Since this is now less than a year away and they are pretty much ignoring the EU altogether I would like to actually get serious with some predictions and hopes for this movie.
I used to subscribe to Star Wars Insider religiously before the prequels and I signed up for the news latter and posted quite often in the forums, in fact that was my first online community following the demise of usenet.
I am older now and a lot has changed but I am really trying to muster some hype for this new trilogy. I enjoyed Phantom Menace, sure the kid annoyed me and Jar Jar, I hated him too, but the movie wasn't that bad.
What would I like to see, what would I dread seeing and what would make this movie perfect beyond words?
Aside from as many of the original cast as they can reasonably get, I want only minimal familiar locations, Corrucant, Tatooine, and maybe Endor but that would be it from the previous films I want all new locations. I would love to revisit Hoth it was my absolute favorite location in the original films next to Tatooine which I still enjoy and don't get all the hate, its a staple it has to be in this first film, they need to anchor it in as much nostalgia as they can muster without over doing it.
Story, plot I don't care I expect it to be convoluted and will take three films to unfold so as long as the characters are likeable and the setting at least fits in with what came before I will be fine. I understand there will be a rise in Jedi/Sith conflict and a new remnant of the Empire this is somewhat exciting as a tech geek the Empire had some of the coolest stuff around. I loved their military might in Empire man that was awesome seeing those previously menacing Star Destroyers dwarfed to mere shuttles compared to the Executor. I want more stuff like that.
Lots of big explosions, light saber battles and laser fights, make it look like this could be mistaken for a Michael Bay film and I will be happy. Also get him to do Part 8 or 9 or at least one of the spin offs.
I wanna see little Leia in mommies gold bikini even if it is for a joke scene maybe she is a teen rebelling against the fashions or whatever but bring it back its what we all want no sense denying it.
I want to see more of the Hutts, especially as space-pirates I want to see the main villain having ties to Jabba and seeking some vendetta, if this doesn't happen it is wasted opportunity. Also bring back Bobba Fett come one make it happen.
Also have Greedo show up as an old "man" and confront Han over a drink how they fooled everyone into thinking he really killed his pal and then go back and re-edit A New Hope one last time to change the black smoke to yellow or something that gives it away as a hoax. YES I am dead serious make that happen.
I want to see as much of the good old Falcon as they can get into this film but I DO want to see it put to rest for good, in a blaze of glory with Chewy at the controls sacrificing his life for Han or Han's family in a real heroes glory not that lame ass **** they pulled in the books that almost turned me into a hater.
I want this film on par with Phantom Menace in tone, light hearted with some looming dread a touch of comedy but not too much, and maybe a nod to Jar Jar just as a fan service to those who actually love the prequels but no speaking lines.
I want to see new monsters, new aliens, new ships and new droids we haven't seen before. The more new stuff the better but also make it look entirely different than what we are used to, make it look like progress not backwards like the prequels that were more advanced than the ones set in the future.
I want to have an intimate moment where Han confesses his love to his wife right before they both die in tragic moment saving one of their kids or whoever the hero of destiny turns out to be.
Yes there will be a hero of destiny so expect that device to be hammered home it wouldn't be Star Wars without it.
I want something shocking, not PG-13 shocking but something that really pushes the edge of PG, unless this entire trilogy shoots for a pure PG-13 vibe through and through then make it as shocking as PG-13 can be but I want as much blood as you can get away with in at least one scene, something more gory than a bloody arm in A New Hope but not so bloody it gets an R Rating.
I want to see the new villain survive to the end, none of that kill him off and get a new bad guy EACH film that was lame. Even the originals did it they killed Tarkin and Vader took over, sure Vader didn't die but he took a backseat to Palpatine that was kind of lame but not as lame as "this is the most scariest guy in the universe, oops a kid in training killed him sorry *this* is the really real most scary guy, oops died like a chump, sorry no wait *this* lamo is the really for reals bad guy" that was bullshit.
I want to see an empire in shambles but being rebuilt from the outside by some fringe force. I want to see a threat on the level of Thrawn but NOT Thrawn. If they are going to do him give him his own film either a spin off or something that comes elsewhere in the timeline. No nevermind forget about him leave him out of it entirely unless this is a true adaptation of his trilogy which won't happen so no Thrawn.
BUT use those creepy Vader worshipers that become the Princesses elite body guards that would be okay.
NO Mara Jade none at all pretend she never existed I hate her more than I hate yes Jar Jar, I can't stand her she ruined the books for me it was real hard to fit her into my version of Star Wars.
No more doomsday machines the Death Star was fine, the first time, the second time it was oh great another one. Nothing like that. Maybe something mystical that gives this new Sith threat more power than the Jedi are prepared for at first. Until the hero of destiny finds his calling and over comes it with whatever deus ex machina they come up with.
Get John Williams to core THIS film only and train his successor lets not take chances the dude is getting old he might not make it to part 9. And do this soon so we don't end up with Danny Elfman.
Get Seth Green to cameo in this somebitch please for all things holy and sacred to geeks.
Reveal a new mystery about the Force that sort of helps explain some of the plot holes and inconsistencies in previous films. Something that makes the Force entirely different than previously expected. Hey the precedent has been set, first it was a mystical energy force, then it was micro bacteria, something needs to come along that makes it bigger and even more amazing than before, there was a Crystal or something in one of the books, something along those lines make it bigger than we previously thought but different too, blow our minds and shatter our childhood dreams.
what else, let me see do something new with R2-D2, give him a voice box that would be unexpected but welcomed. OR better yet a love interest, maybe a pink house droid or dishwasher or something fun like that.
And let C-3PO die saving R2 in the second or third film.