Star Wars episode 7 coming out soon

[Underseer]

Han used Luke's lightsaber to cut open the dead Taunton's belly on Hoth. Luke was unconscious at the time, so he couldn't have been channel his Force ability through Han or anything like that.

You are correct, I had forgotten about that one. Of course, it is plausible that Han also has a connection to the Force that only expressed itself in that one critical situation. No one else was there to witness it, as Luke was unconscious, so no one was able to say "WTF, Han, how did you do that?" Okay, it is all straight in my head again now, Ep1-3 never happened. Now, so long as no one bursts the bubble on my clones theory...

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A few things jumped out at me. Throughout the previews I was wondering how they were going to reconcile Finn being black and a Stormtrooper, given that the prequels tell us that Stormtroopers are all clones of Jango Fett. The explanation that Finn was taken from his family at a very young age (so young that he does not remember his name) worked out well for me, as I can now imagine that they are ignoring the prequel series almost entirely, and going with the original story line where Stormtroopers were NOT clones. Of course there are other possibilities, but this is the one I prefer to embrace unless and until they explain things more thoroughly in the upcoming movies.

I don't remember the exact dialogue, but didn't one character say something to the effect of "maybe we should go back to using clones"?

Dammit, Shadowy Man! Why did you have to go there? I missed that line though, so I can safely dismiss it as your own Ep1-3 fanboi fever dream (at least until I go to see the movie again on Saturday).

No, Kylo definitely said it to a First Order officer while criticizing him for the fact that one of the stormtroopers defected.

 

[Underseer]

Han used it to cut open a dead tauntaun. That's a little different from using a lightsaber against a trained force user in combat.

Given that I am having such an exciting and productive day at work today, I did some Googling, and learned how lightsabers really work. Apparently I had done some misreading of the EU material in my youth, and came away with a flawed understanding on the subject. The crystals in the lightsaber focus the energy from a diatom power cell, not from the Force flowing from the user. This article was very informative for me, but other sources corroborate the informatition contained therein:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber3.htm

This still doesn't explain why only Jedi and Sith seem to use them in the Star Wars universe, though.

My understanding was that the force was needed to avoid cutting their own limbs off as something about them doesn't move the way one would expect.

 

[KeepTalking]

Given that I am having such an exciting and productive day at work today, I did some Googling, and learned how lightsabers really work. Apparently I had done some misreading of the EU material in my youth, and came away with a flawed understanding on the subject. The crystals in the lightsaber focus the energy from a diatom power cell, not from the Force flowing from the user. This article was very informative for me, but other sources corroborate the informatition contained therein:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber3.htm

This still doesn't explain why only Jedi and Sith seem to use them in the Star Wars universe, though.

My understanding was that the force was needed to avoid cutting their own limbs off as something about them doesn't move the way one would expect.

Just apply the same technology that the one stormtrooper used with the electric baton to the entire suit of stormtrooper armor, and you are all set. He used it to keep Finn from slicing his arm off, so three more of those bad boys would protect all of your limbs.

 

[Alcoholic Actuary]

Some thoughts I had as I read the thread (my understanding of things and research on Wookieepedia - probably not 100% right, but):

1) The clone army was clones, but they stopped making them after the clone wars. Some probably did make it into the galactic empire as storm troopers, but generally storm troopers were conscripts from planets loyal to the empire. Similarly 1st Order troopers probably consist of some left over storm troopers but most came from some other 'raised from birth a la Sparta' program.

2) While anyone can probably wield a light saber, it probably takes a jedi or a sith to use one to successfully defend against blaster bolts. ""Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

3) Is anyone else excited about the Supreme Leader Snoke backstory!!?! Where TF did this guy come from? It doesn't look like he was born within the last 30 years or so. I hear rumors he's Darth Plagueis the wise. Which would be awesome and also give him direct ancestral lineage to Kylo Ren. I'm not usually a dark side guy, but this story seems way more interesting than what we've been shown on the light side so far.

aa

 

[Shadowy Man]

2) While anyone can probably wield a light saber, it probably takes a jedi or a sith to use one to successfully defend against blaster bolts. ""Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Yes, I feel that it's the same sense that anyone can pick up a katana, but that doesn't make them have the skills of a Samurai. Unless you're a former sanitation worker for the First Order, then apparently you can hold your own against someone trained (likely from childhood) to wield one. One of the great scenes in Empire Strikes Back was when Darth Vader fought off Luke one-handed and made it look easy, showing how powerful a trained Jedi can be against a novice (and Luke had had training at that point).

3) Is anyone else excited about the Supreme Leader Snoke backstory!!?! Where TF did this guy come from? It doesn't look like he was born within the last 30 years or so. I hear rumors he's Darth Plagueis the wise. Which would be awesome and also give him direct ancestral lineage to Kylo Ren. I'm not usually a dark side guy, but this story seems way more interesting than what we've been shown on the light side so far.

I wouldn't say "excited" is the right word for me, but I do feel that there was way too much backstory left out of the movie. One way for an audience to connect with the characters is to understand and sympathize with the motivations for their actions. With virtually no backstory to any of the characters (even the ones we already know) I found it difficult to really connect with them. This wasn't true in the original trilogy; for example, we got a much better sense of who Luke was and why he was willing to leave Tatooine on a galactic adventure than for Rey. And it was hard to really feel Han and Leia's sense of loss for their son when it wasn't really shown or expressed well. It's like there's a good star wars movie missing between episode 6 and 7 that could have been worth writing.

I do know that JJ Abrams was under a lot of pressure to get the movie out by a certain date and even let go of the original writer because things weren't moving fast enough (and I've read that JJ wanted the old cast to be more up front and center than the original writer) so I guess that might explain the quality of the writing and the rampant re-use of elements from episode 4.

 

[Achwienichtig]

On the issue of light sabers, remember that General Grievous wielded 4 of them at one time. There doesn't seem to be anything inherent in them that prevents a non-force sensitive person from using them. However, it does take the force to master their use.

 

[Achwienichtig]

I think I've decided I'm going to write a piece of fan fiction, because from what I am seeing here and from a couple other sources on the internet, they are going to mess something up this next movie. I want to have an alternative story just in case.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

I think I've decided I'm going to write a piece of fan fiction, because from what I am seeing here and from a couple other sources on the internet, they are going to mess something up this next movie. I want to have an alternative story just in case.

I'm going to do one with a Game of Thrones twist where Rey is Luke and Leia's child and Luke hid himself away because he couldn't bear to face Han after having an affair with his wife. Also because it gives me an excuse to work Peter Dinklage into the plot and that's always a plus.

 

[Achwienichtig]

I think I've decided I'm going to write a piece of fan fiction, because from what I am seeing here and from a couple other sources on the internet, they are going to mess something up this next movie. I want to have an alternative story just in case.

I'm going to do one with a Game of Thrones twist where Rey is Luke and Leia's child and Luke hid himself away because he couldn't bear to face Han after having an affair with his wife. Also because it gives me an excuse to work Peter Dinklage into the plot and that's always a plus.

Since Luke Skywalker already lost his saber hand, and he is the emperor slayer, I would say you're on the right track.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Given that I am having such an exciting and productive day at work today, I did some Googling, and learned how lightsabers really work. Apparently I had done some misreading of the EU material in my youth, and came away with a flawed understanding on the subject. The crystals in the lightsaber focus the energy from a diatom power cell, not from the Force flowing from the user. This article was very informative for me, but other sources corroborate the informatition contained therein:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber3.htm

This still doesn't explain why only Jedi and Sith seem to use them in the Star Wars universe, though.

My understanding was that the force was needed to avoid cutting their own limbs off as something about them doesn't move the way one would expect.

The jedi also use them to deflect blaster rays. That may require near-jedi reflexes to use to that effect. An ordinary person would not get that use and if they tried might easily die failing to block. So an ordinary person may prefer blasters.

There's a bit of a ritual, too, of becoming a jedi and personalizing/upgrading one's saber. Some jedi are very adept at tech and may add technology or be very creative in the upgrade of their saber. It was in the RotJ but they really didn't focus on it so much. Darth Vader notices Luke upgraded the saber and says ""I see you have constructed a new lightsaber. Your skills are complete. Indeed you are powerful, as the Emperor has foreseen."

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

A lot of Internet talk about Snoke being

Show

Darth Plagueis.

Do you think it's true?

 

[Underseer]

A lot of Internet talk about Snoke being

Show

Darth Plagueis.

Do you think it's true?

The theory does sound plausible, which is exactly why JJ Abrams might not do it that way.

 

[The Colourful Jester]

A lot of Internet talk about Snoke being

Show

Darth Plagueis.

Do you think it's true?

The theory does sound plausible, which is exactly why JJ Abrams might not do it that way.

I was about to say he certainly won't as there's another director lined up. But it appears at least he's a producer for Episode 8. That nips one worry that this trilogy would be disjointed.

 

[bilby]

The shock reveal of "I am your father" really is only going to work once. After that, everyone is now expecting it, or some close family relationship.

The only interest is what relation she is to him. There's not that many likely ones to choose from: daughter, niece, ???

Get on with the story, and please no more Death Stars.

She's obviously Luke's daughter. I'm guessing that he abandoned her in the care of a foster family when the Empire (Sorry, 'First Fleet' or something) were chasing him, on the basis that in his experience as a Jedi, there was no chance that a young person growing up with a foster family on a remote desert planet would have their family slaughtered by stormtroopers, have to escape on the Millennium Falcon, be pursued across the galaxy by a devotee of the dark side in a black outfit, and take the information to the good guys that they need to destroy the Death Star (which is now a death planet, so totally different). I mean, how would Luke Skywalker possibly imagine something like that happening to anyone?

I must say, I really enjoyed the movie; it was a far better remake than Lucas's 'Special Edition'.

I'm kinda hoping that 'The Bad Guys Strike Back' is coming next.

 

[repoman]

What about Obi-Wan's relative?

I still hope that a "Long Kiss Goodnight" type training had happened to her in the past - about the same age as Hit-Girl in the first Kick Ass movie. make for an interesting flashback. Also, I hope it was dark side training and she becomes unglued and even more powerful like Tetsuo in Akira to the degree it is still plausible in the Star Wars universe.

 

[Jayjay]

Han used it to cut open a dead tauntaun. That's a little different from using a lightsaber against a trained force user in combat.

Given that I am having such an exciting and productive day at work today, I did some Googling, and learned how lightsabers really work. Apparently I had done some misreading of the EU material in my youth, and came away with a flawed understanding on the subject. The crystals in the lightsaber focus the energy from a diatom power cell, not from the Force flowing from the user. This article was very informative for me, but other sources corroborate the informatition contained therein:

http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/lightsaber3.htm

This still doesn't explain why only Jedi and Sith seem to use them in the Star Wars universe, though.

If I were a Jedi/Sith and didn't want the muggles to use my light saber, the easiest way would be to put the power button on the inside. That way, I could turn it on and off with the force and it's pretty much useless to anyone else.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

That's the way that Sith lightsabers work. Jedi want the muggles to be able to defend themselves if they're too busy sittng around on couches stroking their chins, so they make their lightsabers accessible to the people.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Seen it!

Cons: Seen it all before.

Pros: You won't care about that.

Show

Basically episode 4, with episodes 1,2 and three thrown in. What's old is new though, and it does feel fresh and exciting. And in at least one way, an end of an era. But you must see that yourself.

Edit: No after credit scene.

According to TheOnion critic, A New Hope was much better:
http://www.theonion.com/video/onion-reviews-star-wars-force-awakens-52067

 

[Archimedes]

A lot of Internet talk about Snoke being

Show

Darth Plagueis.

Do you think it's true?

Who genuinely gives a shit? If a shadowy evil character just introduced in a movie in a movie turns out to be a pseudonym or clone or alter ago of a character nobody has heard or gives a shit about and who was introduced in a book or novel that nobody has actually read (and by nobody I mean that to within a reasonable statistical significance no-one) then fuck the moviemakers.

The kind of people who have even heard of Darth Plagueis are the exact kind of people who the new movies should not pander to.

 

[Potoooooooo]

Kylo Wren