First ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Trailer Lands Online! Where Does It Rank With Previous ‘Star Wars’ Teasers?

I love concept art as much as the next nerd – I mean, I actually own Star Wars concept art books — but this trailer is almost entirely concept art. It’s too much. Yes, I understand that this teaser was commissioned before they had finished shooting/editing/processing film. However, it plays less like a film trailer and more like a really intense film pitch in a Hollywood board meeting: “Ah, yeah, Mr. Kurtz. We’ve got a snow planet this time. And here’s a painting of Cloud City. And yeah, Luke will fight Darth Vader in this one. No, we don’t have footage, but hopefully this painting will suggest a feeling. Yeah, oh! And we do have press stills. These are costume tests. Yes, I know Princess Leia isn’t wearing buns anymore. That’s why we’ll tell you it’s Princess Leia.”

This trailer is so totally ‘80s that it’s almost totally 2014. The music, the weird video effects, the fuzz. However, much like the Millennium Falcon, this trailer may not look like much, but she’s got it where it counts. Maybe it doesn’t seem as slick as some of the more modern teaser trailers, but this teaser is a rare nerd treat. It not only features the original name of the film, Revenge of the Jedi, but you also get a glimpse at 1:12 of a cut scene. So, yeah, not the prettiest   teaser trailer, but it’s a definite gem.

About 10 years ago, it was assumed that Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith would be the final Star Wars film ever made. Of course, now we know that Disney already has six more Star Wars films slated for the next 7 years (three sequels, and three spin-offs). But, let’s go back to the zeitgeist of 2004. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith is the final film. At long last, the prequel and sequel films will be narratively connected and we will discover precisely how Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. To that end, it makes complete sense to open the film with Obi-Wan Kenobi’s original description of events and then end with new footage. Is it the best trailer? No. Is it the worst? Also, no. It’s a little bit schmaltzy now, but there is something eternally chilling about watching Vader rise for the first time.

It’s the 1970s and Star Wars is not a thing. In fact, it’s a risky space opera from the director of American Graffiti. And so, promoting Star Wars is akin to advertising a sprawling adaptation of Gormenghast from Mark Duplass (which is something I would totally see). It’s weird, and the fact that an independent film hero is directing it is even weirder. This trailer does a great job introducing the concept of Star Wars to a virgin audience. It uses tense music and editing to suggest that this is a high-stakes story. You get glimpses of key iconic moments. And yet, this trailer doesn’t reveal the whole plot. In fact, it kind of obfuscates it. Star Wars isn’t exactly the story of “a boy, a girl, and a universe,” but that description hooks you, right? This is a great early teaser because that’s exactly what it does; it teases.

Do you want to know what makes this trailer so good? There is not a single line of dialogue from Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones.  No, instead, we get quick cuts to the film’s most exciting moments and iconic characters, while Darth Vader’s infamous respirator breathes in and out. Vader’s rhythmic breathing ratchets up the tension in the trailer, like the beating of Edgar Allen Poe’s “Tell-tale Heart.” Now if only this movie could have been as emotionally devastating as something written by Poe.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOVFvcNfvE]

A menacing voice tells us that “There has been an awakening…” and John Boyega pops into frame. We see a new droid who looks like R2-D2 atop a round ball, Daisy Ridley intensely rides a scooter, Storm Troopers look ready for action, Oscar Isaac is an X-Wing fighter pilot, and there’s a nefarious villain with a super cool lightsaber. Oh, and the Millennium Falcon is back, and more souped up than ever. Yes, it gave me chills. Yes, it gave me thrills. But I am holding my breath to see if the new movie does (or doesn’t) live up to our first sneak peek. [Watch the Star Wars: The Force Awakens teaser trailer]

We never said we were ranking the best Star Wars movies; we’re ranking the all-time best Star Wars teaser trailers. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace was a colossal disappointment for many fans (myself included). Fans weren’t just disappointed that one of the most exciting space epics of all times was turned into a soulless story about a trade dispute (featuring an annoying kid and even more annoying rabbit-lizard thing*). They were also pissed off because the film didn’t live up to the spectacular teaser trailer. From start to finish, this teaser promises mysticism, adventure, and heroism. In reality, this trailer is just the best 2:13 minutes of the movie cleverly edited together to illicit a proper fan orgasm.

Whether you like it or not, this is hands down the best Star Wars teaser trailer.

*Yes, I know Jar-Jar Binks is a Gungan.

 

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