The Force still with 'Star Wars' fans

Nerdi Gras. That's what Aaron Zundel calls it.

Zundel and a few others began camping out at Jordan Commons on Monday afternoon for the first showing of the new "Star Wars" film — to be shown at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

They had purchased their tickets weeks before — only because they weren't available when they initially tried months before.

Jordan Commons had designated 5 p.m. as the official line-up time. Zundel, Taylor Fugate, Dave Garaycochea, Mike Lewis and Taylor Powell showed up around 3 and formed their own "pre-line." At 5 . . . actually, 4:45 . . . they nudged up to the front of the "official" line.

Science-fiction fans across the state — and all around the world — are joining together to celebrate the end of an era. After almost 30 years of waiting, the final episode of "Star Wars" is about to hit theaters: "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith."

On Thursday, the film will open on some 3,700 screens across the United States and Canada and is expected to earn some $80 million over the first weekend.

But it's not just high school and college students who are taking time out for "Star Wars." Nationally, many employees are planning to ditch work to see the movie Thursday or Friday.

The "holiday" is being referred to as "Wookiee hooky."

At iCentris, a software-development company in Sandy, not only are the employees being allowed to skip work Friday to see the film, but the company is paying their way.

"All of our employees are programmers and programmers love 'Star Wars,' " said Holly Allen, iCentris vice president of finance. "I'm not sure of the connection, but they do."

Allen said each employee whose work is caught up can attend.

"We like to take our employees to big movies. Employees can bring a spouse or children, too," Allen said.

Why are fans going nuts? Because, they say, "Star Wars" has always been a part of their lives.

"My life would not be the same without 'Star Wars,' " Zundel said. "My third word was 'Star Wars,' right after 'hot' and 'no.' "

And these fans say they don't consider "Star Wars" a lifestyle, rather it's an experience, and they plan to make every moment count.

"This is an event," Fugate said. "It's the last chance to ever be a part of 'Star Wars.' "

"If it was just about the movie, we'd be at the noon showing," Zundel said. "To come out to a line like this is a vacation. Even if the premiere was on a 36-inch TV, we'd be here anyway."

Murray High School senior Nick Parker considers himself a huge "Star Wars" fan. He plans to head to a theater as soon as school lets out on Wednesday afternoon.