Star Wars fans who have waited three years for closure to the science fiction epic began lining up outside Showplace 7 Wednesday evening to see the midnight showing of "Star Wars Episode Three: Revenge of the Sith."
Ticket sales for the midnight showing, which was originally playing in four of the seven theaters, sold out quickly, causing Showplace 7 management to open the remaining three theaters for the showing, all of which also sold out.
Even without publicity, the film would have surely been a box-office smash, but an enormous marketing blitz has helped move the film further into the public eye. Promoters eschewed the standard method of movie advertising by not only paying for trailer air time but also licensing the film's characters to promote products for 7-11, Burger King and a host of other companies.
Videogame developer LucasArts released a game of the same title late last week to add to the film's hype. The game gives players a chance to view a few movie spoilers, play through key parts of the film as Jedi Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and it features 12 minutes of actual movie footage.
Ball State alumnus and grade-school teacher Corey Hartley was the first person in line for the showing and said he is excited about the film.
"George Lucas could do anything and I'd like it," Hartley said. "I took off work for this. I bought tickets as soon as they came out, and even the kids in my class were counting down until today."
Hartley was not alone at 6 p.m. yesterday as he waited for the theater's doors to open, Ball State sophomore Ryan Apking and Indiana University junior Daniel Schlegel were next in line for admission.
"Last time, we brought light-sabers and had a duel," Schlegel said. "We didn't do that this time. Mostly it's a bunch of fans sitting around and talking about the series."
Star Wars fan Elizabeth Carr said she spent most of the day preparing for the movie premiere by listening to the Star Wars soundtrack and watching "Star Wars Episode Two: Attack of the Clones," but tried to not spoil the movie for herself by watching anything but the televised trailers and footage she had seen at the Indianapolis convention.
"This is it," Carr said. "This is what the whole thing is about."
Winchester resident Andrew Simmons came to the midnight showing in full Jedi costume, saying he was inspired by visitors at the recent Indianapolis Star Wars convention.
"I attended the convention and saw people wearing the costumes, " Simmons said. "So we bought the fabric and found a pattern for the robe, and my grandmother made it. My brother made a replica light saber from some pipe and a shower head, so I brought it with me."
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