February 5th, 2008

Star Wars Marathon

This Saturday marks a first for me. Sure, I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies before, and several times at that. But this Saturday will be the first time I’ll watch them all in a row. To make this occasion slightly less nerdy, I’ve invited other people over to watch them with me. If you’re reading this, consider yourself invited.

I realize that it will be a relatively small number of people who attend this, and I also realize that the number of people who come for all six movies will be even smaller. That’s why I’ve made a handy little timeline for the day:

  1. The Phantom Menace: 7:00 a.m.
  2. Attack of the Clones: 9:21 a.m.
  3. Revenge of the Sith: 12:03 p.m.
  4. A New Hope: 2:27 p.m.
  5. The Empire Strikes Back: 4:36 p.m
  6. Return of the Jedi: 6:48 p.m.

There’s a 5-minute break between each movie, with a 20-minute break scheduled before the start of Episode III. The projected end time is 9:02 p.m.

I toyed briefly with the idea of including the Clone Wars in the lineup, but that made an already-long day even longer, and I figured I was pushing my luck as it was.

A couple of notes about the day:

  • I will do everything in my power to stick to the timetable, believe you me.
  • I’m pretty sure there will be discussion during the viewings. Our resident Star Wars historian is planning to be there, and I’m sure we will all learn a thing or two :)
  • There’s wireless Internet available at my place, so if you need to bring your laptop and do some work to make yourself feel better about spending the day watching Star Wars, feel free.
  • I’m thinking pizza for lunch (that’s the 20-minute break), so bring a couple of bucks for that.
  • I will provide soda.
  • Hey, bring some snacks with you, that’d be cool! If we snack enough, we won’t notice that I didn’t schedule a 20-minute supper break.
  • I do have two cats, so drug yourself up if you’re allergic.
  • I’ve been told my apartment is chilly, so you might want to dress accordingly.
  • There isn’t a whole lot of seating, so if you’ve got a beanbag or a camp chair or something, feel free to bring that along. When I buy a house, I’ll make sure the theater room seats 50, but for now this is pretty much what I have.

Don’t let the structuredness fool you – I think it’s going to be a fun time for those who show up. A big screen TV, 5.1 surround sound, and the original versions of Episodes IV-VI… what’s not to love?? Come for the ones you want to see – no need to stay all day if you don’t want to see them all. That’s why Phantom Menace is showing at 7:00 a.m. – if you oversleep, you aren’t missing much.

And if this goes well, the next one will an all-day Lord of the Rings marathon.

11 Comments on “Star Wars Marathon”

  1. markus says:

    Ha. Mark, you are a funny, funny man.

  2. The Rock Star says:

    Not really my thing. Though… "The Bros" have dibs on a Bourne Trilogy viewing if they ever get around to scheduling it!

  3. Meags says:

    Man… I want to go! Move to Texas!

  4. Brian Arnold says:

    Somehow I managed to post before I was done. Ahem.

    That sounds so awesome. That being said, only five minutes between movies and only 20 minutes for lunch? That's brutal. :D

  5. Lorelei says:

    We have done this. You will be sore from sitting so long. Might I suggest a yoga break? (or a YODA break as my kids call it)

    I know why you are watching them from 1-7…..but might I suggest another showing where you watch them in the order released? For me, it will always be: 4,5,6,1,2,3

    What does your Star Wars historian think of that?

    Be prepared for special effects/production shock when you go from 3 to 4.

    Have fun! Oh yeah…we've done the LOTR-fest also. Yoga. It really works.

  6. daniel says:

    What? No Holiday Special?

    Seriously, I know it's an already brutal schedule, but even if you put 10 minutes between films, you'll end the day happier.

    This sounds so exciting, I really *really* wish I could be there. Which versions of the original trilogy will you be watching?

  7. M. Kate says:

    I'm in for Lord of the Rings

  8. Lorelei says:

    I have the holiday special if you want a copy…….

    Yes, I'm that much of a dork.

  9. MadMup says:

    For the record, the 5 minutes in-between movies is in addition to what is normally 8-10 minutes of credits. People should be fine!

    Episodes IV-VI are the originals, without all the Lucas mucking about of later years (though I do have those as well…)

    I also have the Holiday Special, even though I've never actually watched it. :$

  10. Lorelei says:

    Uh, yeah. Save yourself the pain…don't bother watching it. :)

  11. daniel says:

    No – you need to watch it. Every few years I drag it out and force myself to watch it. Granted, I fastforward most of it…

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