why are some Star Wars fans willing to camp out at theater for a new star wars film?
Because they’re obsessed?
<cough>geeks<cough>
Originally that was the only way to make sure you got the ticket you wanted, because the flims were so popular. Now I think it’s more for bragging rights. Even geeks have their medals of honor. 
I have no idea why anyone would camp out to see one of the new Star Wars films after the previous two egregious offerings from Herr Lucas.
I’m a big Star Wars fan, though I personally wouldn’t go to that extent. I guess it’s just a way for them to acknowledge how special the event is for them.
However, I never understand why fans of science fiction and fantasy get far less slack by society in how they express their fandom than sports fans do. Indeed, there was recently an editorial by a sports columnist on how pathetic Star Wars geeks are! This would make a fine pit rant, actually.
It’s the same principle as the victor writing the history books. Sports are much more mainstream so being obsessive about them is accepted and “cool” whereas the less popular sci-fi fans are rabid geeks.
Well yes, true. I guess I just dislike the blatant inconsistency in such an attitude.
Still, there was the “facepainter” episode of Seinfeld…
My friends and I showed up about 5 hours early for the midnight showing of Episode 1 and Episode 2. It’s fun to do, maybe just for the opportunity to see a Star Wars movie when it first comes out in the theater. Yeah, the prequels suck, but us geeks are nothing if not loyal.
Why do people camp out for concert tickets or tailgate before sporting events? Those activities are more accepted, but the basics are still there.
I WANTED to camp out for Episode II. The ticket release date was skewed last year, and I ended up just walking into a theatre and grabbing them when they came out. I still wanted to undergo the fun of being a geek for one night and having the world understand: hey, it’s our turn.
Two reasons:
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Because they can.
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Because they get attention.
The big difference is that concerts and sporting events sell out. If you don’t camp out, you won’t get to see it in person. With movies, you can just get a ticket to the showing. So I think it has more to do with bragging rights, bonding with fellow nerds, and proving how big of a fan you are. Whatever floats your boat.
I’ll be honest, I made fun of those camping out for Episode 2. However, the one movie I would consider camping out for would be Matrix: Reloaded (Not saying I will, but if I had to, it’d be Matrix.)
Being a Star Wars fan and a sports fan (as well as a huge music fan), I have to say there is a huge difference between the three.
Camping out for Star Wars tickets is a bit absurd, if you ask me. It’s not like I can’t see it a week later. Of course, there are those who have the release date marked on a calendar and take vacation time to see it…
But sporting events aren’t at all that common. If my team makes it to the Super Bowl or the World Series, there is really only one chance to see it. I’ll stand in line all night if I have to.
And concert tickets are the most extreme of the bunch. I have wanted to see Pearl Jam live for over a decade. The closest they have come is about 250 miles down the road…I camped out and still didn’t get tickets. That was about 8 years ago…I missed them and have been regretting it ever since. However, tickets for a concert in my home town went on sale about a month ago. Amazingly, there were only 300 people standing in line. If there were more, I would have camped out again. I got lucky. Unfortunately, times have changed and so has Pearl Jam’s music. I have a feeling that I’m not going to get the privelige of hearing my favorite Pearl Jam tunes perforemd: “Yellow Ledbetter” and “Dissident”.
There are some differences between a sporting event or concert and a big movie. And I’d submit that for people who care about this sort of thing, a Star Wars movie is on par with the Superbowl as far as how big of a deal it is. Maybe a little lower than your team at the Superbowl, but still pretty high.
Anyway, while it’s true you can just see a film a week after release, that’s going to be one heck of a week. You’ll hate your friends, who will be talking about nothing else, and your friends will hate you, because they can’t talk about it with you around. Also, if you go on the opening show, you know you’ll be with die-hard fans. How would you feel if you were at a concert, and a lot of the crowd wasn’t even watching the show? These die-hard fans, taken to extremes, you can get a sort of pre-show celebration, with people dressing up and having a lot of fun, something you’re not going to get on a Monday afternoon showing.
For the same reason that so many people are going to camp out for the release of the new Harry Potter movie. They’re obsessed enough to believe being the first at experiencing something is something to be proud of that others will envy.
I say they’re deluded. I’m a bis Star Wars fan but I would never bother with waiting in line longer than fifteen minutes.
I think the reason I don’t get it is that the sequels have been a disappointment to me.
When “Episode II” got released, me and my friend did attend opening night, but we didn’t camp out for tickets…because that’s what the Internet is for, friends…did you know you can buy those tickets in advance from the comfort of your own home? Just checking.
There was a radio program that sent a guy down to the camp-out lines to interview people. Some of his questions were:
“When was the last time you bathed?”
“Do you have any intention of moving out of your parents house before the age of 40?”
“Do you think a woman will take pity on you one day and consider sleeping with you?”
The responses were hilarious. Most of the campers realized he was ridiculing them and refused to answer, but one or two apparently did not realize the implications of his remarks and answered in halting, embarrassed apologies.
One guy said. “Well, I’m working on moving out of the house, yeah, but all in all I’m cool there because I get the basement and I can play my stereo…and as for girls, heh, well, heh, well, you know, I’m always trying…yeah, I’m 27.”
Then the interviewer had the misfortune to pick on the wrong Star Wars fan, a man referred to by the radio DJ’s as “the PCP-Addict Star Wars Geek”. When this guy realized the interviewer was insulting him, he flew into a rage and began screaming obscenities and threats. As the interviewer tried to move on down the line, the “PCP Addict” followed and threatened other campers if they answered his questions. Eventually the interviewer had to leave the premises because this guy was getting way too aggressive.
Utterly hilarious, and I’m hoping the station taped it for historical purposes, it would make a great extra on the rumored Star Wars boxset coming out in 2006.
This 20-minute radio report was much, much more entertaining than “Episode II” itself, actually.
Search around the internet for the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog bit that appeared on Conan O’Brien last summer. He did a similar thing, making fun of all the Star Wars fan-boys. Hilarious!