A day ago, in theaters not too far away . . .
The second of six installments in the “Star Wars” saga hit the big screens Thursday afternoon at two North Olympic Peninsula cinemas.
Waves of anxious fans clamored to the windows of box offices in Port Angeles and Port Townsend and were briskly directed inside auditoriums.
Some of them had spent days sitting on concrete awaiting the much-hyped “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones.”
After the final scene faded to cyan closing credits scrolling to the same John Williams-penned march that closed out four other “Star Wars” films, fans couldn’t seem to help but rave.
Port Angeles High School student Alex Ludwick, 16, had camped outside Deer Park Cinemas since Tuesday to catch the movie with friends.
He echoed most of Deer Park Cinemas first showing crowd’s feelings: “After Episode I, it surpassed all of my expectations.”
Several fans outside the theater, 96 Deer Park Road, said their impressions of “Clones” predecessor “Episode I — The Phantom Menace” were less than spectacular.
A the Port Townsend’s Rose Theater, 235 Taylor St., Mark Wylie of Tacoma stood second in line, recalling seeing the first film in 1977.
“I saw the first one with my mom when I was six,” Wylie said. “All I remember is being scared of Darth Vader.”
Behind Wylie, Pinki Wanabi Kenobi, also known as Rose Soini, was dressed as a Padawan, or Jedi apprentice.
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