WasAnnon Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Paul Magne Haakonsen I happened to come across this documentary on Netflix, I think it was. And being the big "Star Wars" fan that I am, of course I took the time to sit down and watch it; as I gobble up everything from that universe."Elstree 1976" was sort of a rather pointless documentary about some people with little or virtually no parts in the "Star Wars: A New Hope movie". Who really cares about an extra that has no speaking part?But more importantly, why was a documentary necessary about them?This documentary is not worth the time or effort, even if you are a big fan of the "Star Wars" franchise. It offers very little insight into the making of "Star Wars: A New Hope", and essentially just revolves around persons whom had little time on the screen and portrayed characters that had little to no impact on the movie at all.Seen it once, never returning here again.

Mark Turner Those are the famous lines spouted by actors for decades. They always want to thank "the little people", those inconsequential actors, extras and crew members who make the star shine. But rarely do we ever hear about them and they never receive the accolades that the stars do. No one even makes movies about them. Until now.STAR WARS is perhaps the biggest cultural event film made in the last 50 years. It was released, sequels were made, all were re-released, prequels followed, we got an all-new movie last year, a movie tie-in is coming as well as a sequel to the new movie. And while all had a handful of stars in major roles what most don't consider is the number of bit players and costumed actors that are found running around in each of these movies.ELSTREE 1976 takes a look at those actors. If you were in a mask or played a small role in the original film you were there watching it all happen at Elstree Studios in 1976. The film makers here have gone back to those actors now and discussed with them the experiences they had in making that first movie. Matched with their appearances in that film we see them as they are now, masks off or a little aged for those who didn't have to wear masks. Each of them talks about their time and it makes for a nice backstage look at movie making.Not only do we get to hear them talk about the making of the film we get to find out how it influenced their lives moving forward as well. Various cast members went on to roles in other films or TV projects, some of them recognizable when it is pointed out. For them you'll be watching and saying "Oh yeah! I didn't realize that was him/her!" We see where they are today and what they're doing as well as those no longer with us.I've read some reviews of this film that take its makers to task for focusing on the minor bit players while ignoring some of the bigger name stars that were made who also wore masks. I find it difficult to side with those complaints seeing as how many of those stars have had programs made about them already as well as their appearing at numerous conventions to sign autographs to this day. The focus of the cast members here were those who aren't as recognizable, who didn't jump onto other major projects in starring roles, who haven't gotten the recognition that those others did. For me that makes the movie even better, giving them a chance for the recognition they deserve as well.Understand going in that this is not an action packed film. We don't see tons of clips from the original movie. We get glimpses of these people in their roles, see them now and get the chance to listen to them talk about their experience. It is a documentary not a narrative film. And yet it is still interesting to watch. Fans of STAR WARS will find themselves listening to these tales with rapt attention. Others might find it interesting as well. For me it was a treat and worth watching.

jarnol-43609 Spoiler alert: I had waited for 6 months for the DVD release. The trailer showed us some "behind the scenes" footage of X-wing fighters, storm-troopers and a man in a Darth Vader suit hanging around waiting to go on and perform. What became clear is that it was staged NEW footage. There wasn't really any behind the scenes we haven't seen. The film itself jumped around, I guess the directer thought it would be cute to just put the first names of people and it took me some time to figure out who was who (and I am more than the casual SW fan). I'm not sure what this was supposed to be. It was more like a trashing of the extras and small parts actors. They were show in the worst light possible, the small roles saying the people who had no dialog or were cut shouldn't go to the conventions. They acted very petty as if this was all the director shot? I think he wasn't a fan of Star Wars and wanted to show something else because I surely didn't enjoy the in-fighting. He didn't even film on location at Elstree! Short on photos or footage but you get the same stock behind-the-scenes footage of the rebels on the Death star "escaping" but Lucas say the mic is in picture. This was like someone re-mixing something great into a smearing, cut-throat, vote-them-off-the-island reality crap sitcom. There was no celebrating Star Wars, it was all about the drama between some actors and extras who were lucky enough to be involved in the film. What a waste of time. Did TMZ do this movie?P.S. - How is it that the director and most of the fans don't know Boba Fett was in Star Wars (at Elstree 1976) but he was cut out. It was the cut Jabba the Hutt scene. Right at the end of the scene you are introduced to Boba. It is a difficult cut scene to find but it is in a few behind the scenes specials for Star wars. Also the Greedo scenes were re-shot with a different actor/actress because the fingers just looked silly.

elle_kittyca I'll make my review of this film short and sweet and without much care to finesse the details. I usually like documentaries about people, and a movie about the extras of Star Wars should have been right up my alley. Unfortunately, the film focused on the lives of few extras, some of whom were interesting and some of whom were not. I found a few of the anecdotes of working on the actual film or conventions amusing but there was an awful lot of rambling on by people who I could care less about. I could care less about some guy playing squash with Kiera Knightly's father, or about the guy who had a backache and ended up taking too much Valium. While I often find the stories of regular people interesting,this put far too much focus on people telling mundane details of their lives and careers. A better movie would have been made by interviewing more people and including more interesting details, or alternatively, to follow the lives of one who had a particular unique story or path of this life. You might like this if it covers one of your very favorite favorites, but if you want something more than just filler, i don't recommend it.