The newest film in the “Star Wars” series, “Episode One: The Phantom Menace,” will hit theaters May 19, and many students already have started the countdown.

Sarah Schweitzer, freshman in history, called the trailer for “Episode One” a “mental slam.” Casey Hayes, sophomore in graphic design, gave it a standing ovation.

Jason Kobes, junior in computer science, said although he didn’t go to “Star Trek: Insurrection” only to see the “Episode One” trailer, it was the highlight of his trip to the theater.

“Nobody [in the theater] was really interested in seeing the movie they came to see after the [‘Star Wars’] trailer,” he said.

Schweitzer said she tries to keep her mind off the upcoming release.

“If I think about it, I’ll drive myself nuts,” she said.

She said she plans on watching “Episode One” quite a few times.

“In the theaters, I’ll probably see it about five or six [times],” she said. “After it comes out on video or DVD, I’ll probably watch it about eight- or nine-thousand more times.”

Hayes said he is “definitely planning on being one of the camp-out guys.”

“[The night before ‘Episode One’ opens], I’ll be camping out in front of theaters with my ‘Star Wars’ geek clothes,” he said. “I’ll probably ask for a few days off work.”

Although he has been “waiting forever” for the new films, Hayes said he refuses to visit Web sites that give away plot secrets.

“Some of my friends want to know everything about it, but I really don’t want to know that much about the movie until it happens,” he said.

Schuyler Sampson, senior in animal ecology, also said he doesn’t want to learn too much about “Episode One” before he sees it.

“I’ve looked at a couple of the new characters they’ve brought into the story, trying to get some background,” he said.

Aaron McConeghey, senior in English, said he thinks “Episode One” will be “as good or better” than the older episodes.

“It’s [‘Star Wars’ creator] George Lucas; it’s going to be good,” he said. “He doesn’t make crap.”

However, Schweitzer said she doubts the new movies will top the previous ones.

“You can’t beat the originals; you just can’t,” she said. “I think [the new episodes] are going to be better visually, but I don’t know about the plot.”

Hayes said he does not know if “Episode One” will match everyone’s expectations.

“I’m sure that I’ll like it no matter what, but it has so much to live up to,” he said. “Some people are just going to be mad because they wanted to the see the same characters.”

All of the actors in “Episode One” were good choices, Sampson said.

“Excellent, excellent, excellent, that’s all I can say,” he said. “You can’t beat Liam Neeson and Samuel Jackson … except the original cast.”

Schweitzer said she thinks the new film will become the highest-grossing of all time.

“It should out gross ‘Titanic,'” she said. “And if it doesn’t, there will be a lot of people going for blood.”