Starwoids (2001)

*Spoiler/plot- Starwoids, 2001. On 1999, Lines formed outside two Mann's owned theaters in Hollywood and Westwood to see the first Star Wars film Episode 1 first new films in 16 years. Filmmaker Dennis Przywara actually stood in line for 42 days to capture the emotion and drama that event brewed. True fans clashed over a rivalry between the two theater line camps. IN this film you will meet and know many of the fans that participated. Also there are refreshing related Star Wars field trips to Death Valley to see Star Wars filming locations and to Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Highlighting super fans like the Bobba Fett musician, driver/owner of a custom X-wing car, and the producers of a Star Wars theatrical musical.*Special Stars- 40+ Star Wars fans who waited in a theater line for 42 days to get the first showing tickets of Episode 1.*Theme- Some people are fans and fans make news by acting excessive.*Trivia/location/goofs- Theater lines locations: Mann's Westwood plaza, Westwood Calif and Chinese theater, Hollywood calif. Field trip locations: Death Valley and Lucas Valley CA.*Emotion- A gallant attempt to document a phenomena of film openings in an industry town like Los Angeles. The film is edited confusingly and has no pacing. The director's choice to artificially build some kind of drama by pitting Westwood against Chinese theater line groups did not work to make this a narrative instead of a very flat one dimensional news story piece that will only attract and keep the viewer's interest for a few minutes at most. The film premise is great, but it's way too long and confusing if not a scifi fan.

I had heard about this movie not too long after Episode I was released in theaters. I was never able to see it until it arrived on video. It was more than worth the wait. I consider myself a Starwoid. I waited in line for tickets to Episode I. Although I waited in line for only 6 hours. But this movie absolutely captures the atmosphere of what it was like to wait in line. You looked around at the line, and saw people that you would probably have nothing to do with in any other aspect of life. But they were there in line with you, waiting with the same anticipation and excitement. For that day, they were your friends. You identified with them in a way that you cannot identify with anyone else. No matter where you came from, you had a passion for Star Wars, and you were going to get tickets to the first show no matter what. In Starwoids, someone make reference to this event as their version of Woodstock. That very sentiment was uttered by someone waiting in line with me. Nothing could be truer. In a way, waiting in line was more fun than seeing Episode I itself. Everyone was in full fanboy mode. Everything that day was Star Wars. I waited in line at a theater that houses 30 screens. As you can imagine, it's a pretty big building. No one was allowed to wait before 8am. The entrance was blocked off by police. When the barricade was cleared, the race was on. People hiding out in a nearby field raced for the building. The parking lot turned into a raceway. People were jumping out of moving cars to be first in line. By the time tickets went on sale later that day, the line had more than wrapped around the building. Literally thousands of people had shown up. It's that spirit of excitement and togetherness that Starwoids captures. If you are a Star Wars fan, you see so much of yourself in the people featured in the movie. If you didn't have the honor of waiting in line (and yes, it was an honor) this is as close as you can get to experiencing what it was like. Save for the births of my children, it was the best time of my life. So see Starwoids, and get a taste of what it was like to be there.

not being a star wars fan, i went with a friend at a film festival and was surprised at how much i loved this flick! funny, clever, entertaining, and very educational! a must see for all starwoids and non. don't know where or when it's playing next, but worthy of some research.

I was fortunate enough to see this movie at the East Lansing Film Festival. I'd recommend this film to anyone who likes Star Wars or likes the movie Trekkies.There is an interview with a Jawa where the guy's eye keeps falling out that is hilarious. There's also a funny scene with a toy collector that one of my friends, Courtney, laughed so hard she started crying.Also a great interview with some guys that put on Star Wars the musical.If it's playing at a film festival near you, go see it.