11 things I liked about the new Star Wars trailer

11 things I liked about the new Star Wars trailer

by rick olivares

As of this writing, there are only 55 days left before the seventh Star Wars film hits theaters. I was 10 years old when the first Star Wars film was shown. For someone weaned on comic books, it was easy to love the film and I became an instant fan buying the the merchandise, the books including its expanded universe, and what have you. And say what you will about the prequels but I loved them too.

And now Star Wars: The Force Awakens is closer than its ever been. The new trailer, timed to perfection and as of this writing with close to 40 million views, has all the more left fans salivating.

Here’s are 11 scenes from the new trailer that I liked.

Rey dressed up as a Tusken Raider exploring the downed Star Destroyer.

This was the perfect way to open the new trailer. Rey dressed up as a Tusken Raider exploring the downed Imperial Star Destroyer. There’s a sense of wonder, discovery, and mystery. And Rey sitting in a tent in the desert with this dreamy look, it reminded me of how George Lucas wrote the intro for Luke Skywalker in Star Wars where he said he was a farm boy who was bored beyond belief and yearned for adventure among the stars. Deja vu all over again. 

Wonderful wonderful intro with that voice of “Who are you?” That doesn’t sound like Princess Leia or even Gwendoline Christie’s Captain Phasma. So is that Maz Kanata?

Starkiller base.

The scene at the Empire’s Starkiller base with the huge red banner reminded me of the Nuremberg rallies especially the picture from the 1934 rally.

The Empire is alive and well. 

Finn’s change of heart.

During the Star Wars celebration last April, John Boyega, the actor who plays Finn was asked if he was indeed a Stormtrooper since the first scene of the first ever trailer showed him. Boyega and director JJ Abrams were tight-lipped. The new trailer looks like it gives away that Finn does have a change of heart. In the trailer, Finn says, "I was raised to do one thing.” So he Finn defects. Now does he steal a tie fighter that crash lands on Jakku? He now forms the new team — similar to Luke, Han, and Leia — with Poe Dameron, and Rey.

"I will finish what you started." 

What will Kylo Ren, the heir to Darth Vader, finish? Creating a new Death Star? Crushing the rebellion? I don’t think it’s the former as the Empire has lost two Death Stars to the rebellion. There has to be a more cost-effective way for crushing the rebellion. 

Poe Dameron being tortured by Kylo Ren.

If you read the new comics from Marvel titled, "Shattered Empire," Kes Dameron and Shara Bey were revealed to be husband and wife with a son named Poe. After the Battle of Endor, Bey’s commander, L’ulo, put in the paperwork discharging Bey so she could live in peace and quiet with Kes and Poe.

Before her discharge from the rebel army in "Shattered Empire,” Bey joined Luke Skywalker in liberating two trees that are known to be one with the Force from the Imperials. Luke gives one tree to Bey who looks to have settled down in a planet that resembles Yavin. So was Yavin destroyed much like Alderaan in "Star Wars: A New Hope?” 

In the first trailer cut for “The Force Awakens,” Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker voices over” The Force is strong in my family. My father has it. I have it. My sister has it. You have that power too.” And the first face we see after Mark’s voice trails off is Poe Dameron.

So does Poe Dameron have the Force in him?

Millennium Falcon being chased by tie fighters. 

Just like old times. Perhaps the Falcon is damaged and needs repairs and that leads Han Solo and Chewbacca to meet Rey and Finn.

"There were stories about what happened. “

The new film takes place 30 years after the Battle of Endor. Who knows what is myth or reality? Han Solo, tells Rey, “It’s true. All of it.”

No reboot, folks. New films; new continuity.

Kylo Ren drawing his light saber with a group of men in shadows.

Based on the initial info coming out of" The Force Awakens,” Kylo Ren is leader of the Knights of Ren. Shades of the Nazgul. How different are the Sith from the Knights of Ren?

In “Shattered Empire,” Leia senses Darth Maul who looked to have kicked the bucket in “The Phantom Menace” only to return during the Clone Wars as half-humanoid, half cyborg as he was cleaved in half by Obi Wan Kenobi. 

Darth Sidious, who is actually the Emperor Palpatine, kept Maul in reserve. He could make a surprise appearance.

So we could see a splintered Empire with two different groups.

Rey crying & Finn vs. Kylo Ren

Whose body is that? Finn’s? Han Solo? Or is it Luke? In every first film of every Star Wars trilogy, someone dies.

In “The Phantom Menace” it was Qui-Gon Jin. In “A New Hope” it was Obi-Wan Kenobi. So those are two Jedis who kick the bucket in each trilogy opener.

By trailer’s end, we see Finn going up against Kylo Ren. So is it Finn?

It could be Luke because by trailer’s end.

Han and Leia embrace looking very sad.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens cannot come soon enough.