Thursday, 12/14

Tonight's the night.

At 7pm tonight, I will be sitting inside theater 1 at the Thomas Theater Group's Tri City Cinema 8 in Marquette, eagerly awaiting the finish of 9,000 commercials and trailers. At the conclusion of the 9,000^th, the theater goes dark, the anticipation builds to an unbearable crescendo, and the world rocks slightly on its axis.

Either that, or “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” begins. You take your pick.

I had to laugh slightly when my friend Deanna bought our tickets over two months ago. After all, who figured that you'd need to buy tickets that far out just to see a movie on an opening night, right? But I'm glad she did; if she hadn't, I can guarantee we would not actually just be able to walk up and buy tickets to the film. That's how sold out the movie is. And I think we'll be in good company. I've spoken with many people I know, everyone from friends to “High School Bowl” team coaches, who'll be there.

It should be a blast.

One of the things I'm enjoying about the build-up to the premiere is how many people are trying to make it a spoiler-free event. People who've already seen the movie are going out of their way not to spill any secrets, just like the people who made it. And I'm going to honor that. For the next week, I'm not going to mention anything about the film—expect for incessantly gloating about how I saw it opening night—so that people who haven't had the chance to see it get to go in and experience it for themselves. I know that's how I'd want to do if if I didn't have a friend that bought tickets two months ago.

Have I mentioned I how much I appreciate Deanna's foresight?

As a result, you'll be able to come back here tomorrow and know that this will be a spoiler-free zone. Of course, I have the feeling that the vast majority of you—people much more grounded in reality than I—don't really care about what happens in the new “Star Wars” movie. But just in case, I'll write about something else. I mean, I don't know what I'll be able to write about, seeing as how I'll (hopefully) still be locked in a “Star Wars” high, but we'll see. I'm sure I can some up with something.

It's the least I can do.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com), uber-nerd.