Fans go crazy for ‘Clones’

Thursday, May 16, 2002 | 11:10 a.m.

Las Vegan James "Bear" Ward stood in line outside the movie theater at Neonopolis on Wednesday night in his homemade Jedi knight costume, waiting for the latest "Star Wars" release.

Surrounded by others in "Star Wars" costumes -- Jedis, stormtroopers, Princess Leia and others -- Ward waited for the first showing of "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones," which ran at a minute after midnight at a handful of Las Vegas theaters.

The movie opening, the fifth of the series, brought out all the die-hards such as Ward, who in 1977 at the age of 17 saw the original "Star Wars" 212 times.

"I see this as no different than Super Bowl fans that will strip stark naked, drink beer and go crazy for hours," Ward said. "We're life-size action figures."

Preparing for the showing early this morning, fans waited in line anxiously late last night for their first chance to see the movie.

A packed crowd at the theater at Texas Station cheered as the movie began to roll, and cheered throughout at details that picked up events or action from other movies in the series.

For the faithful, the movie didn't disappoint.

"It was worth the wait," said Harold Collins, 21, of Las Vegas, who bought tickets a week in advance and waited an hour in line. "I liked how it picked up after 'Episode I.' It was definitely better than 'Episode I.' I can't say it was better than (Episodes) IV, V or VI until III comes out" in 2005.

Robert Hazel, 17, of Las Vegas, spent 2 1/2 hours in line and really enjoyed the movie.

"I like ('Return of the) Jedi' the best, but this one's up there," said Robert Hazel, 17, of Las Vegas, before adding, "Yoda kicks ass!" Hazel was referring to the film's climatic battle sequence involving Yoda and a former Jedi, which most fans and critics agree is the movie's best moment.

Paolo De Los Reyes, 24, of Las Vegas, said after all the publicity he expected more out of the movie and wanted the film to further the "Star Wars" plot. But, in the end, "all the action in the end was worth it."

He said he didn't have as much interest in seeing the movie as he had for the previous movie.

"I guess it was the advance buzz," he said. "But, as ('Clones') got closer, I couldn't wait for it to get here."

Don Truxel and Shannon Truxel Jr. have seen each of the Star Wars films together, and the the two brothers say they were hooked when the original movie came out in 1977.

"When 'Star Wars' first came out it was cutting edge," Shannon Truxel, 33, said. "It was kind of like the 'Godfather' for fantasy and science fiction."

The Truxel brothers and their father, Shannon Truxel Sr., bought their movie tickets 10 days ago.

"We try to stay away from the trailers and the spoilers, so we don't know too much of what is going to happen," Don, 31, said.

Truxel Sr. said that his boys have always loved "Star Wars."

"They had all the damn 'Star Wars' figures and Weeble-Wobbles," Truxel Sr., 58, said. "I probably spent thousands on that stuff, but now its all collectable and worth more than what I paid for it."

The Truxel's family tradition of going to see new "Star Wars" films when they come out will end when Lucas releases his final installment, Episode III, in 2005.

"After that we'll be looking forward to all six coming out on DVD," Don Truxel said. "It's going to have all kinds of goodies, and we're already saving up for that."

The movie attracted fans of all ages, not just those who were around for the original.

Justin Massongill, 17, sat at a table in the Texas Station Food Court Wednesday night, eating dinner with a double-bladed, plastic light-saber.

"I had it so I thought I'd bring it with me to get in the spirit," Massongill said as he waited for the midnight showing. "I've loved Star Wars since I was 6."

Others have stayed in the spirt of "Star Wars" with fan clubs.

In Las Vegas, there's the Neon City Garrison -- the bad guys -- and the Rebel Alliance of Las Vegas -- the good guys, Ward explained.

In costume, the Las Vegas groups visit children hospitalized at University Medical Center. "Everybody knows us," Ward said.

The local garrisons are under the Fighting 501st, a "Star Wars" fan club that boasts 800 members in 34 states and 16 countries.

Tim "Bleyd" Anadon of Las Vegas said the non-profit international organization runs blood drives, gathers toys for children less fortunate than members and visit children's hospitals in costume. It's the largest costume club in the world, he said.

The costumed crusaders attracted critical care nurse Dagmar Esterbrook from Philadelphia to the Neonopolis for the film debut.

"We started with 'Star Trek' first and now 'Star Wars,' " Esterbrook said. "I love it. We've traveled all over the country."

Esterbrook travels with her son, Dieter, 38, both wearing Jedi costumes. "You should see his house," she said. "It's a museum."

Grant Talcott, dressed as Luke Skywalker, said he made his own costume, but bought the helmet. "I was 4 when 'Star Wars' started," he said.

Fans stood in line patiently, waiting for the doors to open.

So what do "Star Wars" fans do between movies? "We work on our costumes to make them more accurate," Ward said.

Across the nation, general reaction was positive among fans who emerged from midnight screenings.

"The last 45 minutes was worth more than the price of admission," said Chad Bates, 27, a computer consultant from Seattle who attended a midnight showing at Universal CityWalk in Los Angeles.

Theaters across the country were mostly full, but it took longer for them to sell all the seats. The ardor was a little muted this time, partly because "The Phantom Menace" debuted nearly 16 years after 1983's "Return of the Jedi" and there was greater pent-up demand among fans.

B.J. Younce was so determined to see the movie early, he quit his job at a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in Wilmington, N.C., to wait in line for tickets.

"It's the universal myth and the ultimate in storytelling," the 22-year-old said.

Theater operators expected a "Star Wars" rush later today as the film plays on about 6,000 screens in 3,161 theaters domestically.

The movie also opened in about 75 nations around the world. A Russian-dubbed version of the film opened at midnight in Moscow nearly eight hours before the first U.S. debut. Moscow's premier movie theater, the Rossiya on Pushkin Square, held showings every 40 minutes, but there were no serious lines.

"Attack of the Clones" is not expected to surpass the U.S. box-office debut of "Spider-Man" two weeks ago. Playing on about 1,500 more screens than "Attack of the Clones," "Spider-Man" took in a record-smashing $114.8 million in its first three days.

"Attack of the Clones" opened on fewer screens because director George Lucas was choosy about locations, insisting on top-of-the-line theaters with digital sound.

Some theaters ran the movie on several screens at the same location. At the Star Theatre in Southfield, Mich., outside Detroit, the 12:01, 12:02 and 12:03 a.m. shows sold out early, but tickets were still available late in the evening for the 12:04 showing.

"Attack of the Clones" takes places 10 years after events in "The Phantom Menace." Hayden Christensen plays Anakin Skywalker -- who later becomes masked villain Darth Vader -- now a Jedi trainee assigned to protect Galactic Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman).

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