The hype sickened me when TPM came out. My Star Wars interest was in a standstill at the time, and I remember seeing commercials on TV for Amidala costumes and Maul's double-bladed lightsaber. I recall that that lightsaber was supposed to be cool, but I thought, 'big deal.' It wasn't until August of September of 1999 that I saw the movie, and the only reaction I recall having is being enamored with Natalie Portman. I was fourteen at the time, and most of the reason I was so neutral regarding the film was that it didn't feature Luke and Han and Leia (most of all Luke--he's always the one I've identified with, and not having him there made me feel lost). I think I liked Jar-Jar at the time, until everyone else started hating him. It's only been in the past year or so that I've stopped giving a damn what others think about the Gungan.