Swinging lightsabers, flying Frisbee discs, cribbage competitions and constant conversation kept more than 100 “Star Wars” fans amused as they waited outside for the first three late-night shows of “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.” The lines Wednesday evening at Cinemark 17 theater were filled with camping chairs, fast food remains, students playing card games and music blasting from a lone stereo.
“If I wasn’t so fanatic, I’d wait a week to see it,” said 18-year-old Kurt Studenroth, clutching a blue lightsaber and dressed in a well-worn “Star Wars” 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 fencing 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 Century Fox released “Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace” on May 19, 1999, it grossed $431 million, but it left some viewers disappointed. With “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones” in theaters today, 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” Monopoly 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 editor for Eugene Weekly, “Star Wars” movies have had two significant impacts on film audiences in America. The first was the reintroduction of the contemporary fairy tale where audiences could cheer Luke Skywalker’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 Disney did it in a small way,” she continued. “Lucas perfected it and made himself a millionaire in the process.”
Despite the hype, not everyone is a fan of the “Star Wars” series.
Toussaint Perrault, film coordinator with the UO Cultural Forum, said he won’t be going to see “Attack of the Clones,” especially because he has yet to see “The Phantom Menace.” Perrault predicts “Attack of the Clones” will not do well in theaters.
“It’s riding too close to the coattails 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 Menace” disappointed and disenchanted viewers because it was “too overtly commercial.” He said while films such as “Independence Day” did top the charts, these blockbuster films “are made for America’s short attention span. America forgets about them quickly.”

For fans interested in seeing 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 Internet or at the box office, said Senior Vice President of Marketing and Advertising Richard Westerling of Regal Cinemas, Inc.
“Get your ticket as soon as you know when you’re planning to attend,” 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 despite his lack of excitement about the new film, he said he believes “the die-hard ‘Star Wars’ fans” will love the movie.