Damn I’m excited. The amount of times I’ve fired up that trailer; to listen to the music… to look at Han Solo… just… I can’t wait.
That’s the thing though; waiting has been a huge part of this film. I remember when it was announced that there would be more Star Wars films. I walked into my class and told everyone to shut up and announced the news (everyone cheered). Since then, there have been countless announcements and titbits about the film that have kept the momentum going: The fact that they’re sequels, the return of the original cast, and some (most) would say the lack of George Lucas.
Now don’t get me wrong on that last bit, I like George, but he’s just not a good director. But I digress.
Every time these announcements were made I would rush to tell anyone who would listen, but the movies still looked like a pipe dream from three years away. But time has moved on. Now we stand at the precipice with one week (for some people) to wait for what could very well be the most delicious piece of cinema we’ve had in years. And as I look back, I understand that I’ve already gotten more than my tickets worth out of The Force Awakens, and for that, I’m grateful.
I assume everyone remembers that first trailer? That was when this all became reality. That was when the pipe dream turned into a new hope (ahh?). A friend and I waited all night for that trailer to drop. Remember, this was one year from the film, pretty much nothing had been announced except for the return of the cast and the title. This was the first morsel of Star Wars we had had in around nine years (some would say thirty-one). Anyway, in our skype call, my friend and I sat on the iTunes trailer site and YouTube, constantly hitting refresh.
Then it happened. I’m not sure which one of us screamed, but I do know that about one and a half minutes later… I felt like a kid again.
Hang on, let me see if I can find it…
There it is…
We re-watched that trailer again and again, though it was short, it was rich, and we were both filled with joy from then until now.
The trailer had done exactly what it was meant to do. For the next few weeks, you’d have had to go to the Bermuda triangle to get away from everyone’s questions about the film: Is the guy that popped up actually a Stormtrooper? It that Tatooine? Who’s that new droid? What do you think of that new Stormtrooper design? Where are they going? Who’s that woman of the speeder? Who that guy on the X-Wing? What planet is that? Who’s holding that sweet new lightsaber? Is that Andy Serkis? OOOOHHHHHHHH MYYYYYY GOOOOOSSSHHHHH, THE FALCON!!!!!
Star Wars was back.
I’ve paid hundreds of dollars for things that have never brought me anywhere near the excitement for this film. Yet I got this trailer for free. Suddenly a whole new dynamic was brought to culture, as someone who was born after the original trilogy, and was only old enough in 2005 to see Revenge of the Sith in cinema, this was something completely new to me. I’d never been part of the group eagerly awaiting the next film like people were for the other ones.
Living like this, with all these questions, and yet, knowing nothing of the movie, was incredible. Then the next trailer dropped. And as that slow pan happened over the desert planet of what we now know as Jakku, my jaw dropped.
You know exactly what I’m talking about.
Mmmhmmmmm
And as Luke began to speak, and Darth Vader burnt mask was seen… I was covered in goosebumps. Tears began to well up in my eyes as the force theme played and I saw so many amazing things.
Until suddenly… it happened.
“Chewie, we’re home.”
Star Wars was back. (wait… I already said that)
I knew, right then and there. I was one hundred percent in. All the emotions I had felt for the maybe three minutes of footage we had gotten so far were more than I had felt about anything for a long time. Suddenly I was able to have a conversation with any stranger with these words.
“So, you excited for Star Wars?”
Any anxiety I used to have about talking to strangers has been made null by Star Wars, because I know I can step into a conversation without any fear that I won’t know what to say. For that alone I would pay heaps of money. Culture was united and ready for a new Star Wars. Then the third trailer dropped.
“It’s true… All of it.”
Everything I’ve said was amplified tenfold; questions were being asked, people moving to tears while watching the trailers, excitement and joy everywhere.
I paid fifteen dollars for the ticket the second I was able, but the truth is, I would pay anything. For all that Star Wars has given me these past few years, even if the movie somehow fails, will always be a treasured time in my heart. The friends I’ve made, the things I’ve seen, the tears I’ve cried. I can say right now, I am ready.
I hope as you read this you remember experiencing these things like I do, and I hope that the movie pays off on all we’ve experienced these past few years.
Thanks for reading and may the Force be with you.