The new "Star Wars" trailer

The scene where Vader shucks and jives for the Emperor was really offensive.

 

You could make a better case for the series being racist by focusing on the Asian stereotypes.

 

Jabba as a Yakuza gangster?

 

Does the Empire carry on? It's referred to as the "First Order." They have Stormtroopers and seem to be somehow connected to the Empire, but they seem like a remnant that started to build power, like perhaps the Third Reich, or an ousted rogue government like the Taliban.

I understand that life goes on, but it's hard for life to go on, within the context of this story, and not basically render the ending of "Return of the Jedi" meaningless. The idea that we're going to just rehash the Empire vs. the Rebel Alliance, under new names, is so boring to me.

 

Seems entirely logical that things would get messy again eventually, DW.

 

Well, you have to assume there were a lot of stormtroopers and officers who were not on the Death Star who survived. Plus all of the bureaucrats, average citizens, military types on planets like Coruscant who were pretty comfortable and OK with the way the Empire ran things. Like any country, most people are just out there making a living and not really concerned with who's running things so long as the money still spends and the trains run on time.
So, just because the emperor and his top henchman were killed, yes life does go on. Not everyone in the Empire would have been on board with the Rebellion.

 

And I have these same concerns about the new "Toy Story." When you end a franchise in such an emotionally satisfying way, reviving it again is dangerous. (And it's probably why sequels are so often dissatisfying.)

What journey is the protagonist on here? That's what I most want to know. What is driving her? Luke was driven by the desire to complete his father's work by becoming a Jedi and defeating the Empire. What journey is she on that is just as weighty, but also unique?

 

The marketing of the new Star Wars movie should completely be aimed at children, teens and early 20-somethings.

Us oldsters are already in the bag!

 

But the storm troopers are all white. Isn't she heartened by the fact that a black man leads all the whites? Does she think James Earl Jones is really just a pawn of the white devil, George Lucas?

 

Yep. The SNL skit/commercial said it all. I would be embarrassed to admit how much money I wasted on toys in my mid 20s when they were reviving the series.

 

I take back what I said about Dick not being a geek.

 

When I think of a "geek," I think of someone like my brother, who recently posted what he "can't wait to see" in the new movie. It included "seeing TIE Fighters and X-Wing Fighters battle near the ground instead of in the sky." "Star Wars" is a universe to him, and he wants certain boxes checked this time around. I want to be taken on a satisfying character journey that is emotionally resonant.