So like any nerd worth my salt, I will be seeing Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith later this evening at 12:01 A.M. on the dot. I have a really cool oversized commemorative ticket the theater issued to me on Saturday. I should remember to post a picture of it before I go to see the show.

I’m sure there are more practical tips one could share in regards to the brutal waiting period one must endure for these midnight showings.

For example, here in Iowa, it’s been raining most of the day. If chances are you are waiting outside, an umbrella might be appropriate.

Or, considering that you might be ricocheting from work, to home and out to the theater in a short time span, you should be mindful not to overlook dinner and bring a sandwich with you because concession prices are sure to be inflated.

These are helpful tips to be sure. But certainly not as helpful as the advice to be on guard against errant, airborne plastic lightsaber replicas.

The wait tonight will be Herculean and I’m stressing to invent ways to pass the time. I thought about bringing a couple of my own lightsaber to monkey around with, but I don’t want to be responsible for them inside the theater.

I thought it might be fun to buy one of those Darth Vader voice changer helmets they sell at Target. But again, it’s a peripheral I don’t want to tend to. Plus, if the little voice box goes off inside the theater, I’m sure angry nerds will fillet me six ways from Dagobah.

I may bring some comic books. I may bring my iPod. Who knows? Although indulging in those pastimes might be a little offensive to the people I’m seeing the movie with. So odds are we’ll partake in good ol’ fashioned face-to-face conversation instead. ∗GASP!∗

I’ve done a pretty good job so far protecting myself from spoilers to the movie. I haven’t read any reviews. Not at full-length, mind you. Mostly just snippets.

For example, the brief nugget I was exposed to visiting Hollywood Elsewhere. Writer Jeffery Wells quoted Anthony Lane, movie reviewer for The New Yorker, as saying “The general opinion of Revenge of the Sith seems to be that it marks a distinct improvement on the last two episodes, The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. True, but only in the same way that dying from natural causes is preferable to crucifixion.”

That’s not a very nice thing to say about the movie, but I felt it was a pretty funny dig none-the-less. I’d like to read more of his review, but… y’know. No spoilers.

I don’t know why I’ve been so on guard against spoilers this time around. For both Episode I and Episode II, I devoured every last nugget of information I could get my hands on. I even started down that path for Episode III in the beginning.

For example, that web page that culled together images from advanced magazine articles and the trailers to piece together the plot of the film. Yeah, I saw that. But beyond that – I’ve imposed myself into exile when it comes to all things Sith-related.

I suppose it has something to do with protecting myself from any dashed expectations. This is the last chapter, folks. Well, “last” in the sense that Grand Poobah Lucas won’t be bringing us any more celluloid adventures from a galaxy far, far away. There will always be comic books, video games, television shows and whatever else Skywalker ranch pumps out for the next 20 years.

But in terms of pure movie magic, this is the curtain call for the franchise. This is the last time you’ll gladly suffer a midnight showing. This is the last time you can be in a room with 800 people who feel the same way you do. This is the last time you’re going to see this… thing, this mythology that you fell in love with plastered across the big screen and it will still be fresh to you. This is the last time.

So why not be selfish? Withdraw yourself from the know-it-all posturing that avid spoiler consumption positions you toward? Why not go in clean. Honest. Take in the movie for what it is. Clunky dialogue, wooden acting, Jar Jar… the works.

Be a fan again.