Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer #1

I know the trailer came out a while back.  But I've been so busy I haven't been able to sit down and write anything.  I've got a few minutes now so here we go.

So the first thing is that voice.  For about a minute I thought it Benedict Cumberpatch, which would have been awesome.  Let's face it, he can read the phone book and make sound dramatic and exciting (as can Morgan Freeman and James Earl Jones).  But no, it's not Benedict but Gollum himself, Andy Serkis.  He does a fine job, but can you imagine if Benedict, or even James Earl Jones, would've done the narrration?

Next is our first new character.  John Boyega as Finn.  Finn and no last name. Hmmmm.  I'll get back to this.  So he is decked out in 'Trooper gear.  Is he and actual 'Trooper or was he using the armor as a disguise like Luke and Han did in Episode IV?  He's on a desert planet which at first I thought was Tatooine.  I was a little bothered about this.  Seriously, 5 out of the 6 movies have something happen on this backwards, sun-baked, dusty planet.  You would think that Tatooine was the center of the universe with as much attention they place on that planet.  But thankfully we find out that it's not Tatooine, but Jakku.  More on Jakku later.

Next up, another new character and a droid no less, BB-8.  Like most people, I assumed that BB-8 was CGI.  What a nice surprise to see that he is a practical effect.  And yes, like almost everyone else, I want one.  BB-8 also appears to be on Jakku in some kind of junkyard judging from the machinery in the background.  Fade to black.

A couple of quick flashes of everybody's favorite foot soldier, the Stormtrooper.  I am really digging the new, streamlined look of the First Order 'Trooper.  And it looks like they are about to head into battle.  At this point I'm getting pretty psyched.

Daisy, no last name, riding what looks like a pod racer engine.  Also on Jakku.  And it looks like she's running from something.  Hmmm...

Poe Dameron (finally, a last name) rocking the new X-Wing fighter.  On planet that doesn't look like Jakku.  S-foils are in attack position and they are flying low.  Attacking the enemy stronghold?

Kylo Ren!  The assumed bad guy with a new type of lightsaber.  Does it look silly? Yes.  And will continue to look silly unless he utilizes the crossbar.  Anybody else notice that his saber doesn't seem to be stable?  And it looks like he's trying to get away from something and getting ready to defend himself rather than attacking someone.

Up until now, it's all been new characters and ships.  But finally the moment we were waiting for.  The appearance of an old friend.  The Millennium Falcon. Oh yeah!  Sporting a new rectenna and taking on a couple of TIEs.  Nice.  Also above Jakku.

One of these new characters has to have some kind of ties to an OT character.  If JJ Abrams wants us to be invested in these movies and these new characters, there has to be a reason.  Poe is out because of this last name.  And unless Finn's last name is Calrissian, he's out also.  That leaves Daisy and Kylo Ren.  Gonna take a shot in the dark here and say Daisy's last name is Solo.  Not sure about Kylo Ren.  Trailer was still to vague.  Let's see what the next trailer gives us.

30 Day SW Challenge - 4: Favorite Jedi

This one is easy.  Quinlan Vos.  Let's break it down why is he not only my favorite Jedi, but the best and baddest Jedi around.

1) His attire. Not your typical "bathrobe and pajamas" getup.  Nope.  The arm wraps and the breastplate armor let's you know he means business.  Combine that with the simple yet striking facial tattoo and the crazy hair*, you know he is not your typical Jedi at all.

2) His story.  His history is the stuff of daytime drama.  His parents killed by family, losing his memory, double-agent, Dark Side adept (temporarily), left for dead... I can go on but you will just have to read up on him yourself

4) His lightsaber... and balster.  Yeah, that's right.  He has the elegant weapon, and a good blaster.  And that look you know he means business.

3) Appearances.  He's been in the movies, comic books, cartoons and he's an action figure.  That also means he is canon.

4) Attachments? He had them.  Meet Khaleen Hentz.  Separatist hottie turned Jedi girlfriend hottie.  Love the purple hair.

Which leads to...

5) Korto Vos.  Yeah, he's not the first Jedi to have kids but what he had to do to get this point.  Ya gotta read his adventures to really appreciate this guy.  Besides, check out that awesome facial tattoo.

*- Not sure if he has dreadlocks or it's just crazy hair. Different artist always depict him differently.

 

30 Day SW Challenge - Day 3: Favorite member of the Empire

"Rule through the fear of force rather than through the force itself."

The key words of spoken by favorite member of the Empire in his famous (or is it infamous) Tarkin Doctrine.

Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin.  The only man in the galaxy able to command a Dark Lord of the Sith.  He ballsy enough to destroy and entire planet.  That's right, AN ENTIRE FLIPPIN' PLANET!  So he made one mistake, one lousy mistake and that's what everyone remembers.*  Whatever, he is still my favorite member of the Empire.  And the fact that he was portrayed by the legendary Peter Cushing just makes it that much cooler.  Oh, and let's not forget the little hottie girlfriend of his, Admiral Daala.  Really, need I say more?

*- Something I plan to correct with a bit of fanfic I wrote. 

30 Day SW Challenge - Day 2: Favorite member of the Rebellion

"That's impossible, even for a computer."

And with those words, we are introduced to Wedge Antilles.  Described as a "hotshot pilot about sixteen years old."  The most underrated, unsung hero of the Rebellion.  He appeared in all three OT movies (one of only seven people to do so) and has a very extensive EU presence.  Some of the best EU books I read were the "Star Wars: X-Wing" series.  If you haven't read them yet, do yourself a favor and pick them up.  It's this series that gave me an new appreciation for Wedge and all the other "little" people in the Rebellion.  If it wasn't for them, the Rebellion could have very well never happened.