I was so psyched for Star Wars: The Phantom Menace that I simply had to review the trailer months before the film opened:

But I think what slams you right back into Lucas's familiar world, more than anything else, are the sounds. When you've downloaded the trailer, watch it once with no sound, and once with no picture. The video is very cool, without doubt, but close your eyes and listen to the deep thrum of the spaceships, the echoing pings of laser blasts, and the throaty groan of the lightsabers. Just listen. Darth Maul's voice could never be mistaken for Vader's, yet there's a resonance there that recalls Vader's. Palpatine, younger here and not yet the Emperor, already has the gargle in his voice. Yoda's calming voice is there. The queen's voice has the same determination her daughter Leia's will have. Artoo beeps and whirrs. And there's the music that will forever speak of adventure and evil and triumph.

Too bad Lucas took that love and stomped on it.

• review of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: The Trailer, posted 03.15.99

(Technorati tags: Star Wars)