Sad to say, I am not immune to the hype surrounding the long-awaited "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace'' -- I was one of those scores of people you heard about lined up outside Liberty Theatre hoping to get a ticket for the midnight show.

Unfortunately, like many, the Force was not with me and I was disappointed in my quest -- so I settled for last night's 9.30 p.m. showing instead.

A good friend of mine seemed quite baffled by my interest in this sci-fi classic, and wondered aloud how so many ordinarily sensible people got swallowed by the hype.

Star Wars trilogy rekindles that old magic But wow, it's a funny thing about nostalgia... I remember dressing up as C-3PO when I was ten years old for Hallow'een, I remember my excitement over being able to understand the captions from Star Wars because I had just learned how to read.

Regardless of whether the newest instalment to the Star Wars series lives up to the hype, there's something almost magical about any film that can cause adults to feel like children again.

Anyway, I thought a few people might be feeling as nostalgic as I, so you might want to consider renting a few of the classic Star Wars if you haven't gotten your tickets to the new movie.

Star Wars: The 1977 original starred Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia and Harrison Ford as Han Solo.

This film was the classic that changed movies forever. Young Luke teams up with ancient Jedi warrior Obi Wan Kenobi, two corny albeit endearing droids, a fierce Wookie who resembles a friend of mine, and swashbuckler Han Solo to save Princess Leia and defeat the evil empire. It's 124 minutes long and won an Academy Award for art direction, original shore, film editing and sound.

The Empire Strikes Back premiered in 1980 with the addition of Billy Dee Williams starring as Lando Kalrissien and -- hooray, my favourite character -- the ever-entertaining centuries-old Jedi warrior Yoda. Considered by most Star Wars aficiandos to be the best of the trilogy. This movie has the best fight scene, since Luke gets his hand sliced off in an all-out duel with Darth Vadar -- who reveals himself as Luke's father.

"Return of the Jedi'' (1983) isn't my favourite of the three because even though you've got the really cool slug-like Jabba the Hutt to contend with, the fuzzy Ewoks on the planet Endor turned my stomach with their over-the-top cuteness. It's like Star Trek's Tribbles grew up or something.

It's also pretty disappointing when Darth Vadar finally gets killed and has the nerve to leave the Dark Side of the Force -- he is hands-down the best villain of all time and it's disappointing to see him go so soft. And the evil Emperor gets killed off, too -- although at least he went out with a bang.

By the time this article appears, I will have seen the prequel in all its glory (or lack thereof). Either way, enjoy the flick for what it's worth -- and may the Force be with you.

Kim Dismont Robinson