DVD Review: ‘The People vs. George Lucas’ Brilliantly Captures ‘Star Wars’ Culture

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
No votes yet

CHICAGO – “The People vs. George Lucas” is a misleading title and several outlets have misleading representations of what you should expect from the film. This is not an antagonistic piece even if it does contain some amazing evidence in the anti-Lucas movement. The “vs.” makes it sound like a hatchet job. It’s not. It’s more of a love letter to the fans who have built their lives around “Star Wars” and THEN it goes on to point how that love has made the fan base even more sensitive to perceived slights to the holy trilogy. It’s a clever, fun documentary that runs just a bit long but truly captures something about geek-movie culture that hasn’t been so well-documented before.

HollywoodChicago.com DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0
DVD Rating: 4.0/5.0

Incredibly well-assembled through interviews with experts and fan-submitted contributions via the internet, “The People vs. George Lucas” is a fascinating piece about the love for “Star Wars” and the controversy around George Lucas’ decisions related to it over the last twenty years. After the set-up that details the incredible love for “A New Hope,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and “Return of the Jedi,” the film turns where you’d expect it to go — the Special Editions and the prequels. It started to slide downhill when Greedo shot first and the tide really turned with the notorious Jar Jar Binks.

The key question at the core of “The People vs. George Lucas” is “Does the public have the rights to the materials of its own culture?” People have built their lives around “Star Wars.” Who is George Lucas to change that in any way? On the other hand, who owns the series more than him? As Neil Gaiman, a writer who has also dealt with rabid fandom, says, “This came out of my head, leave me alone.” Isn’t it George Lucas’ series to do with whatever he chooses? And isn’t it funny how all the hatred for the prequels hasn’t stopped the billion-dollar series in the slightest? Here’s what you don’t want to believe — kids love Jar Jar Binks.

The documentary doesn’t answer most of these questions but presents them for the viewer in a unique, funny way. This is a clever, well-edited piece of work in which the fans of the “Star Wars” series are the star without ridicule or scorn. This is not like “Trekkies,” a film that examined hardcore fanaticism, even if it does present people whose lives have been forever altered — first by a series they loved and then by one they hated.

Note: The back of the box lists the running time as 133 minutes when it’s really 1:33 or a much-more-reasonable 93 minutes. Don’t let the typo scare you away.

The People vs. George Lucas was released on DVD on October 25th, 2011
The People vs. George Lucas was released on DVD on October 25th, 2011
Photo credit: Lionsgate

Synopsis:
The passion the original Star Wars trilogy inspires in its fans is unparalleled; but when it comes to George Lucas himself, many have found their ardor has cooled into a complicated love-hate relationship. This hilarious, heartfelt documentary delves deep into Lucas’s cultural legacy. Utilizing interviews taken from over 600 hours of footage, and peppered with extraordinary Star Wars and Indiana Jones re-creations lovingly immortalized in song, needlepoint, Lego, claymation, puppets and papier-mâché, above all this film asks the question: who truly owns that galaxy far, far away-the man who created it, or the fans who worship it?

Special Features:
o Filmmaker Commentary
o The People vs. Star Wars 3D
o Music Video
o Poetry Slam Selections
o Gary Kurtz Interview

“The People vs. George Lucas” was directed by Alexandre O. Philippe. It was released on DVD on October 25th, 2011.

HollywoodChicago.com content director Brian Tallerico

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker