Ultimate Star Wars Fanboy Movie.

Of course, every Star Wars fan has heard of this movie. I forgot about it for the longest time, because it has been literally 10 years in the making. I first heard about it 8 years ago from a friend who was all excited about it. I haven't even thought about it in probably 3 of those 8 years because I have not heard any new news about it. Of course, until now. The movie in question is Fanboys. It is what they call the "ultimate Star Wars fan movie".

Set in 1998, it centers on a group of friends that go on an adventure across the country to break into George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch and steal a copy of Episode I: The Phantom Menace before it hit theatres. So why is it in the news? The reason is because the production company that funded the film is now trying to change a key element in the plotline. The original plot had a character with terminal cancer that is a major Star Wars fan. It is for him, that his friends embark on their quest to break into George Lucas' ranch. They are unsure if he will live to see the movie in theatres, so they want to get it for him so he can watch it before he dies.

The Weinstein Company, who is distributing the film under Miramax, is unsure about the cancer plotline. Steven Brill, who was brought in to do reshoots and re-editing of the film said, "It would be irresponsible to release it." The film company is unsure how they will be able to make people laugh in the movie theatre after the mention of cancer.

A very large online protest has been formed and you can read about all the news on it here: Stop Darth Weinstein! I of course agree with their feelings on this. I think that the move should be released with its original plotline. Two reasons I feel this way, is one that I don't like political correctness, and I feel that this is what it is ultimately about. The movie studio does not want to feel responsible if people who have cancer are offended by the movie because they may see it as "making fun" of people who are dying from cancer. Also of course, they wouldn't want to lose money by people not going.

The other reason is that they didn't come up with a good alternative. They just reshot the movie with no mention of cancer. So it will seem as if these guys just woke up one day and felt like stealing the movie. While yes, it might still be really funny, I think that it would take away a whole depth to the movie. What's interesting is that Ernie Cline, who wrote the original story for the movie, realized what the movie industry can do. "Unless you're putting up all the money yourself, making a movie seems to be an endless series of compromises," he said. "It's hard to know what that means until you actually go through it. The Weinstein Company can do whatever they want. They put up the money. But it is against our wishes and it's done purely for monetary reasons. The cancer version had heart. It's now a forgettable road comedy with no heart and no soul."

We'll see when the movie is released what is going to be done about it. Hopefully the original plotline makes it to theatres. Support the cause!