End of the beginning

The fans have re-watched the movies. They've re-read the books. They've defended Episodes I and II from the critics. \nAt 12:01 tonight, Star Wars fans will get what they've waited three years for as "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is released. \nBut the release will take on a bittersweet flavor for the faithful. It's the last Star Wars movie -- ever. The series that started in 1977 is drawing to a close. Even though fandom buzz promises that George Lucas is planning a television series, for many, it won't be the same. \nSo what can viewers expect? We'll all finally get to see the cherubic-but-troubled Anakin Skywalker turn into the legendary Darth Vader. We can already hear him breathing. \nIU students scattered throughout the state for the summer are gearing up for tonight's release. But for many of them, "Revenge of the Sith" will mean more than just a movie release -- it will mean day-long preparation, camping out to get tickets and preparing costumes for the premiere. \nJunior Maggie Grove wouldn't have to wait in line for tickets. In her small home town of Monticello, Ind., tickets for the movie won't sell out until just before the movie starts. But that doesn't matter to Grove and her friend, senior Edna Becht. In the spirit of solidarity that grips only the truest of fans, they're camping out anyway.\n"We're going to go to the theater sometime Wednesday morning and camping outside the doors until the midnight showing," Grove said. "There are people all across the country who have been in line for the movie already for days or weeks. Most of them do it because it's their only chance of getting tickets to see it. It's the principal of the matter, I suppose. This is the last Star Wars movie ever, so this is our last chance to get to do this."\nGrove can appreciate that the end is drawing near with this last movie. "Revenge of the Sith" is her chance to connect with the movies' history and for the story to come full circle. \n"It's kind of sad, actually, to think that it's almost over. The first Star Wars movie came out 28 years ago, and after next week, we'll never get to do this again."\nJunior Drew Etienne is facing the premiere head on -- with ten friends and a grill in the movie theater parking lot. \n"I watched the two prequels in Warsaw (Ind.) with my friends, so I'm going home to see it with them," Etienne said.\nFor Etienne, Star Wars is inextricably intertwined with Indiana in his memory. Etienne moved to Warsaw with his family when he was 9 years old. His older brothers were Star Wars fans, and he slowly but surely picked up a love for the world of Star Wars.\nJunior Zach Koopmans is also making the movie premiere a trip home -- he's going to see the film with his mother. \n"It's all about tradition," Koopmans said with a laugh. "The special editions came out when I was about 15, so I couldn't drive, so we went to that together. Then we went to (Episodes) 1 and 2." \nBut while the tradition is important to Koopmans, what he truly loves about Star Wars is what hooks so many fans.\n"The thing I love is the story," Koopmans said. "A lot of people get into the groups and stuff. I mean, that's fun, but the story is the most important thing. I think it relates to everyday life, if you take out all the space stuff and light sabers. In this one, you have a good guy who gets thrown into a bad situation and who has to make a choice between his life and his ambition. I think that happens sometimes." \nBut sophomore Cole Horton disagrees.\n"I love everything that's not in the movie," Horton said. "Everyone likes movies, but Star Wars has more outside of it. It has back story, you can take it to the next level. It's not just a movie."\nHorton, a member of Bloomington's Hoosier Alliance, a Star Wars fan club, also has a full set of stormtrooper armor. Last week, Horton was in costume for Evansville's Newberg Elementary School's Spring Carnival. The celebration had a Star Wars theme, so Horton pitched in to give the afternoon some authentic flavor.\n"We basically just get together because everyone likes Star Wars. It's really just a reason to talk and geek out. It's a big nerdfest." \nBut because everyone in the group shares a passion for Star Wars and the culture surrounding it, there's no fear of showing one's true colors.\n"There's no elitism in nerds," Horton said.\nHorton is going in his stormtrooper armor to the premiere, but he'll have to take it off for the actual movie. The armor restricts movement such that the wearer can't bend or sit. \nEven if Horton can't be there in costume, he'll be there -- this episode may be the most important in the whole series.\n"This one's more important because of Darth Vader," Horton said. "All the movies are about Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader, and now we see how Anakin in the last two movies, the hero, becomes the most evil person in the galaxy. This one gives all the back story and meaning to what we've seen so far. You can see why he's so feared. Darth Vader is more than just a big black suit in this one."\n-- Contact Features Editor Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu.