Last-Minute Plans: Free Screenings Of Star Wars At The Portage Theater
By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 8, 2012 3:00PM
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a movie that wasn't expected to do much at the box office became a cultural phenomenon, one of the most influential movies of the late 20th century, and taught the major Hollywood studios to never sign away the merchandising rights to a possible film franchise to its creator ever again.
In the 34 years that Star Wars entered the public consciousness, the film's impact on American pop culture, film and even military defense (Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative comes to mind) has been constant, even as George Lucas continues to tinker with the original trilogy so as to make them almost unrecognizable from when they were first released. If we ever have children we've already vowed to show the little Sudos Episodes 4-6 as they were originally filmed. None of this "Greedo shot first" bullshit, Jabba the Hut in the cantina or Hayden Chrsitensen standing alongside Alec Guinness and Yoda at the end of Return of the Jedi.
Which makes today's free screenings of Star Wars at the Portage Theater almost "drop what you're doing and hightail your ass to the Northwest side" appointment movie watching. As Steven Pate mentioned in his New Year's resolutions for the Chicago movie-goer, the Portage is a Chicagoist favorite. One of the reasons is their film programming, which blurs the fine line between popular, cult and camp. Another is the Portage's free movie screenings. The selections in recent months has been one home run after the next: Raiders of the Lost Ark; The Mummy (both the 1932 and 1999 versions); a double feature of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Halloween; Pulp Fiction; and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Tickets guaranteeing seating to the Star Wars screenings were meted out months ago, but last night Portage Theater management released another 200 tickets to their 8 p.m. screening via FanFound.com. We RSVP'ed a ticket fifteen minutes ago, so check to see if tickets are still available.
Even if those tickets are gone by post time, Portage management announced on their Facebook page yesterday that folks who want to show up for either the 2 p.m. or 8 p.m. screenings today can still see the film, even without a ticket. There will be separate entrances for folks holding tickets and people who are showing up without.
They're also hinting at a Jan. 20 double feature of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. Peep the screen grab below and visit the Portage's Facebook page. If you plan on attending today's Star Wars screenings, doos open at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., respectively.
