Waiting (patiently) for new Star Wars

Sixteen years ago around this time of year, I woke up early in the morning, turned on the computer and dialed up to AOL. Two hours later, my mom came down to the basement and asked if she could make a phone call. No, I responded, and probably not for the next three hours: I was loading the first trailer for “Star Wars Episode One: The Phantom Menace”.

Waiting for and seeing today’s trailer for “Star Wars: A Force Awakens” brought back the excitement to when I was 10 years old. I waited for five hours for the trailer to load((I watched it in a good size dimension — no postage stamps)).

I’ve been a Star Wars fan for as long as I remember.((one of my earliest memories is the opening of A New Hope, where R2D2 and C3PO are in the ship walking around. It took me a few years to figure out what it was.)) I never thought I would get to see new Star Wars movies and then there were the prequels. Fast forward to a couple years ago, I never thought there would be new Star Wars films.

But seeing is believing. When it was announced earlier this week that the trailer would screen at select theaters, I planned on going in person to see it. (I was not old enough to go see Meet Joe Black for Episode One.)

But then information came out it would be online. Last night, I stayed up late to see if it was posted. Nothing. Then all morning. I went out to breakfast with my dad and updated my phone every few minutes. As we were driving back it was released — but the cellular reception was too poor so it wouldn’t load. It felt worse than waiting for dial up.

As soon as I came home, I watched it twice. Without giving anything away (watch the trailer if you haven’t) the trailer looks great and that last scene… woof.

I was as excited as I was 16 years ago. Like most people, I was let down by Episode One, but this feels different...

Maybe these will be the first good Star Wars movies of my life.