After the shootings in Paris and San Bernardino, and especially the one at a movie theater in Colorado, some are thinking twice about big crowds in masks.
As the Dec. 18 debut of "Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens" approaches, excitement for the first new Star Wars installment in over a decade has absolutely awakened.
"I'm hyped," said Alex Potocki of Malden, Massachusetts. "You know, I've got the whole collection. My dad pretty much raised me on Star Wars."
Aaliyah Knudsen of Somerville rated her excitement level as "10 out of 10. I'm very excited for this movie to come out."
But, unfortunately, in a time of heightened terrorism awareness after the jihadist terrorist shooting attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, and with memories of the Batman "The Dark Knight Rises" cinema massacre in Aurora, Colorado, say "movie premiere," "big crowds" and "people dressed in costumes," and it's easy to see why many people think twice about joining a Star Wars fan mob.
"Definitely concerned. Definitely concerned," said Ray Anderson of Melrose.
"It definitely is something that, unfortunately, does cross my mind when I go to things like that," said Melissa Taylor, a family nanny in Boston. "I wish it wasn't, but it definitely does cross my mind."
"It's kind of scary when you think about it all, because you never know what's going to happen," said Jillian Gomes of Somerville.
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Cinema chains, understandably, won't talk specifics about security plans for Star Wars grand opening night.
AMC Theatres, which has cineplexes in Boston, Braintree, Burlington, Framingham, and Somerville, said it "does not permit weapons or items that would make other guests feel uncomfortable or detract from the movie-going experience. Guests are welcome to come dressed in costume, but we do not permit masks or face paint. In short, bring your lightsaber, turn it off during the movie, and leave the blaster, face paint and Darth Vader mask at home."
Necn reached out to two other big Boston-area cinema operators, National Amusements (Showcase and Cinema DeLux) and Regal Theatres but did not hear back from them before this story was broadcast and posted online.
Most Star Wars fans we talked to at Assembly Row in Somerville, home to an AMC with an Imax screen that will show the Star Wars movie, concluded that whatever anxieties they may have, their attitude will be, in essence: May the force be with you.
"Go with the flow and hope that, you kno, wherever you go, you're protected, because it could happen anywhere. Anything can happen anywhere," said Ashton Lites of Boston. "You can’t let things like that make you scared to do the things that you want to do."
Taylor agreed.
"Would it prevent me from going?" she asked. "No."
And Ray Anderson, enjoying a trip to the Lego store with his grandson, Raymond, said that despite the lingering thoughts of reasons to be concerned, "We'll still go. I mean, you can't stop life altogether because of this foolishness."
With videographer Justin Mintzes
