A sci-fi fan went over to the dark side and dressed as a Star Wars baddie on the opening night of the latest instalment in the hit series when it previewed in a cinema far, far away – well, just a few miles down the road from his Hitchin home.
The force was strong when Matt Adcock from Lancaster Road took his wife and two sons along to last Wednesday’s midnight premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Stevenage Leisure Park’s Cineworld multiplex.
Matt’s long-suffering wife Gail was a trooper as she battled flu to watch the film with her family until 3am on Thursday morning.
The movie was met with cheers and applause by the sell-out crowd and Matt said: “Star Wars changed my life as a kid when I watched the original film.
“I named my now 18-year-old-son Luke after Luke Skywalker, and would’ve given him the middle name of Skywalker if my wife had let me.
“It was a chance of redemption for the franchise after the prequels – and it delivered. It was superb. It was fun to go as a Sith – the sworn enemy of the Jedi – even if my family completely disowned me through embarrassment. There was a party atmosphere in the cinema and it was a very enjoyable night.”
The film has been a box office hit across the country with Letchworth’s Broadway Cinema boss Jason Valentine saying: “In less than a week since Star Wars was released, we’ve sold out for 14 screenings and taken more than £54,000.
“It’s on course to be the biggest film in our cinema’s history.”
Matt, who is director of communications at the London School of Theology, also reviews new cinema releases and added: “It’s my film of the year.”
To read more on Matt’s film’s of the year visit www.darkmatt.blogspot.com.
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