The Force is back

The force behind Star Wars had Las Vegans -- from a cigarette-smoking Darth Vader to a line-cutting Boba Fett -- queueing up early this morning for seats to the first showings of "Episode I - The Phantom Menace."

But fans who do not yet have tickets need not despair. In a town where entertainment choices are more numerous than storm troopers, the year's blockbuster-apparent hasn't sold out.

As of this morning, tickets were still available for shows today and through the weekend, and at regular movie theater prices.

Cineplexes and malls across the country had people lined up to see the first Star Wars installment in 16 years. The George Lucas-produced-directed-written film is expected to beat the opening record of $90.2 million set by "Lost World: Jurassic Park" during the four-day Memorial Day weekend in 1997.

Some companies were bracing for a "Phantom" sickout. One employment agency has estimated that 2.2 million people nationally will skip work today to see the movie.

But despite large crowds that showed up at opening shows in Las Vegas, there are plenty of seats available to see the film that cost $115 million to make and is expected to gross more than a half-billion dollars.

The Orleans, which has been constantly showing the movie since 12:01 a.m., had sold out only the first three shows this morning, as had the Texas Station hotel-casino.

"Tickets are not a problem," said a Texas Station day manager who asked that her name not be printed. "We are showing it every half hour on four screens, so we have plenty of tickets left for most shows."

Three of those theaters have 450 seats and the other has 220 seats, she said.

Tickets at the Texas Station were $7.75 for adults and $4.25 for children and seniors for evening showings and $4.75 for adults for matinee showings before 6 p.m.

Regal Cinema in Boulder Station is showing "Phantom" on three screens. Two screens seat 445 people, the other 246.

The availability of tickets through the weekend is "very good," one manager said this morning, noting that no shows have yet sold out.

The movie will show every night at Boulder Station until 1:30 a.m. through June 18. Tickets are available 28 days in advance.

Theater management at the Orleans said that a big day of ticket sales is expected for tonight's shows.

"The Phantom Menace" takes place 30 years before the original Star Wars trilogy. Darth Vader was a boy named Anakin Skywalker. Two more prequels are slated.

The easy availability of tickets was not a reflection of the enthusiasm of the faithful. Lines started forming at the Orleans about 7 p.m. Tuesday for today's 12:01 a.m. show.

By 10:30 p.m. about 200 people were in a line snaking around the theater lobby.

Keeping with the dark side of the force, 20-year-old Danny Peterson dressed as Darth Vader and 19-year-old Jesse Gale dressed as Boba Fett tried to sneak past security and move closer to the front of the line. But an Orleans employee spotted them and sent them back to their places.

"We've been waiting a long time for this, including the 10 hours we waited in line last week for tickets," Gale said. "We'll be going tonight, tomorrow and probably the next day too."

Other fans came with their faces painted and some were decked out in Star Wars T-shirts and clothing. Many played cards or Trivial Pursuit on the lobby floor while waiting to get into the movie.

The big question is whether "The Phantom Menace" will do enough repeat business to topple the $600 million earned by "Titanic" in North America.

The original "Star Wars" is the No. 2-grossing movie of all time, with $461 million in tickets domestically. "Return of the Jedi" ranks No. 7 with $309 million, and "The Empire Strikes Back" is No. 9 with $290 million.

SUN REPORTERS Ed Koch and Sonya Padgett contributed to this report.

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