Stephen Russo didn't see Star Wars: The Phantom Menace until last Saturday, when it was shown at the Arisia science fiction convention in Boston.
A movie fan and TV buff, he saw A New Hope on the big screen six times in 1977. Still, although he immersed himself in the media blitz surrounding The Phantom Menace's May release, he never got around to seeing the film itself.
On the other hand, Jonathan Berman saw the film the day it opened, settling for the 12:30 a.m. screening only because he was unable to get into the midnight show.
An Arisia regular since 1997, Berman appreciated the opportunity to see the movie again, this time not as part of an impersonal theatrical experience, but in a convention setting among fans -- with ample opportunity to debate pet theories long into the night.
Whether in an arena theater or a hotel banquet room, Berman loved the "fantastic effects" and the way Episode One resonated with the original Star Wars trilogy.
While he felt that parts of the film were targeted at 10-14 year olds, Berman viewed this philosophically, and suggested that it is time older fans "passed the dream on" to the younger generation.
Spiritual bankruptcy
For other Boston-area fans like Caren Perlmutter, seeing the film a second time provided new insights. She noticed character relationships and plot nuances that she missed the first time around.
Amid all the pod racing and lightsaber dueling, Perlmutter sensed a spiritual bankruptcy among the Jedi. What Yoda perceived as fear in Anakin Skywalker, she interpreted as grief at being taken from his mother.
Rather than encouraging the boy to express and deal with his grief, the Jedi forced him to deny it. Perlmutter believes not being allowed to grieve as a child will contribute to Anakin's downfall when he faces other significant losses later in the saga.
And what about Stephen Russo's first time?
After seeing The Phantom Menace, Russo believed that it was "well worth the wait." He enjoyed being able to see the movie without all the hype that surrounded the theatrical release. He also appreciated being able to see the film in a small setting with fans who shared his enjoyment of the experience.
Arisia was the first convention to screen The Phantom Menace. Based on the reactions of Russo, Berman and Perlmutter, it won't be the last.
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