So, if we're done with the Thought Police side-issue...

I'm wondering what the context is on the scene where they have to charge across open ground under fire from multiple AT-ATs... I'm hoping it's not just another Stupid Hollywood Combat Scene, and that there's actually a reason.

In some of the pics I've seen I think they are running from some place, a base or whatever, to a ship, because there was a scene in the palms of a crash site and a ship I think in the production stills, as well as, a sort of bunker. All in the palm tree looking place.

Could be a mission staging base somewhere away from Yavin that is discovered by the Empire.

I am thinking it's the planet we see in the teaser where the Empire was building the DS.

We've seen in the palm tree set several things in the past: A bunker, rebels unpacking supplies, and the front of a ship that appears to be similar (but not exactly) like the lander from TFA, Now we have a couple large, winged ships that appear similar to Kylo Ren's shuttle from TFA (not quite, they appear to be missing the winged laser cannons), and AT-AT's. So I'm assuming it's the planet below where the DS1 is being built?

A note on the lander and shuttles. These both appear to be very close to the lander and shuttle we see in TFA. I understand wanting to tie something in to the timeline, but TFA is a few decades later. I'm waiting to see why the TFA craft are being used right before Ep. 4 instead of something like a Lambda or Sentinel. I hope it just wasn't because it was quicker and cheaper to use the models (digital and physical) already made for TFA. Sure throw in an early model of the lander (we haven't seen an infantry-only troop lander in the Empire era), but also another shuttle? We've got three movie-canon shuttles for the era already.

We've seen in the palm tree set several things in the past: A bunker, rebels unpacking supplies, and the front of a ship that appears to be similar (but not exactly) like the lander from TFA, Now we have a couple large, winged ships that appear similar to Kylo Ren's shuttle from TFA (not quite, they appear to be missing the winged laser cannons), and AT-AT's. So I'm assuming it's the planet below where the DS1 is being built?

A note on the lander and shuttles. These both appear to be very close to the lander and shuttle we see in TFA. I understand wanting to tie something in to the timeline, but TFA is a few decades later. I'm waiting to see why the TFA craft are being used right before Ep. 4 instead of something like a Lambda or Sentinel. I hope it just wasn't because it was quicker and cheaper to use the models (digital and physical) already made for TFA. Sure throw in an early model of the lander (we haven't seen an infantry-only troop lander in the Empire era), but also another shuttle? We've got three movie-canon shuttles for the era already.

That's assuming Kylo Ren's ship is a new ship though. In the grand scheme of the galaxy, ~30 years is basically a blink of an eye when ships and technology from a few hundred to a thousand years ago are still relevant and being used. Plus it really only shares design elements to the lander that Kylo uses, so maybe it's a different, later model in TFA? Who knows, it's a big galaxy and there are a lot of shipbuilders probably vying for that sweet, sweet galactic government cash.

I get what you're saying, but my point is why didn't we see even a glimpse of these ships in Ep. IV through VI? It can be hand waved, but when you already have three versions of the Imperial shuttle in Ep. IV-VI, why are we getting possibly a fourth and fifth version without a glimpse of what was already seen in the same era?

I'm hoping there is an explanation. For example, the black clad Deathtroopers are ISB commandos under command of the white clad officer we see. The ISB branch has an entire new assortment of armor and vehicles that we didn't see in Ep. IV-VI because the heroes didn't encounter ISB troops, just Imperial Army/Navy troops. Then possibly a note in a new novel that states the New Order was in part founded by a fleeing ISB command group after Ep. VI. Thus, their new shuttles are just upgrades of old ISB models instead of regular Army/Navy models (Lambda, Sentinel, etc).

Now, why are we seeing new Stormtrooper vehicle crewmen that we didn't see before in AT-AT's and AT-ST's?

Now, why are we seeing new Stormtrooper vehicle crewmen that we didn't see before in AT-AT's and AT-ST's?

Just MHO, but people are making way too much of these trivial little details. The galaxy is vast. The Empire has a lot of suppliers. The differences could easily be chalked up to slight design differences from those suppliers. Same with the shuttles. Just because we didn't see it in the OT and it shows up in TFA doesn't mean they didn't all exist simultaneously.

Now, why are we seeing new Stormtrooper vehicle crewmen that we didn't see before in AT-AT's and AT-ST's?

Just MHO, but people are making way too much of these trivial little details. The galaxy is vast. The Empire has a lot of suppliers. The differences could easily be chalked up to slight design differences from those suppliers. Same with the shuttles. Just because we didn't see it in the OT and it shows up in TFA doesn't mean they didn't all exist simultaneously.

Some were Stromtrooper Marines, and some were Stormtrooper Soldiers.......done.

Must.. not...make..racist comment...regarding ...the force awakens...

Really? So are you subtly trying to let everyone know you're a bigot, or attempting a very poor attempt at humour?

If the latter, I call very poor form, if the former, it's the 21st century and maybe you should become a bit more enlightened.

He's being sarcastic. Your reaction is frankly why race relations are stuck in pause and can't be discussed openly in society. I've got a newsflash for you, being enlightened doesn't mean when someone says something you find a bit offensive you scream 'witch' in their face.

Perhaps they are at a standstill because people "make a joke" about it being difficult to resist the urge to be racist. It shouldn't be a thought that even enters your head.

I found the comnent in very poor taste, so I called then out on it. Next time I'll keep my thoughts to myself and press the report button.

You know what the first part of every racist joke is?

Looking over your shoulder to check who can hear you.

Yeah Gotta admit It was a bit crass. It was one of those (poor) jokes where I wondered wether I should post it or not.

Fair enough to call me out in it I suppose. Sorry folks! Hope your not to offended by it.

Cheers.

I get what you're saying, but my point is why didn't we see even a glimpse of these ships in Ep. IV through VI? It can be hand waved, but when you already have three versions of the Imperial shuttle in Ep. IV-VI, why are we getting possibly a fourth and fifth version without a glimpse of what was already seen in the same era?

I'm hoping there is an explanation. For example, the black clad Deathtroopers are ISB commandos under command of the white clad officer we see. The ISB branch has an entire new assortment of armor and vehicles that we didn't see in Ep. IV-VI because the heroes didn't encounter ISB troops, just Imperial Army/Navy troops. Then possibly a note in a new novel that states the New Order was in part founded by a fleeing ISB command group after Ep. VI. Thus, their new shuttles are just upgrades of old ISB models instead of regular Army/Navy models (Lambda, Sentinel, etc).

Now, why are we seeing new Stormtrooper vehicle crewmen that we didn't see before in AT-AT's and AT-ST's?

Do you think they included the Death Troopers as comeback against the idiots who kept claiming "There are no black Stormtroopers!!"? ;-)

Do you think they included the Death Troopers as comeback against the idiots who kept claiming "There are no black Stormtroopers!!"? ;-)

Those jokes came and went on this thread already, sorry.

Do you think they included the Death Troopers as comeback against the idiots who kept claiming "There are no black Stormtroopers!!"? ;-)

Those jokes came and went on this thread already, sorry.

Oh...

Do you think they included the Death Troopers as comeback against the idiots who kept claiming "There are no black Stormtroopers!!"? ;-)

Those jokes came and went on this thread already, sorry.

Oh...

(Just trying to disarm it at this point, no worries.)

Han Solo. Maybe.

Abrams says:

Rey’s parents are not in Episode VII. So I cannot possibly in this moment tell you who they are. This is all I will say. It is something Rey thinks about too.

http://makingstarwars.net/2016/04/reys-parents-arent-even-in-star-wars-the-force-awakens/

This was my problem with TFA: No aliens on the team, apart from Chewie. No real recognizable alien characters, really, apart from Chewie and Maz, in fact.

You didn’t notice Nien Nunb? See http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Nien_Nunb

In the extras you get with the digital download I bought, they even had a brief interview with the guy who played him in the movie, and it was the same actor who had played him in RotJ.

I’m not saying they didn’t have a lot of strange aliens, but for me, I have to confess that I prefer to see more new aliens than just always rehashing the old ones. And Maz’s castle is a place where I’m perfectly happy to see over 100 new alien species, and virtually none that we have seen before.

I mean, in a galaxy this large, surely there have to be millions and millions of species out there, right?

No, I noticed him. But I doubt very much that very many people did - and I doubt even more than any of them could tell you his name.

Hell, I couldn't remember his name while I was watching it.

I'm not certain that I'd say that he was "on the team" per se , either.

Poe: Human.

Finn: Human.

Rey: Human.

Han: Human.

BB-8: Droid.

Chewie: Wookiee.

That's not really worse than the original trilogy, of course:

Luke: Human.

Leia: Human.

Han: Human.

Obi-Wan: Human.

C-3PO: Droid.

R2-D2: Droid.

Chewie: Wookiee.

Or the prequels:

Anakin: Human.

Obi-Wan: Human.

Qui-Gon: Human.

Padmé: Human.

R2-D2: Droid.

Jar-Jar: Gungan.

But then we have Rebels :

Kanan: Human.

Ezra: Human.

Sabine: Human/Mandalorian.

Hera: Twi'lek.

Chopper: Droid.

Zeb: Lasat.

(Ahsoka: Togruta.)

It's only one more alien, not counting part-timer Ahsoka, but it's still double the number of the other teams.

Don't get me wrong, I get why there are so few aliens in the main cast for the original trilogy and it makes sense that it would mostly be the same for the prequels, as it's focusing on Obi-Wan and Anakin and how the Republic gave rise to the Empire, Senator Palpatine became Emperor, Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, why Obi-Wan went into hiding, and how Luke and Leia came to be and why they lived on practically exact opposite ends of the galaxy despite being brother and sister. I also get why they might as well use aliens in CGI cartoons, as it doesn't cost them any more to develop and animate a humanoid alien character than a human character... Lekku are probably easier to animate than individual strands of hair is and no less difficult than hair worn in pigtails or greased up or otherwise of a distinctly animated/not-really-realistic variety.

But they had a guy running around in a green suit to animate BB-8 as a practical effect, they used motion capture to turn Andy Serkis into Gollum Supreme Leader Snoke. I'm fairly certain Maz was a computer generated effect, too. So it seems to me that they could have easily made Poe an alien (Rey could be, too, but that would result in nobody seriously thinking that she's a Skywalker, for better and for worse, Finn couldn't be an alien because it would go against the human supremacist aspect of the New Order). Or made more of the whatever Death Gang and Kanjiklub alien (or maybe just the faces of one or the other or both). And Chancellor Palpatine was literally surrounded by aliens, even when only with his closest advisors.

Yes, we got a bunch of aliens in a bar. Not the first time they've done that in Star Wars.

But in this enormous galaxy filled with thousands, if not millions of sapient, humanoid (and not-so-humanoid) species, why is it that the main party is almost entirely human? I mean, what if the main party were most togruta or twi'leks or zabrak? Why not have a movie where the main party consists of a whole bunch of aliens and maybe one or two humans? It seems to me that a party consisting of a half-dozen aliens (plus token human) is going to make the galaxy seem much larger than one where the only people of consequence are humans and the only aliens you ever see are either working on being inebriated or in the highest halls of a corrupt government (like Guardians of the Galaxy - although the fact that most of the people of the Nova Empire look pretty much exactly like humans, especially those in positions of authority, did detract from that significantly).

Because the OT established humans as the dominant race in Star Wars' galaxy...

And because its needlessly wasteful to have aliens as part of your main cast just because you want them to be "Aliens".

More aliens than humans? Watch Farscape, that's their schtick.

From: http://www.nerdragecomic.com/index.php?date=2016-04-15

Abrams says:

Rey’s parents are not in Episode VII. So I cannot possibly in this moment tell you who they are. This is all I will say. It is something Rey thinks about too.

http://makingstarwars.net/2016/04/reys-parents-arent-even-in-star-wars-the-force-awakens/

He later clarified and said that Rey didn't discover her parents in Episode VII, which we already knew.

Plus this is the guy who insisted Benedict Cucumber totes wasn't playin Khan in nST2, no really guys I swear!!!

New fighter in 8.

http://makingstarwars.net/2016/04/another-familiar-ship-returning-for-star-wars-episode-viii/