AOTC viewings Vs. TPM viewings

[Quadinaros]

I dug up my old TPM ticket stubs yesterday to see how my AOTC viewing rate compared to my TPM rate. I was actually surprised at the results since I feel like I've been seeing AOTC more times.

I've seen AOTC 12 times so far. At this point in TPM's run, I'd seen it 15 times, on my way to 24 total viewings.

I guess I have some work to do. Since AOTC looks like it'll make about 70% of TPM's box office take, I guess I'd have to see it 17 times to make 70% of the viewings. But since I like AOTC more, I'm going to beat that 24!! I'll shoot for 25.

I know this is more than anybody cares about, but here is my viewing breakdown of each movie. If anybody actually has their own records on this, please share them. :)

TPM
[list=1]
24-May
27-May
27-May
29-May
30-May
31-May
5-Jun
5-Jun
6-Jun
12-Jun
12-Jun
13-Jun
19-Jun
26-Jun
28-Jun
5-Jul
10-Jul
17-Jul
21-Jul
31-Jul
21-Aug
1-Sep
10-Sep
4-Dec
[/list=1]

AOTC
[list=1]
16-May
16-May
17-May
19-May
19-May
24-May
27-May
31-May
7-Jun
19-Jun
26-Jun
30-Jun
[/list=1]

[JonathanLB]

I'm running well ahead.

Through June, I had seen TPM 14 times. I reached 27 times through June with AOTC... I was very disappointed with that too. I thought for sure I'd make 32 viewings, but not having a car hurt badly. Ugg.. ugg.. ugg.

I made this a long time ago, had it in a Word file, so you can see my TPM viewing pace:

Phantom Menace Viewings

1)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
12:01am Wed. 5/19/99
$7.50
2)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
4:00pm Wed. 5/19/99
$4.75
3)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
4:00pm Fri. 5/21/99
$4.75
4)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
1:00pm Sat. 5/22/99
$4.75
5)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
4:00pm Sat. 5/22/99
$4.75
6)
Evergreen Parkway 13
-ADVANCE-
4:00pm Mon. 5/24/99
$4.75
7)
Westgate Cinemas 5
12:30pm Fri. 5/28/99
$4.75
8)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:30pm Sat. 5/29/99
$4.75
9)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Fri. 6/11/99
$7.50
10)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sun. 6/13/99
$4.75
11)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Thu. 6/17/99
$7.50
12)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Sat. 6/19/99
$7.50
13)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sat. 6/26/99
$4.75
14)
Evergreen Parkway 13
1:00pm Mon. 6/28/99
$4.75
15)
Evergreen Parkway 13
1:00pm Sat. 7/3/99
$4.75
16)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sat. 7/3/99
$4.75
17)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:30pm Mon. 7/5/99
$4.75
18)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:30pm Thu 7/15/99
$7.50
19)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sun. 7/18/99
$4.75
20)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Thu. 8/5/99
$7.50
21)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Fri. 8/6/99
$4.75
22)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sun. 8/8/99
$4.75
23)
Evergreen Parkway 13
1:00pm Tue. 8/10/99
$4.75
24)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Tue. 8/10/99
$4.75
25)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Tue. 8/10/99
$7.50
26)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Thu. 8/12/99
$4.75
27)
Eastgate 3
7:00pm Sun. 8/15/99
$7.50
28)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Wed. 8/18/99
$4.75
29)
Evergreen Parkway 13
7:00pm Wed. 8/18/99
$7.50
30)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Sun. 8/22/99
$4.75
31)
Evergreen Parkway 13
4:00pm Thu. 8/26/99
$4.75
32)
Movies on T.V.
7:05pm Thu. 9/30/99
$7.50
33)
Movies on T.V.
4:30pm Thu. 10/7/99
$4.75
34)
Movies on T.V.
3:35pm Mon. 10/18/99
$4.75
35)
Tigard 11
3:55pm Fri. 12/3/99
$4.75
36)
Tigard 11
7:00pm Fri. 12/3/99
$7.50
37)
Tigard 11
3:55pm Sat. 12/4/99
$4.75
38)
Tigard 11
7:00pm Sat. 12/4/99
$7.50
39)
Tigard 11
3:55pm Mon. 12/6/99
$4.75
40)
Tigard 11
3:55pm Thu. 12/9/99
$4.75
41)
Valley Tri Theater
1:00pm Thu. 12/30/99
$2.00
42)
Valley Tri Theater
3:45pm Thu. 12/30/99
$2.00
43)
Valley Tri Theater
5:15pm Wed. 1/05/00
$2.00
44)
Valley Tri Theater
5:15pm Thu. 1/06/00
$2.00
45)
Valley Tri Theater
8:00pm Thu. 1/06/00
$2.00
46)
Valley Tri Theater
5:20pm Fri. 1/07/00
--PASS*--
47)
Valley Tri Theater
8:00pm Fri. 1/07/00
--PASS*--
48)
Valley Tri Theater
1:00pm Sun. 1/09/00
$2.00
49)
Valley Tri Theater
5:20pm Thu. 1/13/00
$2.00
50)
Valley Tri Theater
8:00pm Thu. 1/13/00
$2.00

*Theater manager gave me free tickets because I had been there the two previous nights, and he didn’t want to make me pay again.

Total Price: $239.00

I will eventually write up one of these documents for AOTC viewings, but not until I'm totally finished and then I can come up with exact dollar totals and all of that good stuff.

I saw TPM the most times in August (12) and the least times in September (1), not including November, in which TPM played for only 3 days.

I saw AOTC 12 times in May, 15 times in June for 27 total so far. 15 is my current record for any month in viewings, but I hope that maybe I can come close to beating it in July if I get a car soon.

If AOTC were in theaters as long as TPM, I would see it an estimated 95 times or so roughly. Reality is more like 50 to 60... I suppose. Hard to say because theaters are unpredictable.

[Quadinaros]

Interesting stuff, Jon. I haven't figured out the dollars I've spent. And I have a terrible habit of spending an almost equal amount at the concession stand. >_<

[JonathanLB]

I avoid the concession stands mostly, unless I see multiple movies per day, then I have to use them basically. Ugg...

I am sure I will spend WAY more on AOTC than TPM. I'm probably at $175 right now, so I'll reach more like $300 this time around (because dollar theaters should cut back on my expenditures a bit, but I wouldn't say $350 is out of the question).

I want a car BADLY, I hope that place calls me soon... ugg. This is torture.

[flagg]

I saw TPM 11 times. So far I've only seen AOTC four! I'm an amateur, I know :)
It is strange that even though most fans I've talked to prefer AOTC, they're not seeing it as many times as TPM. Do you think the soon to be released DVD is the cause?
Still, I've only seen Spidey once. I enjoyed it, but it's not the sort of film I'm desparate to rewatch.

[JMK]

I think that definetly plays an important role. In 99, I was getting my fill of TPM because I wasn't sure when I'd have the DVD. Sure there's VHS, but still, its just not the same. The other big factor is that it was only a 3 year wait this time. In 99, it was such a big thing to go see the new SW movie on the big screen over and over and over again. This time, it isn't as big.

[CMJ]

I had more dispensible income 3 years ago...that's my excuse. :)

[Jedieb]

I'm at 5AOTC V. the 4 I had for TPM. And I was lucky to squeeze in 4 for TPM. The last viewing coming when I took my sister and husband to see it while I was on vacation in Miami.

[Marcus Telcontar]

5 for TPM and that was an effort.

2 for AOTC and I dont see the reason for more, especially as my wife dislikes AOTC a lot. Dont really see the point when the DVD comes out late this year.

[BUFFJEDI]

Darth turbo geek, MARRIED!!?? I never knewO_o

[JonathanLB]

Don't see the point?! Perhaps because it is absolutely impossible to understand a Star Wars movie or appreciate it fully without seeing it at least 5 times. Even then, 5 times does almost nothing. I think anyone who sees the movies many times knows that. Nonetheless, if you are happy with seeing the movie on your TV screen for the rest of time and only getting TWO lousy viewings in, obviously that's your initiative, but just remember it's unlikely you'll have this chance again anytime soon.

Personally, I would never let casual fans beat me at Star Wars viewings. Most people I know who are my good friends have seen AOTC at least twice and they're not even fans. Anyone who insists to me they are a huge, die-hard Star Wars fan and saw AOTC twice, I'd laugh at them and walk away. I saw the last Bond movie three times and I don't even think it's a great movie.

I consider 3-5 viewings Jedi Padawan status. 6-10 is Jedi Knight status. 11-30, let's say, is Jedi Master status, and 30+ is Jedi Council Member status, hehe.

The Star Wars fans who do not see AOTC at all as much as they saw TPM cannot hardly look at the box office and say, "Wow gee I wonder why this one hasn't done as well as the last one." LOOK in the mirror people. If you saw TPM 10 times and end up seeing AOTC 4 times, you are the direct reason why AOTC has not made as much money. That is your explanation.

Now in my case, I have seen AOTC way more commonly than TPM, but I may not reach my TPM count simply because the movie is not in theaters as long, which is not my fault obviously, but it's people who saw TPM like way way more times and haven't hardly seen AOTC yet claim they like it more and THEN have the nerve to wonder about the box office that bother me. It's rather obvious that if all of our fans don't see the movie as much, it won't make as much money. Simple math.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Darth turbo geek, MARRIED!!?? I never knew


yeah, my wife posts here as well. So watch yourself :p



Personally, I just dont care. AOTC was to me just a good movie, nothing more. Had some good bits but nothing I feel the true urge to see again and again. Now giving what time pressures I do have between work, home and wife, time to me is a commodity that I just cant get more of. Thence, I could never get ten viewings of anything at all. LOTR I managed 6 and that was enormously difficult. It was also expensive. I consider the 20 dollars for the movies as expensive and given my wife comes with me and we date, the cost of a night at the movies gets up to 100 dollars after dinner and stuff. Man, a movie has to be worth it to justify that!

No, I'm not a die hard fan, I wont deny that. It is excessively rare for me to see a movie twice in the theatres and the ones I have have been pearlers - things like Shrek, TPM, AOTC.... FOTR topped out my seen in theatres count. I regret not seeing The Matrix in theatres twice, but it didnt really click first time around.

Personally, I regard the 35 dollars on a DVD much better cost and time wise than a theatre.

30 plus viewing, is like 600 dollars all up. After other costs like food and transport, thats just a bit more than I like to think about spending, even staggered out.

[CMJ]

Well I saw TPM 7 times I think. I've seen AOTC 3 times so far. So I guess I'm guilty. However, what I said is true. Right now the treasury is rather bare...working for free on alot of projects doesn't exactly bring in alot of money. :p I had some money saved plus the folks are still helping out otherwise I'd be in dire straights. It's amazing I see as many films as I do. I'm the king of living cheaply(films are really my only real expense...I eat cheaply, never buy things....I am very thrifty). ;)

[JonathanLB]

I understand. Moviegoing is dang expensive now days. Plus, I know the time issue can be a problem, even for me. Even though I have totally abundant time, there are other things I want to do besides see every new release, but I try to do my best anyway.

I've spent about $600 USD on movies in theaters this year. Plus all of the DVDs I have bought and rented, so probably about $1,200 total. I dunno maybe a bit more even. I bought a lot of DVDs this year.

[CMJ]

Well the time issue isn't really a problem, I can always make time. God I haven't BOUGHT a movie since maybe Christmas(other than my Dad's birthday gift). There are many DVD's I'd like, perhaps I'll get a couple for my birthday. I know my folks are gonna take me to "Road to Perdition", so at least I know I can save the money I was gonna spend on seeing that one on another movie. It sucks to be poor Jonathan...:)

[JonathanLB]

The difference a comma can make, haha. I think you mean, "It sucks to be poor, Jonathan" :)

Well hopefully I never have to know that from experience, CMJ! ;)

[flagg]

Originally posted by Marcus Q'Dunn
2 for AOTC and I dont see the reason for more, especially as my wife dislikes AOTC a lot. Dont really see the point when the DVD comes out late this year.

I know it's tough to choose between your wife and Star Wars, but you know what you have to do. :)
Just kidding. But I am grateful I can see whatever movie I want whenever I want.

[JonathanLB]

Sorry, but if my wife/girlfriend didn't want to see Star Wars and I did, that would be HER problem, not mine. Star Wars is my biggest hobby and passion, so if she couldn't accept that, it just wouldn't work plain and simple. It would be as bad as if she were super religious. It just would not work, and in the same manner, if she didn't appreciate Star Wars or at least accept my love of it, it wouldn't work.

[JMK]

Your opinion will change soon enough. It did for me. If you choose Star Wars over a girl you really like, then I pity you.

[Lady Vader]

TPM = 20

AOTC = 6

I just haven't been going to the movie theater much as of late. Been too busy going over to a firend's house and playing multiplayer Serious Sam over their network. :D

[flagg]

There are plenty of girls who like Star Wars if you know where to look. It is worth the effort :)

[JMK]

Oh yeah? Where????? o_O

[JonathanLB]

Thing is, all of you guys were major, die-hard TPM viewers (as was I), so your AOTC counts are not looking impressive compared to that. I guarantee that the box office for AOTC is more impressive than your relative viewings...

I mean, AOTC is going to make 70% of TPM. I bet our total combined viewings of AOTC will not be 70% of our total combined viewings of TPM. That's not so good. Come on people, AOTC needs your help here reaching that $300M! Get out and get in a few more viewings anyway... :)

"Your opinion will change soon enough."

No, it will not change. My principals never change regarding important issues like that. If you changed your values, shame on you. I cannot believe anyone would be so spineless as to let a girl dictate how he's going to live his life. If a girl told me that to be with her, I'd have to give up being a Star Wars fan, then I'd tell her where the door was and caution her not to hit her ass on the way out. Nobody comes between me and my goals or my interests.

If there is one thing that pisses me off the most, it's someone ignorantly and stupidly saying, "Oh you will change in time, blah blah," just because you lost your way doesn't mean I'm so gullible too. You need look no further than Buff to see how true Star Wars fans act. He will readily blow off a girl for Star Wars, and that is true devotion, that is a real fan.

Now personally, I would not take it as far as Buff because I'm far more desperate than he is, haha. I mean if I was going to see Star Wars with a super hot girl and she was talking during the movie, hey whatever, she can talk all she wants, I know the dialogue anyway. Yeah I like to hear it again, but if I was with a hot girl at the movie, I wouldn't be complaining.

But if a girl said, "Well if you want to date me, you cannot see the Star Wars movies more than so and so many times per month," then I'd just be like, "EXCUSE ME?! You do not tell me what to do. There is only ONE person who tells me what to do: ME!"

I am extremely independent and I do not put up with crap from anyone, let alone a girl. Now in any relationship there are compromises, like if she wants to go see whatever movie, I see anything and everything anyway, so she can pick the movie every time as far as I'm concerned, I gotta see it anyway, may as well see it with someone. Then I see my movies alone. But the moment your girlfriend or wife starts telling YOU how to run YOUR life, that's the moment when you ask yourself why the hell you're so whipped.

[JMK]

See, you're missing my point. The girl you fall for won't make you choose between Star Wars and her. If she did, then yeah, show her the door, because no matter what your interest is, she'll always put up that ultimatum. But when you find the right girl, you'll find yourself spending more time with her and the other things in your life, (I mean hobbies) will seem inconsequential.

Doubt me now, believe me later.
Ask the married men here.

[JonathanLB]

See, that is exactly what I'm saying. You need to find a balance between the activities in your life. Now if I had a girlfriend I'd probably spend less time posting here (sorry guys, haha), but I would not spend less time in theaters. I need to see every movie released for my Website, even though it hasn't been updated in ages, I'm writing every review still and just waiting for the time to post them and restart this damn thing. So this is my job, or one of them, and it's just something that I love doing. Even as bad as many movies are, I enjoy being a huge film buff on new releases (and hopefully eventually on all types of movies, but I'm only 19, and my youth has prevented me from seeing a lot of the great movies I still gotta see, but I'm doing well on that... slowly but surely).

Still, you cannot just say, "Ok now that I have a girlfriend I'm going to ignore my other friends." No. There is something very wrong with that. Your other friends are very important. They are always there for you and they deserve better than that. Anyone who just starts spending all of their time with their damn girlfriend is really in an unhealthy relationship. You have to balance yourself. Just as I do not spend all of my time being an author or a Webmaster or a Star Wars fan or a moviegoer or a writer or on school or whatever else, I wouldn't want to spend all of my time on a girlfriend either. She should also maintain healthy relationships with her other friends and continue doing the activities she loves too. Otherwise, the relationship is just detrimental.

As much as I love hanging out with my best friend Bryan, there are times I've had to just say, "Look man, I have a lot of work to do, I really want to finish this book up (or update this Website), and I'd rather we get together in a few days." He understands, just as I understand that he has to have a real job and earn money that way. I don't get mad at him hanging out with his girlfriend (lately, he has been good about being balanced, I think) and I don't get mad at him having to work (he doesn't have a job now, but did last summer and last x-mas break and will have one soon probably), so I expect him to understand that sometimes I really just have to devote myself to my work too.

Girlfriend or not, I have goals that must be reached. I would never settle for being another average American in suburbia just because I had a wife. She's gotta realize that part of what makes me unique is my devotion to my work and my lofty goals. Even if I failed in those goals, I sure have to try because it's what drives me. If she does not understand that, the relationship wouldn't work. That's probably why I would need to be with a girl who is fairly ambitious herself, or if she is not, she's gotta find ways to be entertained besides just me because I cannot afford to devote myself to someone 100%. My time is valuable and split into many different compartments. That's the way it will always be.

[JMK]

Ooooooooooook. Whatever floats your boat. But remember this when you have a girl that you're head over heels for; you'll do all the things I've been saying, and you won't even realize it. Give all the posts you want on the issue, you just can't rationalize what happens to you once she's in the picture. As the dude in Something About Mary said: "love will make you do f*ked up things." It's the truth, and you won't know what hit you. Like I said, doubt me now, believe me later. :D

[Lady Vader]

Hey! I'm a SW fan! And last I checked, I was a girl! :p

But no fear... we're out there. Just gotta keep your eyes peeled. :)

[JonathanLB]

It's not a matter of doubt. That may be true for you, but I am unwavering in my loyalty to Star Wars and my devotion to my goals. There is still plenty of time and room for a girl too. There are 15 hours per day or so, sometimes less, sometimes more, depending on my sleeping schedule, haha. That leaves too little time for doing everything as I wish I could, hehe, but plenty of time for various things, not just one.

I'm not disagreeing with you in that I'm not saying, "No, I wouldn't hang out with a girlfriend that much," all I'm saying is that I am no longer Jonathan L. Bowen once I don't do the things that make me... ME! If I'm not writing, not seeing movies, not doing normal activities, it means I'm not myself. Actually, lately I haven't been totally myself for personal reasons, but I could not feel good about myself if I was spending all of my time on a girl and none of my time on advancing myself. Maybe you are happy with that, but I would not be. I am not like most people anyway, though. Obviously most teenagers and college students do not feel they have to do ANYTHING useful until they are out of college. I feel otherwise. Every day where I don't accomplish something of value is a wasted day. Accomplishments aren't stupid things like going to a restaurant with my friends, they are things like getting closer to my next book deal, increasing revenue on one of my Websites, gaining business experience, anything along those lines.

As badly as I wish I had a girlfriend, and that is pretty damn badly, I still can tell you that I would absolutely divide my time between what is important to me.

[JMK]

LV, you're one in a million, along with the other SW girl fans here, and the rest of us should be so lucky as to find a SW-loving girl. Y'all just don't exist in proper numbers!!! :lol

[JonathanLB]

The numbers are extremely bad for guy SW fans. There are very, very few good looking girls who are also Star Wars fans. There are probably like 80 in the entire world, two of them being right here on this forum, hehe ;)

[Marcus Telcontar]

When your married - wife comes first.

And that aint a bad thing, I can tell you

[JMK]

I'll just let the married people do the talking. ;)

[Jedieb]

From the keyboard of one of the married men...
SW will not bear my children.
SW will not cook dinner for me.
SW will not watch the kids while I go out on toy runs.
SW will not hold my hand.
SW will not give me a massage when my neck is stiff.
SW will not laugh at my jokes, even when they're not that funny.
SW will not listen to me bitch and moan about my work.
SW will not look me in the eye and lie about how bad my latest haircut really looks.
SW will not cradle my daughter in a certain way that makes me stop in my tracks and smile.
SW will not make me laugh by saying something new and refreshing.
SW will not take care of me when I'm sick.
SW will not stay up all night worrying and caring for my kids when they're sick.
SW will go with me to the movies tonight to see Bourne Identity.
SW will not give me a digital camera as an 8th Anniversary present next Tuesday.
SW will not console me after my team loses a big game.
SW will not make fun of me when I deserve to be made fun of.

Look at all of the above and realize I haven't even touched upon SEX!

It's very simple, hobbies are no match for relationships with REAL people. If the hobby can lead to those relationships, then great. But sitting in a room by yourself watching the same thing over and over again and using that as a substitute for a relationship with a flesh and blood person is... well, pick your own adjective. It's also one thing to be in a relationship, then to IMAGINE or OBSERVE a relationship. If someone who's never even held a girl's hand is blathering about how to keep a woman "in line" I patiently nod my head like a bobble head as they cluelessly prattle on.

Friends
Of the dozens of guys I hung out with in college I only still talk and correspond with a handful of them. I even have a great friend from my elementary school days that I still talk to on a regular basis. These knuckleheads are my friends, but my BEST FRIEND shares a bed with me. That's the way it SHOULD be.

WHIPPED
I use to rag on guys that were whipped. I still do. A whipped guy drops everything for a girl because he's desperate to get some. A whipped guy attracts a certain KIND of girl. One who's more than willing to take advantage of some poor sap that can't get any and is desperate to do anything to keep getting some. She'll dress him, tell him who to hang out with, what to see, what to like, etc. It'll be hard for ANY girl to ever whip a guy like buff. Because buff knows he doesn't have to put up with that kind of crap. "C'ya honey, I'm sitting over here where I don't have to listen to you spew nonsense during my movie. I'll be back here with someone else next week so I'm not sweating you never going out with me again." I'm with my wife because she accepts me for who I am and puts up with all of my idiosyncrosies. She's never tried to change me. She'll nag me about the dishes and mowing the lawn, but that's part of being a wife. She can't get around it. She's more than I deserve, and the fact that I'm aware of that keeps me from taking advantage of her kindness. Plus, we're not dating anymore, we're MARRIED. If she and the kids weren't the MOST important thing in my life then I'd be a pathetic excuse for a man and a husband.

Pretty simple, eh?

[flagg]

Wow, this has really gone off topic, hasn't it? Let me just say, I would have no problem with a girl that isn't a Star Wars fan (being single for a while, I have to take what I can get). But if a girl actively HATED Star Wars, to the point of not being able to watch the movies, that's a no-no. It's as bad as smoking in my book. :)
I know I would definitely spend less time on the Internet if I had a full-time girlfriend, though.

[JMK]

That was terrific Jedieb! Nice of you to point out that you hadn't even touched sex! :lol

If one afternoon you find yourself with some free time, and you're married, or dating a girl you're nuts about, and you had the option of spending time with her or catching an afternoon viewing of AotC and you pick the movie you've seen several times already, then that's a pretty sick relationship IMO and a rotten way to waste time when you could be with a real person creating real bonds.

[JonathanLB]

I admit that only someone without a relationship going could see AOTC/TPM as many times as I have, or Buff, but that is not a bad thing. It just means I have less competition from all you saps. :) I personally enjoy any advantage I can claim.

I've noticed that even my viewing count, less than Buff by a ways, is greater than anyone at the thread on TFN on official viewings, that I saw looking through the pages anyway, and I believe Buff and I are very close to the top of the nation in AOTC viewings. We're top 100, no doubt, in PAID viewings at theaters... WITH ticket stubs to prove it. hehe. I take pride in that, and I think it takes a fan like Buff or I to appreciate the fun in it.

I think it was well said over at TFN... When someone says, "Do you realize how many hours you have wasted on AOTC?" My response to that is the same as the guy at TFN: do you realize how many hours YOU have wasted NOT seeing it?!?! Sad, really. A tragedy. :)

I don't expect anyone else to do what I do. I expect them to do what they feel is best. But for me, I have a lot of fun seeing AOTC and I think for anyone else to judge the number of times I've seen it and make a personal comment is frankly silly. It's none of their business. Other people do things I think are very weird, but I do not question them as long as they are not hurting anyone else. Some people love getting on a board and riding dangerous waves that could get them killed. I would personally never do that, but I even think it is kinda cool that some of the best ones can really do some amazing things with surfboards. At least when I go see AOTC for the 31st time, I am not putting my life in danger any more than if I were going to the supermarket or to the video store.

"SW will not make me laugh by saying something new and refreshing."

Huh? Of course it will! Each Star Wars movie makes me laugh in new and refreshing ways. Granted once it is made, it is made, and the lines don't change (unless Lucas re-makes it, hehe), but still, you get the point.

As I have said, though, I still think a living, breathing person is worth more attention than something like Star Wars. I'd rather be with a girl than be with my Star Wars VHS cassettes, no question about that. But Star Wars, for us fans, should be a PART of our lives, not our entire lives. Usually, i.e. whenever there is not a new Star Wars movie out, I spend a very minimal time per week on the saga. I don't even watch the movies weekly, don't have time normally. I would love to say I faithfully pop in one SW movie each Saturday night and I've not missed a day since I was 12, but that's just not true. I watch them when I feel like it and I post on some SW forums, generally not talking about Star Wars at all (except, as I said, when the movies are in theaters). So for me, I'd say not including my WORK on Star Wars projects (my first book, which took 1,000 hours of research and writing), I spend only maybe 2 to 3 hours per week on Star Wars at the very most, except for when a new film is in theaters, then it's more like 10 to 20 hours per week, which is just as it should be. It's a rare occassion that you got a new Star Wars movie to see in theaters. It's only happened 5 times ever. Actual re-releases included, it's more, but still not a huge amount of time.

Now for those people who choose to spend most of their free time reading EU books, playing Star Wars videogames, and watching the entire saga once per week, well again, it is their free time, so that is what they choose to do, but if they are sacrificing human contact and relationships for reading Star Wars books, I think that's pretty sad. I do not sacrifice my friends for Star Wars, hehe, not even now.

[Marcus Telcontar]

Jedieb, you took the word right out of my mind. And if clanpages were up, I could post why I also find looking at my wife better than looking at Star Wars.

Basically, it really is a matter of priorities - when I was single I could and did spend every waking moment within Motorsport. Now, she let me continue with it, but.... I just find I dont want as much. Cars dont snuggle you at night when it's cold.

[JonathanLB]

That depends how big the motor is and whether it's gas or diesel. :)

[JMK]

Cold? In Australia? Marcus, if you like snuggling so much I've got some great land here in Quebec to sell ya! ;)
(You can bring your wife, of course)

[Marcus Telcontar]

Well okay, my definition of cold probably aint the same as you.....

[JonathanLB]

Cold is 40 to 55 degrees. Moderate is like 55 to 70 degrees. Hot is like 80 degrees. Super hot is 90 degrees. Way-too-hot-for-anyone-to-do-anything-in is 100 degrees, i.e. Vegas in August (I'll be there from the 19th through the 23rd, hehe).