Oregon daily emerald., May 16, 2002, Page 5, Image 5

‘Star Wars’
continued from page 1
T-shirt and trenchcoat. “But there’s
some personal prestige to be able to
say I got here first.”
He and fellow second-generation
“Star Wars” fan Ryan Vann were at
the front of the 1:05 a.m. line, and
said they are in the beginning stages
of making a fan film and taking fenc
ing lessons based on “Star Wars.”
They were hoping the newest flick
would feature less of Jar Jar Binks
and no more pod races.
When Lucasfilm and 20th Centu
ry Fox released “Star Wars: Episode
1 — The Phantom Menace” on May
19, 1999, it grossed $431 million,
but it left some viewers disappoint
ed. With “Star Wars: Episode II —
Attack of the Clones” in theaters to
day, audiences are speculating as to
whether it will have the same effect.
“I just hope it’s going to be better
than ‘The Phantom Menace,”’ said
recent University graduate Torry
Hope as he played “Star Wars” Mo
nopoly with his friends. “I think it’s
going to pick up steam. The word is
going to get out, although it may not
blow Spider-Man’out of the water.”
Star Wars” worshipers and movie
critics alike will be watching to see if
this film tops the charts as a cultural
icon or if it will soon be forgotten like
so many other blockbusters.
It has now become such a part of
public culture that to not go see it
makes you an outcast in most social
groups, said Associate Professor of
Journalism and Communications
Carl Bybee. “I think there is going to
be a lot of social pressure to see it.”
While Bybee said his kids have
seen the trilogy, going to see “Attack
of the Clones” hasn’t been a topic of
conversation at home, and he said
he doesn’t plan on standing in line
to find out if the film is worth the
wait. To Lois Wadsworth, arts edi
tor for Eugene Weekly, “Star Wars”
movies have had two significant im
pacts on film audiences in America.
The first was the reintroduction of
the contemporary fairy tale where
audiences could cheer Luke Sky
walker’s rise to Jedi knighthood.
However, she said, director George
Lucas quickly learned that he could
merchandise and market “Star
Wars” toys and games.
Since then, “We’ve had more
commodification and spin-offs on
movies,” she said.
“It is almost a Disney effect, but Dis
ney did it in a small way,” she contin
ued. “Lucas perfected it and made
himself a millionaire in the process. ”
Despite the hype, not everyone is
a fan ofthe “Star Wars” series.
Toussaint Perrault, film coordina
tor with the UO Cultural Forum,
said he won’t be going to see “At
tack of the Clones,” especially be
cause he has yet to see “The Phan
tom Menace.” Perrault predicts
Attack of the Clones” will not do
well in theaters.
“It’s riding too close to the coat
tails of ‘Spider-Man’,” he said.
“‘Spider-Man’ is something new,
whereas ‘Star Wars’ is the fourth in
line ... I was tired of ‘Star Wars’
when I was nine.”
Perrault said “The Phantom Men
ace” disappointed and disenchant
ed viewers because it was
“too overtly commercial.”
He said while films such
Independence Day”
as
m
did top the charts, these -
blockbuster films “are
made for America’s short at
tention span. America for
gets about them quickly. ” f
For fans interested in see- |
ing the film, it is playing on :
one screen at Regal Cinema
World 8, 1087 Valley River
Way, in Eugene and at four
screens at Cinemark 17, 2900
Gateway, in Springfield.
Fans should purchase their
tickets in advance on the In
ternet or at the box office,
said Senior Vice President
of Marketing and Advertis
ing Richard Westerling of
Regal Cinemas, Inc.
“Get your ticket as soon as you
know when you’re planning to at
tend,” he said. “We are seeing that at
different places across the country
there’s a lot of excitement about this ,
film. With the local following, some !
(people) show up in costume. ”
Perrault said viewers are always
looking for something new, and de
spite his lack of excitement about
the new film, he said he believes
“the die-hard ‘Star Wars’ fans” will
love the movie.
E-mail features reporter
Lisa Toth at lisatoth®
dailyemerald.com.
014003
dansko
adidas
over 100+
Simple
957 Willamette • 687-0898
www.Lazars.com
Emerica.
0140/6
FREE
Birth Control
Supplies <& Services
for women & men.
Cell to sec if you qualify.
Planned
Parenthood
Three locations:
1670 High St, Eugene 344-9411
793 N. Danebo, Eugene 463-9731
225 Q St, Springfield 744-7121
_ Walk-in times available
Visit our website at www.fiphsso.org
p
Stop by any of
our clinics for
FREE
CONDOMS
P Planned
Parenthood
Jr MITSUBISHI
MM MOTORS
education edge
DOWN
INTEREST
0 PAYMENTS FOR
AN ENTIRE YEAR
‘ 0^ with a new 2002 Mitsubishi and a $500 rebate We calf it the
mitsubishicarsxom/educationedge
^^^^*|^^^^^IPr09f3^n^,Re^,u!r(rd^oSsh'ow^fcu'merUa<tiol^su(^al°ranUapep1|!canon0forC*graduation^r'ieHe^Trom^the^studenrreg^strs^^oHice^s'tat nZ^'Tt *" *7^ °& °' m"y °f 3 S’Uden' — "v enrolled in a US
MStors Credit’s SnlrFi»l'R^ |ISpfUe 39i? dayS’ a"d ,inance charges be9,n 360 days ,rom ^hen contract is Signed. In Maine zero finance charaes m ed to 330^1 9radua,e Wlth,n one| Vear- Program ends 5/31/02. See participating retailer for
Emerald Mitsubishi
Eugene, OR
541/342-6600