"It's all true."

Well now we know why there aren't any Jedi around.

could this be the reason?

With all due respect. Seriously. Lucas was doing so much better with it?

"It's all true."

Well now we know why there aren't any Jedi around.

could this be the reason?

With all due respect. Seriously. Lucas was doing so much better with it?

I curse FFG for only allowing me to "like" once.

And to not be able to dislike.

This trailer makes me .... sad.

It really hit home how much I'll miss the old stories. I'm still excited for this. I just think the EU will live on in my heart, even as I explore this new timeline.

I feel you, but when I heard the part in the trailer about the "stories being true", I just totally related it as a nod to legends canon. To me it seems that some of our beloved EU stories can come true or at the very least can be genuine stories in these films.

I don't think that's anywhere near what that implies. They've done nothing but spit on or steal from the EU.

S'hard to spit into a Spatoon and call it ruined.

Look, there was some bad stuff in the EU, but there was a lot of good stuff, too. And for the most part, the books following Return of the Jedi followed a story you would logically expect, given where the trilogy left off. Han marries Leia, Luke trains Jedi, Leia learns the Force, the Empire is overturned, the republic is restored, etc. And even as it did that, it told fun stories I love and remember.

This new story line starts you at Return of the Jedi and then completely K-turns and goes a different direction. It seems so forced. And it kinda spits in the face of the original trilogy, if you think about it. Star Wars was renamed as Star Wars: A New Hope. Luke was that new hope. He helped his father bring balance to the Force. And now he's missing and the Jedi are gone? The Empire didn't get destroyed? It just doesn't jive with what the previous 6 movies were building up to. It makes it seem like all the suffering of the original trilogy was for naught.

I'm not anti TFA, and I'm not boycotting the movie. I'm as excited for it as the next guy. But I also love the EU and will defend it when people want to call it a spittoon.

There are EU elements all over this movie.

Also Luke can be a New Hope in his later years. They didn't specify that his accomplishments would all happen publicly by 21.

Didn't you know that if you haven't conquered the entire known universe by the age of 30, you'll never amount to anything?

Am I the only one amazed by the reverse camera angle hyperjump?

Not amazed. But it was really damned cool.

I don't understand how people are complaining about there still being an Empire 30 years after RoTJ. The Empire was ore than one man (Palpatine), it was a system. It was a system that was based on the subverted Old Republic which took Palpatine decades to overthrow/subvert. It would be like expecting the entire US government to throw in the towel if the White House was blown up with the President and Vice President inside. That is absurd. Sure there would be some confusion and chaos, but State and Local governments would continue to function just fine.I would expect the same from the Empire.

The Rebels were trying to accomplish a more ambitious task, completely rebuilding a functioning democracy from scratch. That would take time.

What you're saying makes complete sense in real life. But Star Wars was, is, and always will be fantasy. In traditional fantasy -- the kind of story George was trying to tell -- the good guys win and are happily ever after. That was part of what made Star Wars so brilliant. Film had become this dark and depressing thing. It was expressing art and realism. George said, "Let's just make it fun!" And he made Star Wars. And Star Wars was fun. At the end of the movie, the good guys won. His special editions show that it was his intention that overthrowing the Emperor brought down the Empire.

So yes, it makes sense that the Empire wouldn't just disappear over night, but to me, that's not the story George was trying to tell in 1983.

In any case, I don't know anything about the political situation at the time of TFA. I am too poor to buy the books (blame X-Wing) so I'm waiting for them to be available at my local library. Until then, all I have to go on is that the Jedi are missing and the Empire is still in control. That's what it looks like to me and that seems strange to me. Yeah, it'd take time to get rid of the Empire, but 30 years and it's still in control? That's odd.

But if I'm wrong, and the Empire is not in control, just laugh at me quietly and say to yourself, "This fool has no idea what's going on." Because that's the truth. Like I said, I'd like to read more of the books, but I'd rather not have it all spoiled on an internet forum.

To be entirely fair, I'm pretty sure that in the original interpretation, the Empire was supposed to have been destroyed at the end of Star Wars, before it was A New Hope. Then they went and made the sequels and the Empire had to be wounded, but not out of the fight.

Therefore, in making the sequel trilogy involve an evil empire that's still hanging around despite a mighty wound (in this case, a sucking chest wound - but it got better) shouldn't be that unusual.

Yeah, that's the main reason I didn't like those films.

As generic sci-fi action films, they are ok. But they didn't give me that feeling. That 'yes, this is my childhood and geekdom life on screen!' like the original 10 did

Whereas apart from the first teaser (till the Falcon reveal), everything about this release has FELT like Star Wars to me. I see it and I'm 4 years old again.

it might just be dirty cheating, though

the same (slightly updated) music and ships and old sights (falcon being pursued etc.) the trailer shows that the team at least has an idea of how to trigger nostalgia. That is definitely something, but they still have to carry it through the narrative. Star Wars, the Original Trilogy, was held together by a solid frame of a Coming of Age story and a cast of sympathetic characters that made scenes relevant and actions significant

I do have greater hope for TFW than Trek, though, because it's true "generic sci-fii" is far more appropriate a name than "Star Trek." Without much identity apart from the names, I just found them to be mostly boring

except one scene at the end of Wrath of Khan Into Darkness (it's so generic I forgot the title and remembered the original movie!) when

SPOILERS:

...A certain Vulcan goes down to fight Khan like an idiot, possibly because he's mad as hell but still. But, during the actual fight against a being far stronger than he, the choreography goes far beyond just fist smash fist smash until hero drops, gets taunted, says something pithy; wins etc as per normal. He fights dirty and I loved how they incorporated all those little details (using objects as blunt weapons, dodging, mind-meld while getting strangled) to distinguish the fight from so many others

just a brief moment, but still it stands out from behind all the lens flares and that's an accomplishment

...

END SPOILERS

with the trailer showing our Jedi to be protagonist looking a mite bit concerned to face Mr. Lightbroadside as the Sith(?) lord (?) imposingly bears down upon him, we'll have another good chance to see some inspired cleverness in the face of lopsided odds

at the very least, it won't be this:

I will NEVER understand why people hate that scene- it's brilliant! I've explained it before, I'll explain it again I guess.

That's them mirroring each other. Thinking to do the exact same move at the exact same time. That little bit illustrates just how alike they think, how much Anakin has learned from Obi-Wan. It's easily one of my most favorite moments from the franchise altogether.

And yet, it gets panned as this stupid light show that has no meaning what-so-ever. I don't get it. I don't get it at all.

Alright.

I didn't want to get serious on you, but you pulled out the Forms.

http://imgur.com/gallery/rXss2 by CaitlynPetersen

Everything you ever need to know about lightsaber combat.

All credit to Caitlyn.

Sorry, but I can't look at that and not see the abomination that was Star Wars Kinect.

Did somebody say... Sweep the Leg?

(Mild language warning.)

Dewback Tail, Rising Sun, and The Dark Rift are my favored moves.

Dewback especially since because my favorite IRL sidearm is sabre (pommel strikes), and sabre fencing's focus on dueling translates well into Form II Makashi.

(You didn't think I knew the geeky stuff did you?)

Did somebody say... Sweep the Leg?

Yes!

This needs to be mandatory watching at the Imperial Academy.

Why would they fight in an identical matter? Getting super dorky here but Anakin is Form and Kenobi is Form III. So they should both be approaching combat differently.

Well, I think Form V is Anakin's favored form, but I'm willing to bet that he's got a good bit of Soresu training from Obi-Wan. That gif looks like standard Form III defense, so it's clear Anakin is well versed in that form. Plus, you do see Anakin pulling out Djem So during that lightsaber battle. I think it's fair to say you'll see lots of similarities between their styles, but their styles will still be distinct.

One thing's for sure, though, Jar'Kai is definitely not Anakin's best form when we consider his performance in the duel against Dooku.

Ahhhh... tickets booked for Wednesday the 16th, 9am. Seems the local 501st has decided to descend upon the cinemas in cosplay so I'll be in good company!

My folks managed to get the Night tickets for the day prior.

Feels good man.

My first thoughts on the trailer.

My biggest take away from this trailer:

It's rather telling that the events of the Original Trilogy — Episodes VI, V and VI — have themselves become somewhat mythologized in the Star Wars universe.

“There were stories about what happened,” says Rey in a voiceover.

“It’s true. All of it. The Dark Side. The Jedi. They’re real,” responds Han Solo.

I dig it.

Despite what the Rebels would have non human species, and the far flung planets of the Outer Rim believe, The Empire did bring about stability and indeed prosperity to the Core and Inner Regions of the Galaxy.

Many a Core world did believe the Rebellion were a band of disruptive terrorists.

Perhaps with the fall of Emperor Palpatine, with no clear line of succession (as he very well intended), as in the Expanded Universe, in The Force Awakens, the Galaxy as a whole degraded and large pockets were plunged into the Star Wars version of the Dark Ages.

With no strong central government, petty planet wide conflicts and generations of extra species hatred were no longer kept in check. Hotbeds of turmoil that were once squashed by the Imperial Military now runs rampant, and swaths of the Galaxy fractures into something akin to our own world's history. Continued warfare between a multitude of factions only reinforces this spiral.

Perhaps that was The Emperor's parting gift. If he and his New Order would "save" the Galaxy, then let it all burn.

My two standard Galactic credits.

Could be, not even sure the Rebellion made it.

I'm still trying to figure out what this "Resistance" really is.

It doesn't seem as ordered as the Rebellion: "The Alliance to Restore the Republic" has a stated cause and purpose, with an air of order to it: you don't do diplomacy with an entity called "The Resistance". You have a General of the Alliance, but General of the Resistance? Not seeing it.

So is it the Alliance/Rebellion, or some splinter cell?

(Btw, the move looks good, but I still hate the name. There are too many other Resistances for it to stick.)

Let's count Resistances.

• All the Terminators
• All The Matrixes
• Oblivion
• V for Vendetta
• Meeting Resistance

I'm thinking in Cold War terms. The Resistance is in no way affiliated with the New Republic. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*

Could be, not even sure the Rebellion made it.

I'm still trying to figure out what this "Resistance" really is.

It doesn't seem as ordered as the Rebellion: "The Alliance to Restore the Republic" has a stated cause and purpose, with an air of order to it: you don't do diplomacy with an entity called "The Resistance". You have a General of the Alliance, but General of the Resistance? Not seeing it.

So is it the Alliance/Rebellion, or some splinter cell?

(Btw, the move looks good, but I still hate the name. There are too many other Resistances for it to stick.)

Let's count Resistances.

• All the Terminators
• All The Matrixes
• Oblivion
• V for Vendetta
• Meeting Resistance

You mention V for Vendetta but forget V?

It makes it a bit easier to speculate if you've read the novels and Shattered Empire

So the Remnant still exists in one form or another, only it's not called that way?

So the Remnant still exists in one form or another, only it's not called that way?

So you're saying there's still hope?

"My name is THRAWN. I am better."

"At what?"

"Everything. And art. But mostly everything."

gotta say..

I was (still am, maybe) really sceptic about the new film, about that trailer etc..

still, I watched it and for the first time since those dastardly teddybears butchered my the emperors finest troops, I had that "wow.. it's starwars..!"-feeling I had as a kid watching 4-6 and missed seeing ep.1-3.

so, even if that film turns out to be ~not so good~, the trailer is just.. it's just starwars - I know you know what I mean :-D

*has 'a new hope'*

gotta say..

I was (still am, maybe) really sceptic about the new film, about that trailer etc..

still, I watched it and for the first time since those dastardly teddybears butchered my the emperors finest troops, I had that "wow.. it's starwars..!"-feeling I had as a kid watching 4-6 and missed seeing ep.1-3.

so, even if that film turns out to be ~not so good~, the trailer is just.. it's just starwars - I know you know what I mean :-D

*has 'a new hope'*

I've got to be sure... did you mean septic or skeptical when you typed sceptic?

And it is so freaking Star Wars. I'm quite excited.

Here is a spoiler from Aftermath:

There is a reference to a character by another in this way: "We still have HIM" -- not the exact quote.

The main imperial character Rae Sloane, Admiral, is subservient to this character. He is not revealed by name or race, but, has an air of authority and schemeing nature that could be considered similar to Thrawn. Beware though, this may NOT be Thrawn. We'll find out likely in the follow up book to aftermath.

I am entirely uninterested in Thrawn being brought it - but my lord, that photoshop w/ Benedict.....I could see that working

Let's count Resistances.

Listen carefully, I will say zis only once.

I am entirely uninterested in Thrawn being brought it - but my lord, that photoshop w/ Benedict.....I could see that working

OK - so we have Benedict playing Thrawn. Now we need a Mara Jade and Talon Karrde.

Mara Jade = Summer Glau, Natalie Dormer, Emilia Clarke, Lucy Liu?

Karrde = Antonio Banderas, Ken Watanabe, Christian Bale, Clive Owen?

AWFUL Mara choices, but she's tricky to cast.

Danny Trejo for Karrde.