FANBOYS
creators' Web site
Web site for downloading @ TheForce.Net

review written 9/5/2003

I had two things on my mind as I downloaded this film. One, that this was a rather long fan film, which at the least meant that I would be seeing something that took some effort. Two, the title, while not the most original thing out there, was original enough to be simple, direct, evocative.

Well, there's clearly a lot of effort involved, and the title is perfect. It truly fits the movie. It's not just a case of "we're making a movie about fans, let's call it, uh, Fanboys, yeah, that's good."

The opening looks pretty good, especially considering it's not a serious film. I liked the way the film rewound to lead us into the title sequence. The music got my head bobbing. And I appreciated the "I brake for Ewoks" bumper sticker, because I'd put on on the flying bus in Young Jedi: High School Student. Guess it's a universal joke.

The convention footage was very impressive, but I started waiting for something to happen. A short film cannot afford a long title sequence.

My first actual laugh comes when Markus, the main fanboy, theorizes that we're actually going to get to see Threepio programming binary load lifters—just the sort of random detail an obsessed fanboy would expect to see. And I like the offhand way his correction of the number 3,720 leads to a quick and almost defensive assertion of the statistic.

When the fanboy is captured, I immediately develop two theories. Either these are real Star Wars characters coming to check on the fanboy and send him on a quest, or they're rival fanboys, perhaps trying to take his ticket.

Having recently read a fan script in which the former happens, I am suspecting the latter. Especially since they're quoting the lines ("hello, the Emperor called...") But I like how at this point it could go either way.

I really like the theory expounded upon at 7:47. I'm really engaged. The fluid camera helps me keep interested in the location.

The Jedi's gotta work on his mustache, though.

Being most definitely not in the camp that believes The Phantom Menace was a substandard addition to the saga, I find it a little difficult to sympathize with the mission given the fanboy, but his silly smile at 10:24 helps sell it… a bit.

And then a plot development occurs. And everything gets just a little more interesting. A surprise. And a funny one, too. But when we get into the movie theater, the music gets loud, and I cannot hear what I suspect is crucial information regarding the actual motivation behind chasing this film's MacGuffin, as explored at said plot development. This is not good.

The film drags a bit here until the discussion between a stormtrooper and an Imperial officer. The "what's with that *ttcch!* stuff" line is potentially destined to be a fan film classic.

While Fanboys never really soars, it holds your attention based purely on characters and story and cinematography, not tricks or effects. And it's unpredictable, too. Fanboys kept me guessing, and the ending is a perfect example. It's good for a laugh, and God knows I feel that man's pain.