fang zei covered it pretty well for me. I'm probably repeating what i stated earlier when it was announced 2 years ago:
If Lucas was still controlling things, I would want no part of this. refusal of the blu-ray and the TPM 3D was a positive step in my deprogramming ;)
So thats the one thing the ST has going for it. I am curious more than anything else; there simply isnt enough information to get me excited yet. And I didnt really become curious until that now-famous photo of the table read (is that already the most famous table-read of all time?)
Of Course, the theatrical release of Episode VII will make a ton of money. As I've said before - no matter whats happened, no matter whats been done or how far it has creatively declined, this is still the most storied catalog in movie history (although after almost 40 years, even Star Wars is now receding). Whether it becomes a good movie, let alone a memorable classic, is a different question. And the bigger problem is will we be able to connect to it?
OF course it'll have better dialog, acting, directing, editing, fx, cinematography, action than the PT - just about every movie does. But thats not good enough. There needs to be something compelling: whether its the storyline, the setting, the characters. And even if this movie is merely decent, it'll become like the GodFather Part III or KOTCS or A Very Brady Christmas or the last 5 seasons of The Simpsons. A story that wasn't meant to be extended and characters that aren't as interesting because their arcs are simply finished and/or personalities completely changed and everything is too far removed. THe one thing the PT had going for it was the idea of seeing this GFFA we all knew and loved in a different time that we only imagined and the idea of seeing how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. Whats the hook this time?
I don't like this idea that some of the characters may return but only as cameos. what good is that? some people will say that 'well, the main focus is on the new characters', but it'll be impossible to not have your attention drawn to the very characters that made this so beloved to all of us. And if we are going to go back to this GFFA and its a different place and these characters are radically different than when we last saw them, then we are selling it short by not having a story explaining what happened to them after all this time. Its one of the reasons I felt that if there were to be an ST, it should be at least 100 years later.
THere hasnt been much info on Princess Leia, why? Can Carrie Fisher still even act? her personality is colorful and outragoeus, but thats not what Princess Leia was. And if she ends up like that on-screen, it'll be too jarring. Again, some people will rationalize it and say'well, its 30 years later, so she is a different person'. But that goes back to my earlier point - we don't have a story to explain how she changed. this would hurt the movie and become a dissapointment because we all love this character and it'll be a letdown that can't be undone.
I am concerned about some rumors of the story because it betrays the OT in IMO. Yet, some fans that hate the PT are still inexplicably excited about it. Ridiculous ideas of Luke going to the DarkSide or that the Empire is still in control after 35 years. I don't mind Luke having ill-feelings or doubting himself or struggling in a new phase in his life - that could be interesting. But having Luke go to the Dark Side is stupid. I also don't like this idea of Luke just becoming the 'Obi-Wan of the ST' and 'he comes full circle'. While its inevitable that he would be training a new jedi, if thats the only thing he does, then its pointless. THere is no sense to having Luke simply as the new Obi-Wan because luke is not Obi-Wan! and Episode VII should not be a rehash of Star Wars!
I dont mind that if after the empire fell, the galaxy went thru turmoil and alliances were formed after the fallout and were at odds with one another. That could be interesting. I dont mind if the storm-troopers were repurposed and went back under republic control or represented another faction. But the idea that the Empire is still going after 35 years would be ridiculous. Making the deaths of Palpatine AND Vader AND the destruction of another Death Star being nothing more than a minor inconvenience would make ROTJ completely meaningless!! (between hayden creepy stare, NOOOOOOOOOO, leia's memory plot-hole, why can't poor ROTJ be left alone :( )
Some fans are already rationalizing it by saying 'well, an empire wouldnt fall just because of one or 2 people' and use such horrible analogies to real historical events, it shatters my faith in our public education system.
Its the same thing apologists did for the PT: they rationalize disgraceful and disgustingly stupid story-telling, plot devices and ideas. and anything can be rationalized.
So, im not blase - if Lucas was making it, I would be. But these guys will have to pull off something incredible. 1977-1983 will not be seen again, so no one is expecting that. But if it turns out that you just can't continue a story after the story has been completed regardless of execution, the ST will be haunted by the legacy of the OT in ways that even the PT was not.
I dunno...has anyone read that Shining sequel - "Dr. Sleep"? if so, did it work for you? I guess thats probably the closest comparison I could make.
dang, this was one long ass post ;P
I will say that I look more forward to this than the newly announced toy story 4 (i mean...seriously!? sheeeesh)
As with everything, the OOT needs to be released in order for me to become more excited.