themselves and their friends the Krath. On a visit to a museum on Coruscant, Satal manages to acquire a Sith book. Unable to translate it, he and Aleema travel to Onderon, ignoring the planet's current turmoil. There they meet the spirit of Freedon Nadd, who provides them with a talisman that allows the cousins to read the book, as well as with other Sith treasures. the two manage to leave Onderon with their new prizes in hand.

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