Review: JEDI JUNKIES

Let’s be honest… there’s no shortage of films out there about Star Wars fans. With as many people as there are who love — and I do mean LOVE — the Star Wars saga, it’s no surprise. The make-believe universe that George Lucas created, and subsequently materialized and capitalized, has in many ways been taken over by a siege of die-hard fans. Star Wars is no longer limited to a six-film trilogy, nor does it end with the official merchandise, authorized novels or animated spin-offs. Fans has created a living, breathing and ever-expanding society filled with extreme collections, fan-art, fan-fiction and fan films.

This underground society of Star Wars fans that live un-apologetically in plain sight, this is what JEDI JUNKIES is all about. Initially, one conjures the image of the nerdy, geeky acne-faced 40-year old dude with no social skills that live with his mother. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. In fact, that tends to apply more commonly to the Trekkies. (No offense.) Star Wars fans — as clearly depicted in JEDI JUNKIES — range in age, sex and ethnicity.

While there is sufficient time spent talking with and documenting varying degrees of the “average” devoted Star Wars fan, filmmaker Mark Edlitz managed to capture a few familiar faces on film, speaking about their own collections and fandom experiences, both as fans and being around fans, such as actors Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca) and Ray Park (Darth Maul).

Early in JEDI JUNKIES, viewers discover the impressive, if not obsessive collection of Star Wars toys and paraphernalia owned by filmmaker Eduardo Sanchez, co-writer/co-director of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. Yes, it’s true… filmmakers do have a tendency to be geeks. And, as is quite simply and effectively explained by one fan in this film, geeks should NEVER be confused for nerds. There is a difference.

Television personality and actress Olivia Munn (DATE NIGHT, IRON MAN 2) offers up a handful of interview clips in JEDI JUNKIES. Munn’s trademark snarky personality shows and adds a great deal of humor, credibility and wit to the film. Perhaps one of the most monumentally-awesome moments in the film is when Munn talks about a fan who was building a life-size Millennium Falcon out of wood in his backyard. She spoke of how this fan’s focus amazed and impressed her, but speculated upon the probable lack of sexual experience this individual has sacrificed as the price of this focus… she kindly offered this fan the opportunity to touch her boob. Priceless!

Some fans create Star Wars-inspired music; some fans devote professional amounts of time and energy making fan films, showcasing brilliantly creative amateur ingenuity, the kind that makes the broader genre of independent film so enjoyable. Some dress up in costumes and hit every possible convention; others enroll in light saber dueling classes… whatever the method, JEDI JUNKIES is an endearing, straight-forward documentary about these people who simply want to express their love of something both personal and communal.

Few who have seen the Star Wars films — even who call themselves fans — devote so much of their time, money and hearts to being the types of super-fans intimately documented in JEDI JUNKIES.

JEDI JUNKIES is available for viewing on iTunes and Amazon, and soon to be available through Netflix. Or, go to JediJunkies.com to purchase the DVD.