What?!? What Did You Say?
Review
of "Episode 1: The Illustrated Screenplay"
Review by
Toryn Farr
7/14/99
If you want a definitive source as to what's actually being said in the movie, this book goes 95% of the way. But beware . . . you might discover some of your favorite scenes were left on the cutting room floor.
Contains Major Spoilers
Star
Wars Episode I - The Phantom Menace Illustrated
Screenplay
Written by George Lucas and Rick McCallum
Published by Del Rey/Lucasbooks
Publication Date: May 3, 1999
If you consider yourself a "True Fan," you probably own this book already. But for those of you who are wavering, let me confuse you further by stating that reading the screenplay is a mixed blessing. On the one hand, many people have said that seeing the concept drawings, storyboards, and working script has enhanced their viewing of the movie itself. On the other hand, you might end up disappointed when you see just how much was cut or altered. For me, "what could have been" overshadowed "what is" to such an extent that I couldn't enjoy the movie the first time I saw it. (Never fear, the subsequent dozen viewings just keep getting better and better.)
INTRODUCTION
I really enjoyed the one-page introduction by
Producer Rick McCallum. Allow me to quote a couple of
passages that give us some insight into George Lucas's
unique film-making process:
"Every space battle and lightsaber fight was sketched down to the slightest detail so that George could begin a rough edit of the film long before a single frame was shot, and so that I, of course, could begin to worry about the budget."
"What we were getting into was George's head, where the usual rules don't necessarily apply, and everyone has to run just to keep up. This book, which includes the finished screenplay along with some handpicked storyboards, will give you a small sense of what that's like."
THE SCREENPLAY
One handy use for this screenplay is to see just what in Fred some of the characters (particularly Jar Jar and the Neimoidians) were saying. But even there, the screenplay doesn't match up exactly with what you see on the screen. Two examples: When deadly gas starts to fill the room where the Jedi are waiting for the Trade Federation negotiators, the script has Qui-Gon say, "Gas!" At the last minute, Lucas changed the line to "Dioxis!" Again, in the script the Neimoidians refer to "destroyer droids," but in the film they call them "droidekas." It wasn't until I got the Insider's Guide on CD that I found out what was being said onscreen.
Despite these occasional flaws, the screenplay is invaluable for another pursuit: cut-scene hunting. I imagine this book will provide a great deal of fodder for debate as we wait three years for Episode II. Wouldn't it have made better sense to leave in the "fried lightsaber" scene, Qui-Gon slicing up the probe droid, or the fight on the starship ramp? Do you think Anakin was really fighting the Greedo on the streets of Mos Espa? Would it have been better to have Shmi say, as originally scripted, "There is no father, that I know of"?
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
Besides the script itself, which is essential reading for the Star Wars trivia fan, every page contains black-and-white line drawings of concept art and storyboard art which Lucas & crew used to keep things straight for the more than 5000 shots and hundreds of scenes in The Phantom Menace. I found it fascinating to see what the aliens and animals looked like, and the various Jedi hairstyles . . . let's just say, Obi-Wan's ponytail/pigtail combination looks practically normal compared to some of the stuff the designers considered.
UNDERWATER AND SPACE BATTLE STORYBOARD SEQUENCES
These brief sequences give a fascinating look into the way Lucas planned the filmmaking process. I doubt any director has ever before created such a wealth of detail as to exactly what angle and direction each shot would follow.
Overall, I came away from this book once again awed at the imagination and creative genius of George Lucas. If you're interested in Star Wars trivia, or you just can't get enough of Star Wars, add this one to your collection. You can click here to order it from Amazon.Com.
(Toryn Farr knew everything about Star Wars back in 1977 thanks to Starlog Magazine. She's been trying to keep her know-it-all reputation ever since. During the 90 minutes per day her three-year-old is napping, Toryn attempts to run an internet design business and write fantasy fiction.)