Star Wars marathon winner watched 46 hour of the sci-fi saga with no sleep
'We put ourselves through hell mentally and physically'
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Your support makes all the difference.Think you're the ultimate Star Wars fan? Think again, as one cinema-goer studied US Navy Seal breathing techniques in order to win a Star Wars marathon, sitting through 46 hours of the sci-fi saga.
The Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, challenged fans to sit through the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy and then The Force Awakens on repeat until the last person was standing.
The rules were simple: food, drink and toilet breaks are permitted, but “Sleeping, illegal drugs and talking and texting during the movies (of course) will result in disqualification and a swift trip to the Sarlacc Pit.”
The cinema continued: “However, for those strong enough to persevere, intergalactic immortality awaits.”
Jim Braden, a 40-year-old Texan, was the eventual winner, defeating six other fans to win the coveted prizes: a seven-year cinema membership, a variety of Star Wars merchandise and a seat named in his honour, along with a naming ceremony.
“I wanted to demonstrate my passion,” he told Variety. “I grew up with Star Wars. As a kid, the simple morality just appealed to me. Everybody likes a white-hat hero they can get behind.”
Braden detail how he studied US Navy Seal breathing techniques, spaced out caffeine intake over six-hour segments, snacked only on fruit and nuts as well as wearing just shorts and T-shirt in the air-conditioned room in order to stay awake.
“We put ourselves through hell mentally and physically,” Braden added. “Watching it became almost a hallucinatory experience… one other guy complained of having chest pains and dropped out.”
Although he had watched the latest episode nine times, his review was as glowing as the critics: “I came out of it saying that I still enjoyed the movie. That’s how you know it’s good.”
There was only one demand Braden had before going into the cinema: that he could sit next to his 6-year-old son during the first screening of The Force Awakens, a wish that was granted: “I’d always dreamed that I’d be able to take my son to a new ‘Star Wars’ movie.”
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is in cinemas now.
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