List Price: $19.95You Pay Only: $17.99 You Save: $1.96 (10%)Prices subject to change.
Availability: Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
EAN: 0658769027136
Format: Color, DVD-Video, NTSC
Label: Vanguard Cinema
Manufacturer: Vanguard Cinema
Number Of Items: 1
Publisher: Vanguard Cinema
Region Code: 1
Release Date: March 05, 2002
Running Time: 62 minutes
Sales Rank: 91260
Studio: Vanguard Cinema
Theatrical Release Date: 2001
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - In the old days, we used to call this religion
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 ... Read More
Rating: - Clever and Entertaining
This unique and refreshing little documentary explores people's obsessions with Star Wars in a non-judgmental manner. Being a Star Wars fan myself, I was really excited to see this film! Initially, I thought that the film was going to poke fun of hard core fans, but instead, as the film evolves, it shows fans in a sweet, tender light. As fans share little anecdotes about their childhoods, the film becomes quite moving and touching. There are a lot great moments in the movie that really stand out, but the juxtaposition of the Toys R Us footage (people desperately scrambling to get their hands on the latest Star Wars toys) with the Kosovo footage (people desperately scrambling to get their hands on food) was absolutely brilliant! In addition to being thought-provoking, this film is entertaining and extremely funny. All of my friends, (including many who are Star Wars fans), have loved this film!
Rating: - May The Funny Be With You
This was a blast to watch. Since it was filmed during the pre-TPM buildup, it serves not only has a humorous and sometimes serious look at the event, but is a cool time capsule as well. It's been 6 years but I can still remember opening night and it was bananas. Highly recommended.
Rating:  - A comedy pretending to be a documentary.
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:  - Obsessed geeks - Both good and bad.
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 ... Read More
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