The People vs. George Lucas

“I love/hate George Lucas,” proclaims one individual at the beginning of Alexandre O. Philippe's documentary, which explores the complicated relationship between Star Wars fans and creator Lucas, particularly in the wake of disappointing sequels and constant revising of his original productions. Along the way, Philippe offers a glimpse into the more obsessive dimensions of fan culture. In addition to cinema historians, critics, and pop-culture commentators, many of the most extreme fanatics are interviewed or glimpsed in clips from Internet rants. While Philippe doesn't take sides in the debate (although he certainly provides a podium for both viewpoints), he also doesn't really scratch much beyond the surface of the strange symbiotic relationship between filmmaker and fans. Most interesting and illuminating is Philippe's presentation of a great array of fan-produced films, songs, and other artistic tributes, which wind up saying more about their devotion to and love for Star Wars than any raging commentary. More entertaining than insightful, this sure-to-be-popular title is a strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)