an empty shell of an epic rather than the real deal . 
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT an) (JJ empty) (NN shell)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT an) (NN epic)))) (PP (RB rather) (IN than) (NP (DT the) (JJ real) (NN deal))) (. .)))
(ROOT (NP (NP (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN )) (PP (IN ) (NP (DT ) (NN )))) (PP (RB ) (IN ) (NP (DT ) (JJ ) (NN ))) (. )))