STAR WARS GANGSTA RAP
available at AtomFilms (special edition here)
creators' Web site

review written 2/22/2003

special edition review added 8/29/2004

ORIGINAL EDITION

I know nothing about rap. But this tune is still fun.

Actually, it works better as just a song. I like to listen to just the MP3. It's better that way.

The animation has a decent style to it, but you can tell that the lips aren't syncing in any fashion particular to the words at times. Bitmaps are combined with 'hand-drawn' elements for no real reason.

I don't get the sense that these guys know how to do Flash animation correctly and efficiently. The gradients and bitmaps and subtle fades encumber the animation and screw up the lip sync even further (although this is not a problem on AtomFilms where the screen is shrunk). Luke's body parts actually split on Dagobah when you see the animation full-size—how was this not caught and corrected?

There is one good visual moments in this—the short Cloud City duel clips starting at 2:19, for one. (Okay, and I'll admit, I love how the stormtroopers dance.)

The rappers behind this have a second Star Wars rap on their Web site with no movie attached. The song is not quite as catchy as this one's. But it's nice to have just a quality rap spoof without second-rate visuals attached.

SPECIAL EDITION

Oddly, my favorite Cloud City clips are gone, but all in all this animation is leaps and bounds ahead of the original. All the characters look great. Animation is far smoother, and Luke has this whole funky dance thing going on. Scene transitions are slick, and this becomes a joy to watch, not just listen to.

Rap song by itself:

Original edition:

Special edition: