Digital Workshop

Back in, I think 1973, we drove 150 miles to see some friends who invited us to a movie called "Star Wars." Yesterday I waited in line with my son-in-law to be amoung the first in Chicago to see Episode III at 12:01 last night. The theater is a stadium seating type mega-plex with 30 screens with seating from a cozy 250 up to a few at 750 people.

We were lucky to buy our tickets on-line in advance because -- by noon yesterday they were sold out. Yes, 5,900 "true fans" filled all 30 theaters. Even with advanced tickets and assigned theaters, people lined up (qued up in the UK & Australia, I think) in the parking lot. They did "tail gate" parties with cook outs, and threw frizzbies. Depending on the theater for which you had a ticket, you were in different entry lines. At 10PM our line started to move. We got great seats by 10:05 (remember, the movie isn't supposed to start until 12:01). ALL seats were taken by 11:15PM.

The bad news was, to save money on the number of prints (films) they rented from the distributor (they only had three), the film went through the projector in theater #1, it runs through a hole in the projection booth to another projector in theater #2, etc. until it got to us in theater #11. One film -- eleven projectors. There was a problem in projector room #3, which took until 12:45 to fix. The movie is 2:26 minutes long, so with previews, we didn't get out to the parking lot until 3:15am.

If you are a Star Wars fan, you will understand standing in line, and watching a movie after midnight. If not, I'm sure this all sounds beyond "crazy." Since the orignial movie was Episode IV, this installment had to tie everything together and explain how Darth Vader got to be so bad (and disfigured -- so he had to wear a black helmet to live). It does.

Again, if you are a fan, you'll love this final Star Wars movie. The computer generated video effects have to be seen to believed. They've really come along way since 1973.

"May the Force be with you." (I'm going back to bed to get some sleep.)

As far as I am concerned
if you want a good sleep
go and watch star wars

I am still amazed at how such a poorly written,
badly acted and woefully produced saga can be
so popular

may the force be with you?

someone please, pull the plug.

peter

Really! Hmm, I could go on and on about your post but that's a very interesting view, especially from someone who uses Yoda speak.



The whole series was likened to a saturday morning kids serial. That is straight from George himself. That was all he wanted to make. The public saw something else and made it what it was. Go figure.

Truth is, "get it you don't."
Sure your name isn't Bill Hoy? !

So Pete, why don't you tell us what floates your boat so we can have at it too!
Go ahead, go out on a limb.

Your right demofred, our local cinema complex showed to 1800 people in 8 cinemas at the turn of midnight the new edition to the series. This was in one of the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia and all tickets were well and truely pre-sold, many people were also attempting to obtain tickets on the evening of the show.

I think you'll find it was 1977 when the first film came out... I remember I was 4 and we used to play at being characters from the film in the playground at school!

Craig --

You are so right! Star Wars (1977) according to Google Search. When you get old --- the years melt together (LOL).

Fair enough



I accept that I am probably in the minority.
I remember a similar discussion regarding Lord of the Rings
Many people panned the films as overrated and longwinded
and I completely disageed.
I suppose the difference there was, that there was a book involved.
Anyway I loved all 3 LOTR's but just could not get into any of the star wars episodes.


Yes I would agree with that

Regards
Pete
ops

Ya you are right about that. Lord of the rings wa a real sleeper for me, but I didn't tell anyone. Didn't want to catch it from the likes of ME!

Fair enough