A Galaxy Far Far Away [DVD] [2010] [2000] [NTSC]

I didn't know what to expect from a documentary about fandom, but I guessed it wouldn't be good. Generally, this type of documentary leans in one of two directions: 1) it demonstrates how geeks are crazier than everyone else so "normal" people can feel better about themselves, or 2) it slavishly focuses on one aspect of a hobby to the exclusion of any negative commentary about the subject.

What's surprising about A Galaxy, Far, Far Away is that it actually provides a balanced view of the two perspectives by showing the extremes. In essence, this is a journey about one producer trying to understand why everyone was so excited about Star Wars.

We're not talking about "I like Star Wars" kinds of fandom. We're talking about camping out in front of a movie theater 42 days before the fourth entry in George Lucas' series.

I remember the days leading up to that first movie. There was Star Wars merchandise in every single store: shoe stores had Star Wars shoes, toy stores had Star Wars toys, book stores had Star Wars books, ad infinitum. It finally struck me where else I had seen such cross-channel marketing...a holiday.

In essence, Lucas created a national holiday. There was no merchant who wasn't somehow touched by the film's release. Many of my coworkers took the day off to see it, just like it were a holiday. A Star Wars holiday (not to be confused with the Star Wars holiday special).

Tariq Jalil, the director and narrator, takes us along on the journey to understand why Americans were so excited about what amounts to a couple hours of staring at a big screen. And he uncovers a couple of truths along the way.

Jalil interviews fans, from the rock star Jedi singing about the force to the technician who names his son Anakin, from the four kids who remind you of college chums camping out in front of a theater, to comedians who rap lyrics about the Force. Jalil also interviews movie stars. We hear from Roger Corman, James Duval, Andy Garcia, Meat Loaf, Joe Pesci, and other people Jalil forgot to turn the microphone on for. Their assessments range from dismissive to supportive, from philosophical to freaked out. Which pretty much reflects how everyone who isn't a fan felt about the phenomenon.

On the negative side, Jalil points out the extravagance. Only in America could people huddle together in a crowd, clawing and fighting, to get the first Star Wars action figures. He drives this point home by cutting in scenes of crowds in Kosovo scrambling for food. It might sound like a heavy-handed approach until you realize just how similar the two scenes are. At one point I wasn't able to tell the difference.

As one observant young lady points out, the amount of money and manpower dedicated to providing security, food, transportation, and lodging to millions of Star Wars fans could change the world. But Americans don't do that. Instead, they spend it on a fantasy world...because they can.

If the documentary stopped there, it would be a horrible slam on fandom. For a little while, I felt dirty afterwards for liking Star Wars. But then Jalil then asks the tough questions. Forget asking why people like Star Wars when a camera is pointed in their face. Ask them about their personal lives, and suddenly it all comes into focus.

Many of the kids in this documentary have issues with their fathers. And they're not "I don't like my dad" issues either. Their fathers are abusive or completely absent, situations where children have no childhood to speak of. These kids like Star Wars so much because they dislike their lives in equal amounts. The plot connects with them in ways that other media can't.

And that's the conclusion Jalil comes to. Maybe the fans aren't perfect. Maybe they could focus their efforts on something more constructive. But there are a lot worse things. If Americans want to believe in a mystical force of good, in the power for families to come together despite their differences, then maybe their devotion isn't so bad after all. In the old days we used to call that religion. Today, we call it Star Wars.

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.

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