Home :: DVD :: Documentary :: General  

African American Heritage
Art & Artists
Biography
Comedy
Crime & Conspiracy
Gay & Lesbian
General

History
IMAX
International
Jewish Heritage
Military & War
Music & Performing Arts
Nature & Wildlife
Politics
Religion
Science & Technology
Series
Space Exploration
Sports
A Galaxy Far, Far Away

A Galaxy Far, Far Away

List Price: $19.95
Your Price: $17.96
Product Info Reviews

<< 1 2 3 >>

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Unbiased real Life Story
Review: "Hmm, I wonder what this could be about?" is the question that isn't on my mind as when I bought and watched Director Tariq Jalil's latest documentary series about Real Life Star Wars Fan and actors who lives their lives as movie characters. It combines an absorbing real human drama, balanced with special unbiased real Life Story that make the first best documentary I have ever seen

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's Saul, Saul Good
Review: A truly inspired documentary that both embraces and laughs at the very phenomenon it dissects. "A Galaxy Far Far Away" broke attendance records when it opened the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. This film more than portrays the inner workings of the Star Wars fan but more importantly seeks to answer why the phenomenon has caught on the way it has.

Sure there are people in the film to make you groan, but there are others who you deeply empathize with. More than just a film meant to capatilize on the fandom it portrays, it seeks something deeper and yet remains thoroughly entertaining and humorous as well.

Loaded with celebrity cameos, though not all of them with sound (as seen in the film's coda), "A Galaxy Far, Far Away" is meant not only for any fan of "Star Wars" but also any fan of life and what makes our society what it is.

The film is worth viewing for the supergenius himslef, who parades around as Boba Fett playing remixed Star Wars inspired dance songs and for a truly brilliant scene comparing the power of need: fans pushing and shoving for the newly released Star Wars action figure versus citizens of Kosovo pushing and shoving for a single piece of bread.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: These aren't the droids you're looking for...
Review: Complete garbage. While it starts out trying to cover STAR WARS fans waiting for the release of PHANTOM MENACE, it goes off on many wild and uninteresting tangents, and ends with some clouded message about young men without fathers who like Star Wars. A waste of time. Check out STARWOIDS for a better look at this subject.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Far, far away the funniest documentary EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: Expect the unexpected with this one, people. I saw this at a screening in LA and was taken by how SERIOUS these people were. And as we all know, SERIOUS weirdos is SERIOUSLY FUNNY. Trekkies are too easy. A beat-scratching Boba Fett mobile DJ figure, now that's the good stuff. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not another Sci-Fi Geek flick
Review: From the title, you might expect this film to be only for sci-fi geeks and Trekkies. It's not.
From some of the bizarre characters it finds for interviews, you might think this film is only for people who want to laugh at sci-fi geeks and Trekkies. It's not.
This film somehow manages to walk the line between analysis of the social phenomenon of Star Wars and our need to laugh at the weird. Plenty of humor, an eye into a slice of Americana, and something to think about. Worth seeing.

- Graduate Student, Harvard University

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Treat your inner geek to this movie
Review: Having lived through the hype of Episode 1 in Los Angeles, as well as having my life impacted by the Star Wars phenomenon, this film was both insightful and extremely funny. And it also makes you realize you aren't half the Star Wars geek you think you are. If you even remotely like Star Wars, you will love this movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Many props to the galaxy far, far away...
Review: How can you document a fanatical part of our society and still remain true in spirit to those who are the fanatics? Watch Galaxy Far, Far Away and you will see it done with respect and humor.
The filmmakers provide you with a glimpse of some truly unique individuals that make up a phenomenom that has touched a generation or two.
Anyone would enjoy this selection, whether they are a Star Wars fanatic, an observer, or simply oblivious to the whole thing.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Grouching Driver, Hidden Faggon
Review: I caught this one at Slamdance...pretty [darn] funny. Yeah I remember that bit with the grumpy driver. I was waiting for the Tie-Fighter Pilot to admit to faking that lisp, but...hmmm. That was some priceless moment. My friend complained that the movie seemed a bit mean-spirited sometimes but I thought it should have been more condemning...but I guess that would be proselytizing when a good doc shows things for how they really are, and this one certainly did that. I loved the banter between the filmakers and the supposed "professional" newscaster. That guy was a real cheeseball. I recommend! Hope they have commentary on this DVD... Either way I'll buy it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Film
Review: I first saw this film at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and thought it was great. It's good to know that great films are being made outside the studio system. I laughed more with this film than the last three comedies I've seen in the theater. I was also impressed by the poignant points the movie makes. I will always look at the Star Wars movies in a different way.

Rating: 4 stars
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.


<< 1 2 3 >>

© 2004, ReviewFocus or its affiliates