Adding special effects

Hi,
I am totally new to video editing and want to make a movie. i have a mini dv camcorder. I want to add special effects like lasers and things like that. Does anyone know any programs that you can add things like this?

Thanks

 

Lots of fanfilms are using Adobe Premiere to do lightsabers and what not. The result is good if you know what you are doing. I'll tell you that creating a convincing scifi laser battle isn't easy, so prepare yourself for lots of frustration until you finally achieve what you are looking for.

 

Let me add that other types of special effects like blood, explosions and the like are best created for real, since with such limited resources, making realistic looking effects on a computer is almost impossible.

 

I downloaded and adobe premiere 6 free trial and I don't think it can do all of those special effects. If it does I don't know how. With adobe premiere pro 1.5 can I add those special effects to already made videos. I have windows movie maker and it can not do much.

Thanks
Tim

 

Sorry Tim. I said Premiere, but what I really meant was Adobe After Effects. Again, sorry.

 

Is adobe after effects also a video editing software or do you also need another adobe program? Do many of teh newer adobe programs also have the ability to use chroma key or blue screen? Thanks