video: Analyzing Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer #2
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Last Thursday Disney and LucasFilm dropped a ten-ton nerd bomb on the world in the form of the second trailer for the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens. We’re going to analyze the trailer and see what clues the trailer provides, and try to give some perspective for those that may not have watched the Original Trilogy a thousand times over.
The trailer starts with a person riding a speeder across a desert setting. This is most likely the female character that we see ridding the speeder in the first trailer. As it pans we are shown first a destroyed X-wing followed closely by an equally destroyed Star Destroyer. It’s pretty safe to assume that once the Emperor died it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Alliance, and this shot is a prime example of that.
Cue Luke’s voice over, a variation on the speech he gives Leia in Return of the Jedi when he tells her they are siblings. “The Force is strong in my family. My father has it.” This right here is pretty intense, showing Vader’s melted helmet. Is someone hanging on to this? Is it some kind of flash back? Who knows? What I do know is that it’s awesome. Also “My father has it.” It is a good bet that Luke can still commune with the spirit forms of at least Anakin if not Yoda, and possibly Obi-Wan. Though that last one might be pushing it.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe next shot, “I have it,” and whom we will assume (obviously a lot of assuming going on here) is Luke roasting marshmallows with R2. Not a lot going on here. We see the new badass hand Luke has, but the shot doesn’t tell too much, unless you can read something into why he might be in the desert or some such.
“My sister has it.” Oooohhhh, is this a flash back of Leia getting her lightsaber? Are they going to do flash backs? If they do will they have recast younger versions of the big three, or will they go the weird CG Jeff Bridges from Tron route? This doesn’t look like the CG thing. Naturally the shot could be something entirely different.
Cut to black. “You have that power too.” Who?! Who has that power too?! For the love of God tell me! Honestly I’d be a little shocked if it wasn’t the Daisy Ridley character that we see so prominently in both trailers.
Next we have the title card for the release date followed by a crazy montage. We’ll just very briefly touch on each of these shots, and expound on some of the shots of more relevance.
X-wing go! That wacky lightsaber. ‘SPOSIAN!
Now here’s a shot where things get interesting. This is the first close-up shot we get of the new bad guy, and one intriguing thing is that his/her mask looks awfully familiar to people who have played the video games Knights of the Old Republic, or have read some of the Old Republic comics. Many of the Sith in those stories wear similar masks. It gives a very rise of the Sith vibe to the whole thing.
The following shot also has some intriguing elements. A new symbol for what looks like a very Empire-esk gathering. The new Stormtrooper armor is also very cool.
Wistful look, Tie Fighter Go! ‘SPOSIAN! “I can’t breath in this damn thing.” New Star Destroyer and new Imperial Shuttle, super scary leet Stormtrooper, BB-8! Are you shitting me? Get up. The Falcon in its natural state; being chased by a tie fighter.
And then…oh my and then, the pièce de résistance “Chewie, (fade in) we’re home.” Mo’ effing Han Solo and Chewbacca! Our first real look at any of the old cast in action. It’s hard to say where “home” is exactly because when Disney bought Star Wars it wiped out the expanded universe that said that Han is from Corellia so home could really be anywhere.
The great thing about this trailer is the hope that it brings back to the fans of the series. After the first trailer many still had some trepidation about how good The Force Awakens was going to be. Many remember all too well the problems with the prequel trilogy, but this trailer has put much of those doubts to rest. Really it can be Christmas right now.
Watch the trailer again below:
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