In Theatres...

[kaleesh]

How did it feel for you guys when you first found out that TPM was coming out? I was watching the TPM documentary and I saw the end with all of the fans in the theater cheering and waving their lightsabers... Gosh I wish I could have been there... I wish I could have seen at least one of them in theaters. Some people there act pretty crazy though

[acalsohei]

Well, Kaleesh, therein lies a tale...

Since I am old enough to be an original Star Wars Collectible (long story there, too), I lived through the original trilogy, where we had to wait three years between episodes, with no video, internet, etc. to provide a daily fix of SW goodness. Then, in the intervening years (84-98-probably close to the entire length of your life), there were some books, comics, and other new materials, but we had pretty much adjusted to the fact that there would never again be another SW film. (George himself said so!)

The build-up for TPM was incredible. Just hearing that there was a hint of a shadow of a rumor of a new film was enough to make my jump for joy. I for one tried to create a "spoiler-free" zone so that the experience in the theater was as close as possible to a total surprise. Films, and especially the original trilogy for me, hold a magic that I don't think can be accurately recreated in today's media-saturated lives, and I knew that TPM would probably be the last time I could have that magical experience. A packed theater of rabid fans, seeing a brand-new SW film for the first time is an unbelievable sensory trip! Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise, the experience of seeing a great film in a full theater is unmatched, and no DVD, Blu-Ray, or any other convenient home media trick will ever reproduce the human element.

It was indeed so magical, that I could probably walk right to the exact seat in the theater that I had that night! It was also so magical that it took me quite a long time to admit to myself that the quality of the film left much to be desired, as compared to the original trilogy. The effects were outstanding, but the story is very much lacking. However, I felt vindicated when ROTS came out, because that came as close as possible to marrying the flawless effects with a well-written (not perfect, but well-written) story.

It's really one of those things where I say (in my old lady/teacher voice) "I can't explain it to you, youngling. You just had to be there to understand." The thing is, though, that time is fluid, so you are creating your own "had to be there" moments throughout your life, maybe even right now, and sometime down the road, you'll be trying to explain that feeling to your kids, too!

[Cozmo]

Agreed. I went to the midnight showing at a theater near me (not the Mall of America, though now I wish I had). The line to buy tickets went half-way around the building! The kids at the front of the line had been there since 1pm that day, and brought a big plastic tub with a TV, VCR, and an extension cord and watched all three of the Original Trilogy as they waited. My wife and our friends and I had watched "Thumb Wars" on TV just a couple of hours earlier, and it was awesome. Now we waited in line next to Boba Fett, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, and Princess Leia.

I loved the movie, except for Jar Jar, and some of the dialogue was pretty bad. But it was fun. Then I went through this weird period where I didn't really like George Lucas and the PT, but now I love them all, even with their flaws.

I'm proud to say that Star Wars and I are the same age.

[Cara Drume]

Oh, wow.

For me it started with the release of the Special Edition in theaters. We didn't see all of them, but going with Dad to see Empire Strikes Back and hear him tell the tale of when HE first saw Star wars was quite special. Then came the news of the prequels. I must admit when I first saw the teaser I was kind of uneasy. Where were all the charaters I knew and loved? None were there, save Artoo, a naked Threepio, and a very weird-looking Yoda. I continued to be dubious until me and my family walked into the theater and the lights dimmed. I was grinning through the opening crawl, but, like everyone who saw ANH, was thrown into something totally different. By the Podrace I was on Cloud Nine. When we walked out of the theater, I knew the best was yet to come. I ADORED the movie, even Jar-Jar. Occasionally I didn't really like Star Wars much, but now that I'm adult (and have taken a film class or two) I can understand better. Yes, the dialogue is corny. Yes, the acting isn't always good. And yes, Jar-Jar has a high-pitched voice. But it's still the story of a boy who fell from grace, only to be redeemed by his son.

How did I feel? Amazed. And I still am.

[Jauhzmynn Enz]

I was excited, that the rest of the story was going to be told.

I know TMP was going to differatn from the old trilogy. Better FX tech and Lucas was going to pioneer something else. :-)
TMP was what got me into costuming b/c of the amazing clothing Trish had designed. Pod race made me feel a little vertigo when Anikan had careened up and around the tunnel in begger's canyon.
ROTS's opening scene had me griting my teeth hanging onto the armrest.(Bad idea for someone w/o depth precption to see ROTS on an IMAX screen.)

I'm also old enough to have seen A New hope, Empire Strikesback, and Return of the Jedi first run.

[Jedimom/Cor-Al Gelkar]

I, too, saw the OT at the theatres. I was very excited to hear that the saga was going to be continued. I loved seeing the Jedi in their heyday (even though I wasn;t a huge "Jedi" fan in the OT -- I was a Han Solo fan, LOL). TPM got me into costuming.

[Solinbeb Newau]

I remember watching Empire when it first came out...mostly because the theater I saw it in had made hanging displays out of the ship toys.

When the re-releases came out, I skipped out of classes to stand (or sit) in line. I watched other people attempting lightsaber combat and made a few friends with some guys that owned a comic store. I didn't get to go in costume because of school right before I went in, but when Return of the Jedi's special edition made it out ai was sitting with my friends in the theater with my lightsaber and we were talking about the people fighting at the front of the theater and they just looked at me and said "Show them how a jedi handles a saber." The dueling was fairly easy, and funny at times, but there wasn't a single person there that I didn't "disarm", even when the tried multiples against me.

Fans watching movies with other fans...seriously, that's what it is all about.

[Cem-Ji Pobroo]

Feb 20, 2008 12:21:38 GMT -5 kaleesh said:

How did it feel for you guys when you first found out that TPM was coming out? I was watching the TPM documentary and I saw the end with all of the fans in the theater cheering and waving their lightsabers... Gosh I wish I could have been there... I wish I could have seen at least one of them in theaters. Some people there act pretty crazy though

You can see the Clone Wars next month; granted its not live action but it does have Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew Wood, Christopher Lee and Anthony Daniels. I just wonder when does it take place with the Clone Wars Volumes I & II that were on Cartoon Network.