... a deeply researched and striking new biography ... To stitch together his tale, Jones had to rely on previous biographies, interviews, and magazine profiles, which at times make this biography feel more factual and respectful than analytic. Still, overall Jones’s narrative is undeniably spellbinding and will be especially compelling to film nerds.
This biography is 'unauthorized,' but even though Jones interviewed only a handful of Lucas’s friends and collaborators, he has mined the literature on Lucas’s life and work to produce an admirably comprehensive view. He treats the man more as a businessman than an artist, avoiding psychologizing and critical assessments of the films to concentrate on the tangible accomplishments. As a book, it’s not so much for Star Wars fans — although even they will probably find something new in it — as it is for those who want to know how Lucas changed an industry.
...in a world currently taken by a biographical subject as rich and substantive as Alexander Hamilton, this may not be the one you're looking for. In many ways, there is simply not all that much to the story ... Film geeks will rejoice at the detailed explanation of how Star Wars was made. And there's great insight into the way the film industry works — and how Lucas and company changed it ... while Lucas was also an innovator in other aspects of the modern movie game — technology, merchandising, sequelizing — the unavoidable fact remains that he made a few good movies four decades ago and a huge amount of dross since ... Lucas emerges as a likable and largely admirable person — a tremendously accomplished guy who's enjoying his life and has done good things with it. But, again, is that a story worth telling — much less reading and paying for?
