“There’s no way it’s going to be a disappointment.”

Yeah about that…

This video, posted to YouTube by Funny Local News Bloopers, shows that pure, unadulterated excitement for the start of a new Star Wars trilogy is nothing new. All of the anticipation and hope for The Force Awakens existed when The Phantom Menace was released in 1999.

It also shows how much people wanted to like it, leaving the theater in a euphoric cloud of denial for what they had just watched. I mean, look at these people saying they loved it, talking about how amazing it was.

“Lot of action, lot of noise, it was cool.”

“It was intense, it was incredible. I loved it, it was awesome.”

“I thought it was better than Return of the Jedi.” (Find this man and arrest him.)

“It will be a great movie 20 years from now.”

Remember, these people just saw The Phantom Menace, the one with Jar Jar Binks and the worst child performance in cinema history. Shaquille O’Neal loved this movie! (Although he did make Kazaam, so he might not be the best judge of a screenplay.)

None of this means you should be worried about The Force Awakens. What happened with the prequels will have no bearing on the quality of these new movies. The lesson here is to go in with an open mind and judge it on its own merits.

Oh, and lest you lose heart completely in your fellow man, there was one who spoke for us.

“I think I deserve a public apology from George Lucas.”

Has your opinion of The Phantom Menace changed over the years? Weesa wanna hear your thoughts on Episode I in the comments below.

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HT: themarysue.com