Sitting on the computer tonight my thoughts drifted back to that breathtaking day, May 19.

What I remember most about that incredible day is actually sitting in the theater and realizing that after years of waiting for this moment, it was finally here.

After AOTC came out and I missed the midnight showing, I promised myself that I would see the next one at midnight.

So, I reserved tickets for myself and 4 of my friends and we waited in line after work, at the local theater. There were four lines. My line was cut off right after they counted me, so I breathed a sigh of relief! Next, to my complete surprise, the usher turned my line around so that my friends and I were in front!!

We walked single-file into the theater. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs, at the first aisle, and looked up at the movie screen; It had never before looked the way it did then. At first I was going to sit in the middle or the back, but the theater quickly filled up and I didn't want to have to deal with screaming kids or rude people; so one of my friends and I took middle seats up front. He had his mp3 player so we listened to songs until the previews started. Previews?? Who needs 'em? I wanted it to start!!!

My thoughts flicked back to the Episode I special features main documentary where Rick McCallum announces to the midnight showing of TPM, "This is !@#$%^& awesome!!" and the crowd goes nuts. Sadly, Mr. Mccallum didn't show up and I waited through the slowest set of previews ever!!!

Finally, it started. I couldn't breathe. Anakin and Obi-Wan's fighters drop into the battle of Coruscant from over the Republic capital ship just as the Skywalker theme peaks.

The crowd adores R2. They roar as he destroys the last buzz droid. As he flames up the two nosy super battle droids. As he shocks another super battle droid and then gets kicked over.

Grievous hits the screen and the crowd gasps. The Dooku duel starts and we hold our breath. He is beheaded and the crowd roars. Anakin flys the front half of the Invisible Hand to the landing pad and as he passes through the clouds the same chilling music as when he flew out of the Droid Control Ship in TPM hits and I cheer.

The biggest impact for me, however, would be Order 66. Ki-Adi-Mundi's "Come On" put a lump in my throat. The Jedi dropped and so did my heart. I was then blanketed with chills when Anakin ignited his saber in front of the younglings.

Finally, the duels came. The crowd must have laughed hardest as Yoda entered Sidious' office and pushed the royal guards against the wall as if he was swatting a fly. I was on the edge of my seat anticipating the next move by Obi-Wan. Wondering if Yoda was going to put up a good fight. Alas, Yoda is defeated and DARTH VADER is nearly killed.

Finally, the last scenes in the movie left me in awe. Vader's first breath with the mask sent a chill down my spine. The crowd was deathly quiet. Padme's funeral also got me to well up a bit because to me, Padme's death symbolized the death of the Republic and the rise of the Emperor's New Order.

I was, however, happy to see what Alderaan looked like before it was blown up.

Later that day, I went to see it again. It was awesome, but not nearly the same.

I guess the point of this blog was to ask...Will it ever be as good as the first time?? Will you ever feel that same way you did on the fateful Thursday in May? Can the intensity be matched??

For me, the answer is no. Never again will I get that same chill that I did as Vader took his first bionic breath. Never again will I have the luxury of wondering what the next scene will be like. And never again will I have that inexplicable feeling of longing for a movie so great, that it changed me as a Star Wars fan.

May your days be filled with love for the movies and hope for the generations to come. Thank You.