Star Wars fever burning hot

THE RETURN: Star Wars villain (and Darth Vadar wannabe) Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is back in The Force Awakens, as are the iconic soldiers of the Galactic Empire, the Stormtroopers. Picture supplied

SUCH is the anticipation around the new Star Wars film that, even though there is not yet much to see, critics have actually been reviewing the trailer.

Said to be the last teaser before Star Wars: The Force Awakens is released next month, the trailer reportedly continues director JJ Abrams’ approach of letting almost nothing slip about what actually happens in his movie.

It’s still been a hit. When released on-line recently the trailer was so popular that legions of Star Wars fans around the world managed to “break the internet”.

But Gisborne fans needn’t worry that they won’t get to see what all the fuss is about. Local venue the Odeon Multiplex Theatres will join cinemas around the country in screening the world premiere at midnight on December 16 – the day before it opens in the United States.

And those fans had better start refining their costumes. Odeon projectionist/promoter Dion Macleod says there will be prizes for the best (or most creatively) dressed.

Meanwhile, the teasers thus far have revealed that Force Awakens features familiar Star Wars topography of planets dominated by sand, forests and ice, while “the sense of nostalgia’s redoubled by the familiar John Williams music . . . not least of all the series’ greatest love theme, Han Solo And The Princess, from The Empire Strikes Back”.

Perhaps at the risk of over-analysing, Brit critic Robbie Collin reckons Luke Skywalker’s continued absence from both the trailers and the poster “suggests he no longer looks quite how we remember him”.

“What does seem clear, though, is the film is taking the job of evoking the spirit of the original trilogy very seriously indeed,” Collin says.

“The kid sparking up the light sabre this time around may not be a blond-haired, blue-eyed Aryan farm boy, but it looks like the essential texture of this myth remains the same.”

Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiere will be on at Odeon Multiplex Theatre on December 16 (midnight). Presales available at the venue.