In fact, I could have cared less about Star Wars for most of my life before 1997 based on the reasoning that Star Trek, (I thought) was boring, so, logically, so Star Wars must be also. My dad watched Star Trek all the time, and it was way over my head. I assumed all science fiction was like this.
THis changed in 1997 when I saw the SE in theaters. After episode four I was IMMEDIATELY hooked on the universe, and eagerly waited (mercifully less than three years) for the sequel.
Unfortuantely, thanks to my mom, my brother was able to guess that Darth Vader was Luke's father (an idea that was totally foreign to me after watching the first film)... So I don't really know what my reaction would have been had I scene it in the theatre.
Still, when I foudn out, it was quite a rush. I just wish I hadn't.