I do believe, though, that if the movie's creator and director, George Lucas, had used some of the elements of the novel he wouldn't have been chided for not letting the actors show more emotion.

While much of the book is quick and to the point, some the instances where Brooks is able to expand on the movie are too flowery; the sentences become overlong adverb- and adjective-filled poetry readings. For example:

A twilight that was misty and seemed perpetual lay in silvery gray layers over the green lushness of Naboo as the Federation landing ships descended out of the black infinity of space to settle slowly planetward.

There's one difference right off the bat, as the novel begins on Tatooine as Anakin competes in a Podrace. You know the one, it's where the young to-be Jedi wrecks Watto's pod as he tells Qui-Gon in the film. It is here, from the beginning, where we get a sense that the Force is stronger in Anakin than Lucas lets on.

Still on Tatooine, we see more of Anakin's home life and his experiences on the planet. Brooks presents more of a slave-master relationship between Annie and Watto, where the latter is much more of a tyrant towards the boy and his mother than the big screen version. I actually liked Watto in the movie, and thought he was one of a few that showed some personality, some attitude. I felt sorry for him when he lost everything at the Podrace. If he had been presented in the movie as in the book, I would be more anxious to see him lose money and Annie in the Boonta Eve Podrace and even rejoice his possible death in Episode II.

Anakin strong in the Force � � � When (Anakin) raced, everything around him slowed down rather than sped up. It was different than you'd expect. Rock and sand and shadows flew past in a wild mix of patterns and shapes, and still he could see so clearly. All the details seemed to jump out at him, as if illuminated by exactly what should make them so difficult to distinguish. He could almost close his eyes and drive, he thought. He was that much in tune with everything around him, that much aware of where he was... � � � ...He fell asleep finally, and he dreamed of strange things...He was several things in the course of his dreams. Once he was a Jedi Knight, fighting against things so dark and insubstantial he could not identify them. Once he was a pilot of a star cruiser, taking the ship into hyperspace, spanning whole star systems on his voyage. Once he was a great and feared commander of an army, and he came back to Tatooine with ships and troops at his command to free the planet's slaves. His mother was waiting for him, smiling, arms outstretched. But when he tried to embrace her, she vanished.

Not told this in the movie, Brooks tells us where Anakin came up with the name for C-3PO: "He'd given it a number the night before, choosing three because the droid made the third member of his little family after his mother and himself.

Now for my favorite character (nudge, nudge, wink, wink), Jar Jar Binks the Gungan. I actually like him a little better in the novel. In the movie all we are treated to are his inane antics and clumsy success in battle. But in the book we read his thoughts and how he knows that he's trouble, and tries to stay out of the way and not make a scene for that reason. I actually empathized with him in many scenes, because who hasn't felt a bit down in the self-esteem department and as a result try to blend into the walls to not be noticed to be ridiculed or feel worse than you already do?

Of course, he also talked endlessly when he was frightened or uncomfortable, but the others generally ignored him while their minds focused on other things. Several times it mentions a character's thoughts, followed by "...as Jar Jar rambled on and on about nothing."

After awhile I understood the Gungans' Caribbean-style English, notably Jar Jar and Boss Nass, which is easier in the written word than listening to the film. Sure, it says: "Oh, bot tis necessary! Tis demanded by da Guds. Tis life debt. Me know dis, sure as name be Jar Jar Binks!" But reading the paragraph twice I understood, whereas in the movie it passes by with nary a reflection as to what was actually said by the Gungan, leaving me confused as if hearing ancient Latin.

Of course, I'm still a bit perplexed at this sentence of Jar Jar explaining his banishment: "Me cause mebbe one or two little bitty axaudents. Boom da gasser, crash der Bosses' heyblibber. Den dey banish me." My response was exactly what Brooks writes as Obi-Wan's: "Obi-Wan was not entirely sure what Jar Jar was telling him." Amen!

Next I was more than pleased at how much time was spent in Obi-Wan's thoughts, preparing us for the young Jedi to become the main character in Episode II. In the novel we are very aware of how Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon have a father-son type relationship, but that the padawan learner disagrees with much of the actions of his master. A couple of instances involve "heated discussion" between the two, but naturally the breach between them is fixed and they resume a close relationship, just in time for Qui-Gon to be killed and Obi-Wan to grieve. In the end, the Padawan comes around and agrees with his master's assessment that "Anakin Skywalker" was the chosen one.

Obi-Wan's disagreeable relationship with Qui-Gon � � � Obi-Wan shook his head in frustration. His mentor was too eager to involve himself when it was not necessary. He was too quick to adopt causes that were not his own. It had cost him time and time again with the Jedi Council. One day it would be his undoing. � � � Obi-Wan was young and impatient, headstrong and not yet at one with the Force in the way that Qui-Gon was, but he understood better, he thought, the dangers of overreaching, of taking on too many tasks. � � � As far as Obi-Wan was concerned, it was a foregone conclusion (that the Council would reject training Anakin). The young Jedi was frustrated and embarrassed for his Master, who had clearly overstepped his bounds once again...Qui-Gon would be denied and his stature as a Jedi Master would fall a little further.

If only Lucas had focused on the troubles between the two as the novel does! The drama would increase, and Liam Neeson and Ewan McGregor would have been able to show off their acting skills!

More than a couple of times I laughed at how Obi-Wan reacted to Jar Jar's actions. The brass young Jedi was more than a little annoyed with the Gungan. Again, like Jar Jar, I related to this because I, too, quickly become quite annoyed by stupid people, or smart people that have no common sense. Does that make me a snob? I don't care. It's me!

How I wish Lucas hadn't cut out scenes in which Anakin falls head-over-heels for Padme! I know for a fact that Lucas cut part of the scene where the two meet in the shop and Annie says "I'm going to marry you." And that's not the half of it, as he continually thinks how he wants "to spend as much time as possible with the girl."

I know Lucas says Episode II will be a love story, but here he had the chance to give us a preview into Annie's mind. Later as they head to his home to get out of the sandstorm, Brooks tells us Anakin "was thinking of Padme, of having the chance to take her home to meet his mother, of being able to show her his projects, of holding her hand some more." This happens ten-fold throughout the novel, and begins to get scary! Obsess much, Anakin?

The foreshadowing is blatant, as Brooks knows that we know that Padme/Queen Amidala and Anakin will fall in love. Brooks tells of a dream Anakin had where she was the central figure, only "different from now, older, sadder...and something more." Padme isn't obsessed, but does show more affection in Brooks' account, touching his cheeks a few times to reassure him that he would achieve his dreams, and that they would always be friends.

In the same manner, Lucas neglected to show us why the Council is so sure that Annie is troubled, that his anger is strong. Several times in Brooks' work we read how Anakin becomes angry and yells at others. This is part of his path to the Dark Side, and Skywalker Ranch is keeping us from seeing anything other than the "Yipee" boy in the film. After winning the Podrace, Anakin is sneered at by a Rodian who claims the boy cheated:

Anakin was on top of him so fast the bigger being barely had time to put up his arms in defense before he was on the ground. Anakin was hitting him as hard and as fast as he could, not thinking about anything but how angry he was, not even aware that the source of his anger had nothing to do with his victim and everything to do with losing Padme."

Actually the fight reminds me of another movie, The Christmas Story. All that is missing is a slew of expletives by Anakin.

Qui-Gon breaks up the fight, trying to calm Anakin by telling him how fighting doesn't change the other's opinion and that he must tolerate such comments. Apparently Yoda is right that "Hard to see the Dark Side is," because Qui-Gon is blinded by his pride and unwilling to see that this boy, while maybe the "chosen one," will end up wiping out the Jedi before saving the Republic.

Later, as Anakin stands before the Jedi Council, in the movie we see as he squirms when told that his feelings are important. But in the book he almost loses his temper, "snapping irritably" at Yoda, "I am not afraid!" Because of this, when Qui-Gon is told that Anakin will not be trained, Mace Windu tells him that "there is already too much anger in" Anakin. Aaarrgghh, if only Lucas could have let us into Anakin's mind and emotions! The drama, the foreshadowing! We KNOW he's going to become Darth Vader, so quit worrying that it will hurt the box office! If George is afraid to show us this now, I don't know how much he'll tone down Episode III to prevent a box office disaster.

Although this doesn't clear up the midi-chlorian controversy, Brooks explanation gives a little more insight into the strange atomic-sized creatures spoken of by Qui-Gon. Brooks says that midi-chlorians are "the essence of all life," "the connectors to the Force itself...Compromising collective consciousness and intelligence, the midi-chlorians formed the link between everything living and the Force." So these things that live inside of us are necessary to be aware of the Force? Okay, so it doesn't really answer the questions I had, we'll have to wait another three years for Episode II or even Episode III.

More possible foreshadowing? Anakin is watching from just outside the Senate chamber as Queen Amidala challenges the Trade Federation's military rule of Naboo. "Anakin noted that the Trade Federation box had maneuvered into position close beside the Naboo box. (TF delegate) Lott Dod exchanged a quick glance with Palpatine, but neither spoke.

Also, as Queen Amidala leaves to return to Naboo and face the Trade Federation, despite Senator Palpatine's assurance that she shouldn't return, Jar Jar notices "the barest glimpse of a smile on the senator's shrewd face."

Are these hints as to Palpatine most likely being Darth Sidious and working with the Trade Federation to aid the embargo?

In movie forums, I heard a lot of grumbling about how the droid army of the Trade Federation was cheap and useless. Well, I have always stood fast that it was a cheap army, but able to produced in great numbers to overwhelm an enemy rather than defeat on skill alone. Brooks re-affirms this when writing about the impending clash between the Gungans and the droids:

Jar Jar Binks stared at the droid army in awe. There was not a living creature in sight, not one made of flesh and blood, not one that would react to the terrible roil of battle as the Gungans would. It made his skin crawl to think of what that meant.

The finale comes across basically the same as the movie, only sans the great music. Just to keep pumped, I played John Williams' score on my stereo while reading, and especially listened to "Duel of the Fates" as I read the last battle.

One change for the better, as for the most part Anakin accidentally destroys the Trade battleship, but there may be more to it. As his starfighter sits in the hanger, "his instincts kicked into high gear, shrieking at him in a frenzy of need...Acting of his own accord, faster than thought, his hand left the laser firing buttons and threw a double-hinged switch to the right. Instantly, a pair of torpedoes sped down the corridor in the direction" of the core. So at least he fired on purpose!