STAR WARS EPISODE II Attack of the Clones

[Editor's Note: The following is a combined review with the abridged STAR WARS EPISODE II.]--Audio adaptations of novelizations of popular movies may sound like something from the Dark Side. But the editorial and studio production crews get stellar marks for these readings of Salvatore's adaptation of the latest in the Star Wars saga. Actor Jonathan Davis gives the characters American or British accents, depending on the nationality of the actors in the film version, and these characters are so on-target as to make the drama entirely believable. Even the 'droid C-3PO comes to life under Davis's interpretation. His reading is sincere and deliberate, and his performance is enhanced by an economic use of music and sound effects that add to the storytelling experience without overwhelming the listener. The abridged version is enjoyable despite a few awkward gaps in the story line. Helping to propel the listener forward is the stereophonic sound of a jet engine zooming across the listener's hearing field, establishing effective breaks and transitions in the story. All in all, both versions are worthy of the Force. S.E.S. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]