Yipee! Roger Roger! and other TPM memories

[orangerful]

It has come to my attention (thanks to duncatra) that today is the 15th anniversary of the release of The Phantom Menace.

I guess that is right. That means it's been 15 years since I graduated high school. Freaky.

Though, for me, the movie premiere was only a small part of the experience. Most of my TPM memories are from a week before, on May 11, when my friends and I camped out for midnight premiere tickets for Baltimore's historic Senator Theater. The Senator is an old movie house with one BIG screen, THX certified sound and only 800 seats. If you wanted to see the midnight show, you had to set up camp.

We were 180th in line, this was not our main view. We were actually on the front lawn of a dentist's office. No one really seemed to care though. I think a movie with this sort of following only comes around every few years so I'm sure they hadn't had crazy teenagers sleeping on the sidewalk before. My parents let me skip school for the occasion (which, me being a total straight laced nerd was a BIG deal). This was MY senior skip day. And night. And then a little bit of day again.

This was all pre-WiFi and Smartphone, mind you. I had my cell phone for emergencies but that was all I used it for. We had to use the bathroom in the bar across the street and after that closed the gas station at the corner. The local news paid us a visit, I remember being elated to see footage of us all sitting around playing Star Wars Trivial Pursuit on the TV (I had told me mom we might be on the news and she managed to tape the 3 minutes segment for me).

I have to say, this has to be one of my favorite fandom memories. Being outside with all these other fellow Star Wars fans. In the morning we sent out search parties for food and the bagel shop down the road was smart enough to show up and hand out their menus so that was where we all went.

I don't know if anyone camps out for movie tickets anymore. I know I haven't done it since Revenge of the Sith. Now that you can order online, it takes some of the magic away. Though I can't think of a movie I would need to see at midnight. I will see the next wave of Star Wars movies in the theater, but I doubt I will be excited enough to want to camp out.

Anyway, a week went by and we were back at the theater at midnight for the movie. I clearly remember the guy in front of us had Star Wars tattoos all over him and he had just had Darth Maul added to the collection. And I remember thinking after the movie was over "oh...that sucks for him." I remember trying to make myself love the movie but knowing deep down that it had missed the mark. It was a confusing time. I just kept hoping that the next movie would make it all better.

What about you? Did you see Phantom Menace at midnight or on opening day? Do you remember your reaction?

Comments

[rhoda-rants.livejournal.com]

I totally saw The Phantom Menace on opening day! Although the theater we went to--my favorite theater in the whole wide world, which includes some venues in New York and London, just by the by--is so old-school and chill that you can't order online or ahead of time at all. The actual tickets still look like this.

So there wasn't any camping out, but there was a loooooong line, and it was full of geeks, including my dad and brother, and it was awesome. Dad told us about his experience waiting in line for the FIRST movies, way back in the day before anyone realized how huge it was going to be, and it was wild even back then.

You haven't truly seen Star Wars until you've seen it like that, surrounded by Sith Lords, Jedi, and Storm Troopers, every one of them cheering when the title screen appears. It's unbeatable.

(Even if the movie itself doesn't live up to your expectations.)

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Damn those ARE some old school tickets. I think The Senator always went all out for Star Wars premieres. They even sold t-shirts for AotC and RotS.

And you're so right - seeing the movie in a small theater, especially one where everyone had to be a hardcore fan to sit overnight to get tickets, makes the experience so much more. They all laughed and cheered and gasped at the right times.

[colls]

I saw all three prequels at the Senator!!! ♥
I did not camp out for opening day, but I did take an afternoon off work each time for a matinee

I haven't seen the prequel movies since the theaters (why bother?) but do remember that I liked the pod racing scenes. WHICH MOVIE WAS THAT? I think it was the first one.
*blocks most of the prequels from memory*

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I miss that theater. So sad about how it all went down with Kiefaber. Sounds like things got really messy by the end. :(

Pod Racing was Phantom Menace. :) I can't believe you've never watched them since then! I wasn't a huge fan, but I have them on blu-ray and I've watched them at least once.

Did you hear the rumors about releasing the OT in it's original glory? I'm hoping they turn out to be true but I won't get my hopes up too much...but a fangirl can dream, right?

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

YES! That totally counts. :) It's always so fun to be in line and know that all the other people in line have at least one thing in common with you - they love the movie/book/band that you are all in line for. It's like a micro-convention!