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Mace Windu the way he was meant to be without bad dialogue and acting

#1 User is offline   Vwing Icon

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 08:58 PM

I'm only about 150 pages through it, but Shatterpoint is an awesome book! From literally the first page I've been hooked, the way Stover portrays him, Windu truly is the great Jedi Master that we are supposed to believe he is in the prequels. Oh also, for those of you who don't know, Stover has been tapped to write the book version of Episode III, so even if the movie sucks, we'll probably still have an entertaining book to go along with it, since both of Stover's Star Wars books (The New Jedi Order: Traitor and Shatterpoint) are very good.
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#2 User is offline   Jordan Icon

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Posted 28 December 2003 - 10:58 PM

From the movies I gathered Mace to be just some shputz. His sword fighting style is hideous, that battle in the arena.......COME ON! I could handle a light saber better than that!

Sam Jackson is an awsome actor so it's really odd to see him give such a poor perfromance.
Oh SMEG. What the smeggity smegs has smeggins done? He smeggin killed me. - Lister of Smeg, space bum
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#3 User is offline   Chefelf Icon

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Posted 29 December 2003 - 09:48 AM

QUOTE (Jordan @ Dec 28 2003, 10:58 PM)
Sam Jackson is an awsome actor so it's really odd to see him give such a poor perfromance.

Welcome to the wonderful world of poor, poor directing. Lucas has that affect on even the best of actors.

Natalie Portman is great in other things but she's terrible in the prequels. I think Ewan McGreggor is the only main cast member that delivers a great performance. Some of the smaller roles (i.e. Shmi Skywalker) are played very well but for the most part the main characters are very weak.
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#4 User is offline   Vwing Icon

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Posted 29 December 2003 - 10:34 AM

I actually like Liam Nissen a lot as Qui-Gon Jinn, despite the fact that he was a totally unnecessary character, but you're right, McGregor, especially in Ep II, is the only one who gives a really solid performance, because he is a great actor. I just don't like Natalie Portman as an actress, hopefully she'll die early in Ep III.
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#5 User is offline   Despondent Icon

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Posted 29 December 2003 - 11:43 AM

QUOTE (Chefelf @ Dec 29 2003, 09:48 AM)
QUOTE (Jordan @ Dec 28 2003, 10:58 PM)
Sam Jackson is an awsome actor so it's really odd to see him give such a poor perfromance.

Welcome to the wonderful world of poor, poor directing. Lucas has that affect on even the best of actors.

it's GL's new live action figure:
the Mace Windup tongue.gif
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#6 User is offline   njamilla Icon

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 12:40 AM

My review of Shatterpoint on Amazon.com

QUOTE
After years of waiting, I've found a Star Wars writer that I like, and much of it because the author is a martial artist who injects an authentic understanding of martial training to the character and background of Mace Windu, a character I disliked from the movies but now embrace in Stover's book.

Just like the original Star Wars movie, Stover's Shatterpoint draws in the reader into a world that seems as real and authentic as our own, reflecting a universe that is complicated, confused, and often gray and illogical in its morality. (The story is partially modeled on Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness.) You have to try to understand many of the details and put them in context, yet the story is continually developing and evolving to an convincing and unexpected ending. The essence of a good story. And there's plenty of action (including clone troopers) to boot.

Having written a book about the Jedi, I've been very critical of the way the Jedi have been portrayed in many novels as errant knights seeking the some "holy grail" of Jedi antiquity instead of accomplished fighters who change the direction of the universe, but Stover succeeds in crafting a story that justifies (indeed makes necessary) the Jedi in the Star Wars universe. And, in the whole scheme of things Star Wars, isn't that the whole point!


Which 0 or 4 people found helpful. What do they know!?!
Author: Sword Fighting in the Star Wars Universe.
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#7 User is offline   Chefelf Icon

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 09:31 AM

Make that 1 of 5, njamilla! smile.gif

Read his review here: http://www.amazon.co...ime&start-at=21

Vwing, I agree. Liam Neeson was quite good as well. I really liked his performance and I kinda liked the character of Qui Gon as well. Even though Episode I was a steaming pile of turd I was still kinda sad to see him die.
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#8 User is offline   Despondent Icon

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 11:21 AM

Steaming laugh.gif

I liked qui-gon also. he seemed to carry more character than his dialogue allowed, and his death the only emotion bearing moment (other than a 5 year old's glee with Anakid here and there.) I guess GL liked him too, wasn't there some obvious reference in aotc with young a kiddie jedi named "Liam?" (another reminder: You are watching a Movie. and a damned lame one at that. leave now if you need to, I've got your money.)
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#9 User is offline   Jordan Icon

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Posted 31 December 2003 - 11:29 AM

Qui Gon was the only character with kindness and gentle authority. So it was sad to see him go.
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#10 User is offline   BinarySunset Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 08:24 AM

Yep, another "old" topic (but that's the fun of being new to a board, it's ALL new to me and I get to respond to topics that may have been 'ignored' for awhile tongue.gif)

Anyway, based on the recommendations in this thread, I went to my local library over the weekend and got a copy of "Shatterpoint" and have begun reading. So far, I am impressed with how Mace Windu is written. I'll let you know in a few days how I like the story over all.

Thanks, Vwing, for mentioning this book; I don't think I would have read it otherwise. I tend to only read EU novels that are "post ROTJ" (y'know, that whole wub.gif thing for Luke and all...)

Any other PT novels to recommend?
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#11 User is offline   Michel Orla Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 10:19 AM

The Approaching Storm. I've recommended it to a few friends who were disillusioned by the PT, and all agree that it does a much better job at fleshing out the relationship between Obi Wan and Anakin. And *gasp* Anakin is actually likable and you can feel something other than contempt after you read the book
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#12 User is offline   Private Zod Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 02:15 PM

QUOTE (Michel Orla @ Apr 25 2005, 10:19 AM)
The Approaching Storm. I've recommended it to a few friends who were disillusioned by the PT, and all agree that it does a much better job at fleshing out the relationship between Obi Wan and Anakin. And *gasp* Anakin is actually likable and you can feel something other than contempt after you read the book


Same thing with Labyrinth of Evil which takes you right into the beginning of Episode 3. Portrays Anakin and Obi Wan as close friends [shocker], shows Anakin as a noble warrior though a bit rash, gives the backstory of Grievous and sets up the events perfectly.
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#13 User is offline   ernesttomlinson Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 05:05 PM

Y'all know Terence Stamp's account of working with Lucas for Episode I? He showed up to shoot his few scenes, one of which was his greeting Amidala. Lucas told him that Natalie Portman wasn't there (on vacation or something), and taped a piece of paper to a stick where Portman would have stood: "Here, act to that." It would all be put together later. Why doesn't Lucas just make cartoons?

(Edited to include the text of the story from the SciFi.com archives:)

Terence Stamps On Episode II

Terence Stamp, who played Chancellor Valorum in Star Wars: Episode I, told the British television program GMTV that he won't be back in Episode II, according to the U.K. Teletext Web site. "Actors prefer to work with actors," Stamp said.

Stamp added, "When I arrived on set for Episode 1, [director] George Lucas said, 'I've given Natalie [Portman] the day off.' So he pointed to a piece of paper on a post and said, 'Pretend that's her.' They couldn't afford me again."

Lucas, you're a wanker. You used to be able to direct actors just fine. What the hell happened to you?

This post has been edited by ernesttomlinson: 25 April 2005 - 05:11 PM

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#14 User is offline   Lord Aquaman Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 08:34 PM

Maybe Lucas could never really direct actors; maybe they all just rebelled pirate.gif against him and that's why they were good in "A New Hope".

Watching Ewan McGregor soldier on as best he can in Episode II reminds me of Christopher Reeve struggling to remain sincere in the 3rd and 4th Superman films, even though he knew they were junk.

Actors prefer to work with actors... words of wisdom from Terence Stamp (Kneel before Zod!).
I am the Fisher King.

I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an obi-wan to go.
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#15 User is offline   Just another wretched fan Icon

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Posted 25 April 2005 - 09:20 PM

QUOTE (Lord Aquaman @ Apr 25 2005, 08:34 PM)
Maybe Lucas could never really direct actors; maybe they all just rebelled  pirate.gif  against him and that's why they were good in "A New Hope".

Watching Ewan McGregor soldier on as best he can in Episode II reminds me of Christopher Reeve struggling to remain sincere in the 3rd and 4th Superman films, even though he knew they were junk.

Actors prefer to work with actors... words of wisdom from Terence Stamp (Kneel before Zod!).



Um...excuse me, to quote the character Michael Bolton in Office Space: "Superman 3...really underrated movie actually"

This post has been edited by Just another wretched fan: 25 April 2005 - 09:21 PM

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