There's an interesting article about the trailer on the NY Times site.  It talks about some of the love/hate relationship of fans with Star Wars as it exists now, and the reactions to the trailer.

Even with the appearance of OT elements like Stormtroopers, the Falcon, X-Wings and TIE Fighters, this trailer *FEELS* different.  And I chalk some of my own reaction to the general sense of cynicism that seems pervasive among fans of my own generation.  I was just 5 years old when I saw the first film in the theater.  And that was after it had been in the theaters for the whole summer of 1977!  That experience shaped my perception of Star Wars up through 1983 or so.  I continued to watch the OT on pirated video tapes through the 80's and eventually knew the films backwards and forwards.

I was genuinely excited for the PT.  And at the time of the release of those films I didn't have so much of a problem with them.  At least not like some other fans seem to.  But that sense of cynicism from fans who grew up with the OT has spread.  My stance has been that NOBODY, not even George Lucas, was going to be able to live up to the expectations of this generation of fans.  You know this crowd.  The ones who say 'George Lucas raped my childhood'.  Blech. 

But unfortunately for everyone involved, when you're talking about a story like the fall of the Jedi Order and the origins of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, George Lucas was painted into a corner from a storytelling standpoint.  When a story is boxed in with those sorts of parameters it makes it hard for anyone to get really invested in the process.  At least when we knew from the OT that Luke & Leia's mother dies, Anakin gets dismembered and burned, the Jedi are slaughtered and Obi-Wan Kenobi & Yoda go into hiding.

And then there's been the monetization of Star Wars.  It's one of the biggest, most lucrative licensed properties of all time.  So there's been a financial interest in keeping the Star Wars machine rolling.  And then enter Disney:  GL decides he's done with Star Wars and ready to move on. So what will Disney do?  Make more movies, of course!  The financial motivation on the parts of GL, Lucasfilm, Fox, Disney et al does make you question the purity of things.  At least I do.

Clearly, the arc of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is over.  What we're left with now is a great unknown.  I think it's that unknown factor that leaves me feeling uncertain after seeing this trailer.  Maybe some of the PT critic cynicism has worn off on me, too.  And I know for certain that I have mixed feelings about Disney and their stewardship of Star Wars.  But I'm also left thinking that Disney has actually done a good job with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  So I guess I also have a degree of that cautious optimism.

Although it was cool to see that Mon Cal pilot in the mix.

Saw both of the Target exclusive Rebels vehicles today.  I had already gotten Kanan in the TRU exclusive pack with Ezra and Holocron Obi-Wan, and the Phantom in separate purchases.  I really didn't feel the need to double down and get more of the same Kanan figure with this Target exclusive.

I held off for now on the Inquisitor and his TIE.  I get the feeling these might be around for a little while.

Given all of Palpatine's masterful manipulation in the leadup to the declaration of the Empire?  I wouldn't put it past him to influence the political situation on his own homeworld in order to put a fool in the Naboo Senate delegation.  Then the plots of AOTC drive away Senator Amidala, leaving Jar Jar with the keys to the castle.  That in turn leads to Palpatine manipulating Jar Jar into proposing the Military Creation Act.

As for Boss Nass?  Please.  That guy is already susceptible to being influenced by Jedi Mind Tricks.  And he was also dumb enough to name Jar Jar as General.  I'm not putting any stock in a guy with such poor decision making skills.

Picked up the Mission Series 2-pack with C-3PO and R2-D2.  They look okay. 

I also saw the new wave of Rebels/Saga Legends basic figures.  Pretty much all of the Rebels figures sold through except for a lone Ezra which was left over.  As for the other new Saga Legends?  The Jedi Luke looks pretty good, truth be told.

10HTSDISC is the current coupon code available.

10% off.

That code didn't work for me.  I ordered the 2 new figures from this wave plus a couple of TBS 6" figures (ROTS Anakin & Episode II Clone).  Placing an order over $50 automatically qualifies for free shipping.

You have to wonder if FOX is trying to have this film bomb so they can try to sell the rights back to Marvel and just concentrate on X-Men.

Marvel seems to be laying the groundwork for Sony and Fox to want to relinquish those rights.  Case in point?  They cancelled the Fantastic Four comic.  And they also killed Wolverine.  Those are two VERY big properties in the Marvel Universe.  And the movie rights rest in the case of those properties with Fox.  I think I get Marvel's angle here.  Why provide the competition with any more story lines for Marvel characters that could turn up in Fox movies?