First fan lines up to see 'Clones'
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Eric Castillo isn't your average Jedi knight, although some may think he is a space cadet.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
Castillo yesterday became the first person in line for the opening of "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones" at the Signature Dole Cannery 18 theaters. The first showing won't be until 12:01 a.m. Thursday, or about 55 hours after Castillo plopped down near the ticket office.
Eric Castillo yesterday became the first person in line to see "Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones." His friend and co-worker Sharon Carey is helping him pass the time.
Sharing time with Castillo yesterday was friend and co-worker Sharon Carey. Both will be spelled throughout the wait by about 15 others, although Castillo has taken time off from work and plans to spend the most time in line.
"I would not have been OK being second. I probably would have gone home," said Castillo, who works for an electronic and music store. "The whole fun part of it is being first. Movies make fun, but we make it even funner by doing stuff like this."
Carey lived in England when "Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace" opened in 1999, and moved to Hawai'i about two years ago. She was introduced to Castillo as a "Star Wars" fan.
"I said, 'You know what? Two years from now you're gonna come with me and camp out for "Star Wars." ' And she goes, 'Oh no you're not.' And here we are," Castillo said.
Carey said she told her brothers in England she was camping out for tickets and they thought she was crazy. But she said she "wouldn't miss this for the world."
"Just to be part of it is fantastic," Carey said. "And the reaction we've had already is fantastic from people. It's nice to see the enthusiasm."
The two brought nylon chairs, a cooler and snacks. They cut out a sign on the tile floor saying, "First in line again 2002 May 16th."
Castillo and his friends also were first in line when "Phantom Menace" opened three years ago at the Dole Signature theaters, but they waited just a day and a half then.
He said he checked with theater management ahead of time to be sure he would be allowed to camp out.
Castillo is such a big fan of the "Star Wars" series that he built a replica of R2-D2 that he will bring out Wednesday.
"Some people will spend their money and time on their cars, or they'll spend hundreds of hours on the computer playing video games," Castillo said. "This is our stuff."
And by the way, Castillo said that next week he heads for Las Vegas to see the movie in its digital format. Only a handful of theaters nationwide are equipped with digital projectors.
