Star Wars: The Force Awakens fans not allowed to bring masks, toy guns to Windsor shows

Fans expecting to dress up as their favourite character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, may need to stick to the smaller theatres in Windsor and Essex County.

Though fans can wear costumes, masks and toy guns are banned at Cineplex Odeon theatres. Lightsabers are in a grey area, and it appears they might not be allowed.

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The Cineplex Odeon theatres are at Devonshire Mall and on Walker Road, near Provincial Road.

But for someone hoping to show off their best Boba Fett or Darth Vader costume, Imagine Cinemas in Lakeshore and Leamington will not be restricting costumes.

"It's going to be insane, there's going to be a lot of stormtroopers," said university student Valerie White, a huge fan of the movie franchise. "I can see the point [in banning masks], but I also think there's going to be a lot of disappointment [at Cineplex Odeon theatres]."

"I'm sure a lot of people are going to be bringing their lightsabers," she said.  

White is a self-described Star Wars superfan who's been watching the films since she "was smaller than [she] can remember."

She purchased four tickets for the first showing in Windsor Thursday night, but later found she had an exam at the same time as the film. She's trying to sell some of her tickets online.

Fans were able to pre-order tickets for $16 at the Cineplex Odeon, but recently online they've been selling for as much as $450 a pair.

"I thought I was greedy going for $40," White said. "I can't imagine someone spending $450 on Star Wars tickets. Why wouldn't they wait a day and pay $16."

Shawn Cousineau owns Rogues Gallery Comics in downtown Windsor. He's been to every Star Wars opening night since he was seven in 1977 when A New Hope was released. He owns two costumes from the series and can understand some fans' frustration with the costume restrictions.

He won't be going to see The Force Awakens since he has to work. 

"Being a grown-up sucks sometimes," Cousineau said.

He doesn't agree with the masks and toy weapons ban. He said fans have been dressing up to see shows without an incident for years.

"We nerds are a gentle lot," Cousineau said.

In anticipation for the upcoming film, the seventh in the Star Wars franchise, both White and Cousineau have avoided reading or seeing any reviews of the early showings. But their expectations are high.

This is the first film since 1983's The Return of the Jedi featuring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reprising their roles as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia.

"I hope it's more like the original trilogy," White said. "I hope they'll be bringing that feeling back and make a proper Star Wars."

"Once that text starts scrolling and I hear the theme song, I get butterflies in my stomach, it's like your heart is saying, Star Wars," she said.