Rating: 
Summary: Obsessed geeks - Both good and bad.
Review: I just watched this documentary tonight. so, I thought I'd put my two cents worth into what I think about the DVD, as well as the Star Wars phenomenon in general. First off, I have to say that for the most part this DVD has been put together quite well. It has some pretty good rockin' background music, and it covers the phenomenon of Star Wars as well as the specific build up of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. The only complaint I really have about the DVD is that the bonus features menu for the deleted scenes doesn't leave the last feature you just watched selected or the next feature selected in the list. In other words, after each deleted scene, you have to start from the top of the menu again instead of where you left off. But other than that, it's a well put together DVD. And the bonus features are good. I must say, even though I know how big Star Wars is, I never actually got to experience hype that big until watching this DVD. I knew about the crazy people camping out waiting a month and a half for the movie and whatnot. But to actually be a part of it I never was really. The most I've done was get in line two hours before the midnight showing on opening night of Episode II with my ticket in hand. And even that was a big event. But to actually have a documentary dive into different areas around the U.S. and talk to people waiting in line for 42 days and to just see all the craziness behind it is incredible. They documented the Toys 'R' Us mayhem of May 3, 1999 with legions of Star Wars fans lining up just to buy the new toys. They covered people who actually believe the force is real and claim Jedi as their religion. They interviewed famous stars like Meat Loaf and Joe Pesci about what their thoughts were on the Star Wars phenomenon. They talked about costumes, the lines, the toys, the "religion," the force, the conventions, the lack of father figures in these geeks lives, etc. They even compared the crowds pushing each other around to get to the toy they want to the crowds in Kosova pushing each other around just to get food. Very ironic. They definitely did cover the phenomenon. So overall, it's a very interesting documentary. When I watched this DVD, I realized that I'm better off being a low-key fan like I am. Sure, I have a Star Wars website. Sure, I collect Star Wars stuff. Sure, I went to the midnight showing of Episode II. But I'm not insane and out of my mind like these people are. I mean, this documentary really shows how nuts these people actually are. Star Wars is their life. Maybe that's why I wasn't so let down by The Phantom Menace like some of these fans in the documentary were. I mean, they practically deserve to be let down. One shouldn't build up a movie, no matter how big of a movie it is, to be the second coming. One is destined for a let down then - even the director of this DVD, Tariq Jalil, says this in the commentary. Sure, there will always be people who will be let down no matter what. But has anyone noticed how many more fans were pleased with Attack of the Clones than with The Phantom Menace? TPM had 16 years in the waiting, and enough inescapable hype in 1998 through May 1999 to sink us into a black hole. And that's exactly what happened. People got sucked into a black hole, thinking that the movie sucked beyond belief, when in reality it's only them that's the problem. AOTC had only three years of waiting, and the hype was considerably low-key on purpose. And most fans walked out loving the film. The fan-base's opinion of the movie wasn't split down the middle like with TPM. So I'm glad that I didn't build these movies up to be more than movies. I mean, they are a phenomenon and one cannot escape that. And I don't think one should. It's good to be fascinated with something and to even make it a big part of your life. I don't get down on those fans for doing what they did. I think it's cool that they waited in line that long to see The Phantom Menace. I mean, the hype is fun and exciting. But it's when the hype alters the opinion of what should be a good movie that it gets to be too much. My advice for fans of Star Wars would be to basically get a life, but not forget about the movies. In other words, find other things to focus on, but still enjoy the genre that is Star Wars. It's a great hobby, and a great phenomenon that one should not be ashamed of being a part of. It's ok to have this hobby. But don't let it have you.
Rating: 
Summary: A comedy pretending to be a documentary.
Review: I personally don't belong to any fandom, but I was interested in seeing this film because I have studied popular culture for some years now. The makers of the film claim this to be a documentary about the Star Wars fandom, but in reality they have tried to find the most geeky and weird fans out there and make them look stupid. It is obvious that the film makers don't really understand the phenomenon themselves, and the film won't give you any insight about it either. It might be funny and entertaining in its own way, but at the expense of other people.
Instead of really trying to understand the fans or interviewing academics who have actually studied popular culture, they have decided to ask the opinions of name actors and other famous people who have as little insight as themselves have, and who don't have anything interesting to say. The film goes through all the typical prejudices about fans: that they are sad people who have mental problems and can't tell the difference between fiction and reality. All this film does is spread further misconceptions about a particular group of people, which is sad. The technical part of the film doesn't always work either. Occasionly you can't hear what people are saying in the film. Some parts of the interviews have been subtitled, but there should have been a lot more.
Not recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Smart and Funny
Review: I saw this movie in Los Angeles when it was in release this year. I thought the personal style of the documentary was right for the type of subject it covers. This is not a film about death row inmates, so the filmmakers were wise not to take them selves too seriously. However, they do take their subjects seriously. These people substitute Star Wars for the things their generation have been deprived of. They do it with humor of course, but still, they do it.
It's a refreshingly different doc about sub cultures. It doesn't mock it's subjects. Star Wars has had an enormous impact not just on 'geeks' but on mainstream culture as well. This film caters to the regular Joe who may not ever camp out on line for anything, but is curious about those who do and why.
There are gritty DIY sequences, like when they interview an airport shuttle van driver at night, a crotchety old guy who hates 'them young people', and at the same time fluid, sometimes shocking sequences (there are allusions to Kosovo that come out of nowhere).
I always thought SW was a great example of myth in cinema. A Galaxy Far, Far Away tackles the mythological and succeeds in doing it with humor.
Rating:
Summary: Love or Hate
Review: I thought this was a great movie but I can also see how some people might not get it. If you like movies like Roger & Me or Best in Show, or a TV show like The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. You will love this movie. Otherwise, you might not get it. I got it and loved it.
Rating:
Summary: Funny
Review: I thought this was pretty well done. Several of my friends had told me about it so I decided to pick it up. It made me realize that there are some very odd people in the world- interesting, but odd.
Rating:
Summary: VERY FUNNY
Review: I was given a copy of this film, and was told it was funny. I never expected to laugh as much as I did. This film does not deserve to end up on the shelf next to lame "comedy/documentaries." It should be viewed by all. It was a brilliant idea, and well executed.
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious and Thought Provoking
Review: If you've ever wondered why there are so many Star Wars [fans] out there, and either laughed with or at them, you'll dig this movie. You meet those people throughout the country who actually waited a month on line to get tickets for the first showing of the SW prequel a few years back. Some of them are in costume, some of them perform SW related music, some of them end up not even liking the movie. It's extremely entertaining and actually ends up being kind of moving because you learn something pretty meaningful about the human condition and have more compassion for those people who, by no fault of their own, grew up with some pretty basic human needs going unmet. Very quick pace, fun tone, and engaging throughout.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite lame
Review: Really disappointing. You would think it wouldn't be hard to make a fascinating documentary about the world's obsession with Star Wars, and yet the filmmakers somehow manage to make it look like there's nothing to say. There's absolutely no reason there needs to be so much footage of them walking around talking about what they're doing. Nor do I need to see repeated scenes of guys playing the kazoo or a turntable-carrying Boba Fett. Really not worth the plastic disc it's laser-enscribed on.
Rating:
Summary: Tom's Review
Review: This film is a must for any collector of Star Wars-related products or media. It offers an excellent potrayal of the fans that have made the whole "Star Wars"-thing an integral component of American culture. Also there are several candid and hilarious interviews with various clebrities about the Star Wars phenomenon. Don't miss the Joe Pesci on the golf course clip.
Rating:
Summary: Ride that Star Guitar
Review: This is a hilarious film!! I saw it at the Santa Babara Film Festival and couldn't beleive how freaky Star Wars nuts can be. These people are serious about their knowledge of the force and what it can do. Very entertaining.
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