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Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Discussion * SPOILER THREAD * — Page 175

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ratpack1961 said:

Alderaan said:

The trailer looked terrible. Doesn't even look like a Star Wars movie. Looks like some random blockbuster film with explosions and lens flare, with STAR WARS plastered all over it to sell to audiences.

 This was may impression, that it didn't have a certain "look" that a Star Wars film should have.  It looked like it was shot with very nice HiDef cameras and a super clean look that you would see in a Fast and Furious film.  

 I know what you mean...it doesn't look late 70s or early 80s at all!

I may be one of the older people here, but many of you sound a thousand years old in this thread.

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 (Edited)

Anyone noticed from the trailer how the film might follow the same story structure from the first film?

Person A, who was involved in a fight with (the remnant of) the Empire and knows a terrible secret about them (R2-D2, Finn), crashes on a deserty planet. There he meets Person B (Luke, Rey), who's sick and tired of living on said deserty planet and wants to go on an adventure / leave it. The Empire tracks down Person A's location, Person B's place gets destroyed by the Empire as a result. They're now forced to escape the planet and they meet Han and Chewbacca, who take them off the deserty planet after a short exciting fight scene. Meanwhile, there's Person C (Leia, Poe Dameron), who's been captured by the Empire under command of Person D - who has a mask and a morphed voice - (Vader, Kylo Ren) (Twist might be that he is related to Luke?). Person C is manipulated into giving information to Person D, and he is forced to see his planet get destroyed by the secret(?) superweapon - which has a giant laser and a long trench (Death Star / Starkiller Base). Person A, who's now been trained to use the force and / or a lightsaber, fights Person D but loses (dies?). Person B is sad of this loss. The film ends with a massive dogfight, where the rebels have to destroy the Empire's superweapon. Superweapon gets destroyed, huge explosion, big celebration, cue end credits. We don't find out the exact identity of Person D and while he *might* have disappeared (sorta-kinda cliffhangers for the next movie), surprise surprise, he returns in the next movie!

Again, just a mostly silly theory. I might be looking too much into it and I see its holes; I don't know where all the stuff on the forest planet would fit in in, for example (place where Finn learns to use the force and / or a lightsaber, I guess). 

Also, notice how in the very first shots a starfield gets wiped away by Rey? Maybe we don't get the traditional pan-down after the opening crawl if the first shots of the trailer are also the very first shots after the crawl, although it seems unlikely.

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One off putting aspect  of the trailer was the feeling of gloom and doom throughout.  The characters were either serious, distressed or scared.  I hope there are some lighthearted and fun moments in the film to lighten the mood a bit.

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 (Edited)

Crazy thought, but could Starkiller base actually be a super-weapon hidden inside an entire planet?

In this shot from the trailer it looks like the ground is opening up. And on the poster we see a Death Star type of super-weapon that looks like a snowy planet with a slit/crevice in the middle. 

EDIT:
Maybe this shot is inside Starkiller base. Maybe it's the internal reactor or something, perhaps even the inside of that big red "lens" or whatever you'd call it, that we see on the poster. Otherwise why would space be red? Also it would explain that building in the bottom right of the picture.

2nd EDIT:
Yes, apparently it is a planet sized super-weapon.
http://www.starwars.com/databank/starkiller-base

Star Wars is Surrealism, not Science Fiction (essay)
Original Trilogy Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Beyond the OT Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Amazon link to my novel; Dawn of the Karabu.

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ZkinandBonez said:


But as long as they never go THIS far with it, I'm satisfied at least.

 Jesus, all that unnecessary twirling and spinning. George was so in love with that crap.  The ships in that space battle are like his choreographed light saber battles spin-fests.  He'd already started heading in that direction back in Return but it looks like it reached a comedic level in whichever film that is. 

The ship clutter is there in this new trailer, but it doesn't appear to have near the ridiculous twirling and spinning.

The full trailer is about what I expected.  They're keeping a tight lid on plot.  We may very well have to wait until December to understand the story.  Two months will be here soon enough.

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 (Edited)

ZkinandBonez said:

Crazy thought, but could Starkiller base actually be a super-weapon hidden inside an entire planet?

....And on the poster we see a Death Star type of super-weapon that looks like a snowy planet with a slit/crevice in the middle. 

 That was my first thought also.  That super weapon seems to have an asymmetrical surface texture, including some of the scarring visible in your top picture.

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ZkinandBonez said:

Crazy thought, but could Starkiller base actually be a super-weapon hidden inside an entire planet?

In this shot from the trailer it looks like the ground is opening up. And on the poster we see a Death Star type of super-weapon that looks like a snowy planet with a slit/crevice in the middle. 

 http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/THE-FORCE-AWAKENS-Episode-VII-Discussion-SPOILER-THREAD-See-OP-For-Trailer-Teaser-Links-Trailer-is-out/post/793905/#TopicPost793905

As previously discussed, yes. It's more than a possibility - it's confirmed.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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unamochilla2 said:

One off putting aspect  of the trailer was the feeling of gloom and doom throughout.  The characters were either serious, distressed or scared.  I hope there are some lighthearted and fun moments in the film to lighten the mood a bit.

 With what we've read of the Empire almost not existing I guess we're going to see a lot of antagonist success to make them appear an actual threat. So I'm expecting a gloomy movie.

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sunday256 said:

Let me preface this by saying,

I was there in 1977. So that speaks to my age.

I'm a prequel sympathizer. I enjoy them all, but at my current age I also have some minor qualms with all 6 of the movies.

So now to the new trailer..

IT SUCKED! Too much rehash from the teasers and not enough of what made the previous 6 trailers great. I get that this isn't the film, but the trailer should give us some idea what the movie is about. I got none of that from this trailer. It's an extended teaser as far as I'm concerned. There needs to be more dialogue for one, or at least a voice over narrative to take us through the general points of the film.

The film may or may not suck, but the trailer did not serve it's purpose as far as I'm concerned.

This is the first time as a Star Wars fan I've been underwhelmed by a Star Wars trailer. And hopefully, the last.

 I completely disagree. Why would I need them to spoil everything with dialogue that ruins all the plot points for me? Trailers give away too much as it is. I don't need it to be narrated. I like trailers like this far better. Nothing is worse than trailers packed with dialogue scenes that tell us everything that happens in the movie.

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Just from what I've seen in all the trailers and stills, I suspect Rey will be the draw for me in the film. I'm digging the solitude of the remnants of the battle and the emptiness of her world.  Like Luke & Tatooine from the 70s, I prefer the desolation and loneliness.

This shot really put the hook in me.

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 (Edited)

Didn't Yoda tell Luke to pass on what he learned in Return of the Jedi?

Han talks of the Jedi as if they're regarded as myth in the trailer.

Is this movie really making our heroes as lazy as I fear? 30 years on they're still fight imperial types and Luke has seemingly trained nobody else in the ways of the Force. 

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Anchorhead said:

This shot really put the hook in me.

 That's the shot I was talking about earlier.  

“First feel fear, then get angry. Then go with your life into the fight.” - Bill Mollison

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pablumatic said:

Didn't Yoda tell Luke to pass on what he learned in Return of the Jedi?

Han talks of the Jedi as if they're regarded as myth in the trailer.

Is this movie really making our heroes as lazy as I fear? 30 years on they're still fight imperial types and Luke has seemingly trained nobody else in the ways of the Force. 

There's most likely going to be a very good explanation as to why Luke has gone into hiding. And if he wen't into hiding shortly after ROTJ then he would really have had the time to train anyone, and Leia didn't exactly know enough to train any herself.

But then again, there could still be a small amount of Jedi. I mean just because a scavenger on an outer-rim desert planet has been affected by Imperial propaganda and hearsay, doesn't mean that no one at all in the galaxy know of the events of the OT or the Jedi and the Old Republic. 
This film, could have chosen a plot-line similar to the EU where the galaxy is split into two factions, one influence by the New Republic and one controls by the New Order. In that case Luke might be a household name on for example; Coruscant, while on Jakku he's a mere legend/myth.

Star Wars is Surrealism, not Science Fiction (essay)
Original Trilogy Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Beyond the OT Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Amazon link to my novel; Dawn of the Karabu.

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ZkinandBonez said:

pablumatic said:

Didn't Yoda tell Luke to pass on what he learned in Return of the Jedi?

Han talks of the Jedi as if they're regarded as myth in the trailer.

Is this movie really making our heroes as lazy as I fear? 30 years on they're still fight imperial types and Luke has seemingly trained nobody else in the ways of the Force. 

There's most likely going to be a very good explanation as to why Luke has gone into hiding. And if he wen't into hiding shortly after ROTJ then he would really have had the time to train anyone, and Leia didn't exactly know enough to train any herself.

 It seems like you're suggesting that the opening crawl isn't going to just say 'Luke was lazy, you guys'.

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Oldfan said:

 I completely disagree. Why would I need them to spoil everything with dialogue that ruins all the plot points for me?

 A trailer should give you a heads up heading into the film about what you are going to see:

1. Who is the protagonist / who are the protagonists?

2. What is the protagonist(s) goal?

3. What villains or obstacles might stand in their way?

For instance, I have seen that new Mars trailer with Matt Damon several times this season. I haven't seen the film, but I know that if I do see it, I will be watching a movie with Matt Damon's character being the main character, and he will be stuck on Mars and people will be trying to rescue him. Whatever else happens in the film, I have no idea, and I have no idea whether he will live or die or whatever larger point there might be to all of it, so it's a nice mix of setting up the audience but not giving away too much.

This Star Wars Trailer on the other hand tells me:

Explosions! Storm Troopers! Lightsabers! Jedi! Harrison Ford is back!

It's Star Wars!

You see how underwhelming that looks to anyone who isn't drunk on kool-aid?

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 (Edited)

Alderaan said:

 A trailer should give you a heads up heading into the film about what you are going to see:

1. Who is the protagonist / who are the protagonists?

2. What is the protagonist(s) goal?

3. What villains or obstacles might stand in their way?

For instance, I have seen that new Mars trailer with Matt Damon several times this season. I haven't seen the film, but I know that if I do see it, I will be watching a movie with Matt Damon's character being the main character, and he will be stuck on Mars and people will be trying to rescue him. Whatever else happens in the film, I have no idea, and I have no idea whether he will live or die or whatever larger point there might be to all of it, so it's a nice mix of setting up the audience but not giving away too much.

This Star Wars Trailer on the other hand tells me:

Explosions! Storm Troopers! Lightsabers! Jedi! Harrison Ford is back!

It's Star Wars!

You see how underwhelming that looks to anyone who isn't drunk on kool-aid?

 Well, this was the Monday Night Football trailer after all.

Also, this is a Star Wars movie, it doesn't really need an introduction. The trailer clearly tells us who's the good guys, and who's the bad guys. What's the plot? Same as always really, Rebels vs Empire. 
This is Star Wars after all, and they're probably afraid of backlash if they make too many spoilers. 
And like I said, this is a the trailer for the general public, so it's definitely supposed to be kind of dumbed down and full of action. It's not really made for fans like us who spend our time on SW forums, that's what comic-con panels and BTS videos are for.
The Martian is a terrible example as it's a standalone movie that has to rely entirely on it's story since it's not a franchise with an established world and characters. Plus, it's based on a book so the story is already well known.

Star Wars is Surrealism, not Science Fiction (essay)
Original Trilogy Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Beyond the OT Documentaries/Making-Ofs (YouTube, Vimeo, etc. finds)
Amazon link to my novel; Dawn of the Karabu.

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That's if there's any opening crawl at all.

Ol’ George has the GOUT, I see.

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FrankT said:

That's if there's any opening crawl at all.

 Had to check if I was in the Rogue One thread or something.

Of course there will be an opening crawl!

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 (Edited)

I got enough.

Female character with cute droid investigating ruined space ships meets other female character who encourages her to let the Force in.

Male Character who is raised to fight, crashes on the same planet as female character and seeks a new cause to fight for.

Masked male character part of a group of other masked figures who hero worship Vader is a prominent figure in the faction that previously mentioned male figure seemed to be escaping from.

Han is back now he is a believer in the Force.

Plus splosions and hugs.

That's more non-verbal exposition than the whole of the PT.

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 (Edited)

John Doom said:

Bingowings said:

Female character is nobody.

 Fixed.

 ^

Bingowings says :

eh?

^Ms Morrissette take note.. this is how it's done :-D

**UPDATE** now I get it.

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Alderaan said:

Oldfan said:

 I completely disagree. Why would I need them to spoil everything with dialogue that ruins all the plot points for me?

 A trailer should give you a heads up heading into the film about what you are going to see:

1. Who is the protagonist / who are the protagonists?

2. What is the protagonist(s) goal?

3. What villains or obstacles might stand in their way?

For instance, I have seen that new Mars trailer with Matt Damon several times this season. I haven't seen the film, but I know that if I do see it, I will be watching a movie with Matt Damon's character being the main character, and he will be stuck on Mars and people will be trying to rescue him. Whatever else happens in the film, I have no idea, and I have no idea whether he will live or die or whatever larger point there might be to all of it, so it's a nice mix of setting up the audience but not giving away too much.

This Star Wars Trailer on the other hand tells me:

Explosions! Storm Troopers! Lightsabers! Jedi! Harrison Ford is back!

It's Star Wars!

You see how underwhelming that looks to anyone who isn't drunk on kool-aid?

This is funny, given that people who read The Martian before seeing the trailer thought it was a horribly spoiler-filled trailer that would ruin the film for any newcomers to the story.

ROTJ Storyboard Reconstruction Project

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I'm warning you guys, don't get your expectations up. The trailer is a window into the filmmaker's mind and what kind of story they are hoping to tell. All indications are that the story in this film will be poorly fleshed out. The characters will be kind of just there. The movie will be a sleekly produced but vapid Revenge of the Sith meets The Godfather Part 3 meets standard Hollywood blockbuster fare.

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timdiggerm said:

This is funny, given that people who read The Martian before seeing the trailer thought it was a horribly spoiler-filled trailer that would ruin the film for any newcomers to the story.

Well, I don't care what people who have read the source material think.

Trailers are made for people who would otherwise have no idea what they are about to see.