Well, it was the trailer the world had been waiting for. And what a moment it was. At around 3pm on Friday 28th November, 2014 the Internet virtually crashed as thousands of Star Wars fans attempted to get onto the iTunes page only to discover that most of us didn’t have Quicktime installed. Of course, we posted it to our site with a Youtube embed link – and not just a cheap link to the iTunes page like some other “bigger sites” did. The cheeky gits.
A quick word to Kim Kardashian, that’s how you “break the Internet”.
So, you’ve watched the trailer – but what did our writing and editorial staff think?
Martin Deer: Whilst highly un-practical (I mean he’d slice his own hands off if he rotates it won’t he?), that lightsaber is pretty freaking cool. Liked it. Very good ‘teaser’.
Rohan Morbey: It was fine, not too much pandering. Best part was the 37-year-old theme tune. Decent teaser.
Anthony Stokes: I’ll be the Rohan this time and say not impressed. The only thing that stood out was the droid with the rolling ball. I’m not impressed by reintroducing iconography of the original trilogy and the prequels have ruined any goodwill of fan service. Overall, meh I’m sure I’ll see it.
Rohan Morbey: Happy that I’m now an adjective!
SEE ALSO – The 5 Best Things About Star Wars: The Force Awakens Trailer
Chris Cooper: Relied completely on new characters unless you count the X-Wings and Falcon. A good start from that point of view. Can’t shake a feeling the VO sounded like a grumbly Cumberbatch Khan. That lightsaber is not my cup of tea, both in its look and it’s possible practicality. Way too rough a blade, but that might reflect the character. When the music kicks off and the Falcon appeared I was a kid again, and that means a lot. Overall I’m up for it. I wanted new and I’ve got it. I’ve got questions and bits I’m not sure about, but I won’t judge yet.
James Garcia: I couldn’t be happier about this teaser. It shows WAY more footage than I thought we’d actually see, and I love that it doesn’t show the original cast at all. I was worried that the film would focus too much on returning characters, and sideline the newcomers, but (judging by this at least) it looks like JJ will find a good balance and not use the original cast as a crutch.
This trailer literally has me on the verge of tears, and I can’t remember the last time a movie has really hit me like that. The shots of the X-Wing and the Falcon, the sound of the Tie-Fighters, and the triumphant music at the end REALLY make me feel like a kid again, which is what I want from a Star Wars movie. Bring it on.
Luke Owen (Deputy Editor): It looked, sounded and felt like Star Wars. And that’s all I ever wanted. To be honest, I never knew how much I wanted a new Star Wars movie until today.
Anghus Houvouras: Cumberbatch’s voice over was absolutely wicked (I think it was Cumberbatch). The final shot with the swelling theme and the Millennium Falcon swooping was marvellous button pushing nostalgia. Every other shot was kind of interesting. I mean, Phantom Menace did the same thing and we all saw how that turned out. One cool shot of a villain with a lightsaber and a familiar theme does not a great movie make. I will say the most exciting part for me was seeing Moses from Attack the Block in a galaxy far, far away. James makes a great point; we see nothing of the old school cast. That was a smart move. Embrace the new.
Anthony Stokes: Is Cumberbatch in this movie ?
Luke Owen: He’s been rumoured for sometime, but nothing is confirmed.
Anthony Stokes: Well, he’s Ben Cumberbatch, so he probably will be in it.
Luke Owen: I’m placing money on it being Serkis.
SEE ALSO: Star Wars Trailer and Avatar Sequels – Watch FMTV’s Movie Newsgasm
Martin Deer: Getting all the nostalgia and gushing out the way, the look of film was great virtues of shooting on film. And tonally it definitely looked and felt like a Star Wars film. Job done as a teaser.
Villordsutch: Honestly pins and needles raced across my skull as the Millennium Falcon spun across the desert! On top of that we have a Lightsaber hilt! This felt like Star Wars so very, very much. I truly am excited.
Tom Jolliffe: I was a little underwhelmed at everything aside from seeing the Falcon back. That new fangled lightsaber looked a bit daft to be honest. There’s nowt wrong with classic design, or even the double ended one (at a push). It’s a very early teaser of course so I’ll reserve judgement until we see a trailer which establishes more of the characters, old and new.
Eddy Gardiner: It looks good. To be honest I’ve never been the biggest Star Wars fan, which kind of frees me up to look forward to it without too many expectations. I had barely watched Star Trek before Abrams got his clutches into it, and I loved both of them…
Simon Columb: Does what it needs to do. teases. Millennium Falcon – check, x-wings, check. Tatooine? check. sith lord with slight-twist on red light sabre – check. Robotic-thing that looks and sounds like R2-D2, check. Definitely looks like the Star Wars people are waiting for …
Anthony Stokes: That robotic thing was awesome. I don’t know if I want that toy or the Dancing Groot more.
SEE ALSO: Watch the first trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens
J-P Wooding: The tune, the Falcon and a red lightsabre. The hairs, my neck and a very, very good trailer that ticks the boxes. Second watch became a listen. The familiar x-wing noise, the Falcon’s engines and an igniting lightsabre. Fantastic. Also it looks like someone’s replaced the Falcon’s dish after that incident at the Death Star, caused by Mr.Numb’s poor driving!
Anghus Houvouras: I watched it with a dozen or so family members ranging from 12 year olds to middle-aged adults. The kids went ballistic and cheered. The adults were all impressed. It seemed like the entire job of rousing the crowd was done by the Falcon and the familiar theme blaring. My 45-year-old brother who saw the original in the theater threw his hands up when he saw the falcon and declared ‘YES’. It’s a crowd pleaser for sure.
Chris Cooper: Unless you were hell-bent on needing to see the returning characters it ticks all the boxes. In fact it gives us more than I think we really expected. Also…..NO LENS FLARE.
J-P Wooding: I’m not so sure about the “no flare” Chris, that Falcon piece looked like it had Abrams written all over it, in a good way!
Chris Cooper: Damnit I just watched again and I saw one piece of flare.
Luke Owen: It’s like he’s trolling us with it now.
SEE ALSO: Disney releases official stills from the Star Wars: The Force Awakens teaser trailer
Ozzy Armstrong: So far, so good. However the full trailer will tell us a lot more. As long as we focus on the new story and actors and not insist on walking down memory lane, we could be on to a winner
Tom Roach: It looks awesome. Has the classic Star Wars look to it and no mad JJ lens flare. I have a feeling that some of the footage was shot for the teaser and won’t actually be in the film. I think the shots of stormtroopers are just there to tease that they are back. Like the voiceover. Sounds very much like Cumberbatch. I presume it’s Adam Driver though.
Chris Cooper: The more I listen it sounds a lot like Serkis when he’s doing his Caesar voice.
Ben Rayner: Loved it! The sith saber is extremely cool! (Practicality be damned) and no Hayden Christensen in sight! This first 90 second snippet is already better than the first 3 movies put together!
Gary Collinson (Editor-in-Cheif): Good teaser. Loved seeing the Falcon, X-Wings, TIE Fighters, loved the sound design and the look (classic Star Wars), loved the Sith guy walking through the snow until the two side bits ignited on his lightsaber, intrigued by the voice over… but I am holding out losing my shit until I see Luke Skywalker.
J-P Wooding: We need dates for the next trailers. Now.
Andrew Naylor: That movie can’t come quick enough. Please, please be better than the prequels.
Helen Murdoch: Pleasantly surprised by the teaser. Liked the voiceover and the shot of the Millennium Falcon was pure Abrams. I didn’t notice too much lens flare which is a relief. The narration was deliciously dark although it does seem to be the trend to have the villain narrate. Those 86 seconds interested me more than the entirety of Episodes 1-3!
Ray Willmott: I absolutely love that we didn’t see the big three. I love that we didn’t see an ounce of CG until halfway in. And when we did see CG, it was absolutely spot-on. It created hype for a new lightsaber (something which is almost certain to be 2015’s most popular Christmas toy) and most importantly, it left me wanting more. Good teaser was good
Amy Richau: I felt like I was a kid again watching this teaser. Loved how the visual effects were flawless but it had such a comforting old school feel to it.
Martin Carr: I agree already miles ahead of the prequels. Does sound like The Batch but can’t be. Feels familiar but new. The Falcon shot at the end is going to look amazing on a cinema screen. I am officially moist for this movie. Plus that lightsaber looks bitching….more excited for essentially twenty seconds of actual footage and a whole shed load of atmosphere then I have a right to be. May have to watch it another ten times before I feel completely satisfied……
David Fleming: The trailer is already better than the last three movies.
Jessie Robertson: Amazing. Period.
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So, seemingly overwhelming levels of positivity. Can only be a good sign right? What did you think of the trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens?
