The Force Awakens is unleashed tomorrow - December 17 - here's our final wrap of all the Star Wars things that happened today.
1. First reactions
The first people to see the new Star Wars movie are leaving the screening with good news for loyal fans of the franchise.
It is one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year and fans have remained cautiously optimistic about Episode VII - The Force Awakensafter being disappointed by the string of prequels.
While reviews are embargoed until December 17, some audience members in the premiere were unable to resist sharing their thoughts on Twitter. Read the full article here.
2. Is this the worst Star Wars costume ever?
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Photo / Getty Images
While most stars opted for chic red carpet attire to The Force Awakens world premiere, Joseph Gordon-Levitt showed up dressed as Yoda and actor-comedian Rainn Wilson dressed as a Jedi. Nice one guys. Read the full article here.
3. Star Wars merch is getting a bit fruity
Seriously, why?
Completely unnecessary merchandise for Star Wars: The Force Awakens includes bags of Star Wars branded oranges and grapes.
4. Can J.J. Abrams top the Darth Maul fight?
As musical theme, Duel of the Fates is part of John Williams's masterful Phantom Menace score - beautifully long minutes of the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices recording that is organically fused with the fight scene on the screen.
That scene is the lightsaber battle between Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn, a young, beardless Padawan named Obi-Wan Kenobi and that black-and-crimson-faced Sith, Darth Maul.
Whatever you think of the Star Wars prequels, it's difficult to deny that this sequence of lightsaber greatness is the true reflection what George Lucas had in mind when he waited all those years for special-effects technology to catch up to his imagination.
5. How to avoid Star Wars spoilers, in just three clicks
Now that the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens is done, we're hitting peak spoiler danger: there are enough people out there who have seen the movie now who could potentially ruin it all for the rest of us before opening night.
A scene from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Luckily, there are some tools out there for those who want to avoid an onslaught of spoilers. There are at least two extensions for Google's Chrome browser that will help you stay away from spoilers, by blocking out any webpage that mentions the movie's title. Read the full article here.
6. TimeOut's awesome Star Wars cover
Grab your copy of the TimeOut Star Wars: The Force Awakens special tomorrow. Inside, we've got interviews with Harrison Ford, director JJ Abrams, new villains Adam Driver and Gwendoline Christie plus a look back at the ten best Star Wars scenes - so far. And who is the NZ telly star only too keen to don the Stormtrooper helmet on our cover?
7. Hello?
Hello from the Darrrrrrk Siiiiiiiiiiiide!
- nzherald.co.nz, additional reporting, AP, Washington Post
