Fans fashionably early for 'Sith' premiere
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
To properly mark the final installment of "Star Wars," Steve Barbee of Honolulu had to get in touch with his dark side.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Barbee drew an enthusiastic ovation as he strolled out of the elevator at Consolidated's Ward Stadium 16 last night decked out in his newly purchased $900 Darth Vader costume.
Steve Davis went to see "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith" dressed in a homemade A'sharad Hett costume.
"I've dressed up for the premieres of the other 'Star Wars' movies, but always on the light side," said Barbee, one of more than 100 fans who showed up hours early for the 12:01 a.m. premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith."
"Tonight I thought I'd try the dark side," he said.
Like many of those assembled, Barbee, a 31-year-old who is in the Navy, said he grew up watching and waiting for each new "Star Wars" film.
"I've been a fan since the beginning," said Barbee, who came to the premiere with his wife, Jennifer. "I still hold out hope that this isn't really the end."
Barbee already has plans to see the film again at Dole tomorrow night, then again on the weekend with his children, Karrie and Zachary. "They've been fully indoctrinated," he said.
While the gathering at Ward was relatively low-key compared with a virtual "Star Wars" convention going on at Signature's Dole Cannery Stadium 18 (where some fans had been waiting since Saturday), there was no doubting which film people were coming to see.
Hint: It wasn't "Monster-in-Law."
Consolidated designated six screens at Ward to the premiere. Managers said tickets were close to being sold out by 7 p.m. yesterday.
Mike Wong and his friends bought their tickets a month in advance.
Wong arrived at 9 a.m. yesterday, just early enough to snag the prized first spot in line. By the time pal Will Clugston came to relieve him in the late afternoon, a small village of very patient "Star Wars" fans had set up camp near the elevators.
"This is the end, the climax of the whole thing," said Clugston, who passed his time in a beach chair reading Gregory Maguire's novel, "Wicked."
"I was 10 when the first one came out and I remember it just blew me away — it blew everyone away," said Clugston, 37. "It's a little sad that it's ending, but it's time."
With nine hours behind him and six more to go, La'a Velardo, 28, of Kaimuki looked undaunted and positively serene as he sat resplendent in Jedi robe next to Clugston.
" 'Star Wars' was the first movie I ever saw," Velardo said. "I've always been a 'Star Wars' fan."
He's not kidding. Velardo has read all the "Star Wars" novels and has an impressive collection of merchandise that includes a $1,000 light saber used in one of the films.
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
The last time 72-year-old Alfred Esteban camped out early for a film was in 1977 at the old Cinerama Theater. He and his children were there to see the original "Star Wars."
Two-year-old Dominik Griffin stands ready to duel Steve Barbee with light sabers at Consolidated Theatres Ward Stadium 16 complex as they await the premiere of "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith." Barbee, showing off his new $900 Darth Vader costume, plans to see the film at least three times in the next four days.
Nonetheless, he and his 9-year-old grandson Jonathan, who came dressed in a Darth Vader outfit, showed up early yesterday to hold a spot for the rest of the family.
Anthony McWhorter, 32, of Kalihi showed up at 3 p.m. wearing his Honolulu Marathon finisher's shirt — appropriate dress considering the nine hours and one minute ahead of him.
"It's something that I've known all my life," McWhorter said. "It's a film that crosses generations and it's something I can enjoy with my family and friends.
"The original was fantastic and 'Return of the Jedi' was great, too. But I think this will be the best of all."
Steve Davis, proud owner of about 200 "Star Wars" figurines and scads of other memorabilia, had been keeping close tabs of the early reviews but was waiting to see for himself if "Sith" truly was "the 'Star Wars' of all 'Star Wars.' "
Davis, 25, came to the screening in a homemade A'sharad Hett costume.
Still, not everyone was as enthused about the premiere as Davis and his cohorts.
"Freaks," said 'Alewa Heights resident Lydia Kamalu, 51, who came to see "Monster-in-Law." "Who's going to sit around all day just to see a movie? You've got to be missing a gear."
Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.
