Yes, I am such a Star Wars fan that I decided to write a trailer review. Don’t judge me!
Anyway, like countless others I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the next installment of the newest Star Wars trilogy. It’s something of an early Christmas present for me this year as it has been in 2015 with The Force Awakens and in 2016 with Rogue One. Why should this year be any different?
My initial impression of my first trailer viewing was that The Last Jedi didn’t look like a re-hash of The Empire Strikes Back. To be clear, that is a good thing. While I enjoyed The Force Awakens, it struck me as a “not quite as good as” imitation of A New Hope. But then again, A New Hope was an awe-inspiring movie to my impressionable seven-year-old self. Finally, here was a princess that did something other than clean up after her mean sisters, live in the woods and clean up after a bunch of dwarfs, or life in the woods with neglectful fairy godmothers and fall asleep until her prince rescued her. How could The Force Awakens live up to that expectation?
After watching The Last Jedi trailer a few more times I have additional thoughts. Of course, I’m going to see the movie. I’d go see it even if I hated the trailer. Thankfully the trailer was intriguing and beautifully shot. The movie looks good!
What Surprising?
Well, that Kylo is considering killing his mom for one. Another is that Luke is clearly afraid of Rey. Finally, that Kylo would offer to help Rey. In retrospect, none of these concepts should have been surprising. There is enough evidence in previous movies to support these storylines. I guess I wasn’t expecting that the trailer would go in this direction. On a lighter note, Chewy has an adorable little side kick! I’m happy for the fuzzball, he’s probably so sad without Han. Again, this shouldn’t have been surprising. Star Wars has always incorporated fun creatures, Jar Jar Binks notwithstanding.
What’s Thrilling?
That score! Would Star Wars be Star Wars without John Williams’ music? Doubtful. The second the music begins I can literally feel myself growing exciting. Add Rey’s training with the light saber and I’m all in. The air fight scenes and the battle between Finn and Phasma look fantastic. ICE FOXES!
What’s Ominous?
Red, red everywhere! As an aside, just how did the color red receive such a bad rap? I remember reading somewhere it has to do with the fact that blood is red but who knows if that’s true. Regardless, red is used extensively in the visuals and it doesn’t feel like a “happy” red. The tone is threatening.
SNOKE! His voice opens the trailer and it conveys menace and power with every carefully spoken word. His mangled face is shown towards the end of the trailer and he appears to be torturing Rey. This may be misdirection but clearly Snoke plays a major role.
Speaking of misdirection, I feel like there is a lot of it going on in the trailer. There is no mention of three new characters to the Star Wars Universe played by Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, and Kelly Marie Tran. I’m sure that was no accident. I also doubt that the scene with Kylo reaching out to Rey is what actually happens. If anything, I think Kylo is reaching out to Luke to help rescue Rey perhaps. But that is purely speculation on my part.
Other Stray Thoughts
- After seeing the trailer many folks think Rey will go dark. I don’t buy it.
- And for the record, Luke doesn’t go dark either!
- I feel like Luke may die. If I had to guess he sacrifices himself to save Rey a la Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope.
- Speaking of Kenobi’s, I’d bet money that Rey is Obi-Wan’s granddaughter. What else could he be doing for twenty years on Tatooine?
- Why are the Skywalkers so unstable? I always thought Anakin being conceived of the force was stupid. A better explanation would be that Palpatine was his father and his mother simply didn’t remember what happened. That whole midichloridians nonsense for The Phantom Menace almost ruined Star Wars for me. Why couldn’t force sensitivity be passed down through generations like athletic ability?
- Hopefully Finn and Poe are also force sensitive. I would help to explain how Finn broke free of his conditioning and why Poe is such an amazing pilot.
- I generally think the story may be headed towards unifying the light side and the dark side of the force. The Jedi and the Sith have historically failed because they were too absolute. To bring and maintain balance in the force the Jedi must acknowledge both the light and dark.
- I do think it’s possible that Rey and Kylo get together. If so, he’ll die in the final movie after he and Rey unite to take down Snoke.
- Rey will give birth to twins. The end!
