According to several major sources, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” profited around $125 million opening night, slaying other giants such as “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” in 2011 at $91.1 million and is expected to have a better opening weekend than “Jurassic World” at $208.8 million from June of this year. At the Ridge Theater in Pace, the event was both a bridge across generations and a means to help those in need.
The Smith family, ten strong, saw the movie in 3D early in the day. The matron of the family, Carol Smith, said she took her two sons, Aaron and Clint, to see the original Star Wars when they were seven and eight years old. “We’ve been chasing (the characters) since 1977 through the generations,” she said. What made the original stand out, Carol Smith said, was its innovation. The family agreed the latest episode was well executed.
Garhett Smith stood out, however, in a Star Trek uniform shirt. He said he didn’t hate Star Wars but he wanted to represent his favorite science fiction series.
Vinny Monteleone, the executive officer of the U.S.S. Harry Mudd, felt the same as Garhett as he and other members of the Star Trek fan club, took the opportunity of the blockbuster movie to help children in need. The fundraiser was simple. The club had two jars set out on a table, one labeled Star Wars and the other Star Trek. Fans of either series were invited to drop any amount of money they liked in the jar. All of it went to the For The Children homeless shelter being built in Milton.
The winning side was not available by press time, but Monteleone said the money was going to the shelter specifically to create a Star Trek themed bedroom for one of the rooms at the shelter. The U.S.S. Harry Mudd also had a replica captain’s seat for pictures. Jeremy Jadallah, manager of the theater, said the club originally approached him in 2013 for “Star Trek Into Darkness” and has kept an open line of communication since.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: The Force awakens in Santa Rosa County