Now it has begun, and no power in the universe can stand in its way.
The holiday season domination of box offices around the world commenced Thursday night with the sneak preview of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” and Hilo-area super fans — most of whom ordered their tickets online months in advance — were lined up at the Regal Cinemas Prince Kuhio 9 to be the first people in East Hawaii to take in the space spectacle.
At 6:30 p.m., nary a parking space was available in front of the theater, and inside a line four or five people wide snaked along the edges of the Prince Kuhio Plaza promenade fronting the theater box office. In all, more than 100 people were waiting to be let in for the 8 p.m. showing.
Initially, the theater planned to begin showing the film at 7:30, but increased demand caused them to open up two additional screenings for the day. Some in the line said they managed to purchase tickets for the new shows Thursday morning. Others bought their tickets online beginning back in October.
Because of a Regal Cinemas policy denying entry to attendees bearing toy lightsabers or blasters and wearing masks or face paint, there were few people dressed up in “Star Wars” costumes, as has been seen at prior premieres. A few dozen or so audience members wore “Star Wars”-themed T-shirts. Standouts among the bunch were a man wearing the image of Darth Vader with his hand outstretched, beneath which was written “Free Throat Hugs,” and a man wearing a black T-shirt showing police mugshots of Darth Vader.
Kyle Sumner bought 10 tickets well in advance of the screening and showed up with friends wearing a full Stormtrooper costume, but that didn’t last long.
“I got here at noon, and they kicked me out twice to take things off,” he said.
Even so, Sumner reported he was more than prepared for the evening’s entertainment.
“I hope it blows my mind,” he stated simply.
He added, only half jokingly, “I think Jar Jar Binks is going to turn out to be a Sith Lord.”
Three-year-old Olivia Ranne clutched her stuffed Chewbacca doll near the head of the line. Whenever anyone pointed at the doll, she put on her fiercest grimace and let loose with a growl, barely audible over the din of the fan-packed hallway. Her mother said the pair prepared for the new film by catching up on the prior six films.
“She’s ready,” Ashley McCollum said. Mom added that C3PO is her own favorite character.
“He’s the type of character that you really don’t expect to be in an action movie like this,” she said.
Carl Emerson said he saw the original “Star Wars” in 1977 at the Kapiolani Theater on Oahu.
“The special effects were incredible,” he said of his first experience. “No one had seen anything like that on the screen before.”
Most attendees said they were rooting for the new director, J.J. Abrams, to hit a home run after being handed the mantle by “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.
Still, Sumner said, “Lucas is the man!”
First in line for the 8 p.m. showing, Cameron McNair said he avoided all exposure to information about the film.
“I’m going in a blank slate,” he said. “I read nothing. I stayed away from it completely.”
Asked what he expected from the movie, McNair gave only one word: “Greatness.”
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.