The Force Awakens Questions

December 18, 2015 saw the offical release of Star Wars The Force Awakens. I, like many fans, had questions going into the film based on what had been revealed through the trailers, posters, commercials and other promotional materials. Below are some of these questions and my thoughts on what was revealed when I watched this film

Warning: May contain light spoilers, but trust me, nothing major, yet….

Who are all these new characters and what is their role in the Star Wars saga?

This has been a big question since the names were revealed through the trading cards, especially Rey and Finn, who did not have last names. The Force Awakens reveals a bit about who each of these characters are, but does this, for me, in an unexpected, but satisfying way. This film also leaves room to reveal more about their pasts and of course their role in the entire Star Wars saga. I will need to watch the movie again, a few more times, before I dive deep into each of these characters.

Where is Luke?

Ever since the release of the official posters, there were many, like me, that asked this question. I thought that this was a marketing decision on Lucasfilm’s or Disney’s part to increase the hype. However, this is actually a plot point in the movie that carries all the characters in the story forward.

What is a Snoke?

This is the question asked by my friends at Fangirls Going Rogue.  Supreme Commander Snoke, Leader of The First Order, can be seen and heard during the film, but I really do not believe we get enough about who or what this character really is. Hopefully, Star Wars Episode VIII will reveal more.

What happened to Han and Leia after Return of The Jedi?

When I heard confirmation that these characters were to appear in the film, this is one of the biggest questions I had. I like many others believe they lived ‘happily ever after’ after the Battle of Endor. The Force Awakens not only shows us what happened to them, but it is for me, one of the most emotional arcs of the entire film.

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What were your questions going into the film?

Today is the day The Force Awakens

As you can see, I have my ticket to see Star Wars The Force Awakens this afternoon! #FangirlFlail!!!

This Everyday Fangirl is very excited to see this new movie and will be posting my spoiler free thoughts and feelings right after I see it today.

May The Force Be With You!

The BB-8 Phenomenon continues

BB-8 Facebook sticker created by artist Katie Cook

At The Cantina Cast blog I wrote about the BB-8 Phenomenon that has been happening since it was introduced in the first teaser trailer.

Now with Star Wars The Force Awakens opening world wide, there is no doubt that the BB-8 Phenomenon is continuing with the following…

An appearance of BB-8 on the red carpet

BB-8 with Rey on Jakku digital trading card from the Star Wars Trading Card app

An emoji from Star Wars app for use in messaging systems

A BB-8 backpack luggage available from Amazon.com

BB-8 reward from The Force For Change campaign

BB-8 on a t-shirt that came in the Star Wars Special Edition Loot Crate

BB-8 A-Line Dress from HerUniverse, which I will be wearing tomorrow!

During the Star Wars The Force Awakens Red Carpet event, Lucasfilm presented a featurette about BB-8, which included…

JJ Abrahms first sketch of BB-8

and the final concept art.

You can view this featurette below:

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Featurette – BB-8 (2015) via YouTube

The most interesting is this quote from Kathleen Kennedy on the red carpet, which I believe is about BB-8, that makes me wonder just what is coming next for this character…

an unbelievable droid that will become a huge star on the Disney Channel

Therefore, I believe we are still in the infancy of the BB-8 Phenomenon. Not only in the Star Wars movies, but beyond as well.

The Everyday Fangirl and #ForceFriday

Today is #ForceFriday!

Unlike many of my online friends and fellow fangirls like Teresa Delgado and Tricia Barr, I was not able to attend any of the midnight launch events. Based on their Facebook and Twitter posts along with others I was not sure if any Rey or BB-8 merchandise would be left. However, this did not deter me from stopping by a local Target on my way to the office this morning.

As I hoped, despite some holes (see example above), there was still an abundance and a variety of Star Wars merchandise including T-Shirts, bikes, board games, Lego toys, costumes, video games, lightsabers and collectible figures in multiple sections of the store. Because I was on my way to the office, I was only able to spend about 20 minutes looking around.

As a Star Wars fan and Fangirl, I was happy to see all this new Star Wars merchandise on the pegs and shelves of a local store! My quest this morning was to find Rey and BB-8 related merchandise.

This display of Funco Pop figures really caught my attention right away because all of these are Star Wars The Force Awakens characters including:

Rey <Yep bought that one!>, Finn, Captain Phasma <Yep bought that one too!>, Chewbacca, C3-PO and Kylo Ren.

As I looked around I saw these Finn and Chewbacca figures and as I hoped there was another figure hiding behind Finn, it was a Poe Dameron figure that I just had to buy!

Adult female costumes including a Darth Vader one! I was tempted, but did not buy that costume yet. I need to consult with Darth Makenna first to determine which accessories will work for that outfit.

Large Kylo Ren and a First Order Stormtrooper are promently featured at the beginning of the Star Wars section. Too bad it was not a BB-8 though.

Overall, I did not have any exclusives, but I was able to find a few items to add to my collection including the Rey Black Series figure with BB-8, a BB talking plush, a Black Titanium series Rey and her speeder mini figure and an R2-D2 Thermos!

I admit I did a mini Fangirlflail when I found the Rey Black series figure AND the BB-8 plush!

So did you buy any of the new Star Wars merchandise? Did you go to a #ForceFriday event? Did you find something that made you excited and do a Fangirlflail like I did? <Yes, Fanboys who support Fangirls do qualify to Fangirlflail!>

Character Names from ‘The Force Awakens’ Teaser Trailer

Were you wondering who the new characters from Star Wars ‘The Force Awakens’ teaser trailer are? Well we are one step closer to finding out because today the character names from the teaser trailer were revealed on trading cards via EW.com.

So for those that want to know below are the trading cards and my thoughts on each in order of appearance in the trailer.

Is Finn a first name, last name or some sort of code name? Just who or what is he running from anyways?

Yeah, the rolling ball droid gets a cool sounding name! My only complaint is that when I hear BB, I think BB Gun. So I am hoping that BB stands for something really cool.

Now like, Finn, I wonder if it is a first name, a last name or a code name. However, no matter what it is the name “Rey” puts me in mind of sunshine and light.

Yeah, Stormtroopers! However, are these troopers from the 501st or not? That is the bigger question.

The first of ‘The Force Awakens’ characters in the teaser trailer to be revealed with a FULL name. However, this does not really sound like a Star Wars name based on all those name generators out there! Guess they will have to start adding more possible names to those generators now, huh?

I have to admit, I love the look of these X-Wings in formation over the water. Do you?

Another Star Wars name that does not quite fit the universe as we have known it before, especially for someone associated with the ‘Dark Side’. What no Darth Kylo, Darth Ren? or even Count Kylo Ren?

And last, but definitely not least…

We have confirmation that this IS The Millennium Falcon representing the ‘Light Side’, just in case anyone was in doubt, right?

Official Teaser Trailer for ‘The Force Awakens’

In a previous post, I mentioned that I was anxiously awaiting the release of the teaser trailer when they announced the official title of Star Wars Episode VII, ‘The Force Awakens’.

Happily the wait was not really as long as I thought it would be because on Monday, 11/24/2014, StarWars.com announced the official release of an 88 second teaser trailer to be shown in select theaters on the Friday after Thanksgiving, 11/27/2014.

Unfortunately, only one theater in the state is scheduled to show this trailer and it is not one that I would go to. Therefore, this left me a bit bummed that I would have to wait even longer to see it. My moaning increased when my younger brother told me that he has already seen that teaser trailer earlier in the week as part of a sneak peek promotion that took place in Downtown Disney at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Fortunately Disney must have heard my moan of disappointment because the official Star Wars Twitter Account announced that this teaser trailer will be available to view online the same day through iTunes Trailers.

Everyday Fangirl flailing right now in joy!

In the meantime, check out i09’s look back at the history of Star Wars teaser trailers!

UPDATE: The trailer has been officially released as of 10:15AM EST and a good link to it can be found here!

Look at the cool pics that I captured from the trailer!

So did you go to a theater in your area to see the trailer or did you watch it online like me?

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

I am so happy with the announcement of the official title of the next Star Wars film, The Force Awakens because it symbolizes the first step in the post production process.

Unlike many others in the fan community, I did not speculate on what the title should have been or what it should be. To me the title could mean many different things and I cannot wait to find out what it really means, when the film comes out in December 2015. Therefore, THIS fangirl is anxiously awaiting the official teaser trailer to find out more.