Cool News
FANBOYS Replenishes Capone's Geek Lifeblood from the Front Lines of the STAR WARS/STAR TREK Wars!!!
Hey everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
This is the little movie that could and did. As much as FANBOYS is a playful poke at the STAR WARS mythology and iconography, I found it worked far better as a love letter to youngsters who experienced the original trilogy in our most formative years, and never gave up hope that a return by George Lucas to his beloved franchise would result in something great. For those of you who remember exactly how a remarkable sense of disbelief swept over you the minute that Lucasfilm logo sparkled across the screen before THE PHANTOM MENACE, this movie is all about you. Regardless of what you felt of that film or the two after it, that time when all things seemed possible again is at the core of FANBOYS.
A little background and full disclosure. I saw FANBOYS for the first and, so far, only time at Comic-Con last July, at a screening that was said to be the world premiere of the final cut of the movie. As far as I know, the version that opens in limited release this weekend is the same version. The cancer storyline is there... barely. I think cancer is mentioned twice in the whole movie and hardly dealt with anywhere else in the film. A few of the celebrity cameos that were added more recently in this now years-in-the-making work are in there as well, but for the most part, this is the film that director Kyle Newman made along with his co-writers Adam Goldberg, and Ernest Cline. Since I saw the film, I've met Kyle (he was my next-seat neighbor at Butt Numb-a-Thon this year) and have told him repeatedly how much I dig the film and how much it made me laugh. Above all things, the movie is funny. They throw a lot of verbal jabs, physical humor, inside geek jokes and great cameos at the audience, and most of it hits. I was particularly bowled over by the penetrating look at the turf war between STAR WARS and "Star Trek" fans. No nerds are spared.
Chris Marquette's character Linus is the one with cancer in 1998, and all his friends want to do is make the long journey across the country to break into the Skywalker Ranch and sneak a peak at THE PHANTOM MENACE Along for the ride are Sam Huntington as Eric, Linus' one-time best friend, who is pulled back into the fray for this journey even though old wounds haven't completely healed. Dan Fogler and Jay Baruchel are also on board as Hutch and Windows. And Kristen Bell's Zoe is just so cute you want to put her in your pocket... and never let her go.
The gang goes on their own personal odyssey of geekdom, during which bonds are reformed and hilarity ensues with alarming regularity. Some of the cameos are inspired, but I don't think any of them made me laugh harder than, well, let's just say that one actor plays multiple parts so effectively, I almost didn't recognize him. Perhaps the most incredible cameo is all of the licensed STAR WARS paraphernalia. It's pretty clear that Lucasfilm cleared a great deal of what is seen and heard in this movie, and you have to give them credit for having a sense of humor about it all. It's almost impossible for me to imagine anyone who give a shit about STAR WARS at any point in their lives not finding this movie laugh-out-loud funny and moving. Put aside all thoughts of what came before, all of the studio mishandling and interference, all of the reshoots and delays. All that matters is this version of this movie. I happen to think you are going to love FANBOYS to death.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
-
+ Expand All
-
Harry is to >.>
-
there will be 35 more updates today. We can all take turns being first. Operation BuryTheBale is in full force.
-
Good work on the first front my friend
-
This movie is a love letter to geeks like EPIC MOVIE was a love letter to the army of Sparta.
Nice spin, but this film takes full aim on you and squeezes, not pulls, the trigger. -
3 in a row.. Never happen again lol. but thanks.
-
My 9 year old son loves all things Star Wars and can't wait to see it either.
-
Nice write-up, Capone. Thanks!
-
I mean I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but ..... damn, bad timing.
-
If you mean the economy, I should be getting my Cinematic Stimulus Check of 2009 anyday now! Well that's what I heard!
-
Or it celebrates the utter selling out of the concept of being a fanboy. Pick one...
-
This site will give it good reviews, no exceptions - Ginger Nuts
-
Feb 06, 2009 4:20:15 PM CST
What Happened To 5-25-77, The Film Fanboys Ripped Off???
by media messiah
Why should we see Fanboys...which is nothing but a goofy slap stick Kevin Smith like rip-off of 5-25-77??? I wnat to see 5-25-77, what happened to that film???
-
THIS movie is an affront to everything this site is for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgDB6Ac2rSc&feature=channel_page
Although RubiksDoob, I like the name.. -
Is this movie ever getting a wide release?
-
You don't know what you're talking about. There's plenty of room for both films, and aside from Star Wars love and being excited about the release of a Star Wars movie (22 years apart, for that matter), they really have nothing in common. There's more than enough material to make more than one film out of that topic without making one a "ripoff." And - incidentally - 5-25-77 is almost more about the general love of film (specifically Kubrick) than it is about love of Star Wars. And, yeah, I've seen both movies.
-
Because I admit, I REALLY want to see that one more.
-
From what I saw in the trailer this appears to be a prime candidate for that coveted title.
-
Let's just all admit the theft, and move on!!!
-
Only because it started out as a good-humored poke at actual Fanboys, something for us to laugh at and still feel a sense of "Me too" and that though we be nerds, we be people too. Now it looks like a slap in the face to actual fanboys, so douchebags can watch the movie and go "LOLZ thees nerdz are so laaaaame"
-
I am willing to give both films a try and have no problem with the material involved, though admittedly I'm more for seeing 5-27-77 more myself.
-
I don't care. Fuck it. Give my movie a low rating. You know I held those three stars for like ever, until one of you ruined it. Just like a talkbacker, sucks on your cock and than rams you in the ass.
-
...to fall in love with anything which holds a mirror up to our nature. Geeks don't typically laugh at themselves too well.
-
... you know, how their all about sex.
-
that I actually liked PM when it first came out...it was until the second one that I started to open my eyes. Now I have one message for Lucas (one of my childhood idols)...Lick a dick George.
-
I've seen both 5-25-77 and FANBOYS and the movies are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CREATIONS.
5-25-77 is a sween innocent tale of one boy's love affair with movies in the world leading up to Star Wars. When being a geek was a lonely, disconnected endeavor. When talking about the craft of filmmaking and the people that make movies was as cool as pong. It's also about the temptations of a normal life versus a geeky passionate one. That said, it's actually about a lot more than STAR WARS, because it is an autobiographical film about a young filmmaker.
FANBOYS is about the world post STAR WARS and that long 15 year stretch where Star Wars existed only as the Holy Trinity of film. Where some geeks lapsed and others held tight, and how the dream of a new Star Wars united 4 friends that dreamt of seeing it together, before one of them passed on. -
we...the og geeks...who bought comics when it wasnt coolwho before the internet, somehow organized thousands into a letter writing campaign to save star trekwho stood in line for hours at the original star wars, because there was no such thing as a multiplex, and it only played in one theater in the entire city and this film has a geek in the leadnow when is it ever gonna get a wide release?
-
Sounds like Fanboys simply took the basic concept of 5-25-77 and post dated the concept...it's still the same idea. Anybody who knows that they might face a lawsuit for stealing the basic heart of a script, knows that they have to tweak a concept that they are attempting to steal, do it just enough, and you get away with it. Take Logan's Run vs. The Island. It is clear that the basic outline is the same. Two young people, a man (Logan/Lincoln)...and a woman...find-out that the world is not as it appears and flee to find the real world outside of their own, while being pursued by badies who hope to kill them in order to keep the secret. It's the same concept, same story, just tweaked to avoid a lawsuit.And what of Fanboys??? Again, it is just a post dated version of 5-25-77. One film, as you said, occurs in a lead up to Star Wars...the other occuring in the wind down after Star Wars. A group of friends with a love of film, and so on, and so forth. It's the same outline, but tweaked.
-
This film sucks and you know it.
-
"Wow, I was totally talking about something that I didn't really know anything about but I'm not going to own up to it."
-
fan boys takes place when the concept of being a geek/fan boy, doesnt put you on the outs with every other clique...the guys in the movie are comfortable with their status5/25/77, is one kids attempt to bring geek culture to the masses"if everyone sees it and everyone likes it, i wont be the only geek in town anymore"...that is the point of that movie
-
I remember one of the guys behind it asking for some love for it in the AICN Chatroom, and basically he was DENYED!!!! Sad... Let me know when Kurtz's 5-25-77 comes out will ya. Fuck Fanboys!
-
That film screened ages ago. lots of people saw it. No reviews. Why! Does it suck was there a present if no reviews were posted? What gives!
-
Was one of the signs held by protesters dressed in Star Trek costumes out front of the episode 1 premiere in Hollywood. I thought it was hilarious
-
The folks behind Fanboys got away with snatching this concept from 5-25-77...and everybody seems blind to the facts here???
-
I haven't seen either film, but the fact is that for a lot of people Star Wars was a huge cultural experience. It is like saying Thin Red Line ripped off Saving Private Ryan because, you know, WWII wasn't that important for that generation.
Still, I have to say what a pathetic generation we are if this is the most significant thing to happen to us growing up. I mean, decades from now when are kids are grand kids ask us what we did during the war, are we going to assume they meant Star Wars and answer going "Standed in line for three years so I could see it"? -
"When are kids are grand kids ask us", I meant "when OUR kids AND grand kids ask us." Trying to get out of here so I can go out tonight and get drunk.
-
Come to think of it, who would win in a straight out universe vs. universe fight? Hell, the Borg vs. the Jedi alone could take THOUSANDS OF YEARS TO DECIDE ALONE. Although, it would be cool to see the Millennium Falcon fly circles around a Borg Cube.
-
YOU HAVE PHASER THINGIES THAT MAKE NOISES AND DO NOTHING. WE HAVE LIGHTSABERS WITH LIGHTUP PLASTIC STICKS ON THEM. WE WOULD KICK THE TREKERS ASSES. THEM AND THE BORG WITH THOSE SILLY ASS SOUNDEFFECT CHIPS. DEATH BY PLASTIC GLOW TUBE MUTHERFUCKERS. FUCK TREK! J.J. IS RAPING YOU WITH HIS VISION. IT SUCKS TO BE A YOU! (caps off)
-
A quick glance through the other talkbacks would suggest he either genuinely disagrees with everyone about everything, or he's just trolling.
Don't feed the trolls. -
in my pocket.
-
You obviously think with a hive mind mentality and can't think for yourself. If others don't agree in multiples on something, you can't sign on as having an opinion. You wait for others to endorse something, and play a "yes man" like so many others, reluctant to give a contrary opinion to popularly held views on this site, or elsewhere in life, for fear of being verbally attacked. You can't think for youself...you are just a none thinking zombie of a parot, and that is just sad. Once a zombie, always a zombie, and zombies have no souls or futures, as there are worms where there were once brains...and soon like those brains, they will rot away, into nothingness, just like their lack of any thought, or originality. That is what the hive mind has brought you...zombie, a follower's mentality. As for me, well, I am a leader of a revolution against the hive mind that you follow. Join the revolution, and think for once...or embrace the fate that you deserve...as just another Stepford Wife, Zombie, Parot, or Borg, it is all the same really...as you are just a happy mental mind slave, nothing else, nothing more.
-
This post is probably going to be a bit geeky but I suppose I'm in good company here at AICN so here it goes:
STAR TREK vs STAR WARS
If both universes were to have an all out war, who would win? Star Wars. Why? Well let's break it down.
The height of Star Trek technology exists within Borg Cubes as the Borg are essentially a mix of all races and technologies. The Borg have the ability to adapt and counter, though this is limited as shown in the last episode of Voyager where they could not initially adapt to future technology.
There are weapons in Star Trek that can decimate planets as seen in "Enterprise". But in Star Wars, they have weapons that not only decimate planets, they destroy them completely. The Death Star is the most advanced piece of technology in either universe and would destroy a Borg cube.
Star Wars also has the faster ships...the Millennium Falcon can go point 5 past lightspeed, which compared to Warp 9.9, is pretty slow. However, Hyperspace allows the Falcon to travel from one side of a galaxy to the other in a matter of minutes whereas it takes a Federation ship almost a century.
In order for a Star Trek ship to match that travel speed, they need to find wormholes that will lead them to any place they want to go whereas Hyperspace generators allow Star Wars ships to essentially create those wormholes.
A phaser is much stronger than a laser. But contrary to popular belief, what's used in Star Wars isn't a laser, it's a blaster bolt. Which is stronger? That's one question that is tough to answer, along with shields. If you add disruptors into the mix it gets even more complicated.
But again it all comes back to the Death Star which has the most powerful example of an energy-based weapon in either universe. In Star Wars they can also place shields around entire planets.
Star Wars also has the ability to create vast armies of clone soldiers, so sheer numbers would also be in Star Wars favour although I would think that Klingons are better warriors.
In terms of general technology, it's more even. Star Wars has worlds which exist as a single giant city, Star Trek has matter-transporters and food synthesizers. There is also the ability to travel through time which is unique to Star Trek. Both universes have cloaking devices.
There is of course one overriding factor that gives Star Wars the edge - The Force.
The real battle isn't between the Jedi and the Borg, but between the Jedi (or Sith) and the Q.
According to Star Wars, the Force is something that cannot exist without life, and life cannot exist without it. It transcends the physical universe and reaches into death. Those who are strong enough can even come back from the dead and have influence over the living.
On the other hand, the Q have powers beyond imagination, with an ability to manipulate time and space. They can do pretty much anything. Actually, come to think of it, the Q remind me of Dr. Manhattan.
I would give that battle to the Q though it wouldn't matter because they generally don't like to get involved in the affairs of "lesser" beings, and when they do it's more mischievous than anything.
If an all out war broke out between the Galactic Republic/Empire and the Federation allied with the Borg, Klingons, Cardassians, Romulans and every other civilisation in the Milky Way, the guys from the Star Wars universe would win unless the Q got involved...which they wouldn't. Then again, even they would be bound by the Force and it's possible that they could be manipulated by the Jedi or Sith.
There is also another important thing to remember...as strong as the Star Wars universe is, those stories took place "A long time ago."
So the Star Wars universe of the 24th century would be an even more advanced place than it is in the movies.
Live Long And May The Force Be With You -
THAT might be the most geek-tacular answer ever. For some reason I feel compelled say, "Give me your lunch money."
Two things though:
A) Forget Star Trek versus Star Wars, I am just curious why there never has been a Dr. Who/Star Trek crossover. It seems a natural (Cybermen/Borgs).
B) Q isn't Dr. Manhattan - he is the Mr. Mxyzptlk of the Star Trek Universe. -
Ah good old Mxy. I keep forgetting about him.
In any case the Q would give Star Trek the edge if it wasn't for The Force. Even the Q would be bound by the Force and so someone powerful enough, like Yoda or Palpatine could use the Force to defeat the Q.
As for a Who/Trek crossover, I'd love to see Tennant's Doctor react to meeting Spock. -
Like someone with even less talent than Kevin Smith trying to make a Kevin Smith movie. I'm all for making fun of geeks, but this just looks bad. Like one of those movies you want to work, and want to be funny, but is just off. The kind of movie that appeals to people who haven't seen very many funny movies, or have a really lame sense of humor.
-
Feb 07, 2009 10:34:14 AM CST
The number of people who will actually see this movie this weeke
by mockingbird girl
Approximately the same as the number of posters in this talkback.
On the up side, I think we may have our first candidate for next year's Razzies, 'cos this film looks GODAWFUL. -
due to piss poor distribution the main audience of this movie has been alienated (unless you lived in one of the cities that got screenings, may they all become lepers). The DVD will be out in may, which blows, but it will be out around then.
-
I saw this movie last night at the alamo ritz midnight showing and it sucked -- it was just pandering and setting up its own punchlines resulting in a movie that tried to be funny but wasn't. Plus, they had the obligatory fat guy that's rude and crude, except he was trying to hard and he sucked.
I'm a huge Star Wars and Star Trek fan, but I also like good movies and this isn't one of them.
I want my money back.
p.s. for a movie this talked about in the fan community, i would've expected more people at the showing, but my theatre was more than half empty... just saying. -
Feb 07, 2009 2:15:59 PM CST
Why have they only released crap clips for this flick?
by alienindisguise
you'd think they would show us something that is referred to in that review to get us into a theater but whatever, this is a wait for cable movie for sure.
-
Tennant is the next generation's Dr. Who, so have him meet ST:TNG's Data. Tom Baker should meet Spock! I can see it now:
Spock: Shields are done 80% and the dilithium crystals are almost depleted.
The Doctor: Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow!
Spock (a bit snide): Reverse the polarity? Are you sure that is wise, Doctor?
The Doctor: Of course it is! Don't question me! I thought Vulcan's were suppose to be the most logical creatures in the universe.
Spock gives the Doctor the middle finger Vulcan salute.
Man, that is such a geeky thought I feel like I should give myself a wedgy. -
Not too long ago, your geeky yet clearly heart-in-the-right-place posting would have been a fun launching point for a versus discussion, I think you missed the memo we all got about 18 months ago. Jar Jar Abrams is reinventing the Star Trek universe so it is more in line with the Star Wars universe (and thus will have the biggest and bestest fan base ever!!11!!!!!1) Clearly all of our nerd understandings of Star Trek are going to be blown away by the greatest piece of eye-raping science fantasy ever made by human hands, "JJ Abrams' Star Trek v2.0." Only after viewing that sure-fire mega-blockbuster runaway box office hit will anyone ever again be able to have a Trek vs. Wars discussion because all previous Trek knowledge will be rendered invalid by a time traveling plot Macguffin. Please get back to us on May 10th after we've all seen, and basked in the glow of, the new movie 47 times.
-
Aren't you the same person who said that "2001: a Space Odyssey" was long and boring? You have zero credibility so move along.
-
Silent Running is the film that 2001 should have been. If you want a great Kubrick film, see Lolita. 2001 was emotionally dead, overlong, and a bore fest.
-
You know, I'm not actually a Trekkie (fuck "Trekker" when PC has invaded geekdom then it's time to get the stick out of your ass). I like the shows and movies but I don't own a single box set, a plastic phaser and I don't speak any Klingon.
But Abram's Trek...well...never been a big fan of Abrams. He gets a lot of credit for other peoples work and his own work is repetitive and mediocre.
I'm also not a fan of Orci or Kurtzman. Their Transformers script was awful.
I'm frankly not interested in the new Trek movie. The guy playing Kirk is a bit of an ass, the guy playing Sulu...I mean yeesh, isn't Sulu Japanese? Good going Abrams, way to perpetuate the stereotype that all Asians look alike. We have an emotional Spock, lines like "buckle up" and time travel.
If Abrams had any balls he would have just rebooted completely instead of quoting string theory to explain why the new movie is a new direction yet still canon.
I kinda do sound like a Trekkie don't I...I've always been a Star Wars guy...heck, I love the prequels. I can quote every line from the beginning of Menace to the end of Jedi. I'm not looking forward to Fanboys.
I've nothing against it. It just isn't something that interests me. I don't care about cameos or a cancer plot or any of that. Frankly I think it's 5 years too late.
It's just another gimmick comedy. Maybe I will catch it on DVD, but I'm not quite sure why it's getting so much attention here. Sure we're all geeks but shouldn't we be geeking out over interesting movies?
In any case I'm going back to my Qui Gon vs Darth Maul rematch with action figures. -
I said 'Good Day' to you. I don't need your movie advice, thank you very much.
-
You commented to me, I wasn't looking for you, I simply commented back. If you don't want someone to reply in response to your comments, in the future...do not post messages to, or about, them. Good day.
-
http://www.stardestroyer.net/Empire/Essays/FiveMinutes.html
Stardestroyer.net
Read it; learn it; live it! -
I've been hearing about this for I don't know it seems like years and I can't buy the DVD and can't download it, it doesn't exist and I just looked at '77 and it doesn't exist either. Film festivals and comic cons don't exist for me either so why do you keep talking about these unwatchable movies? What are you hyping if no one can see it?
-
But I feel like I know what is from the parodies. I enjoyed the original Star Wars trilogy, though. Would've bought it on DVD, but don't they have weird revisions or something? That shit confuses me. I like to know what I'm buying. Star Wars prequels, eh, you see them once out of curiosity and that's it. I'm intrigued by a movie about fanboys, but this seems like you "had to be there" to be enjoy it. I saw Phantom Menace pretty late into its run at the theaters. I guess this stuff just isn't that important to me anymore. Feel free to take my geek credentials.
-
I would have seen it
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- Whitney Houston 1963 - 2012 -- 383 total posts 380 posts
- New JUDGE DREDD post production footage pops up -- 111 total posts 111 posts
- WTF HOLLYWOOD: SOLARBABIES -- 75 total posts 73 posts
- HANNA's Saoirse Ronan to boss around seven little people -- 71 total posts 68 posts
- Does ‘SNL’ Rhyme With ‘Deschanel’?? Learn Which SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Vet Hosts After Sexy Zooey!! -- 77 total posts 55 posts
- If the Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day drops her pen, pick it up, but don’t look at her legs or else it will be on your record. -- 54 total posts 48 posts
- There's a STAR TREK video game that is going to lead into JJ's STAR TREK 2 apparently... -- 165 total posts 41 posts
- Herc’s Seen Tonight’s Return Of THE WALKING DEAD!! Discuss Also DOWNTON ABBEY, FEAR FACTOR, PAN AM, ONCE, SIMPSONS, DYNAMITE, LUCK, SHAMELESS, BAIT CAR, THE GRAMMYS And More!! Sunday Is Sweeps Day 11!! -- 41 total posts 41 posts
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 500 total posts 35 posts
- Avid Comic Reader Hercules Does Battle With Tedium During Kevin Smith’s COMIC BOOK MEN! -- 28 total posts 28 posts