As a few children with makeshift light sabers chased each otherthrough the lobby, Lucas Bivens talked about his love for a movieseries that’s been around since before he was born.

Bivens, 19, of Franklin County, was part of a sold-out audiencefor Wednesday night’s midnight premiere of “Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith” at Westbrook Cinema Four.

“I’m so pumped. I’ve been waiting for this ever since the lastone,” Bivens said. “I think it’s going to be awesome.”

“Revenge” is the final installment of a second trilogy thatfocuses on how Anakin Skywalker is seduced by the dark side of theForce and becomes villain Darth Vader. The original trilogy, whichincludes episodes IV through VI, began in 1977 with “StarWars.”

Bivens said he has been a “Star Wars” fan since receiving theoriginal trilogy as a Christmas present when he was a boy. Lastnight, he was one of several in the audience dressed as Jedi knighthero Obi-Wan Kenobi.

“A friend told me if I was going to the midnight show that Ineeded to dress up,” said Bivens, adding that his sister helpedmake the costume.

A few minutes later, the auditorium lights went down and cheerswent up as the familiar “Star Wars” theme signaled the movie’sstart.

Theater manager Randall Smith said Wednesday night’s showing wassold out by around 8 p.m. and fans started lining up about 10 p.m.He said expectations for the film are great.

“I think this, ‘War of the Worlds,’ and “Batman Begins’ will bethe big hits for summer,” Smith said. “It’s really kicking offsummer great.”

During the film, audience members enjoyed several fast-pacedlight saber duels, chuckled at diminutive Jedi Master Yoda’s speechpattern and sat in silent awe as the transformed Skywalker wasrevealed on screen for the first time as Vader. The transformationand some unanswered questions from the first trilogy are answeredin the movie.

“I love the way they tied everything together,” said OliviaWallace, of Brookhaven, whose family wore “Jedi” T-shirts to thepremiere.

The story coming together was a recurring theme as fans mingledoutside and talked about the movie later.

“I’m happy with it,” said Ryan Case, of McCall Creek, anotherfan who dressed as Kenobi for the movie. “It tied up all the looseends and didn’t leave something unsaid.”

Unlike other movies in the trilogies, though, “Revenge” earned aPG-13 rating.

“It had to be to tell that part of the story,” said the Rev.Mike Evans, referring to Skywalker’s journey to the dark side.

Bivens was almost speechless as he left the auditorium. He saidthe final installment was “incredible” and the best one yet.

“The emotional part is so much more in this one,” Bivens said.”The whole story coming together is what makes it so great.”