"Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith" is kicking some serious butt in the box office, taking over $200 million since it's been out May 19th. With the final film in the saga playing in theaters, here is my final entry regarding my trip to Star Wars Celebration 3 in Indianapolis. I told you all about what happened each of the days me and my friend Rob were there. Now, I'll take a look back recapping what I remember from SWC3.
First is the lines. I've been to a lot of places, but I've never been to a place where line standing was a requirement for attending an event. I mean, these were the longest lines I've ever been in. Ever. I still have flashbacks to that first day when me and Rob had to stand at a line that stretched all the way from the Convention Center to the RCA Dome several yards away. That was insane. And, this was happening every day of the Celebration!!!
Another thing I take from SWC3 is the fiasco at the Store. Without question, that store and the way they ran it was the biggest mess of the entire event. This was the first time I've ever attended an event and didn't leave without getting a T-shirt or cap showing that I was at that event. Also, it was the first time I couldn't get inside to get any souvenirs either. Before I left for the trip, I was telling my friends and co workers that if they wanted anything from the event, let me know so I could pick it up for them. Thank goodness they didn't take me up on that offer, cause I didn't have a chance to see the merchandise, much less buy it.
I didn't leave the Celebration empty handed though. I was able to score some cool stuff while I was there. Here's a photo of most of my swag:
My collection of stuff from Star Wars Celebration 3.
Among the goodies I picked up include a Clone Wars drawing of Yoda, a postcard set of all the Star Wars movie posters, including the rare edition for A New Hope, a Star Wars cup, a Star Wars Trivial Pursuit T-shirt, a "Star Wars is Forever" pin, a "Revenge of the Sith" wristband and other various magazines and posters, including a cool one featuring all of the major characters from the Star Wars saga, signed by the artist.
But the big prize I got from SWC3 was this:
The talking Darth Vader action figure:
the most coveted item at SWC3. 
Yes, this is one of the prized talking Darth Vader action figures that was an "exclusive" item at the Celebration. In my opinion, I think it was the overwhelming demand for this figure that was probably the reason why a lot of us who attended SWC3 couldn't get into the Store. What made it more of a joke was the fact that the "rules" for getting this figure weren't enforced at all. Originally the plan was for each person to get no more than four of these figures and that's it. (Before I left for Indy, my plan was to get two, one for me and one to sell to help pay off my expenses for the trip) But, from what I heard, the so-called workers at the Store didn't enforce it at all, causing a lot of these people to grab a lot more than four.
One of the things that really pissed me off throughout the whole weekend was seeing many people walking around the Center with boxes and boxes of these figures, knowing good darn well that they were hording these from the rest of us fans and probably charging a hell of a lot more than the regular price of $15. What a joke!!! Making matters worse was seeing some of the dealers at the Exhibit Hall trying to sell them (and the exclusive cases they came in) for a lot more, like $50 and up.
So, how did I get a hold of this figure? Interesting story, but first let me share how my bud Rob got his. On the second day of the Celebration, after we were totally frustrated about not getting in the Store to even attempt to get one, Rob got to a point that he was going to get one no matter what. As we sat down for a break after getting out of one of the events, we happened to see a young woman with four of the Vader figures. Rob somehow worked up the courage to offer her $50 for one. Just like that. I was surprised and so was she. She even asked if he was serious. He said yes and just like that, she gave him one for the money he offered. Rob would tell me later that he should've thought it through and tried to get it for a lower price, but at the time, he didn't care. He got his Darth Vader figure. I was still without one, but there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going to fork over such a high price for it.
Anyways, back to how I got Darth. The next day, I was walking around the Exhibit Hall and, sure enough, I saw several dealers selling the figures for $40, $50 and more. I walked up to one and saw several figures available. As I was talking to one dealer about them, he told me it was going to cost $50 for a figure, $65 with the case. Insane! As I was shaking my head, an older gentleman just happened to walk up to the booth and was offering to sell a couple of figures he had purchased. While the dealer was hedging on whether to buy them from the man, I spoke up and said I'll buy one from you for $30. Right in front of the dealer's face. The man said sure and we stepped away from the booth to a nearby table to finish the deal. As we were walking away, I could hear the dealer guy swearing under his breath. He was so pissed that I snatched a deal right from under him, but I could care less! After testing out the figure to see if it worked, I got the Vader for about twice the regular price. (In fact, I got $20 of my money back on the last day when a man needed my badge so that he could get inside to purchase an item while me and Rob were waiting outside to get our ride to the airport.) Moral of the tale: Always look for a better deal and never pass up a chance to stick it to the idiots who overcharge. :)
Another moment from SWC comes courtesy of my friend Rob. Now, we both have cellphones. I have Verizon and Rob has a Cingular. Now, one of the sponsors just happened to be Cingular, which had a booth set up at the Exhibit Hall hawking their phones with Star Wars themes and dial tones and the like. On the second day of the SWC (April 22), we were both at the Exhibit Hall taking a break and Rob was trying to call a friend back home (on a Cingular phone, mind you) and couldn't get through. Now, from where we were, the Cingular booth was like, several feet away, and I could hear the high-energy saleswoman harping away about all the incredible uses of a Cingular phone and getting all the Star Wars extras, and here Rob was on an actual Cingular phone and he couldn't even dial out!
The irony of the whole thing was just hysterical. I joked with Rob that he should walk up to that booth and tell the crowd standing around there that their phones suck! Or at least make up such a fuss that maybe he would've gotten a free Star Wars phone or something.
Now, it's only fair since I've been talking about my best friend and our SWC adventures these past few blogs that I should show a photo of what he looks like, so here he is with Ray Park.
My friend Rob with Ray Park.
My friend Rob with Ray Park.
And while we're on the subject, here's a photo of the Darth Maul action figure that Ray Park signed for me. Before leaving for SWC, that figure was collecting dust in a storage bin with some of my other stuff. Now, after getting a protective case for it, the figure now sits prominently in my bedroom, next to my Darth Vader figure. :)
My Darth Maul action figure, signed by Ray Park
Summing up my time at SWC3, I have such great memories. Sure, there was some stuff that sucked royally, like dealing with the long lines, the mess with the Store and putting up with unseasonably cold weather in Indy. But the good times more than outshined the bad. Like meeting such cool Star Wars fans from all over while we were waiting at the lines. I can recall meeting people from Texas, Ohio and even my home state in Michigan. And it was cool getting to know them while we were waiting, like getting opinions on what to expect from Episode 3, commenting about how Brandon Routh looked in his Superman outfit for the new movie they're shooting (we saw the first photo of it while we were there), and even the NBA and the NFL draft.
And, it was also cool to meet two other guys who were staying at the same hotel as me and Rob. We didn't get a chance to get their names, but we ran into them several times during the Celebration and we all got along pretty well. One moment that stands out was on Day 3 (April 23) of the SWC when George Lucas was speaking. When our day began, we ran into them and they told us all about how they stood in the long line and the cold weather at 4am, waiting to get into see George and that it was cool to see him. Of course, at the time, me and Rob didn't know that we would luck out and get in to see George ourselves once we came to the Center. Later that day, Rob and I ran into those same guys and we just happened to tell them about how we were able to get in to see George in a ten minute span. Needless to say, the guys wanted to kill us. Heck, they even videotaped us telling that story about how we got in. Wherever or whoever you guys are, it was very cool meeting you and I would love to see that video.
Oh, there were so many cool moments. There was even a guy we saw there dressed in a banana outfit draped with a Jedi robe. His name -- I kid you not -- was Banakin Skywalker. He was there at the George Lucas session me and Rob attended and got to ask George a thought provoking question about how do Jedis die. An article on that is posted here.
And lastly, I recall one moment where I was walking around the Exhibit Hall and there was a huge crowd gathered around a lady dressed in what is best known as the "Leia slave outfit". (For those who don't know what that is, watch "Return of the Jedi") After a few moments for taking pictures and the like, I just happened to be standing next to a young boy who, obviously, was in awe of the moment. He, out of nowhere, said to me, "I've never seen anything like that before." What I told him in response was, "See, another reason why I love Star Wars." ;)
I can go on and on and on about all the moments and memories I take from those four days in April out in Indianapolis. The photos I've posted on these blogs were just a taste of what I've experienced. (I've got several more that are being developed and will post them in a seperate page real soon) But, overall, I can say that this was an experience I'll never forget. Getting to meet Ray Park, Daniel Logan and Matthew Wood. Not just meet them, but actually talk with them and share a moment with them. Seeing all the props and artifacts from the movies. Seeing the 1-Man SW Trilogy and the Fan Film Awards. Meeting all kinds of fans from all over. Experiencing my first ever plane rides. And, thru it all, sharing the entire time with one of my closest friends. Yes, my time out at Star Wars Celebration 3 was one of the best times of my life. And, if the rumors are true that they're planning a Celebration 4 in 2007, in time for the 30th anniversary of "Episode 4: A New Hope", I'll be there no matter what it takes.
To paraphrase a line from Episode 4: The Celebration will be with me.
Always.
Up Next: My Review of Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith!!!
