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Fans already forming lines for Star Wars: TFA at LA theatre

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ScribbleD

Member
I was already not super into the idea of catching this in a crowded theater on the day of release, but the sobering thought of how badly the theaters are going to stink on release day has put me off of going near a theater that weekend. Will catch it on Monday after the tide of crazy folks has died down a bit.
 

cacildo

Member
Oh god. I got tickets to te marathon event. There was no reserved seating. What the fuck. I hate fanboyism of this level.

Ahah!
Cmon, its gonna be great. I wish i had this kind of event around me

I would get up during Attack of the Clones saying "Alright people this is not so bad, right? Just open your hearts!"
 
Ahah!
Cmon, its gonna be great. I wish i had this kind of event around me

I would get up during Attack of the Clones saying "Alright people this is not so bad, right? Just open your hearts!"
I'm curious how many are gonna be quoting the whole time lol I hope it ain't to bad
 
Oh god. I got tickets to te marathon event. There was no reserved seating. What the fuck. I hate fanboyism of this level.

That's even worse, you paid for it and you don't have reserved seats so it's hard to leave for an extended period of time. With the line in this thread, they'll just use a projector, broadcast it against the side of the Chinese Theater, it'll be free, and people can come and go as they please.
 

ezekial45

Banned
Have any of you guys ever run into trouble at screenings with reserved seating? It seems a lot more theaters are implementing the practice for their admittance, but I've seen a few arguments break out at theaters over people who either ignore or are oblivious to the set up.
 

SeanC

Member
Have any of you guys ever run into trouble at screenings with reserved seating? It seems a lot more theaters are implementing the practice for their admittance, but I've seen a few arguments break out at theaters over people who either ignore or are oblivious to the set up.

At worst, it's "you're up a row" or "you're a seat over" and people check their tickets, nod and move. Never have seen anyone get into arguments over it. Then again, I only really go to the Arclight, and everyone there is pretty much ponying up the cash for reserved and a good theater experience so I think everyone is on the same page.
 

Kwixotik

Member
Uh... why not just preorder and reserve a seat at a theater that offers that service? You couldn't be fucked to do that in 5 minutes a month ago so now you want to waste a week sitting in a line?
 
Uh... why not just preorder and reserve a seat at a theater that offers that service? You couldn't be fucked to do that in 5 minutes a month ago so now you want to waste a week sitting in a line?

For the new page...

This is what you think is happening:
iphone-5-tw-3.jpg

When this is what really is happening:

 

Blastoise

Banned
The movie is going to be good, but not that good.

I wonder if Disney wants this sort of press, and will they help nurture it?
 

FStop7

Banned
I got this documentary movie about the people who waited in line for episode 2, called star wait. Is it worse I watched a movie about people waiting in line for a movie?

You're interested in a curiosity of human nature. I think it's totally reasonable. I have the same interest.
 

Hjod

Banned
Just checked my local movie theater, tickets still available for the 16th.

I would never wait in line for anything this day and age, and I'm Swedish, we're the best at waiting in line.
 

Kwixotik

Member
I got this documentary movie about the people who waited in line for episode 2, called star wait. Is it worse I watched a movie about people waiting in line for a movie?

Star Wars 2 as in Attack of the Clones? After The Phantom Menace, I just have to ask why.
 

mcfrank

Member
Have any of you guys ever run into trouble at screenings with reserved seating? It seems a lot more theaters are implementing the practice for their admittance, but I've seen a few arguments break out at theaters over people who either ignore or are oblivious to the set up.

Haven't seen a movie without reserved seating in 5 years. No it has never been an issue. Every theater should go reserve seating. There is no reason not to. Ironically, I am seeing star wars without reserve seating because I am flying to Wichita, KS to see it with my nephews and for the holidays. Reserve seating there is 21 and over only.
 
That's even worse, you paid for it and you don't have reserved seats so it's hard to leave for an extended period of time. With the line in this thread, they'll just use a projector, broadcast it against the side of the Chinese Theater, it'll be free, and people can come and go as they please.

Thing is when the tickets went on sale, the box office ticket seller said we would get wristbands to go in and out. I'm praying they're smart enough to make them seat specific...but then that means probably lining up stupidly early. I just want decent seats really lol. Probably overreacting, but it is Star Wars.
 
Thing is when the tickets went on sale, the box office ticket seller said we would get wristbands to go in and out. I'm praying they're smart enough to make them seat specific...but then that means probably lining up stupidly early. I just want decent seats really lol. Probably overreacting, but it is Star Wars.

You can go in and out, but what guarantees someone doesn't take your seat while you're away? That's why I didn't do the marathon even though it was tempting. Maintaining your seat felt like you'd have to be there the entire time.
 

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
The Chinese Theater has assigned seating. This is completely pointless.

weird CGI gun flip

#georgelucasediting

I've always wondered if McGregor threw it the other way and Lucas decided in post he wanted to have it thrown the opposite direction. I don't know how else that shot ends up looking like that.
 

x-Lundz-x

Member
Thank god for reserve seating.

Amen

I refuse to watch a movie that does not have reserve seats anymore. Also, 21+ only for me as well. I'll gladly pay the 20 dollar price tag to avoid dumb ass children in my theatre experience.

I can't believe all theatres have not moved to this formula.
 

Surfinn

Member
Well shit, I'd hope they were genuine.

When I say "sense of community" I mean the larger community, especially in comparison to 99-05, when this sort of thing wasn't even that newsworthy. It was common. I've explained why it was more common then upthread, but basically, while there were always one or two really big lines (and I mean REALLY big, not just 100 people less than a week out), there were also a bunch of smaller lines in cities all across America. Happened for every single movie. 100 people in LA with about a week to go is a pretty decent sign of how the larger community has, in the 10 years since Revenge of the Sith, eschewed or abandoned the idea of lining up as some sort of community event.

It's one thing to cast lining up as a community event when large chunks of the community are actually doing it, and it's obvious that it's more about the camaraderie than it is getting in (although logistics of the time made it so the two blended really well). But in 2015, these people lining up isn't so much a reflection of community goodwill, not like it was then. They're an outlier. Like I said earlier, it reads less like hardcore fans enjoying themselves and the sense of belonging, and more like people doing a thing for the sake of doing it and being seen doing it.

I don't think I'd be as cynical as some, suggesting it's basically a stunt in the hopes someone from Lucasfilm will swerve over, say "Hey, we've got 100 extra seats we weren't planning on, guess you guys are going to the premiere," because that really seems like a longshot.

But even if they've already pre-bought their tickets for a screening to that theater, this line isn't like those other lines, simply because lining up isn't anywhere near as much as a thing anymore. It's not a defining part of the Star Wars experience like it used to be. It's one of the traditions that more or less got left behind between there and here.

What I meant was that I was asking those questions out of curiosity and with no ill intent. Just trying to be friendly.

I think it's unfair to suggest that since there's not as many people camping out it's not a community event or that "people don't do that anymore", personally. Whether or not it's newsworthy is irrelevant since those people are still going for the same reasons.

My point is that there are clearly still fans who enjoy camping out early at theaters with intentions of celebrating within that community, and if they find enjoyment out of it, good for them. I didn't understand the negativity in 99, and don't now. Even though I'm not going to camp out, I'll be damn sure to show up hours early to get a good seat for my 2D viewing, of course, since none of my local theaters have assigned seating in that format. I see these types of events as more of a positive thing though, even though I wouldn't do it. That sort of passion is partly what makes Star Wars so electrifying and memorable. And you can be damn sure that there will be community events at theaters closer to release.
 
Just trying to be friendly.

I know, was just goofing back.

I think it's unfair to suggest that since there's not as many people camping out it's not a community event or that "people don't do that anymore", personally

I don't think that's unfair at all, though. This line appears to be it. This film's anticipation levels are approaching Phantom Menace levels, and are DEFINITELY higher than Attack of the Clones or Revenge of the Sith. And yet it's basically this one line. It's an outlier, and a pretty small one on top of that, especially when drawing the direct comparison to previous lineups and the sense of community those did foster, with more people, and for longer periods of time.
 

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
I know, was just goofing back.



I don't think that's unfair at all, though. This line appears to be it. This film's anticipation levels are approaching Phantom Menace levels, and are DEFINITELY higher than Attack of the Clones or Revenge of the Sith. And yet it's basically this one line. It's an outlier, and a pretty small one on top of that, especially when drawing the direct comparison to previous lineups and the sense of community those did foster, with more people, and for longer periods of time.

And this line is almost certainly due to the fact that it's the theater where Star Wars premiered in 1977. It's practically a vanity project.
 

Sober

Member
I was gonna say, imagine the smell of the theatre during the opening night of the movie.

They certainly made it easier if they're gonna be in line a week and a half in advance though.
 
And this line is almost certainly due to the fact that it's the theater where Star Wars premiered in 1977. It's practically a vanity project.

I remember talking about this subject on Full of Sith shortly before or after the tickets went on sale, and we discussed whether lining up was going to be missed or even still done, and even our most staunch advocate for the community building aspect of having that parking-lot tailgate "Nerdstock" experience was like "I'll miss it... but I don't think I'll miss it, you know?"
 

Surfinn

Member
I know, was just goofing back.



I don't think that's unfair at all, though. This line appears to be it. This film's anticipation levels are approaching Phantom Menace levels, and are DEFINITELY higher than Attack of the Clones or Revenge of the Sith. And yet it's basically this one line. It's an outlier, and a pretty small one on top of that, especially when drawing the direct comparison to previous lineups and the sense of community those did foster, with more people, and for longer periods of time.

I would agree that people are definitely doing it less earlier on (we've yet to see how many people will be camping out next week, days before release, of course) than when the prequels were released, but do you really think this is not considered a community event by hardcore fans? That it isn't a positive, harmless experience? I'm not saying it can't appear silly to most people (it does to me too), but I'm still happy they're enjoying the hype of a new Star Wars movie so much as a community.
 
but do you really think it's not considered a community event between hardcore fans? That it isn't a positive, harmless experience?

I never said it was harmful. Just that it appears to me, having been around and very, very active in the community back then and now, that the large majority of Star Wars fans in that community have decided to forgo this particular aspect of the whole shebang.

Basically - these guys aren't the solid representation of fandom they might have been back in 2005. Not saying they're wrong for doing what they wanna do. Just that trying to stick up for it by using "but the community!" as an example is probably misguided, because this isn't really what the larger community wants to be doing in 2015.
 
It's cool they wanna do it for the community but there's like 10 people who still do it. Rent a motel room and jerk it to Rey like you're going to do, at least this way you don't stain mother's basement drywall.
 

MattKeil

BIGTIME TV MOGUL #2
I would agree that people are definitely doing it less earlier on (we've yet to see how many people will be camping out next week, days before release, of course) than when the prequels were released, but do you really think this is not considered a community event by hardcore fans? That it isn't a positive, harmless experience? I'm not saying it can't appear silly to most people (it does to me too), but I'm still happy they're enjoying the hype of a new Star Wars movie so much as a community.

The thing is, it was a community formed by necessity. If you wanted to see the movie in seats that didn't suck on opening night, you had to wait in line for it. So the people who were all there for the same thing made the best of a situation that, really, nobody wanted to be in if they're being honest. Now that it's a purely community-driven practice, with no payoff in terms of getting a superior or more timely viewing experience, it has become plainly obvious that the number of people who genuinely enjoyed the line culture is vanishingly small.
 
I was gonna say, imagine the smell of the theatre during the opening night of the movie.

They certainly made it easier if they're gonna be in line a week and a half in advance though.

holy. The room is gonna stink. It doesn't make any sense to do this.

You guys are wrong. They shower.

The thing is, it was a community formed by necessity. If you wanted to see the movie in seats that didn't suck on opening night, you had to wait in line for it. So the people who were all there for the same thing made the best of a situation that, really, nobody wanted to be in if they're being honest. Now that it's a purely community-driven practice, with no payoff in terms of getting a superior or more timely viewing experience, it has become plainly obvious that the number of people who genuinely enjoyed the line culture is vanishingly small.

This was never the reason for lining up at the Chinese Theater which is where this is taking place.
 

flozuki

Member
Dat cinematic history! Personally lining up a night before sounds fine and possible, bit that early... I envy people that have that much time to spent for lining up :D
 
Dat cinematic history! Personally lining up a night before sounds fine and possible, bit that early... I envy people that have that much time to spent for lining up :D
Believe it or not, people go to work in the daytime and then spend time in the line after work. So people with normal jobs can do this too.
 

Surfinn

Member
I never said it was harmful. Just that it appears to me, having been around and very, very active in the community back then and now, that the large majority of Star Wars fans in that community have decided to forgo this particular aspect of the whole shebang.

Basically - these guys aren't the solid representation of fandom they might have been back in 2005. Not saying they're wrong for doing what they wanna do. Just that trying to stick up for it by using "but the community!" as an example is probably misguided, because this isn't really what the larger community wants to be doing in 2015.
And I agree with all of the above, except that this event isn't driven by community specific reasons, regardless of how drastically the numbers have dwindled over the years.

Either way, like I said, we'll have to wait and see how the rest of the community will respond in the coming days. I'm willing to bet it will be both different and bigger in many ways.
 

MMarston

Was getting caught part of your plan?
And right on the money

For the new page

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/12...emiere/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

LucasFilm Just Invited Everyone Camping Outside Mann’s Chinese Theater Into The Star Wars: The Force Awakens Premiere – And The After Party!

Well, their perseverance has been rewarded – everyone still there has been invited in to see the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. They’ve had to move out of the way for the premiere to happen, but they are going to get in.

jokes on us apparently
 
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