When J.J. Abrams told media and fans that Star Wars: The Force Awakens would forgo additional trailers and only release TV spots, it was my hope that the clips would only use footage we’d already seen in the three longer trailers. Well, the first TV spot dropped, and my hopes have been dashed (though most of you probably will be happy about that).
The theme of these final clips – from the Monday Night Football trailer to the international trailer that recently landed – has been this female narrator, even though we do not know yet who she is. Again, she begins the TV spot by talking about the types of "eyes" that she sees in different people.
I see your eyes. I know your eyes.
We also get additional shots of Han Solo (Harrison Ford) on snowy terrain, and additional shots of the Millennium Falcon – though every indication seems to suggest that this is Rey’s ship now. She’s clearly piloting the craft as it bursts through the trees at the end of this spot. Right?
The newest element, of all the unique shots, has to be the narrator. Several guesses logged in online chat rooms have suggested it’s Lupita Nyong’o’s character, Maz Kanata, though I’m not sure that I buy that. She’s supposed to be playing a space pirate, a CGI character who helps Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega) and Han Solo on their mission. But is she one who is an overlord over all of the action? If not her, who might it be, then? Because her words linger over the final frames of the international trailer, as well.
The good news, of course, is that we no longer have that much longer to wait. J.J. Abrams’ latest Star Wars, the first one to hit theaters in years, will open on December 18, and I don’t doubt that many of you reading this already have tickets to see it multiple times during the opening weekend. Can this movie possibly live up to the expectations of a fan base who are strapping in for a new decade of Star Wars stories? How good does The Force Awakens need to be to NOT be considered a disappointment?
