TROOPS
Web site

review written 2/23/2003

The granddaddy of them all. Heck, I bet if you did a Google search for "troops" and "granddaddy" you'd get even more hits than "Adam Bertocci" and "complete loser".

I confess I only downloaded this fan film for its historical value. I've never seen an episode of "Cops". However, I found it surprisingly easy to follow.

And well-made, too. Look at those costumes! Those props! And good typography as well.

I like the concept. A look at the ANH we never knew.

What made Kevin Rubio decide to do this? Did he know he'd be setting off a whole world of filmmaking? (How could he have?) Was this really the file that put TFN on the map as a Star Wars site? What makes it all work? What do the producers of "Cops" have to say about this?

It is hard to judge Troops as a film by itself. I mean, come on, it's Troops. We would not be making fan films without it. None of this would be around with Troops, including this site.

But for all that, it's a well-made film. How wonderful it is that our genre could be kicked off by such a quality piece of work.

I'm being vague, I know. I almost have to. It's basically the first fan film ever (at least in the modern age of fan films). What do you say about the first of something? You can't pick up the original Star Wars and compare it to other sci-fi blockbuster epics, can you?

Watch Troops. It's part of your education.

And Kevin Rubio—thank you.