Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1997)
m warrants waiting in line By Gerry Beltz Senior Reporter There was a slight breeze out of the north, and the temperature was right around 50 degrees. Balmy weather for a Nebraska winter, and a blessing for those waiting to get into the pre miere of “Star Wars: Special Edition” at the Stuart Theatre, 13th and P streets, last Friday. Some fans had been there since 7 a.m., and Chuck Isom, a senior advertising major at UNL, said he came by about 1:30 a.m. just for good measure. “If people had been here, we would’ve stayed,” Isom said. “Instead, we went home and slept for a few hours.” Isom said he was expecting an experience of religious proportions at this movie. “This is my Mecca,” Isom said. Kevin Gregorius, a junior broadcasting ma jor, held the coveted position of first in line. Why is it important to see it on the first day? “You have to ask?” Gregorius replied. “This was an integral part of my childhood,” Gregorius said, “of all our childhoods.” Inside the Stuart, business was hectic. Marilyn Hallinan, Stuart Theatre manager, gained permission to open the box office early to sell tickets for the 4:55 show. “This would all be going faster if I wasn’t the only one here,” Hallinan said. At 1:20, Lindsay Gilmore, second assistant manager for the Stuart, arrived and was given two immediate tasks by Hallihan: Get a bucket or something for all the money in the box office and start assembling the new Star Wars kiddie combo trays. ‘“Independence Day’ was nothing like this,” Gilmore said. “People are just going nuts.” It’s 2:30 p.m., and 300 tickets are left for the 900-seat theater. Assistant manager Jeremy Carlson, a junior electrical engineering major, and employees Brianna Greco and Jackson Pueppke, both Lincoln High School seniors, have joined the fray. They’re getting the con cessions stand ready. “We’ve stocked everything about two to three times as much as we usually do,” Pueppke said. “The popcorn machine will be running vir tually nonstop, and other theaters might be pop ping for us too.” Carlson said he predicted months ago that business would be this brisk. “It’s fun to have stuff like this happen, but I don’t like working this much.” Greco said she was just trying to keep up. “It’s just going to be crazy,” Greco said. “Things are just flying at a mile-a-minute.” 3:40 p.m. To quote Red Leader from “Star Wars”: “HERE THEY COME!” People are running through the lobby, leap ing up the stairs to the second floor, rushing for the ultimate prize: front row in the balcony. Over the next hour people have seats saved and mill around talking with other friends. Some read books, others try to get the wave started. 4:45 p.m. Darth Vader has appeared in the balcony. With a loaned weapon, he gets into a light saber duel with a movie patron. No defi nite winner is declared because Vader’i saber unexpectedly goes limp. 4 v 4:55 p.m. The lights go down. Hollers, hoots and whistles fill the auditorium, which would put Memorial Stadium to the test for containing the most enthusiasm and devotion. The “Star Wars” logo hits the screen to unani mous applause, then silence from the audience. The audience’s wait is over. The experience may now begin ... again. ‘Star Wars’ classic fun, entertaining for everyone By Gerry Beltz Film Critic New footage. Enhanced scenes. Rump-shakin’ sound. Does it get much better? Nah. Granted, about half of the new or enhanced stuff for the special edition of “Star Wars” can be found on the Internet or seen on any entertainment show -- but it’s still a rush. The tale hasn’t changed: whining farm boy and Zen-like father-figure hook up with charming rogue and his big dog to take on the bad guys and save the damsel in distress. We all know what happens. Don’t know? Go back to Jersey! The true fun here is at two levels: those who have seen it (hi the big screen and those who haven’t. For those who have, it’s seeing it again. The rush as that first Star De stroyer dominates the screen, surround ing the entire theater in awe, is unsurpassable. For those who haven’t, it’s like nothing they’ve ever seen before. The sound system adds to the film for young and old. You are in that trash compactor. The Millenium Falcon en gines make your seat vibrate as it takes Film: “Star Wars” Stars: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guiness * Director: George Lucas Rating: PG (two burnt bodies) Grade: A Five Words: Two hours of unparal leled magic offoutofMos Eisley (one of many new scenes). The new scenes also are quite a hoot. Expanded work in the Mos Eisley spaceport, more Death Star battle scenes and a man-to-sloth confronta tion between Han Solo and Jabba the Hutt were very popular. (My personal fave: the new result of Solo and Chewie chasing the Stormtroopers through the Death Star.) No matter how big your TV screen is, or how perfect your home theater system is, nothing — I repeat, NOTH ING — can compare to what you will experience by going to the theater. You’d better hurry, too. “Star Wars” will only be here for three weeks, and the clock is ticking. 1: ■■ I I Photos by Scott Bruha ■ (Clockwise from top) I “STAR WARS" FARS wait outside of | the Stuart Theatre to buy tickets for I the second show on Friday evening. I FRAMES OF R2-D2 roll by soon after ■ running through the projector. I FARS WAIT OUTSIDE the doors of the I Stuart Theatre moments before the ■ doors were opened for the first I showing of “Star Wars.” I THE QPEMIIIG CREDITS roll in front of I a full house at the Stuart Theatre Friday evening.