Star Wars: Revelations - Review
On April 16th, 2005 a Star Wars fan film was released that upped the ante on fan film production values everywhere. Star Wars: Revelations takes place during the period known as "The Great Purge." It is the time between the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Rebellion (Episodes 3 and 4). It is the time when all remaining Jedi where hunted down and extinguished by the Emperor and Darth Vader.
Studio Summary:
(From Star Wars: Revelations Website)
"Revelations" is a non-profit Star Wars fan film that was shot within the Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC Metro Area. "Revelations" is made possible through a combined effort of artists, fans and the local film industry. Everyone who has worked on "Revelations" is a volunteer. No one is paid to make this film. Panic Struck Productions set out to produce their first independent film with a very small budget and the result is "Revelations"
The goal has always been to push the limit of independent film making and show what can be done with a dedicated cast/crew, the vision of Panic Struck Productions, and the affordable solutions in today's market in terms of film and video. We also wanted to showcase the large pool of talented individuals who are out there and show how an independent film such as Revelations can push the limit of small Hollywood.
Panic Struck Productions has formed a strong and committed team in producing a high caliber fan film. With a CG team spanning the globe as well as a cast and crew from all over the east coat and beyond, the effort for Revelations has been huge. From cast to crew, extras to sponsors, this movie was made possible by those who have supported the idea and dedicated so much to the film.
"Revelations" is dedicated to the fans, artists, believers, and dreamers of a galaxy far far away... Panic Struck Productions offers you "Revelations". We hope you enjoy the efforts of our work.
Director - Shane Felux
Review:
Um, WOW.
First of all, lets get this out of the way. This is no ordinary fan film. Star Wars: Revelations is the collective work of hundreds of individuals, all over the world, working at a psudo-professional level to create a true cinematic experience. The special effects in this film are stunning. These guys accomplish things Lucas could not in 1977, and replicated a few things that he managed in 1999. The script and pace is good, and the story is engaging, and the acting is not too shabby.
This is a real winner folks.
There are some real special effects highlights here. The landing sequence on Han Solo's home world of Corellia is amazing, and Coronet truly looks like a smaller version of Coruscant, (which is technically correct for the expanded universe). The attention to detail is near perfect, a sharp eye can even spot the sister-planet of Talus in the Corillian system during approach through the shipyards. And all that is just in the first minute of the movie!
Follow that up with a strong cantina/club scene, a spectacular escape from Corellia complete with Star Destroyers and TIE fighters, and several lightsaber battles ... and you have the makings of a great ride.
The story revolves around Taryn Anwar (Gina Hernandaz), a Jedi Seer seeking redemption from a horrible mistake. Taryn is seeking a Jedi Holocron, an artifact of the Jedi Order that may hold the key to their survival. The artifact cost her sister Raux (Holland Gedney), who was a fallen Padawan Seer, her life ... and in the wrong hands it could mean the total destruction of the Jedi.
Taryn is helped in her quest by Declan (Frank Hernandaz), a master smuggler, and Cade (the Director, Shane Felux), a Jedi with ties to her dead sister . But Taryn is not the only one seeking the artifact. During her travels, she is pursued by Zhanna (Karen Hammang), the Emperor's Hand, who wishes to obtain the object for herself in order to curry favor with Palpatine - and one-up Darth Vader.
Felux does a great job directing this film. There are some cinematic touches that prove he did this as a labor of love and a true student of film. The score is well done, and the special effects are incredible. The acting performances are all pretty good, though they admittedly lack the Hollywood polish of a full feature. Frank Hernandaz's performance as Declan strikes me as one of the strongest in the movie, but his character draws from much of the Han Solo bravado, which helps his cause. Regardless, all the actors all add to this impressive feature.
As a fan film, I give Star Wars: Revelations a solid "A". As a Star Wars fan, I'd like to say "thank you" to Felux and company for proving that with hard work and determination, you really can create your own little slice of the Star Wars universe. This was a great ride ... I look forward to watching it again.
Download Star Wars: Revelations now .... but be patient, the site is getting hammered with all the publicity.
(Purchase Star Wars
merchandise and movies at Amazon.)
Studio Summary:
(From Star Wars: Revelations Website)
"Revelations" is a non-profit Star Wars fan film that was shot within the Northern Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC Metro Area. "Revelations" is made possible through a combined effort of artists, fans and the local film industry. Everyone who has worked on "Revelations" is a volunteer. No one is paid to make this film. Panic Struck Productions set out to produce their first independent film with a very small budget and the result is "Revelations"The goal has always been to push the limit of independent film making and show what can be done with a dedicated cast/crew, the vision of Panic Struck Productions, and the affordable solutions in today's market in terms of film and video. We also wanted to showcase the large pool of talented individuals who are out there and show how an independent film such as Revelations can push the limit of small Hollywood.
Panic Struck Productions has formed a strong and committed team in producing a high caliber fan film. With a CG team spanning the globe as well as a cast and crew from all over the east coat and beyond, the effort for Revelations has been huge. From cast to crew, extras to sponsors, this movie was made possible by those who have supported the idea and dedicated so much to the film.
"Revelations" is dedicated to the fans, artists, believers, and dreamers of a galaxy far far away... Panic Struck Productions offers you "Revelations". We hope you enjoy the efforts of our work.
Director - Shane Felux
Review:
Um, WOW.
First of all, lets get this out of the way. This is no ordinary fan film. Star Wars: Revelations is the collective work of hundreds of individuals, all over the world, working at a psudo-professional level to create a true cinematic experience. The special effects in this film are stunning. These guys accomplish things Lucas could not in 1977, and replicated a few things that he managed in 1999. The script and pace is good, and the story is engaging, and the acting is not too shabby.
This is a real winner folks.
There are some real special effects highlights here. The landing sequence on Han Solo's home world of Corellia is amazing, and Coronet truly looks like a smaller version of Coruscant, (which is technically correct for the expanded universe). The attention to detail is near perfect, a sharp eye can even spot the sister-planet of Talus in the Corillian system during approach through the shipyards. And all that is just in the first minute of the movie!
Follow that up with a strong cantina/club scene, a spectacular escape from Corellia complete with Star Destroyers and TIE fighters, and several lightsaber battles ... and you have the makings of a great ride.
The story revolves around Taryn Anwar (Gina Hernandaz), a Jedi Seer seeking redemption from a horrible mistake. Taryn is seeking a Jedi Holocron, an artifact of the Jedi Order that may hold the key to their survival. The artifact cost her sister Raux (Holland Gedney), who was a fallen Padawan Seer, her life ... and in the wrong hands it could mean the total destruction of the Jedi.
Taryn is helped in her quest by Declan (Frank Hernandaz), a master smuggler, and Cade (the Director, Shane Felux), a Jedi with ties to her dead sister . But Taryn is not the only one seeking the artifact. During her travels, she is pursued by Zhanna (Karen Hammang), the Emperor's Hand, who wishes to obtain the object for herself in order to curry favor with Palpatine - and one-up Darth Vader.
Felux does a great job directing this film. There are some cinematic touches that prove he did this as a labor of love and a true student of film. The score is well done, and the special effects are incredible. The acting performances are all pretty good, though they admittedly lack the Hollywood polish of a full feature. Frank Hernandaz's performance as Declan strikes me as one of the strongest in the movie, but his character draws from much of the Han Solo bravado, which helps his cause. Regardless, all the actors all add to this impressive feature.
As a fan film, I give Star Wars: Revelations a solid "A". As a Star Wars fan, I'd like to say "thank you" to Felux and company for proving that with hard work and determination, you really can create your own little slice of the Star Wars universe. This was a great ride ... I look forward to watching it again.
Download Star Wars: Revelations now .... but be patient, the site is getting hammered with all the publicity.
(Purchase Star Wars
merchandise and movies at Amazon.)
