The Visual Dictionary of Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace
No matter what you thought ofPhantom Menace, you just have to love its visual effects and props.Episode Iwas absolutely radiant with special effects, making use of some 2,000 of them, dwarfing that of previousStar Warsinstallments and even the CGI-happyTitanicwith its now-paltry 500. And the low-tech effects, the physical props ofStar Wars, have always been unbelievably detailed, from Luke's scuffed-up speeder to Vader's slightly dinged-up helmet (don't pretend you didn't notice).Phantom Menacecontinues this tradition proudly, whether it's with Amidala's baroque headgear or the intricately machined (and deadly) armament on a droideka.A page-turning droolfest,Episode I: The Visual Dictionarystops the film and zooms in on all this eye candy. As he did with the first trilogy inStar Wars: The Visual Dictionary, author-archaeologist David West Reynolds once again elucidates and itemizes with glee, combining witty, pseudo-scholarly prose with clear movie stills and excellent closeup photos of actual props and characters. Every personality and group of note gets its due in this well-labeled, picture-packed book, from the Jedi High Council to the podrace crowd to the sea monsters of Naboo. Craving a closer look at Maul's double lightsaber? Wish you could tell a Neimoidian's rank by the hat on its head? Need some ideas for filling out your podracer toolkit? This is the book for you.--Paul Hughes