The Unauthorized Star Wars Story. - Review - video recording reviews

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Nov, 1999 by Robert S. Rothenberg

THE UNAUTHORIZED STAR WARS STORY MVP HOME ENTERTAINMENT 62 MINUTES, $14.95

The key word in the title of this video is "unauthorized," and watching it quickly reveals why. In an attempt to cash in on the frenzy over the release of "The Phantom Menace," the first of a prequel trilogy in the "Star Wars" saga, the producers slapped together a pastiche of brief interviews with actors Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher and director George Lucas, along with longer interviews with Anthony Daniel (C3PO), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), and Kenny Baker (R2D2).

These convey some inside stories of the filming of the various "Star Wars" pictures, including a number of amusing anecdotes. However, the unauthorized tag comes into play when viewers realize that the producers were unable to acquire permission to show clips from any of the four movies. As a result, the only visual images are of rabid fans in an assortment of "Star Wars" costumes, a number of whom are lamely involved in duels with plastic light sabers. The operant word is tacky.

For those who can't get enough of "Star Wars" trivia and those who will collect anything connected to the films, this may suffice. Just don't expect any blinding insights or spectacular scenes from the pictures.