Last month in New York City two days before the preview was to officially open in cineplexes across the country, hundreds of die-hard fans paid nine bucks to see the much anticipated two-minute trailer of “Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace” at a local theater only to walk out the minute the Anthony Hopkins/Brad Pitt feature, “Meet Joe Black” began.
Frankly, I was a little surprised director George Lucas released it this quickly the week before Thanksgiving. I expected the hype to officially begin the week before Christmas when I assumed the trailer would premiere. People told me at work the preview was being shown before matinees of “Enemy of the State” and Disney’s “A Bug’s Life.”
I saw the trailer on network television in its entirety twice the week it premiered at theaters, and it didn’t cost me a dime.
Watching it the second time that same night, however, I got this impending sense of déjà vu. The same feeling I get every time I sit through most sequels; the sense of “Been there, seen that.” Scenes of STAP Droids flying around the way those speeder bikes did on Endor, and the chaotic space battle reminded me of the Death Star battle in “Return of the Jedi” (1983).
Over the years, I have come to hate previews and if I could time it just right, I would show up after they were over just to view the movie I paid to see. They are nothing more than clever mass marketing campaigns that give away practically the entire plot in two to three minutes.
There is still the question of seeing “Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace” which will run at two hours and 15 minutes in according to Entertainment Weekly on only “302 screens” nationwide May 21, 1999. Far below the 3,000 screens “The Prince of Egypt” opened on last week or the 1,200 theaters the 1995 NC-17 rated film, “Showgirls”, was released on.
If what the publication said is true then despite the low number of multiplexes, most everyone I know who works Fridays is going to take that day off to see it regardless.
Except maybe me. I have been a Star Wars fan since grade school, and I currently collect everything from figures to vehicles that Hasbro/Kenner has been making since 1995.
I want to enjoy the movie, however, without having to stand in long lines opening weekend and likely all summer if it is a box office success. I am probably going to wait a couple of weeks, perhaps a month or two before I see it.
It is only a movie - not the second coming of Christ. I wonder if any sane, brave souls tried telling that to all those Star Wars fans who lined up outside that New York City theater last month just to see a two-minute trailer.
If anyone did, chances are they were probably greeted by hundreds of trigger-happy Imperial Stormtroopers brandishing laser rifles drawn and lightsaber wielding Jedi Knights.
©12/22/98
Frankly, I was a little surprised director George Lucas released it this quickly the week before Thanksgiving. I expected the hype to officially begin the week before Christmas when I assumed the trailer would premiere. People told me at work the preview was being shown before matinees of “Enemy of the State” and Disney’s “A Bug’s Life.”
I saw the trailer on network television in its entirety twice the week it premiered at theaters, and it didn’t cost me a dime.
Was I impressed or excited to see it especially since news anchors announced that night, “See the upcoming trailer of the new Star Wars movie for the first time tonight at 10 p.m.?” Ok. I was.The first time that is seeing a new youthful looking Yoda (he is greener than he was in the first trilogy and has more hair), and a bald Samuel L. Jackson as a Jedi Knight. Jackson’s character in one brief sequence apparently doubted a younger Ben Kenobi (Ewan MacGregor) that “this boy” named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) could be trained as a Jedi Knight. It was like getting a big chocolate sundae for dessert except in this case, it was the digitally enhanced special effects and John Williams’ musical score that substituted for the cherry on top.
Over the years, I have come to hate previews and if I could time it just right, I would show up after they were over just to view the movie I paid to see. They are nothing more than clever mass marketing campaigns that give away practically the entire plot in two to three minutes.
There is still the question of seeing “Star Wars - Episode I: The Phantom Menace” which will run at two hours and 15 minutes in according to Entertainment Weekly on only “302 screens” nationwide May 21, 1999. Far below the 3,000 screens “The Prince of Egypt” opened on last week or the 1,200 theaters the 1995 NC-17 rated film, “Showgirls”, was released on.
If what the publication said is true then despite the low number of multiplexes, most everyone I know who works Fridays is going to take that day off to see it regardless.
Except maybe me. I have been a Star Wars fan since grade school, and I currently collect everything from figures to vehicles that Hasbro/Kenner has been making since 1995.
I want to enjoy the movie, however, without having to stand in long lines opening weekend and likely all summer if it is a box office success. I am probably going to wait a couple of weeks, perhaps a month or two before I see it.
It is only a movie - not the second coming of Christ. I wonder if any sane, brave souls tried telling that to all those Star Wars fans who lined up outside that New York City theater last month just to see a two-minute trailer.
If anyone did, chances are they were probably greeted by hundreds of trigger-happy Imperial Stormtroopers brandishing laser rifles drawn and lightsaber wielding Jedi Knights.
©12/22/98
