[spacer height=”35″]
No preconceived timelines.
While it has been nine years since the last Star Wars cinematic adventure, it has been 31 years since we’ve experienced a truly original Star Wars story without any preconceived notions of its outcome.
Sure, we were unaware of the fates of the secondary characters of the prequels. What was going to happen to Mace Windu, General Grievous, and Jar Jar Binks?
But we already knew, essentially, where the stories of Anakin, Obi Wan, the Emperor, and Vader were headed.
Yes, it was a surprise when we discovered in Attack of the Clones that Yoda could wield a lightsaber.
But it was also not a surprise when Obi Wan survived the climactic battle against Anakin in Revenge of the Sith.
During that exciting lightsaber sequence, amidst high-octane swordplay and erupting volcanoes, the drama could only take us so far because we knew Obi Wan was going to live.
It’s different than a James Bond movie. Of course, our intellectual minds know they will never truly kill Bond for good. Somehow, he is going to survive at the end of every installment. But without knowing what lies in store for the character, there is always that sense of danger that thrills audiences whenever Bond is clinging for dear life.
J.J. Abrams and the filmmakers behind the reboot of Star Trek were so smart to put this Enterprise crew on an alternate timeline, to avoid the exact issues of the Star Wars prequels. As I mentioned in my article, “JERHOW GEEKS OUT ON STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS,” found here…
http://www.jerhow.com/jerhow-completely-geeks-out-on-star-trek-into-darkness/
…hardcore Trekkers know that Lieutenant Sulu is destined to one day become Captain of the U.S.S. Excelsior. But what’s the fun in knowing Sulu is guaranteed to survive?
By putting the crew on an alternate timeline, Sulu’s life is just as in jeopardy as anyone else on the Enterprise. That is as it should be to make sure the drama remains intact and is maximized to its fullest potential.
The prequels didn’t have the luxury of deviating from their established timeline, so George Lucas did the best he could to deliver surprises outside of the core plot we knew was going to unfold.
But with the new installments starting with Episode VII, there is something so refreshing about starting from scratch. There are no prophecies, no established predictions of the future. This is absolutely thrilling.
Adding to the drama is the fact that the beloved characters from the original trilogy, whom many of us grew up with, will be returning for this new trilogy in addition to a new crop of younger actors who will bring Star Wars forward into the next generation. Han, Luke, and Leia may have all lived to tell the tale of the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor, but their lives will be in jeopardy again.
Maximum drama. Maximum thrills. Maximum excitement.
I cannot wait.