Geeky Reactions: The Force Awakens Teaser Trailer

By Marshall Carr

When it comes to Star Wars, I do my best not to let others influence my opinions. With the current state of the Internet that's not terribly easy to do. Fortunately for me, I got to watch the new The Force Awakens trailer a few times, and then had to go help my wife with the Black Friday shenanigans at our local small business. Honestly, after being distracted all day long I wasn't able to stalk the interwebs reading all of the inevitable criticism that that occasionally spews from the Star Wars community. That said, it's time to talk about what I love about the teaser trailer for a film I hate that I have to wait until next year to watch.

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All I want for Christmas...you have a year to make it happen.

Can I please have that lightsaber? I'm sure there are people that are are making this the focus of their criticism. Really, what else do you have to criticize when there's really nothing else there? For me, it's the perfect blend of sci-fi and fantasy, and as a die hard fantasy-lover I couldn't be more intrigued by what Abrams and Disney plan to do with weapons going forward. Lightsabers aside, the X-wings skimming over the water was reminiscent of the Episode IV trench run, and stunningly sweet. The Millennium Falcon's evasion roll against the TIE-fighters was a classic Han Solo move that just looks amazing.

Outside of the visual effects, we saw two of the actors, not including the dark Jedi, or Sith with the broadsword lightsaber, some stormtroopers and a ball droid. The latter one was a little funky, but the rest was just plain badass. John Boyega in a stormtrooper uniform at first made me think we will get a look at stormtroopers beyond their masks like the clone troopers in the prequels and The Clone Wars. I think this is likely, but my other thought was closer to what Lucas did with Han and Luke in Episode IV. Is Boyega just posing as a stormtrooper? Of course, my other question is what the heck is going on? He looks not only disoriented, but freakishly out of place against the stark Tatooine backdrop. Speaking of our favorite desert planet, most of the action in the trailer not including the dark Jedi/Sith and the X-wings, is focused on Tatooine. Daisy Ridley's character is seen for a moment fleeing some unseen enemy on a very boxy speederbike, and is quite clearly on Tatooine. Guess what planet the Falcon is evading TIEs on? Clearly Vader's home world will be a major setting for the film.

I've played many Star Wars games, and read countless EU novels, and outside of the films where Hoth is the planet we encounter perpetual snow, the moment with the Dark Jedi/Sith we once again see snow. Is this a new planet, or perhaps one of the many EU/SWTOR planets covered in snow? Illum comes to mind, but that is the SWTOR player within making an appearance. Illum is the where lightsaber crystals form, and maybe, just maybe, that's where our new lightsaber is crafted? I know it's not technically canon, but without more information, all I can do is hopefully speculate.

Overall, I'm predictably more excited for The Force Awakens. Music, visuals, and actors are all on point in this teaser, and if that is any indicator, the film's release is going to be something really unexpected. For me, if what Abrams did with the Star Trek reboot, and what Disney has done with the Marvel Universe is any indicator, the future of the Star Wars franchise is in capable hands indeed. I'm more than ready, but for now, I will hit the interwebs to see what the rest of the community thinks. If for some crazy reason you haven't seen the trailer, and are reading this post, I pasted it below for your viewing pleasure. You're welcome.