Last night, I bought tickets to the midnight showing of the Dark Knight. I am giddy like a school girl. There is no experience in the world quite like the first midnight showing of a movie. Trust me, I know. I've been to over 20 of them. Last night, as I sat awake in bed, filled with anticipation, I was reminded of all my previous midnight movie experiences.
I typed up a journal entry I made from a few years ago, right after the last Star Wars film was released. Let me preface this entry by saying that I am a HUGE Star Wars fan. I was one of those people in costume, dueling others with light sabers and being interviewed by the news. I am one of those geeks. I love Sci Fi, superhero, action flicks. And Star Wars and Batman top my list of favorites.
ALL THAT HYPE FOR STAR WARS
28 years ago, the world was introduced to a little itty bitty flick called "Star Wars." Last night, I was able to view the last film in the series. After five long hours in line with nearly 1500 crazed fans, I was packed to the front of the line, like a sardine, anxiously awaiting the opening of the flood gates. It was only 10:00 pm. There were still two more hours to go until the film would start. Then, the clusterf**k. We began to run to the theatre to get our seats. In the narrow hallway that takes you into the actual theatre, a woman blocked the way. She moved at the pace of a snail. Hasn't someone told this woman that in a few seconds, there will be 1500 people running towards her? In what I can only describe as a moment of disconnection, I pushed and shoved my way past her. She was less than pleased and uttered sarcastically "Well, EXCUSSSEEE ME!" I kept moving and yelled to the woman "Pick up the pace, Grandma!" Now, normally I am not quite so brutal. However, this woman was at a midnight showing of the last installment of STAR WARS. If she can't stand the heat, get out of this kitchen. I manage to get decent seats, mainly because there were only two of us. Two hours and counting. I am surrounded by people in costume, most notably, Three StormTroopers in VERY expensive outfits. These authentic costumes cost several hundred dollars, easily. For some strange reason, a few drunk groupies take to these guys, and moments after the dust has settled and the seats are filled, these drunk girls manage to, very obviously, seduce the StormTroopers into the bathroom. The crowd goes wild. The guy sitting to my left looks over and asks "Is it pathetic that those stormtroopers are getting more action than me, and I can still only think about one thing, witnessing the creation of Darth Vader." Not in the slightest, not in the slightest my friend. The ride is just beginning. There are lightsaber fights with dozens of people in the aisles. People chanting "Star Wars," portable DVD Players with Episode Two perfectly timed to end moments before Episode Three will be projected onto the screen. This is obsession unlike any other, but never have I been surrounded with as many people who share a common interest. No one is afraid to geekout here. This is the FreeZone. Except for the four, loud, drunken men, but the majority rules over these idiots unanimously. They are escorted out of the theatre. As the time passes, the excitement builds. In what can only be described as a miracle, the exhaustion that began setting in three hours ago is vanishing. I can hardly sit still, and then, it begins. The thunderous sound of the 20th Century Theme, followed by the Lucasfilm Logo, and then, the Star Wars anthem accompanied by the opening crawl. As I embark on this journey, I feel like a child again, filled with excitement, and for two and a half hours, I am at peace. I laughed, I cringed, I gasped, I jumped, and I cried. Yes, you heard me right, I cried. This film is sad, nay heartbreaking (for a diehard fan, at least). I walked away thrilled that I could be a part of history, but more importantly, I was grateful. I was grateful from the brief respite this film gave me. Grateful for the journey. As the film ended, I was torn between two emotions closely associated with death. Not only was I grateful, but I began to mourn. After the tears from the movie dried, new ones took their place. This time the tears weren't for the story, or the characters. These tears were for the journey that was now complete. Last night I began to close the book on this part of my life. Today, I faced the reality that I am an adult, and the things of my childhood have come and gone. There is a strange calm about me today. It could be a result of less than two hours of sleep, but I prefer to believe that in some strange way, the completion of the series signifies the end of my childhood, and the beginning of something great.
28 years ago, the world was introduced to a little itty bitty flick called "Star Wars." Last night, I was able to view the last film in the series. After five long hours in line with nearly 1500 crazed fans, I was packed to the front of the line, like a sardine, anxiously awaiting the opening of the flood gates. It was only 10:00 pm. There were still two more hours to go until the film would start. Then, the clusterf**k. We began to run to the theatre to get our seats. In the narrow hallway that takes you into the actual theatre, a woman blocked the way. She moved at the pace of a snail. Hasn't someone told this woman that in a few seconds, there will be 1500 people running towards her? In what I can only describe as a moment of disconnection, I pushed and shoved my way past her. She was less than pleased and uttered sarcastically "Well, EXCUSSSEEE ME!" I kept moving and yelled to the woman "Pick up the pace, Grandma!" Now, normally I am not quite so brutal. However, this woman was at a midnight showing of the last installment of STAR WARS. If she can't stand the heat, get out of this kitchen. I manage to get decent seats, mainly because there were only two of us. Two hours and counting. I am surrounded by people in costume, most notably, Three StormTroopers in VERY expensive outfits. These authentic costumes cost several hundred dollars, easily. For some strange reason, a few drunk groupies take to these guys, and moments after the dust has settled and the seats are filled, these drunk girls manage to, very obviously, seduce the StormTroopers into the bathroom. The crowd goes wild. The guy sitting to my left looks over and asks "Is it pathetic that those stormtroopers are getting more action than me, and I can still only think about one thing, witnessing the creation of Darth Vader." Not in the slightest, not in the slightest my friend. The ride is just beginning. There are lightsaber fights with dozens of people in the aisles. People chanting "Star Wars," portable DVD Players with Episode Two perfectly timed to end moments before Episode Three will be projected onto the screen. This is obsession unlike any other, but never have I been surrounded with as many people who share a common interest. No one is afraid to geekout here. This is the FreeZone. Except for the four, loud, drunken men, but the majority rules over these idiots unanimously. They are escorted out of the theatre. As the time passes, the excitement builds. In what can only be described as a miracle, the exhaustion that began setting in three hours ago is vanishing. I can hardly sit still, and then, it begins. The thunderous sound of the 20th Century Theme, followed by the Lucasfilm Logo, and then, the Star Wars anthem accompanied by the opening crawl. As I embark on this journey, I feel like a child again, filled with excitement, and for two and a half hours, I am at peace. I laughed, I cringed, I gasped, I jumped, and I cried. Yes, you heard me right, I cried. This film is sad, nay heartbreaking (for a diehard fan, at least). I walked away thrilled that I could be a part of history, but more importantly, I was grateful. I was grateful from the brief respite this film gave me. Grateful for the journey. As the film ended, I was torn between two emotions closely associated with death. Not only was I grateful, but I began to mourn. After the tears from the movie dried, new ones took their place. This time the tears weren't for the story, or the characters. These tears were for the journey that was now complete. Last night I began to close the book on this part of my life. Today, I faced the reality that I am an adult, and the things of my childhood have come and gone. There is a strange calm about me today. It could be a result of less than two hours of sleep, but I prefer to believe that in some strange way, the completion of the series signifies the end of my childhood, and the beginning of something great.
2 Comments:
Monday, July 7, 2008
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I am, seriously though, so EXCITED to see this movie too. I, like you, am a total sci-fi, action, adventure, comic book/graphic novel nerd...these are the only types of movies that my husband and I will pay the big bucks for and see in the theaters.
I have a feeling you and I would be great friends in "real life"...
=) PLEASE let us know how you think the movie is!
Great post!