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“A
Galaxy Far Far Away” (1999)
“A
Galaxy Far Far Away” is a documentary about “Star Wars”
fans. It uses 1999’s summer blockbuster “The Phantom
Menace” as a jumping in point to begin a dialogue on
the phenomenon that is George Lucas and “Star Wars”
et al. At first, it seems like it’s going to be another
one of those loving tributes to the oddballs and weirdos
of the world like “Hands on a Hardbody” or “American
Movie.” But, unfortunately, filmmakers Tariq Jalil and
Terry Tocantins end up just laughing at their subjects.
The
film is surely one that wants to be adopted by “Lucasites”
and ride the high waves to immense popularity. Instead,
those who love the films and the filmmaker’s oeuvre
will find themselves the subjects of lingering camera
shots and purposeful editing designed to make them look
like fools. It’s a shame too, because the film is well
crafted, funny, insightful and interesting. But, if
you have any sort of heart at all, you just feel bad
for laughing at these people.
Several
fans are interviewed at several different locales. There
are numerous shots of the fans waiting in line. There
is an interview with a guy who has named his child “Anakin”
There are the fans at conventions, including the massive
“Star Wars” gathering in Denver, Colorado in 1999, shown.
There is a madhouse rampage at a “Toys R Us” at midnight
when “Star Wars” figurines go on sale. There are kazoo
players who do spoofs songs. There are a lot of “Star
Wars” themed bands. But there are also losers and mentally
challenged people and, well, morons, shown far too often.
The film doesn’t want us to feel any compassion for
these people. It is shot, edited and coupled with score
simply to make us laugh at them. It’s just cruel.
Filmed
on digital video, and screened at the festival using
a digital projector, the film is almost too crisp for
it’s own good. It looks great. This is also important
because this technology is the wave of the future, according
to Mr. Lucas. See, George wants “Star Wars: Episode
Two: The Next Merchandising Phase” to be shot and exhibited
totally using digital technology. Theater owners are,
as we speak, scrambling to decide if this is worth the
enormous cost it will require. Jalil and Tocantins are
hip to this insider stuff and so there film utilizes
this crisp and clean filmmaking technology. It’s not
only efficient and cheap; it’s a commentary on their
subject matter. It’s an inside, inside commentary on
filmmaking in the new millenium.
Running at 71 minutes, the film seems to drag on way
too long. Then again, perhaps this was the circumstances
under which I saw the film. The room was crowded. The
room was hot, not just hot - but sauna hot. I defy you
to show me a place that was hotter today west of the
Grand Canyon. My underwear felt like the Serengeti.
And the heat made the digital projector freak out throughout
the last 40 hours… I mean minutes of the film. It consistently
slipped into negative. So much for the future of exhibition
as we know it.
“A
Galaxy Far Far Away” is an interesting commentary on
a pop culture phenomenon that (like Elvis and the Beatles)
has religious implications, has massive common denominator
recognition and is rife with possibilities. The film
covers all this ground and more. But along the way it
takes much too much time to make many of it’s subjects
look like idiots and fools. It exposes their honesty
and openness as vulnerabilities like so much fodder
for Comedy Central. It’s a bit too mean spirited for
me to be comfortable and it begs the question: Who is
this film for? “Star Wars” freaks will be offended beyond
belief and those who aren’t fans probably want go to
see it in the first place.
Notes:
With
cameos by several celebs including James Duval, Meatloaf,
Joe Pesci, Robert Loggia, Roger Corman, Adam Corrola,
Jimmy Kimmell.
The
filmmakers used the Internet to get footage from around
the country
Report
Card
Script:
C
Acting: D-
Cinematography\Lighting: B+
Special Effects\Make Up: C
Music: D-
Final
Grade: C
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