In 2009, Casey Pugh challenged Star Wars fans to contribute their own 15-second segments to a crowd-sourced version of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. (The original Star Wars movie, that is.)
Thousands of people replied, sending in clips that used people, dolls, dogs, ferrets and sock puppets to stand in for Luke, Han, Darth Vader, C-3PO, and the gang.
The result — called Star Wars Uncut — was finally released this month in all its crazy glory. It’s chock-full of inside jokes, garages and living rooms, Indiana Jones and Ingmar Bergman references, and Princess Leias of varying ages, sizes and races. And everyone grapples with putting together a decent Chewbacca costume.
Screen captures are probably the best way to hint at the finished product.
Chewbacca and Han Solo escape the Death Star aboard the Millennium Falcon.
Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobe (right).
From left: C-3PO, Luke, Obi-Wan and R2-D2. This was an especially charming and all-too-brief Threepio, a fop with pipe and a beige three-piece suit.
Luke’s mother worries about her boy.
Luke’s father, not so concerned.
Han Solo with Jabba the Hutt. Alas, they used the director’s cut of the movie, with all of its utterly pointless added moments. I do wonder whether that choice was a crafty diplomatic gesture towards George Lucas — did they hope that using the director’s cut would convince Lucas not to sic his lawyers on the project?
At least Han shoots first in this version of the cantina scene. That’s why he’s the world’s greatest smuggler.
Darth Vader at right. But of course that’s obvious.
You may not be able to stand the whole two hours at once, but Star Wars Uncut is certainly well worth skimming. Its strength is also its weakness: there’s a new director every 15 seconds, so you never get bored but you also never get to stick with a style you like.
And it’s all very reminiscent of the amazing shot-by-teenagers version of Raiders of the Lost Ark released a few years back.