Star Wars fanatics queue for 2nd chance at Empire

Armed with sleeping bags, pillows and even an occasional blaster, faithful Star Wars fans camped outside Carmike Cinema 5, 116 Hiester St., yesterday afternoon in an attempt to get tickets to the second film of the sci-fi trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition.

"The movies are just incredible," said Fox, who was second in line to see Star Wars: Special Edition when it opened at Carmike Jan. 31. "The special effects are still amazing to me."

Fick said the movies were influential in his life.

"They inspired me to be a writer," he said. "I've been writing since the fourth grade, when I first saw (Return of the) Jedi."

Jeremy Coonradt and Joy Downey, both State College residents, dressed up for the evening.

Coonradt, clad in black pants, a black vest and a white shirt, came as Han Solo, complete with a plastic replica sidearm. Downey, brandishing a laser rifle, was outfitted in an all-white outfit similar to the one worn by Princess Leia in the film.

"I was here to see (Star Wars), and I wanted to make sure I got a good place in line this time," said Coonradt, who has seen Star Wars three times since its re-release. "Some stories just never grow old."

Downey, a recent University graduate, said the film's current popularity is partly due to nostalgia. "It's part of the big trend that's been around -- recycling our childhood," she said.

Unlike the other fans waiting in line, many of whom claimed to have seen Empire several times, Emre Ertekin, a State College High School junior, had never seen the film.

"I saw Star Wars when it opened the other weekend, and it really made me want to see Empire," he said.

Chris Napoleon (senior-recreation and park management), who was standing in the exact same spot where he waited to get tickets for Star Wars, said the film was his favorite of the trilogy. "The good guys actually don't win in this one."

By 4 p.m. the dozen or so die-hards waiting for tickets to see Empire were joined by over 100 other moviegoers hoping to get tickets for the matinee showing of Star Wars: Special Edition, which has been consistently selling out since it opened three weeks ago.

Students were worried by rumors that Star Wars would leave the theater once Empire arrived.

"I figured I had to get in the very last day," Jeannie Im (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "This is definitely something that's not going to come around again."

Although Star Wars will remain in the theater, the fans waiting to see yesterday's 4 p.m. show were disappointed to learn that the wrong time was advertised in The Daily Collegian and the Centre Daily Times due to late changes in the schedule.

Prince Thomas (junior-economics) came to buy tickets when he encountered a line that stretched around the block only minutes before the advertised show began.

"I was kind of upset there for a while," Thomas said. Free passes given out by Carmike, and a better place in line after everyone left were some compensation, he said.