# Star Wars Episode VII anticipation thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936 "2013-08-23T02:11:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/281 "2014-12-01T15:53:34Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Actually he wanted to join the Imperial Academy. He had only _just_ heard about the Rebellion from Biggs earlier that week. :smack: Right you are. > [@msmith537](#): > > Did you notice the sound of an Imperial probe droid in the background? The implication is that the black stormtrooper was in the empty unthreatening desert and definitely felt threatened. Now I do, but the first time around I didn’t really notice, all I could think was, "Cool, Tattooine! Now what… … Umm… [Orchestral hit / Black dude in trooper uniform pops up all sweaty] Wait… is this for real?" ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/282 "2014-12-01T16:02:59Z")
Some idjits object to the very _idea_ of a black stormtrooper: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/showbiz/star-wars-stormtrooper-racism-john-boyega/index.html?hpt=hp\_c2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/showbiz/star-wars-stormtrooper-racism-john-boyega/index.html?hpt=hp_c2) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/283 "2014-12-01T17:13:16Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > So…anyone think that Disney can save this franchise and “Un-Lucas” it?? “Un-Lucas”? There wouldnt be a Star Wars without Lucas. So if you '“Un-Lucas” it" you have no Star Wars. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/284 "2014-12-01T17:23:47Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 1. I don’t care about the “Extended Universe” and am glad they felt no obligation to honor it. I agree. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/285 "2014-12-01T17:36:28Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Some idjits object to the very _idea_ of a black stormtrooper: [http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/showbiz/star-wars-stormtrooper-racism-john-boyega/index.html?hpt=hp\_c2](http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/01/showbiz/star-wars-stormtrooper-racism-john-boyega/index.html?hpt=hp_c2) Oh internet, never stop being classy. FTR: My initial semi-incredulous reaction to the first part of the teaser wasn’t because it was a black man in a ST suit at all, just in the odd nature that that scene seemed to present itself. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/286 "2014-12-01T17:39:36Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > I agree that this design is dumb. And what’s with the rough, flame-like blade? That is not how a lightsabre has looked heretofore. It’s things like this that make me doubt Abrams’ “vision.” It’s not about the specifics of how the light sabers look. It’s about why they use them. In the original films, light sabers weren’t used very often - I did a count once and came up with maybe 14,1 5 scenes _in the entire trilog_y that involved a light saber, if you count the final duel as one “scene” - and it usually MEANT something. Really the only throwaway example as Luke using his light saber to get into the AT-AT so he could toss a grenade in. In the prequel trilogy, light sabers are used as often as teenagers pull out their smartphones, more than once in fight scenes that drag on far too long, and the muddled story and terrible characterization results in many scenes where there’s no emotional investment in what’s going on or why people are fighting with light sabers. What will determine the quality of these movies is whether they have coherent stories and characters you actually identify with or care about. If they do, the light sabers will be awesome. If not, they won’t. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/287 "2014-12-01T17:59:07Z")
I, for one, like the idea of technological advancement in the SW world; even as it pertains to lightsabers. I’m guessing that new Sith saber is not just sporting new SaberHilt™ technology, but the saber itself is clearly displaying a different technology as well. Unless, that is, this is just how J.J. is rendering the look of sabers in these films. All-in-all, show me new Ralph-McQuarrie-esque droids, ships and gadgets please! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/288 "2014-12-01T18:07:30Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > …Really the only throwaway example as Luke using his light saber to get into the AT-AT so he could toss a grenade in… He also used it to free himself from hanging upside-down in that ice-creature’s cave. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/289 "2014-12-01T18:21:59Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I, for one, like the idea of technological advancement in the SW world; even as it pertains to lightsabers. > > I’m guessing that new Sith saber is not just sporting new SaberHilt™ technology, but the saber itself is clearly displaying a different technology as well. Unless, that is, this is just how J.J. is rendering the look of sabers in these films. > > All-in-all, show me new Ralph-McQuarrie-esque droids, ships and gadgets please! It kind of seems like it’s damaged, wheezing to life and all. Or maybe it’s not actually damaged but works like that because it’s an evil lightsaber. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/290 "2014-12-01T19:05:24Z")
It’s a very, very angry lightsaber. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/291 "2014-12-01T19:08:31Z")
My biggest source of knowledge of the Star Wars universe beyond the movies is the terrific Knights of the Old Republic video games, so I don’t claim this as canon or anything, but in those games you could assemble your lightsaber with different types of crystals that you found or bought along the way. The type of crystal you used would affect the properties of the lightsaber–slashing damage, force resistance, droid damage, light-side or dark-side effects, etc. Some were said to produce more “volatile” blades. Some crystals were much more powerful than others. These crystals didn’t really change the look of the blade in the game (the blade color was determined by another crystal, but that was the only cosmetic change). But that’s a fanwank on how the lightsaber in the teaser could look different than those in the previous movies–maybe it has a rare crystal that produces an unusual-looking blade. [/geek] 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/292 "2014-12-01T19:46:16Z")
I just read somewhere that broadsword saber is depicted in the EU. It’s called the crossguard saber or something? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/293 "2014-12-01T19:51:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > In the original films, light sabers weren’t used very often - I did a count once and came up with maybe 14,1 5 scenes _in the entire trilog_y that involved a light saber, if you count the final duel as one “scene” - and it usually MEANT something. Really the only throwaway example as Luke using his light saber to get into the AT-AT so he could toss a grenade in. Yeah. It meant “I want to get the hell out of this Wampa cave” or “I bet we’d be a lot warmer INSIDE the Taun-Taun.” Even Vader activates Luke’s saber in Jedi to admire it’s workmanship. It’s not like Jedi were user their light sabers to open beer cans. Of course at the end of the day, the problem with any light saber or light claymore or any other style of laser sword is that it still has the range of …you know…a sword. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/294 "2014-12-01T20:09:53Z")
Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/295 "2014-12-01T20:26:27Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Yeah. It meant “I want to get the hell out of this Wampa cave” or “I bet we’d be a lot warmer INSIDE the Taun-Taun.” Even Vader activates Luke’s saber in Jedi to admire it’s workmanship. > > It’s not like Jedi were user their light sabers to open beer cans. > Of course at the end of the day, the problem with any light saber or light claymore or any other style of laser sword is that it still has the range of …you know…a sword. Which raises the question (and ultimately hilarious visual) of “trick” lightsabers that start a duel at a certain length, then FLAM! jump to a length twice the original projection; since presumably the saber itself has little to no weight. Then I picture dueling Jedi/Sith fighting from across vast distances—sabers as long as Star Destroyers. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/296 "2014-12-01T20:30:55Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Tangentially, I’m going to guess that that cantina came up with that rule because the droid from Star Wars Rebels went there. I assume that the bartender had some anti-droid prejudice left over from the war. And I love the 'droid in Rebels. I’m pretty sure every time those little gripping arms come out the side of his head, we’re meant to interpret that as him flipping off everyone else in cabin. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/297 "2014-12-01T20:47:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s not about the specifics of how the light sabers look. It’s about why they use them. > > In the prequel trilogy, light sabers are used as often as teenagers pull out their smartphones, more than once in fight scenes that drag on far too long, and the muddled story and terrible characterization results in many scenes where there’s no emotional investment in what’s going on or why people are fighting with light sabers. I agree. They are best used in duels that have meaning. The idea of Jedi fighting with them in land battles, as they did in AotC, is pretty idiotic. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/298 "2014-12-01T20:50:53Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Which raises the question (and ultimately hilarious visual) of “trick” lightsabers that start a duel at a certain length, then FLAM! jump to a length twice the original projection; since presumably the saber itself has little to no weight. EU did it. It was a silly as it sounds. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/299 "2014-12-01T21:31:09Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > Which raises the question (and ultimately hilarious visual) of “trick” lightsabers that start a duel at a certain length, then FLAM! jump to a length twice the original projection; since presumably the saber itself has little to no weight. > > Then I picture dueling Jedi/Sith fighting from across vast distances—sabers as long as Star Destroyers. Thinking about it, Jedi are supposed to live chaste (or at least monogamous), sober, serene lives. As the exact opposites of them, you would expect, then, that Siths would be blinging it up with impractically awesome weapons, mackin’ on the wimmenz, and keeping people locked up in the basement to go torture every once in a while for a laugh. Yet all the ones we see in the movies are just as serious and gloomy as the Jedi. Outside of having a temper, there doesn’t seem to be much of a difference. Darth Maul should have been holding his lightsaber gangsta style, and traveling with a bevy of babes, to cheer at how badass he is. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Smithee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@Alan\_Smithee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Smithee)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2014, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936/300 "2014-12-01T22:40:17Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It’s not about the specifics of how the light sabers look. It’s about why they use them. > > In the original films, light sabers weren’t used very often - I did a count once and came up with maybe 14,1 5 scenes _in the entire trilog_y that involved a light saber, if you count the final duel as one “scene” - and it usually MEANT something. Really the only throwaway example as Luke using his light saber to get into the AT-AT so he could toss a grenade in. [An elegant weapon from a more civilised age, as the man said, shortly before hacking some drunk’s arm off in a bar.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6142360&postcount=18) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936.md?page=14) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/star-wars-episode-vii-anticipation-thread/666936.md?page=16)