'Lord of the Rings' rounds up hordes

As a full house began watching "Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, Lenny Martin, Blaine Russell and Russell's 8-year-old son, Jacob, already were lined up in the lobby for the 7 p.m. show.

"We don't have lives," Martin explained.

The three were among the throngs of "Lord of the Rings" fans who sold out all four showings of the 3 1/2-hour movie at Cape West Cine Wednesday, but they weren't even the first to see it. The movie actually opened on two screens at the theater at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday to cater to the real fanatics. Those shows also sold out.

Being among the first to see a movie that has become a phenomenon is part of the attraction.

"I had to work at midnight or I would have already seen it," Russell said.

The first person took his place in line for the midnight showings at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Corey Thompson, an usher at the theater. Some were watching portable TVs and reading "The Hobbit," the book the movie is based on.

"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" is the final installment in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, movies that offer a fantasy world and spectacular special effects. Many critics have judged it the best of the three. Cape West Cine began selling tickets to the movie in October. All four Wednesday showings were sold out by 3 p.m.

Among the fans seated in the theater at 4 o'clock Wednesday were Shelly Haupt of Egypt Mills, her son, Shane, 10, and her daughter, Shelby, 12. With them were Haupt's brother, Chuck Reed of Jackson and his son, Logan, 11. Haupt and Reed are brother and sister who left their spouses at home. "They couldn't care less," she said.

All of them have seen all the movies. Shane, 10, has a "Lord of the Rings" sword at home.

"In the last 15 years, this and 'Star Wars' are the only movies that have gotten me to come out," Reed said.

The popularity of "The Return of the King" movie compares to that of last year's "Lord of the Rings" movie and to "Spider-Man," said Kevin Dillon, manager of the Cape West Cine. But this one has added oomph "because it's the third part. A lot of people watched the other two."

Dillon said plenty of tickets remain for today's four showings.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182