Obi-Wan Kenobi
Qui-Gon Jinn
Queen Padme Naberrie Amidala (in ceremonial garb)
Padme with Jar Jar Binks in the background
Darth Maul
Darth Maul in Jedi cloak
Shmi Skywalker
Senator Palpatine (not shown clearly in the trailer)
Yoda
R2-D2
C-3PO
Mace Windu
Sebulba
Watto
Battle droids
Battle droids snap into formation
Not so long ago (the Tuesday before last, in fact) in movie theaters right here in our own galaxy, the trailer for Episode I — The Phantom Menace absolutely dazzled fans who have been waiting more than a decade since the last Star Wars installment for George Lucas' prequel.
The 152 USA TODAY readers who e-mailed about the sneak-peek trailer were rocketing on adrenaline unleashed by the effects-pumped teaser and were predicting a box office supernova when the film opens next May.
"The digital images were great, especially the landscapes. The Force is back. The two-minute preview was the best two minutes I have spent in a movie theater in a long time. If you go back and watch Star Wars: A New Hope, the first movie, there are a lot of statements like, 'There will be no escape for the princess THIS TIME' and the 'Clone Wars.' Well, George Lucas wants to show us what all of those statements meant and he is going to do it in the most visually captivating way he can." — Matthew Berkheiser, Spring, Texas
"This is the classic that we love combined with the new snazzy hi-tech capabilities that we also love that were not available when the first series was made. (Lucas) always said that there was so much more that he wanted to show but couldn't because of the limitations of the technology of the time. Now we can see all of Lucas' vision without limitations. Bring that sucker on!" — Tina Tafoya, Alexandria, Va.
"It surpassed any expectations I had: Yoda speaking of how fear leads to the dark side, a man bearing a double-bladed lightsaber, the meeting of Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO as a 'half-built' droid. The technology and the visual marvels are only window dressing compared to the stories of destinies and close-knit friendships and of victories and of tragic loss. It is the truest portrayal of the epic spark of the human heart. I am overjoyed to be returning to a galaxy far, far away." — Matthew Reynolds, Portland, Ore.
"Episode I will be the only film that people will care about next summer. I don't realistically see anyone wanting to open another film anywhere near Memorial Day. The part of the trailer that thrilled me the most was, 'Anakin Skywalker, I want you to meet Obi-Wan Kenobi.' I thought I had died and gone to heaven." — Bill Walton, St Louis, Mo.
"By the time the movie is released, Star Wars fans will be going nuts with anticipation. I predict that The Phantom Menace will be the first movie to make $100 million in the opening weekend. The Force will crush any movie that dares to come out at the same time." — Chris Shedd, Radford, Va.
"Remember Titanic? You won't after next May. Given the timing, George Lucas could probably run for president and win." — Wade Rayner, Decatur, Ill.
Most of the rest of the comments were similarly out of this world. A few, though, balanced their enthusiasm with some criticism.
"I am a 15-year-old Star Wars freak. I have been waiting for Episode 1 forever. I just saw the preview. While I was impressed with the great looking special effects, some of the characters didn't look that great. Ewan McGregor does not fit what I would think a young Ben Kenobi would look like.." — Jonathan Truman, Barrington, N.Y.
"Even though I thought that the digital effects in the remastered Star Wars trilogy were subpar and inappropriate, the trailer for The Phantom Menace blew me away. It has the vintage-yet-futuristic look and feel of the other films in the series and definitely whets my appetite. The only qualm I have is the inferior Yoda re-creation. It looks half-finished, like the badly animated Jabba the Hutt that was inserted into the original Star Wars. Other than that, I can't wait for the rest of the movie." — Ross Raniere, Bethlehem, Pa.
Yoda did look puppetlike, others noted, more like a rubber spin-off doll than a living character. Which brings us to the merchandising empire that looms as huge as the movie.
"The Star Wars franchise is like the Chicago Cubs. It doesn't matter what they put on the field, the seats will be filled. The images that stuck with me most were the subliminal ones every 24th frame saying 'Buy the toys!' " — Thomas Stoeger, Appleton, Wis.
By David Brezing, USA TODAY