Product Description

Every time a new Star Wars film comes out, they start lining up. Hundreds of devoted Star Wars fans line up outside Grauman's Chinese Theater a full 6 weeks before each Star Wars opening. But who are these people? HOw do they deal with the non-Star Wars fans making fun of them? And of course, how do they go to the bathroom? Star Wait has all these answers and more. For 6 weeks the filmmakers of Star Wait stood in line with these crazy fans with camera in hand to bring you a sort of reality show/ documentary look at a Star Wars line. This DVD also includes bonus celebrity commentaries from: -The original members of Mystery Science Theater 3000 (Joel Hodgson, Trace Bellieu, Josh Weinstein) -Cast members from Freaks and Geeks (Samm Levine and John Daley) -Amy Allen (Episodes II and III) -Dana Gould (The Simpsons) -Paget Brewster (Huff, Friends) -Paul F. Tompkins (Mr. Show) -Jason Guy (Big Brother 3) -Special commentary from the punk rockers that got in a fight with the line members (Dave From Clit 45) and many more!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #120962 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-10-27
• Format: NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 80 minutes

Review
A hilarious blend of documentary and reality program, Michael Rotman's "Star Wait", represents sci-fi heaven for some, the end of civilization for others. The latter group will learn that for six weeks in 2002, there for the nuking, the world's most unrepentant nerds gathered outside Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood to await the release of "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones." The former group will be introduced to kindred spirits, many of whom emerge as lovable outcasts who have found something to believe in. Either way, the film is an entertaining slice of "Star Wars" minutiae, as those who live on the pop culture fringes make a case for the enervating power of passionate conviction. By the end, the viewer almost wishes they believed in something, anything, as strongly. As the motley collection of "Star Wars" fans stood in line week after week, director Michael Rotman was there to chronicle their experience, including the manufacture of makeshift light sabers and the flaunting of homemade line badges. The most interesting character is a guy named Grimlock, whose personality you can pretty much figure out by his desire to be called Grimlock. The funniest character is Corey, a writer from Connecticut, "a rockin' state that's kinda small but we like it anyway." In one of the film's highlights, some punk rockers heckle the group and line member Art, whose macho presence and beefy handsomeness suggests he's standing in the wrong line, commits the un-geeky, yet satisfying act of punching one in the face. Mostly though, it's a docile assemblage, and we see line members resting in sleeping bags, flipping burgers in a parking lot and running to the adjacent mall to use the bathroom. And while such basic-needs questions do require answers, it's not the focus of the film. "Star Wait" is about the people and their experience while in line. Rotman does not look down on the line members, nor does he particularly care why they love "Star Wars." While at first this may seem anathema to the basic tenets of non-fiction moviemaking, the result makes the film a more universal document on the power of groupthink, and the desire to accomplish something outside normal hedonistic desires. Eventually, their efforts are rewarded when "Star Wars" creator George Lucas calls a nearby payphone. While it would have been nice to hear Lucas' side of the conversation, presumably legal issues made it impossible. As a documentary, no one is going to confuse "Star Wait" with "Shoah" or "Hearts and Minds." But it fully and satisfactorily explores the thin slice of thematic turf it's claming, and manages a handful of solid laughs in the process. "Star Wars" fans, even those who prefer not to sleep on Hollywood Blvd and shower only occasionally, may find themselves hoping for a new "Star Wars" film, so they can experience the fun of standing in line, too. The fullframe presentation is better than expected, as a solid transfer provides a smooth picture with fully saturated colors and inky blacks. I saw no edge halos or pixilation. The audio is, like all documentaries, at the mercy of the source recordings. But considering the low-tech, on-the-fly feel of the audio, its quality is quite nice, with clear dialogue and street noise only occasionally getting in the way. Rotman, who is an Emmy nominated writer, managed to assemble a star-studded coterie of celebrities to provide multiple audio commentaries, each one commenting during a different chapter. Most notable is the reunion of the original cast of "Mystery Science Theater 3000", including Joel Hodgson, --Boxoffice

Review
When last we met, Dennis Przywara s Starwoids gave us a look at what it was like to wait six weeks in line to see The Phantom Menace, while also lifting the lid on the insanity surrounding the film s release, allowing viewers to get a massive whiff of the fandom fumes. Smelled like Wookie. Now, we have Michael Rotman's Star Wait, and surprisingly there s quite a bit of difference between the two films. The geekiness remains the same, but where Starwoids provided a look at Star Wars fandom in general, with its MAIN focus on the line, Star Wait spends its ENTIRE focus on the line, creating something like a reality TV show, cut up into nine episodes to be broadcast on the web. We get close and personal with several members of this line as issues of hecklers, unwanted Christian rock bands playing into the wee-hours of the night, nerd lovin , bad pay phone etiquette, trying to remain spoiler-free, potty time, and frayed nerves are dealt with. Right now, let s meet some of the line members: Grimlock - This is one of the types of guys you come to expect to see standing in a six-week Star Wars line. He s a big teddy bear type of guy, who rarely takes anything seriously (except for Star Wars, of course), has a sense of humor that revolves around movie trivia and makes an embarrassing ass out of himself in front of the ladies. Oh yeah, he s named after a Transformer, too. Art The muscle of the line. Art s an anomaly in that he has a hot girlfriend and is able to defend himself against anyone that gives him sh*t During one episode, a group of punks (punk asses really) make the mistake of harassing the line and find themselves incurring the wrath of Art. Josh The line s resident punk rocker. Bearing a Mohawk, tattoos and various band t-shirts, Josh s fashion sense inspires wariness in others rather than mocking laughter, unlike many of the other members of the line. These are only a few of the many colorful members you ll meet in Star Wait. It s actually more entertaining than the film they re all waiting to see. --filmthreat.com