Star Wars

Blu-Ray Review: Criterion Edition of Akira Kurosawa’s Legendary ‘Kagemusha’

BrianTT — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:43:10 -0600

CHICAGO – Now that he is widely recognized as one of the best filmmakers of all time, it’s almost hard to believe that there was a period in the career of Akira Kurosawa when he couldn’t get financing to make a film. Kurosawa went through a very dark time in the ’70s, punctuated by his disastrous experience with “Tora! Tora! Tora!,” and needed the weight of Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas to help with his comeback, “Kagemusha,” now available in a beautiful Criterion Collection Blu-Ray release.

Blu-Ray Rating: 4.5/5.0

I adore stories like the one behind the making of “Kagemusha” because they reflect the ripple throughout the ages that comes with amazing creativity. In the excellent special feature, “Lucas, Coppola, and Kurosawa,” the interviews draw a definitive line from John Ford (whose “The Searchers” influenced Kurosawa) to Kurosawa’s work to “The Godfather” to “Star Wars” to “Kagemusha,” which itself inspired countless filmmakers. The magic of movies is contagious.

Kagemusha was released on Blu-Ray on August 18th, 2009.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

After the commercial failure of “Dodes’ka-den” and the irascible reputation that followed him after “Red Beard,” Kurosawa started to struggle with financial support in the ’70s. When he was forced to back out of “Tora! Tora! Tora!” due to creative differences, he carried with him a reputation that made funding difficult. He reportedly attempted suicide in 1971, had an awful experience on “Dersu Uzala,” and was reduced to going back to one of his loves, painting. The art that came out of that period would eventually turn into “Kagemusha”.

Kagemusha was released on Blu-Ray on August 18th, 2009.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

Of course, as impossible as he reportedly was to work with, Kurosawa was still a master. Without even asking to see a script, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola, two of the men most inspired by Kurosawa’s work, put their financial weight behind whatever he wanted to do next. They recognized that Kurosawa was a filmmaker who never should have been denied funding just on the chance that he might produce another “Seven Samurai,” “Yojimbo,” or “Rashomon”.

What he did produce was the introduction to the final chapter of his career, one marked more by bright colors and epic storytelling. “Kagemusha” finds its creator returning to the samurai story but with a much more cynical, dark worldview. It’s the anti-hero story, taking the least “samurai-esque” character and turning him into the hero.

A warlord dies and a peasant thief is called upon to impersonate the leader to keep warring factions from knowing of the kingdom’s weakness. The new leader is haunted by the spirit of the old one and Kurosawa continues to play with a regular theme of his career - what is real and what is illusion.

The plot of “Kagemusha” is interesting but it’s primarily a stunning visual experience. There are shots in “Kagemusha” that stand among the best of the ’80s. In particular, a shot of men marching through fog as orange light and shadows play in the background (at around the 20-minute mark) is one of my favorite shots of all time.

Kagemusha was released on Blu-Ray on August 18th, 2009.
Photo credit: Courtesy of the Criterion Collection

“Kagemusha” doesn’t just resemble a cinematic painting. It was designed as a moving piece of art. The 44-minute video piece reconstructing “Kagemusha” through Kurosawa’s paintings and sketches called “Image: Kurosawa’s Continuity” shows an artist who did a lot more than just storyboard. An included booklet of essays and artwork that inspired the film would be enough of a collector’s item for Kurosawa fans to justify a purchase of the entire release.

The film itself has been restored with a high-definition digital transfer and a DTS-HD Master Audio 4.0 soundtrack. The image looks appropriately transferred. I was concerned it would be overly polished, taking away a lot of the original appeal of the film by making it look too plastic in HD. That has not happened.

Unmentioned special features include a commentary by Kurosawa scholar Stephen Prince, a 41-minute documentary on the making of the film, Suntory Whiskey commercials made on the set of “Kagemusha,” a gallery of storyboards painted by Kurosawa and images of their realization on-screen, and theatrical trailers and teasers.

Very few filmmakers are as essential to a viewer’s understanding of the history of the medium as Akira Kurosawa. There are millions of people out there who love “Star Wars” and “The Godfather”. Find one who hasn’t even heard of Kurosawa and tell them the story of how their favorite filmmakers were essential in the comeback of a master. Pass the creative spark along.

‘Kagemusha’ is released by The Criterion Collection and stars Tatsuya Nakadai, Tsutomu Yamazaki, and Kenichi Hagiwara. It was written by Akira Kurosawa & Masato Ide and directed by Kurosawa. The Blu-Ray was released on August 18th, 2009. It is not rated.

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

DVD Review: ‘Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II’ Delivers Laughs

BrianTT — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:59:18 -0600

CHICAGO – Who would have guessed that some of the best “Star Wars”-related material of the ’00s would be produced by Seth Green? And yet, there’s no denying that a lot of what Green delivers with “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” is smarter than a majority of the product coming out of the Lucas machine. Check out the special, now on DVD, and see for yourself.

DVD Rating: 3.5/5.0

If you’re completely unfamiliar with “Robot Chicken,” perhaps a “Star Wars” special is not the best place to start. “Robot Chicken” airs during the Adult Swim portion of the Cartoon Network line-up and features stop-motion animation inspired by and using action figures of most of our youth. Most episodes run just over ten minutes and feature dozens of “sketches,” some of which may just be brief jokes that last less a few seconds intertwined with longer scenes.

Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II was released on DVD on July 21st, 2009.”
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

Naturally, any show with an ADD personality like “Robot Chicken” is going to be hit-and-miss. Having said that, the “Robot Chicken” batting average is well above what you would consider adequate for a show like this one. If a sketch bombs, it’s usually a matter of seconds before one works.

And, as you might imagine, a show with writers as knowledgeable about pop culture and geek history as “Robot Chicken” is bound to shine when they enter the world that George Lucas built. They are speaking to an entire generation who has themselves imagined what conversations between the Emperor and Darth Vader might be like or dreamed of continuing adventures of Boba Fett. And the fact that royalty like Billy Dee Williams and Carrie Fisher return to voice their own characters? It doesn’t get much better than that for “Star Wars” buffs.

Believe it or not, “Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II” does have a loose plot. A majority of the sketches focus on the bounty hunters, especially Boba Fett, or the Emperor and the building of the second Death Star. In between the “plot-centric” sketches, the writers hit everything from Anakin killing younglings to Jar-Jar doing a hilarious “Gecko” commercial. Check out an hysterical clip below:

“My Little Tauntaun” commercials, AT-AT races, brutal Ewok violence - “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” is a fanboy dream come true.

However, the DVD is a slightly underwhelming affair. Yes, it’s cool to have an extended version of the episode (it runs about 36 minutes, as opposed to the 22 minutes that were broadcast), but “Robot Chicken” should be on Blu-Ray and it should have more logically organized special features.

Take for example “Chicken Nuggets”. It’s a feature that allows for an introduction to each sketch to play, highlight Green, the writers, and/or the voice actors. Great, right? Why do I have to wait for an image of a chicken and hit enter on my remote to see each intro? There should be an option that just allows them to play automatically.

The other special features are cool but brief and oddly laid-out. A highlight is a trip to Skywalker Ranch, where Lucas himself lays praise on the “Chicken” boys. It doesn’t get much better than that for a “Star Wars” fan.

Despite my criticisms of the DVD presentation, “Robot Chicken” is underrated, clever television. “Star Wars” fans, animation fans, and just comedy fans in general should check it out.

‘Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II’ was released by Warner Brothers Home Video and stars voice work by Seth Green, Seth MacFarlane, Breckin Meyer, Abraham Benrubi, Bob Bergen, Ahmed Best, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Donald Faison, and Andy Richter. The show was released on July 21st, 2009. It is not rated.

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

DVD Review: ‘Fanboys’ For Hardcore ‘Star Wars’ Junkies Only

BrianTT — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:17:11 -0600

CHICAGO – I really want to recommend “Fanboys”. The story behind the film is a David-and-Goliath tale of a young filmmaker bringing his comedic vision to life against all odds and the film is finally being released on DVD after years of delays. Sadly, the drama behind-the-scenes doesn’t change the mediocre quality of the final product.

DVD Rating: 2.0/5.0

Just because the producers behind Kyle Newman’s “Fanboys” meddled with the film and arguably wanted to make it significantly worse, doesn’t mean that what has been released is a good movie to begin with. Everyone involved with “Fanboys” appears to have their hearts in the right place and the film has moments and performances that nearly redeem it, but it ultimately doesn’t click as either a laugh-out-loud comedy or an ode to the Lucas universe. Only hardcore “Star Wars” junkies need rent or buy.

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

The set-up for “Fanboys” threw me off before I could even get into the rhythm of the piece. The first act is all cliched arguments about “Star Wars” vs. “Star Trek” and generic jokes about the quarter-life crisis. The film starts in 1998 with the two “straight men,” the Han and Luke of the piece, Eric (Sam Huntington) and Linus (Chris Marquette).

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

Eric and Linus have grown distant as the former has given up on his comic dreams to work at his father’s car dealership. Linus clings to his youth by spending time with Windows (Jay Baruchel), Hutch (Dan Fogler), and Zoe (Kristen Bell). When Eric learns that Linus is dying of cancer and may not make it to see the premiere of “Star Wars, Episode I - The Phantom Menace,” the gang head to Skywalker Ranch to break in and see an early cut of the film.

The gang takes off and what ensues is a string of episodic encounters with cameos from a diverse array of people including Seth Rogen, Jaime King, Ethan Suplee, Billy Dee Williams, Carrie Fisher, Kevin Smith, and William Shatner. With the all-for-one fun spirit of the piece, it nearly comes together. There’s enough genuine intention on the part of the filmmaker/cast and some strong comic timing from the great Baruchel and gorgeous Bell that “Fanboys” will work as a rental for some people.

For the rest of you, the sad news is that “Fanboys” just isn’t that funny. There are maybe three real laughs. What’s so ironic about the Weinstein Company’s notorious attempt to remove the cancer plotline from the film is that it works better than the humor. The comic timing just isn’t right.

The one thing I took away from “Fanboys” more than anything else is that what Kevin Smith does is not as easy as it looks. Remember the conversation about Death Star construction in “Clerks”? That exchange is more like the ones that “Star Wars” junkies have on a daily basis than anything in “Fanboys” but it’s clearly the kind of dialogue that Newman was going for in his comedy. What sinks “Fanboys” is that none of it - the emotion, the quarter-life crisis, the sci-fi references - feels genuine. It’s forced comedy.

Fanboys was released on DVD on May 19th, 2009.
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

It’s ironic that years of expectation left many fans disappointed by the “Star Wars” prequels and the same thing is likely to happen to the long-delayed “Fanboys”.

The film may only be slightly disappointing, but the DVD is borderline offensive. Given the long history of “Fanboys,” one would expect a stellar home treatment. Blu-Ray, tons of deleted scenes, featurettes about the troubled road the film took to the big screen, and the story of the fan movement that brought the movie back from development hell, right? Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong.

Is The Weinstein Company waiting for a special edition Blu-Ray? Doubt it. This is probably the final word on “Fanboys” and even though I clearly don’t love the film, the people who fought for it deserved better.

First, the actual transfer and presentation of the film is downright awful. The widescreen video is murky and the English Dolby 5.1 track is lackluster.

Even more annoying, especially given the film’s well-known post-production drama, are the depressingly light special features. The deleted scenes and featurettes all run under ten minutes. “The Truth About Fanboys,” “The Star Wars Parallel,” “4 Fanboys & 1 Fangirl,” and “The Choreography” are nothing more than on-the-set, talking-head pieces. The film and fans deserved more.

The best special feature, by far, is the commentary with cast & crew. If some more of the breezy, enjoyable cameraderie on display in that track had made it into the film, perhaps The Weinstein Company would have treated it better in its theatrical and home release.

‘Fanboys’ was released by The Weinstein Company and stars Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, Christopher Marquette, and Kristen Bell. It was written by Ernest Cline and Adam F. Goldberg and directed by Kyle Newman. The film was released on May 19th, 2009. It is rated PG-13.

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

DVD Round Up, Mar. 31, 2009: ‘Shuttle,’ ‘Donkey Punch,’ ‘Cracker,’ ‘Clone Wars’

BrianTT — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:28:29 -0600

CHICAGO – Two TV shows and two indie horror movies comprise the final edition of the infamous HollywoodChicago.com Round-Up for March. Both shows already have cult followings and the movies are likely to build ones of their own.

There are several major titles hitting DVD and Blu-Ray this week - “Slumdog Millionaire,” “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” “Seven Pounds,” “Marley & Me”. These are the minor ones that have hit stores in recent weeks or are just about to do so.

“Cracker: The Complete Collection” was released on March 10th, 2009.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” was released on March 24th, 2009.

“Donkey Punch” & “Shuttle” will be released on April 7th, 2009.

“Cracker: The Complete Collection”

Photo credit: Acorn Media

Who doesn’t want nearly a day’s worth of highly acclaimed mystery movies? “Cracker” with Robbie Coltrane is one of the most beloved series of mysteries of the last several decades. The show won dozens of awards and earned legions of fans on the BBC and in repeats on A&E. Fans of modern mysteries should definitely take a look at “Cracker”

“Cracker” stars Robbie Coltrane, Barbara Flynn, Geraldine Somerville, and Christopher Eccleston, and was created by Jimmy McGovern. The ten disc set includes 1993’s “The Mad Woman in the Attic,” “To Say I Love You,” & “One Day a Lemming Will Fly,” 1994’s “To Be a Somebody,” “The Big Crunch,” & “Men Should Weep,” 1995’s “Brotherly Love,” “Best Boys,” “True Romance,” 1996’s “White Ghost,” and 2006’s “A New Terror”.

“With more than 25 major awards - including BAFTAs for best drama series and best actor - “Cracker” ranks as one of British television’s most acclaimed crime dramas. Robbie Coltrane (“Harry Potter,” “Ocean’s Twelve”) truly inhabits his role as the brash and brilliant forensic psychologist, Dr. Edward “Fitz” Fitzgerald. For the police, Fitz’s astonishing insights into the criminal mind prove invaluable, but his arrogance and boorishness make him barely tolerable as a colleague. For his family, Fitz’s self-destructive compulsions - scotch, sex, and gambling - bring only pain and turmoil. Complemented by an outstanding cast, Coltrane delivers a brilliant performance as a genius who can dissect a psychopath’s motives, but can’t keep his own demons at bay. These powerful crime dramas examine the pressures and prejudices of contemporary urban life and the violence that they spawn.”

“Cracker” is presented in various forms with some episodes in 4:3 full screen and some in 16:9 widescreen with all episodes in Dolby Digital Stereo. Special features include “Cracker: Behind the Scenes,” an intimate, 45-minute visit with the show’s cast and creative team.

“Donkey Punch”

Photo credit: Magnolia

The controversial “Donkey Punch” starts as a sun-kissed trip aboard a yacht but things turn ugly when drugs and sex get involved. The first half of “Donkey Punch” is dread-filled and interesting enough to nearly make this thriller worth seeing, definitely for hardcore horror nuts who have almost certainly heard the buzz building on it for months, but the second half devolves into a pretty traditional slasher pic. Just know that before you embark on this 99-minute tour and there may be enough to like here.

“Donkey Punch” stars Robert Boulter, Sian Breckin, Tom Burke, Nichola Burley, Julian Morris, Jay Taylor, and Jaime Winstone. It was written by Olly Blackburn & David Bloom and directed by Blackburn. It is not rated.

“After meeting at a nightclub in a Mediterranean resort, seven young adults overindulge in champagne and ecstasy. Completely letting go of their inhibitions, they capture their wild partying aboard a luxury yacht on video camera. But when their reckless sexual endeavors are taken too far, one of them dies in a freak accident. The remaining members of the group argue about what to do, which leads to a ruthless fight for survival.”

“Donkey Punch” is presented in widescreen with a 1.85:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks. Special features include deleted scenes, “Making of Donkey Punch,” a director interview, cast interviews, and director commentary.

“Shuttle”

Photo credit: Magnolia

Like “Donkey Punch,” “Shuttle” has a decent idea but it’s even more awkwardly executed. There are enough twists and turns to satisfy serious thriller or horror junkies, but don’t expect much and don’t take this ride unless you’re a huge fan of the genre.

“Shuttle” stars Peyton List, Cameron Goodman, Cullen Douglas, Dave Power, James Snyder, and Tony Curran. It was written & directed by Edward Anderson. It is rated R.

“When two friends return from a girls’ weekend vacation in Mexico, they find themselves stranded at the airport. Trying to get home safely, they board an airport shuttle for the short trip. But once their feet cross the threshold of the shuttle, a night that had started like any other turns terrifying, and the ride home becomes a descent into darkness.”

“Shuttle” is presented in widescreen with a 2.35:1 aspect ratio and accompanied by English 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital tracks. Special features include “Behind the Scenes,” Deleted Scenes and Casting Sessions.

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided”

Photo credit: Warner Brothers

“The Clone Wars” may have been one of the most disappointing movies of 2008 but the Cartoon Network series continues to build a loyal fan base. To try to bring fans of all things “Star Wars” to “The Clone Wars,” Warner Brothers has released a four-episode sampler set from the series of the first quartet of half-hour adventures of Anakin, Yoda, and the rest of the gang - “Ambush,” “Rising Malevolence,” “Shadow of Malevolence,” and “Destroy Malevolence”.

“The sensational animated TV series “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” blasts off with 4 action-packed episodes in “A Galaxy Divided”. In the first chapter, Yoda’s top secret mission becomes a battle for survival, pitting the Jedi Master and three clone troopers against enemy assassin Asajj Ventress and her massive droid army. Episodes 2 to 4 track the colossal - and deadly - warship Malevolence. Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker leads a clone squadron attack against the destructive vessel, damaging but not destroying it. When Padme Amidala and C-3PO fall into a trap and are taken hostage aboard the ship, Anakin and Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi boldly infiltrate it in the hope of rescuing the prisoners and destroying the Malevolence from within. Experience the action and humor of the galaxy far, far away with these exciting adventures!”

“Star Wars: The Clone Wars - A Galaxy Divided” is presented in standard version, preserving the aspect ration of its original television exhibition, and accompanied by English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese Dolby Surround 5.1 tracks. The DVD includes no special features.

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

Interview: Cancer, Cameos, Cuts With ‘Fanboys’ Director Kyle Newman

BrianTT — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:55:15 -0700

CHICAGO – Kyle Newman’s “Fanboys” has had one of the most legendary post-productions in the history of film. The director opened up to HollywoodChicago.com about the six-year journey of his labor of love on the eve of his world premiere: a day that Newman admits he once thought he would never see.

Jay Baruchel (Windows), Dan Fogler (Hutch), Chris Marquette (Linus), Sam Huntington (Eric) and Kristen Bell (Zoe) star in Kyle Newman’s Fanboys.
Photo credit: John Estes

The definition of a “fanboy,” courtesy of “Fanboys” director Kyle Newman - “It’s a term for a group of people, no matter what age, who are really into sci-fi, fandom, comic books, a certain genre of film. And they are unafraid to wear that on their sleeves. I don’t think fanboys are closet nerds. They are people who embrace it, sometimes flaunt it, and are proud of who they are.

They are heavily represented in the online community. They’re tech-savvy. They’re cutting edge for what they’re into. They’re people unafraid to talk about what they’re into. Even at a nice dinner, they’ll talk about Star Wars, Go-Bots, whatever.”

Kyle Newman
Photo credit: Linda L.Crispien

Newman was going to make it to Chicago for an in-person interview but rumors of snow the following day forced him to stay in L.A. and do a phone interview. As he said, “Tomorrow is the premiere and I’ve been working on it for six years. If there was anything that delayed my trip, I’d regret it forever.”

And what a long, strange trip it’s been.

When “Fanboys” wrapped in the spring of 2006, it was a tender comedy about a quartet of friends who travelled cross-country to break into Skywalker Ranch and see an early cut of “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace”. They weren’t merely criminals. One of them, Linus (Chris Marquette), was dying of cancer and he had been waiting his entire life to see George Lucas’ prequel. His friends were committed to making that dying wish come true.

The film co-starred Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, and Kristin Bell, and featured cameos by Seth Rogen, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Ray Park, Kevin Smith, and William Shatner.

Test audiences adored the movie. The Weinstein Company did not. As Newman says, “Here, I’ve made a movie that I’m really proud of. I screened it in London to 1400 fans at Star Wars Celebration to three standing ovations and I videotaped it and I showed everybody, but I guess nobody ever showed Harvey [Weinstein].”

“Fanboys” was originally scheduled to be released in the fall of 2006. The first delay was to February of ‘07, then August of that year. Then the floor fell out as rumors of reshoots and massive changes surfaced online, pushing the film back until at least 2008.

Newman himself was baffled. “I’m getting all this support online and they’re talking about changing it and it just didn’t all add up. I was afraid. I knew I had made a great movie. The actors, producers, writers - we were all happy with what we had pulled off. We were smart about how we cast the movie. We had tremendous foresight considering the people we cast who took off. We were on the right track.”

Jay Baruchel, Kristen Bell, Dan Fogler and Chris Marquette star in Kyle Newman’s Fanboys.
Photo credit: John Estes

It turned out that a year-and-a-half after the first shoot, director Stephen Brill came in to do massive reshoots. The cancer plotline was eliminated entirely and the film was turned into a generic road movie. And it was not pretty.

Newman pulls no punches, saying that “There was a lot of negative stuff and the people they brought in to work on the film were, in a very low class way, criticizing the actors and the casting and the directing and kind of demeaning Star Wars fandom. Here we’d done all this grassroots awareness and built support and, suddenly, there are polls on StarWars.com debating “How worried are you about the fate of Fanboys?””

“It was very disheartening to watch everything that you’ve done positive be undermined in a week by a bunch of idiots, this team that was brought in to do this. Mainly just the director who they brought in to re-shape it who was opening his mouth online and really offending our core audience. So, I was shocked. I was like, “Oh my God.” It was just getting out of control and here we are on the sidelines and I’m watching the movie fall apart. I’m watching our fanbase dissipate.”

Chris Marquette, Dan Fogler and Sam Huntington star in Kyle Newman’s Fanboys.
Photo credit: John Estes

The internet community that adores “Star Wars” and supported “Fanboys” went to work. An online campaign called “Stop Dark Weinstein (From Ruining Fanboys)” popped up and thousands of fans e-mailed the Weinstein Company.

It led to more delays but also started to build buzz around the movie. The Weinstein Company brought Newman back on board and let him and the original creative team back in the editing room. The cancer subplot came back.

The idea that one of these young men was dying was always essential to Newman. “It was a rallying call for these guys. While the trip, in conceit, was very zany, it had this emotional core to it because it was coming from a grounded place. I thought the movie was unhinged without it.

You couldn’t get behind these guys. To me, it became soulless. There was no heart and little purpose. And there was no ticking clock. Ultimately, where did it end up? It ended with them watching the movie on a laptop and then throwing it out the window and saying “That sucked” and driving off. It didn’t culminate in anything. There was no substance. It was hard to watch.”

Kyle Newman has been a Star Wars fan his entire life. In fact, he claims that his first memory is of Star Wars when he was under two years old. It wasn’t the movie itself, but the energy that the film created. “I remember my brothers and sisters, my cousins, everyone had gone to see it. There was this electric energy.”

Newman felt that energy again when “Phantom Menace” was coming out and that inspired “Fanboys”.

Of course, a lot of the anticipation leading up to “Phantom Menace” disappeared when fans saw the movie. But Newman is still a fan. “When you’re a kid or a teen and you’re seeing these movies and you’re hearing the idea of prequels, you’re imagining what they’re going to be in your head. I think, invariably, it will never live up to the expectations of your own imagination tailored to what you want it to be. I probably like them more than most people it wasn’t really the medium in which it was presented. I was more interested in what the story was. Star Wars could be oral tradition, they’re such good stories.

So, I went and found out all the spoilers. I eased into it. It wasn’t like a big culture shock. “Whoa, that wasn’t what I imagined.” So, I think that was a factor. I think people who did that - eased in after 20 years of anticipation…if you don’t do that, you’re bound to be let down.”

Fanboys Poster
Photo credit: The Weinstein Company

“Star Wars” isn’t Newman’s only love. He also admits excitement for the upcoming “Star Trek” movie, saying, “The cast is incredibly exciting. I like that new trailer. A good buddy of ours, Zachary Quinto, is playing Spock. I’m incredibly excited for him. I think it’s a perfect role for him. I think the cast is great. There’s a lot of life left in Star Trek. I think they’re gonna kick off something good.”

And Newman loves “Close Encounters, Blade Runner, 2001, Alien, Aliens, and all those type of films, Goonies, Gremlins - but Star Wars holds a unique place. It exists in different mediums. I think the reason that Star Wars has such longevity is the fan community. The people have responded to it and taken it on themselves to keep it alive.

George Lucas was smart in recognizing that there are a lot of people who want to play in the world he created. So, let them write books and comic books and design toys and video games and expand the series into television. I think he knows the universe has gotten bigger than anything he can control.”

It seems like everything about “Fanboys” has been about anticipation, that of the characters for “Phantom Menace” and now for the film itself. The anticipation will finally pay off when “Fanboys” is released on Friday, February 6th, 2009. But that may not be the last version you see. Newman admits that there are some changes in the current version that he’s not thrilled with and there may be a director’s cut on DVD some day.

“It was give-and-takes. I got to put the story in but I had to give up on little nuance beats which I think make the story richer. If I was ever to do a master cut, it’s all waiting there.”

“Fanboys” may finally be coming out, but the end of this story may yet be unwritten.

‘Fanboys’ stars Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Chris Marquette, Sam Huntington, Kristin Bell, and Seth Rogen. ‘Fanboys,’ which was written by Ernest Cline and Adam F. Goldberg and directed by Kyle Newman, opens on February 6th, 2009.

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

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 10 Autographed ‘Fanboys’ Posters From Dan Fogler

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:14:56 -0700

CHICAGO – In our latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have a special giveaway with 10 autographed “Fanboys” posters from actors Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington and Chris Marquette. “Fanboys” also stars Seth Rogen, Kristen Bell and Jay Baruchel from director Kyle Newman. The film opens in limited U.S. theaters on Feb. 6, 2009.

To win your autographed “Fanboys” poster courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is be one of the first 10 people to submit your geek story in our confidential, Web-based submission form. That’s it! Directions to enter this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The poster for “Fanboys”.
Image credit: The Weinstein Company

Here is the synopsis for “Fanboys”:

It’s the Halloween party they’ve all been waiting for: to have fun with friends and hang out with fellow “Star Wars” fans and partners in crime. However, events take a turn when one of their bunch who long ago outgrew his old gang and took on adult responsibilities is suddenly in their midst again.

Reconnecting is not easy, but soon Eric, Windows, Hutch and Zoe realize that Linus will not live long enough to experience what has been on their minds for ages: the long-awaited theatrical release of “Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” which is still several months away.

To secure your free poster, you must be logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required to win this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup.

Next, simply submit your geek story. You must submit your geek story using this confidential, Web-based submission form. Please do not comment in this Hookup. Your entry will be invalid if you do so. Please only submit your geek story using this submission form.

You must include your e-mail address, name and physical mailing address in your submission. Your personal information will be kept strictly confidential and is only for us to mail winning posters. Your personal information will not be sold or shared elsewhere.

Submit your geek story now!

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film is simple: The first 10 people to submit a geek story win! The 10 autographed posters will be mailed to the winners at our expense.

11:35 a.m. update on Feb. 3, 2009: We were initially informed by the studio that these “Fanboys” posters were signed by director Kyle Newman. Due to his Chicago flight cancellation, they will now by signed by actors Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington and Chris Marquette.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Star Wars’ Producer George Lucas to Speak in Chicago on Monday

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 10:53:08 -0700

Legendary writer, director, editor and producer George Lucas (“Star Wars”) will speak in Chicago on Monday night before a business crowd at the Economic Club of Chicago. Lucas will be joined by Ariel Capital Management President Mellody Hobson.

Samuel L. Jackson (left) and George Lucas on the set
of “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith”.
Photo credit: IMDb
Though Lucas and Hobson decline to speak about their romance, they no doubt have been seen together at events for more than a year and are furthering the trend of making stops in Chicago, according to news on Monday from ChicagoBusiness.com.