Star Wars: The Force Awakens

[ZOK]

I'm not sure how 'not 100% able to recall every single line from every film at any given instance' becomes 'completely unfamiliar with the source material' in your mind, especially when i've seen every one of the films multiple times, except for the fact that you're reaching because you're desperate to find a line of attack.

Give in to your anger. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant.

[englishbob]

The fans have spoken. Based on a 3 second glimpse, the lightsaber design will make this officially shit. No need to watch the whole film, it'll lick balls.

Christmas 2015 cancelled!

[TehStu]

Imagine going to great effort to critique something you've seen for about 2 seconds. Something which you think has an analogue in reality, but really doesn't.

Yeah, think I'll wait to actually see how that new lightsaber pans out.

Of course, it literally doesn't matter what the teaser contained, everything is a personal affront to someone, these days.

(not specifically directed at anyone)

[Nespresso]

Honestly though, just one second of that new lightsaber design is enough to point out numerous flaws in its design. What were they thinking?

[lankysanchez]

I'm not convinced by the quillion on the lightsaber, but I like how aggressively it lights up. Little ball droid is cool. Other than that, trailer is basically just appealing to nostalgia. Tells us nearly nothing except the people making the new film have seen the original trilogy many many times.

[Lag]

Yeah, we've had at least two lines lifted from the film in the last few pages, and they've sailed over heads.

We shall double our efforts.

[Lag]

Oh, I see. I didn't get that at all.

if you fail me again, I'll put a price on your head so big you won't be able to go near a civilized system.

[macosx]

trailer original Lucas draft.

a slow pan across the desert to a small earthen burial mound. The camera tracks in and you see the words Jar Jar carved into a bit of weathered wood. Cue Serkis's voiceover about the darkness awakening.

Suddenly a pink, wattled and webbed hand breaks through the sand. Star Wars logo The Force Awakens zooms onto screen as an updated theme by the Sy Snootles band kicks in.

[Space Renegade Ulala]

Holy moly, the sabre's mini hilt blades look dumb but surely that's all that needs to be said, we don't need a big debate about it and start drawing on the opinions of "lightsaber experts", Masters-at-Arms, light refraction boffins and medieval combat nerds.

The actually curious thing about it is that it looks ragged and rough, more like contained flames than the smoother blades of previous films.

Also, Moses needs to lay off the space C-rations.

[englishbob]

I'm not convinced by the quillion on the lightsaber, but I like how aggressively it lights up. Little ball droid is cool. Other than that, trailer is basically just appealing to nostalgia. Tells us nearly nothing except the people making the new film have seen the original trilogy many many times.

The only thing that could put me off of this new "trilogy" is if it (a) has a dull story (and characters) like the prequels and (b) it has too many nods and winks to the old films, including a lot of cheesy recycled dialogue.

Not to say it should be stuffy, it needs a bit of humour this time around, but I am already suspecting some really crappy dialogue from Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford and Mark Hamil.

I am somewhat disappointed that JJ Abrams actually went for older characters in these new films. I mean he had a blank canvas (even Lucas had no idea what to do with the "last 3" of his supposed 9 film run) so he could of just done what he liked really.

[Sabreman]

The lightsaber seems kind of goofy, but if you think about it in terms of a two-handed sword, the hilt is there to stop your hands getting chopped.

However, a two-handed lightsaber is a bit pointless in the first place, because they don't weigh anything.

I have argued with myself.

[Lag]

I'm not sure how 'not 100% able to recall every single line from every film at any given instance' becomes 'completely unfamiliar with the source material' in your mind, especially when i've seen every one of the films multiple times, except for the fact that you're reaching because you're desperate to find a line of attack.

Perhaps you think you are being treated unfairly?

[Lag]

The fans have spoken. Based on a 3 second glimpse, the lightsaber design will make this officially shit. No need to watch the whole film, it'll lick balls.

Christmas 2015 cancelled!

I find your lack of faith disturbing.

[MDY]

Between light bastard and the excitement from some fans when AOTC came out and one of them had a curved handle I think they've officially run out of lightsaber ideas.

The Inquisitor from the new (pre-OT) show Star Wars: Rebels

(also separates into two blades)

No, I've no idea how it would work either..

[TehStu]

Yeah, no doubt. We haven't seen it yet, but no doubt.

[dataDave]

Isn't it just a regular lightsaber with two little ones stuck on the end?

Fuckall wrong with it, despite not having much practical use in a melee.

Anyway, I'm on a complete black-out now until I go and watch it. See you all next December!

[macosx]

So, the prequels are shit.

Bringing back familiar faces and iconic ships from the universally loved trilogy is lazy.

You're Sooo above Star Wars Smitty.

[TehStu]

It's not speculation, it's whining. We literally don't know how it will be utilized, but all we're seeing is cynicism. I could waffle off a load of EU stuff as to how it might work, but you've made it clear as to the merit of my opinion.

[Hanzo the Razor]

I suppose. Wait, is it still being piloted by Han? That would definitely justify it in one sense and you're right to bring it up. I still worry, overall, think there's a strong risk of cheap appropriation.

As for Luke...well, leaving aside the issues i've already stated with the basic conceit of bringing the old characters back (i.e. I don't like it coz its lazy and concerns over performances especially given how flat Ford is nowadays) I have to say that the rumours of Luke's role that have been floating around sound, again, both stupid and lazy.

I mean, fuck, if I'm understanding it right (I didn't read very closely and just stumbled across rumours) then there's talk of him turning to the dark side? I don't like that idea at all. Luke was instrumental in taking down the emperor which presumably destroyed the Empire as we know it and, what, he just decides to defy his entire experience, the suffering of millions and the sacrifice of his father to dabble a bit in the lovely juicy darkside?

Yeah, I understand that the dark side being intensely corrupting is one of its defining features and that in theory and in lore it can turn even the most righteous sometimes but frankly I just find it irritating that it would have to be this particular character, this undeniable hero of the first trilogy. Can't we be allowed to have our heroes, rather than having them recycled and reused in ways that fundamentally alter their character and our relationship with that character? And changing that relationship just to turn a buck out of a bunch of people who insist on living in the past?

I'd just like Luke to be a hero and to remain a hero really. There's also just the whole hackneyed aspect of it - here's a big character and ooo-errr he's a baddie now! What a heel turn! Such drama, right? 'OMG can't believe Luke turned!!!!!1!!!1!'.

Let's take an old GOOD character (saves us the effort of making a new one!) and the drama, get this, comes from them now being a BAD character. Pffft. It just sounds dreadful in my opinion. Maybe that sounds cool to some but it just sounds cheesy and lazy to me.

With regard to your points in the spoiler tags

I wasn't a fan of the idea to begin with either. However thinking about it Luke could always have been on this path. That's reflected in his outfits in each of the first three movies. He goes from pure white, to a darker cream/grey in Empire to pure black in Jedi. He struggles with the Dark Side during Jedi and especially in the fight with Vader. Despite the fact that the Light Side eventually won that battle there's no doubt that Luke could have continued to struggle with his powers and identity in the years following Jedi.

I'm intrigued to see where they go with Luke. It's certainly the biggest worry I have for the film but if done well it could bring some classic Star Wars moments.

[DocG]

The Inquisitor from the new (pre-OT) show Star Wars: Rebels

(also separates into two blades)

No, I've no idea how it would work either..

That's a grade-A death trap!

[Sponge]

With regard to your points in the spoiler tags

I wasn't a fan of the idea to begin with either. However thinking about it Luke could always have been on this path. That's reflected in his outfits in each of the first three movies. He goes from pure white, to a darker cream/grey in Empire to pure black in Jedi. He struggles with the Dark Side during Jedi and especially in the fight with Vader. Despite the fact that the Light Side eventually won that battle there's no doubt that Luke could have continued to struggle with his powers and identity in the years following Jedi.

I'm intrigued to see where they go with Luke. It's certainly the biggest worry I have for the film but if done well it could bring some classic Star Wars moments.

And don't forget

his experience in the cave in Empire. He faces evil and sees himself. Pretty much spells out his potential destiny.

[TehStu]

That's a grade-A death trap!

To normal folks. At the risk of going EU, they know where their lightsaber is at any one time. The books describe it as an extension of their arm. I think it's fine... they react to blaster bolts, which again us obviously perception and not actually seeing.

[Goose]

Relax everyone, Harry Knowles has posted his comments. They're the only ones you need

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/69635

[makkuwata]

The prequels had much more model work than people give them credit for. It just looked shitty.

[Jug McKenzie]

edit

[The Disco]

Yeah, I don't really like that effect personally. Seems yet another unnecessary addition. No doubt the baddies lightsabre has exxxxxtreme cystals in it or some bollocks.

Hold on, you're the one most complaining about the old things being constantly reused, such as characters, locations and vehicles - yet here you are moaning about something that's actually different from the blades seen previously and seemingly want them to be the same as they always have been.

Just felt that needed to be pointed out.

We get it, you don't want some things that will probably be in the films. Guess what, we're all like that to some degree. Be them new, unfamiliar and not star wars'y feeling enough things or old things which are too familiar and overused.

Can't we all agree that these are just our own opinions which can be fine and dandy not being the same as someone else's - not something which we feel we must get everyone else to come around to our way of thinking on?

Isn't it just a regular lightsaber with two little ones stuck on the end?

Fuckall wrong with it, despite not having much practical use in a melee.

Anyway, I'm on a complete black-out now until I go and watch it. See you all next December!

I'm with you too.

[The Liberal Elite]

HI GUYS YOUR ARGUING ABOUT A FANTASY MOVIE

[Commander Jameson]

I really liked the stormtroopers in the transport ship shots. Some excellent lighting in those few seconds.

[TehStu]

I don't dig the look of his light sabre. I don't need to know how it will be 'utilized' to have an opinion on that. Also, my point about exxxxxtreme crystals has nothing to do with how the sabre is utilised (ie this discussion about the wisdom of the guard) but about whatever reason will be given for why his lightsabre blade looks that way (if it's unique and not the new look for all of them).

As for 'whining' ( = expressing our opinion you don't like), you certainly seem to be spending many of your posts whining about other people's opinions. This despite entering the thread with a defensive and passive-aggressive 'I don't care what anyone else thinks'. For someone who doesn't care you seem to be quite irritated. I look forward to yet more posts in which you display how much you don't care about what other people think.

Everything about it has been meet with negativity, by some. That includes linked material. We've got nothing thus far, not even a hint of plot with which to give Jurasic World type appraisal (although that was more of a proper trailer).

All this thing does is hint at style, which I actually think was remarkably close to the originals. We've no idea what that ST is doing (and we've never seen an ST sans helmet, so the closet racists need firing into the sun), no idea what the new droid is about (laughed at the CGI anyway, turns out it isn't), no idea how that blade will be used or its origin (stupid, mind boggling comparisons with real swords), etc.

I wasn't passive aggressive at all, and I'm perfectly calm, Janet. I've no idea if you have one, or more, thing that you can always get positively excited about. If not, that's a huge shame. You've brought up the fact I like the prequels again, too (you've even done it in non SW threads as if it makes a general point about my opinion). It's not like I'm blind to the things that are wrong in films (currently bending my head around perceived story quirks in the Hobbit), I just haven't seen anything wrong thus far.

Trying to rock my kid to sleep, right thumb typing. May not have addressed all your points, sorry.

[lankysanchez]

Is everyone thinking the black guy is a stormtrooper? I thought it was a fairly clear call back to Han and Luke on the Death Star in A New Hope. And being a black guy, I was thinking Lando's son? Apologies if I'm stating the blindingly fucking obvious here.