Star Wars Mania grips US
Star Wars fans lined up at New York City's famous Ziegfeld theatre on Wednesday, a day before the first showing of Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith.
Schoolteacher Tom Taylor's excitement was so visible at his school -- that his students bought him a special gift for the big day.
"My students did buy me this light sabre, knowing that I was coming to the first showing of Star Wars, so the excitement has been mutual between me and the students," Taylor said.
Other fans arrived in costume - some expressing a sinister appreciation of the dark side.
The first New York screening of Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is on Thursday at 12:01 am local time.
A small survey of those lining up unscientifically confirmed predictions of high absenteeism in American offices on Thursday.
Freddie Crespo dressed in a Jedi knight costume to celebrate the movie. Crespo said he left work early and will not go to work tomorrow.
Similar scenes played out around the country ahead of the opening of the sixth and final episode of the seminal science fiction series created by George Lucas.
Fans passed the time reading and chatting with friends and fellow fans, some of whom dressed in Star Wars costumes. Several said they've seen the movies more times than they can count.
Revenge of the Sith is the prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars movie and brings the saga full circle after 28 years.
It reveals how young Jedi Anakin Skywalker turns to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader.
Schoolteacher Tom Taylor's excitement was so visible at his school -- that his students bought him a special gift for the big day.
"My students did buy me this light sabre, knowing that I was coming to the first showing of Star Wars, so the excitement has been mutual between me and the students," Taylor said.
Other fans arrived in costume - some expressing a sinister appreciation of the dark side.
The first New York screening of Episode III - Revenge of the Sith is on Thursday at 12:01 am local time.
A small survey of those lining up unscientifically confirmed predictions of high absenteeism in American offices on Thursday.
Freddie Crespo dressed in a Jedi knight costume to celebrate the movie. Crespo said he left work early and will not go to work tomorrow.
Similar scenes played out around the country ahead of the opening of the sixth and final episode of the seminal science fiction series created by George Lucas.
Fans passed the time reading and chatting with friends and fellow fans, some of whom dressed in Star Wars costumes. Several said they've seen the movies more times than they can count.
Revenge of the Sith is the prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars movie and brings the saga full circle after 28 years.
It reveals how young Jedi Anakin Skywalker turns to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader.
