LIHUE— Ivan Kubo has been waiting for this moment since 1983. “That’s when the Return of the Jedi came out,” Kubo said. He arrived in line at 1 p.m. Thursday and spent most of the afternoon waiting to connect the
LIHUE— Ivan Kubo has been waiting for this moment since 1983.
“That’s when the Return of the Jedi came out,” Kubo said.
He arrived in line at 1 p.m. Thursday and spent most of the afternoon waiting to connect the dots from the sixth movie in the Star Wars saga to one of the most anticipated films of the year — “Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens,” and by 5 p.m. he was perfectly positioned to be the first through the Lihue movie theater doors.
The Star Wars fan maintains that the best movie in the series is “The Empire Strikes Back”, and he said he expected to catch some great visuals and sound effects in the newest addition to the series.
“I’m just trying to keep my composure and not get too excited,” Kubo said. “I’m most looking forward to the storyline and the how the characters relate to the sixth movie.”
Kubo wasn’t the only one thrilled for the release of the new movie. The force was strong with fans who cheered when the doors finally opened at Kukui Grove Cinema.
Mary Alice Clarke, 7, from Kalaheo, donned a Darth Vader costume for the movie’s opening and was hanging with her gang of Storm Troopers while she waited in line.
“Her favorite character is Princess Leia,” said her dad, Nick Clarke. “She loves all the princesses.”
Clarke said he got in line at 2 p.m. in order to score a perfect seat for the show and Mary Alice joined him after school.
“I like Yoda, too,” Mary Alice said.
Other fans rushed to the movie theater after school was out, and one student said he even skipped his last class in order to get in line for a good seat.
By late afternoon, the line snaked around the building.
Trevor Freuding said he’d been waiting for the newest edition to the saga for 10 years. He threw together a last-minute costume, which was a red shirt with figurines of Jar Jar Binks taped to the front.
“I’m really excited about the director, J.J. Abrams — this will be a new era,” Freuding said.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens opened at 7 p.m. at Kukui Grove Cinema on Thursday, with a standard 2D and a 3D showing. The second showing was at 10:15 p.m.
Thursday was the only day that tickets were presold, and by 5:30, the theater had nearly sold out of tickets for the 7 p.m. 2D and 3D showings, according to the cinema’s ticket desk, but the later showing still seats available.
Cole Rowray, one of the Storm Troopers patrolling the sidewalk on Thursday, said he and his crew were loving the nostalgia and excitement of watching another Star Wars premier.
“We’re really excited about the lightsaber fights and about the new characters that will lead us into further movies,” Rowray said.
Ryan Inman was looking forward to seeing Luke Skywalker on the screen again.
“Luke is the best hero,” Inman said. “And the new girl, I think she’ll be better then Leia.”
