I've always been very so-so on the prequels. I didn't mind TFA and was a mix of let down and bored by TLJ. But, I always went back to the prequels for McDiarmid's fantastic performance as Palpatine/Sidious. Soooo.... My partner woke me up this morning to show me the new teaser. So, quickly woke up and watched it on her phone. I was so-so but intrigued... but that laugh at the end - I jumped out of bed and exclaimed god-knows-what. I said "go back go back!". She's a very casual fan so didn't have the faintest what I was so excited about. I'll be more critical at a later date but right now I don't give a shit. The real deal is back, baby! First thing I did though was log in here to see how hyped others were ... Hmmm. Thought there'd be a bit more enthusiasm round these parts to be honest...
I am as ready for this film as I was for TLJ and TFA, but my observation of fandom is one of either critique or cautious optimism. It's not helped by the mix feelings around TLJ. I might be reading it wrong, but thus far I see lots of questions and some optimism. Not really hyped-yet.
For some reason, the running part gave me a distinct Samurai Jack vibe, which I'm about 70% sure is not a coincidence. I wasn't sure how I felt about Palpatine being back at first, but the more I think about it, the more it feels right. Mostly from a thematic "bringing it all full circle" POV, but also from a plot logic POV. I mean Palpatine set-up the fall of his own Empire in the event of his death, but he also arranged that a select few meet up with his personal ship in the Unknown Regions and from that we got the First Order...but was that the extent of his plans? I mean sure, exact revenge on the New Republic is very Sith, but his style is usually a lot more circumspect; wheels within wheels. He had to have something in place to ensure his personal survival. Dark side users cannot become one with the Force so maybe he had some kind of artefact like the alter on Dathomir that trapped his essence and he's been stuck like that ever since? I mean he could just be there for a force vision or one of those creepy messenger droids, but I don't think they'd bring Ian McDiarmid up on stage just for that. A large thing made of metal vs. something that can cut through *anything*? Yeah. Totally ludicrous. Besides, Cap already did it with a dustbin lid and everyone knows they're way more dangerous than lightsabers! Yeah, unless Kylo got a lot hairier since we las saw him, that's not him repairing that helmet. More than just that: some fans don't seem to grasp that Jedi teachings aren't just sabre lessons. They're about opening oneself up to the Force. It's less about learning and more about learning to learn. The Force is the real teacher. Rey's already show a natural aptitude for just that, which is why she picks things up so quickly.
Right - got it. For myself, I enjoy Star Wars but am not nearly as entrenched in it as ... Trek. I got a cheap, unabashed thrill out of hearing that laugh and am happy to leave it there; MicDiarmid as Palpatine is one of my all time favorite villains. His was about the only performance in the prequels I enjoyed. How it all turns out is another matter, tho...
Meh. The Last Jedi was garbage, so I don't have high hopes for this one. Also i'm skeptical about Palpatine getting resurrected or whatever. Considering how much Abrams 'borrowed' from A New Hope for The Force Awakens, I fully expect this movie to end with a shirtless Kylo Ren throwing Palpatine into a trash compactor. At least Rian Johnson isn't involved so I guess that is something.
I wonder how many people have already decided that 120+ minute movie will absolutely be garbage because of a 2 minute teaser.
I'm not sure why so many people seem to think McDiarmid's return as Palpatine isn't significant because if you go back and analyze Colbert and Abrams ' bantering conversation wherein Abrams talked about our heroes coming together to face the "greatest evil", there are clues to the fact that Palpatine is the person to whom Abrams was referring and that Colbert knew it. However Palpatine managed to survive, he remains the "Big Bad" of the SW franchise and his return is more significant than just being an "apparition" or "vision" tied to a Sigh artifact or the ruins of the Death Star(s).
Looks like very polished damage control and fanwank to me. I loved that Rey was nobody and came from nothing. Now it looks like she's gonna be Kylo's cousin. I'll watch and probably enjoy, but I'm curious what's changed from the original Last Jedi-era plans.
Great to hear Palpy’s chuckle! Spoiler I’m picking that section of the Death Star II is sitting half submerged in an ocean on the planet Endor (not the forest moon as seen in ROTJ). The concept behind this comes from the development stage of TFAs, and associated art can be found in The Art Of book.[spoiler/]
Chill. Rey may still come from nothing. Absolutely nothing in that trailer suggests she's going to be Ben Solo's cousin.
I do have an alternate theory (or hope) that Skywalker will be a title she bestows upon herself, as a kind of successor to the defunct Jedi.
Which has been discussed in the other Ep9 thread and makes far more sense than any convoluted story making Rey a Skywalker.
Agreed. The biggest mistake of the prequels was the "small neighborhood" / soap-opera gimmick of too many characters having some relation or connection to what or who was in OT (like the ridiculous Boba is a clone "son" of Jango). Rey using "Skywalker" as the de facto "brand" of the Jedi, which would be appropriate, since its greatest representative was a Skywalker (Luke).
I don't see Palpatine, who speaks very longingly of the idea of cheating death in ROTS, doing so lessen any part of Vader atoning for his sins with his life. Honestly, I don't think Vader threw Palps down that reactor core to save the galaxy. He did it to save Luke.