Comic-Con: Episode IV - A Fan's Hope
United States
2011
88 Min
Color
English
Synopsis
The elaborate title Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope gives a wink to Star Wars fans and anyone else who follows the sequel-prone world of comics and fantasy films. But don’t be fooled: this documentary is a bona fide first edition. Spurred by encouragement from Marvel impresario Stan Lee, director Morgan Spurlock explores the hopes of several fans making the annual summer pilgrimage to San Diego’s Comic-Con. “You’ve got to admire the fans because without them, you’re nothing,” says Lee. As a pop culture maven, Spurlock has great affection for this scene, as does producer Thomas Tull, whose credits range from The Dark Knight to It Might Get Loud. For fans weary of being mocked and misunderstood, this film is a hope come true.
Comic-Con started in 1970 and catered to a few hundred comic book collectors, then grew to encompass Hollywood blockbusters, anime, video games and more. Today there are over a hundred thousand attendees whose attention is keenly sought by publicists, marketers and celebrities hustling their latest product. Within this fantasy bubble, plenty of real drama takes place. Spurlock stays behind the camera as we follow fans chasing their Comic-Con dreams: Eric, an aspiring illustrator, hopes to impress publishers and land a job; Holly, an amateur clothing designer, hopes her costumes will win an award; Chuck, a long-time comic book dealer, hopes a big sale will pay off his debts; and James, a young fan, hopes his girlfriend will accept a dramatic proposal. Although Comic-Con may be devoted to world-saving superheroes, its heart and soul come from these human-scale aspirations.
Throughout the film, we hear from Comic-Con veterans who have turned their passions into professions, including Kevin Smith, Seth Rogen, Joss Whedon, Matt Groening, Guillermo del Toro, Harry Knowles, Todd McFarlane and Frank Miller. They testify to what makes Comic-Con such an energizing experience for so many people. This film captures the whole spectacle, from the silly to the sublime. –TIFF
Director
Morgan Spurlock
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock became well known to most Americans as a result of his 2003 film Super Size Me, in which he documented his health as he spent 30 days eating only food from the fast-food chain McDonald’s. Spurlock was raised in West Virginia, and attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in film in 1993. He worked steadily as a playwright before he produced Super Size Me, which was critically acclaimed on the festival circuit, and became a surprise commercial success. Following the positive reaction he received for his film, Spurlock created a documentary television series called 30 Days, in which he or other participants would immerse themselves in a given lifestyle for an entire month. Spurlock spent the first episode trying to survive on minimum wage, while other episodes documented situations like clueless hipsters living on an ecological preservation farm, and a border guard living with a family of illegal immigrants.
Wall
Displaying 2 wall posts.
Steve Pulaski
6Apr12
A delightful homage to one of the biggest conventions (probably THE biggest) in the world. Only problem I could find was that Spurlock doesn't have any speaking part. It's clear that he loves the Con (he has written a book on it), but it seems a bit strange that he doesn't have anything to say. Still, it's definitely worth watching, and the four people it follows are definitely very likable.
-
Michael Harbour
8Apr12
Biggest in the U.S., but not nearly the biggest in the world. I attended a screening where Spurlock held a Q&A and he mentioned two larger ones that he knows of; one in Japan which he said is about four to five times the size of Comic-Con and one in Australia which is about twice the size of Comic-Con. I believe there are one or two in Europe which are larger as well.
-
Related Films
Fans
Displaying 5 of 8 fans.
Lists
Displaying 5 of 17 lists.
Reviews
Displaying 2 of 2
It's just ... fun.
By Michael Harbour on April 8, 2012
“Comic-Con: Episode IV – A Fan’s Hope” primarily follows half a dozen of so people who are tremendously invested in that year’s Comic-Con; a couple of aspiring artists, a long-time comics dealer, an… read review
They eat, sleep, and wear comics
By Steve Pulaski on April 6, 2012
Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock brings his usual care and attention to a subject that, this time, sadly never gets it. From fast food, to terrorist-hunting, to product placement, and now to the largest convention… read review
Forum
Displaying
0 discussion topics.