Official Rey Episode VIII thread

I know that there will probably be some story to tell regarding Han losing the Falcon to Ducain (perhaps a comic), but it does pique my interest for a hot second when they go out of their way to be especially coy about things like this.

It just makes me think for a second: oh, what if that’s somehow connected to Rey, or Ben, etc., and that thing that happened which could be revealed through some clever exposition or even a flashback.

Always keep you on your speculative toes

 

I don't think you have to rely on assumption for what I was suggestsing. It's a little more difficult to track down now because the internet is awash in Star Wars related entries now but if you use the right metadata you can still find the earlier speculation of which I spoke.

https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/112239/who-is-luke-speaking-to-in-the-force-awakens-teaser

Now it's true, we don't know who he's talking to in that blurb (even now going into the 2nd Episode, we don't know who he was talking to because he hasn't exchanged any dialogue with any character yet) but my contention is that people assumed then, that it was Rey, and they did.

I'd also argue I'm not making a generalization. I bounded my argument with the caveat that it applies to anyone who followed the marketing AND my skepticism that they could be confused in the aftermath of said marketing. That is is the softest of declarations I could possibly make (IMO). If you don't think it's just Rey's story or that her story is more important, I have no dog in the fight to change your mind (I really don't, I'm happy to agree to disagree. But I do disagree if you think the marketing conveys no such message and that is my only impetus to debate - to challenge an idea not to try to get you to change your mind).

Just so we're clear, I didn't disbelieve you the first time, my response wasn't an accusation aimed at you nor was I ignoring what you said. But because you were tagged in the conversation I was having with @FN-3263827 I just responded with one post. My observation of the general audience produced a different outcome (i.e. that there was an understanding that she was the main character even prior to the official movie poster, but especially after the official movie poster). But all that really proves is that selection bias affects everyone's observations. So no harm no foul, but I wasn't accusing you of anything, just stating my experience as well.

 

like i said: my own experience with the marketing for TFA and what i know from the people i associate with is that we didn't know. and honestly, people who try to draw conclusions from trailers baffle me. the language is deliberately provocative to sell a movie. it's like people with the TLJ trailer:

Spoiler

is Snoke talking about Rey??? no. he's talking about Kylo Ren, but it could be applicable to Rey. the line may not even be in the final film. just as Luke could have been talking to anybody--including Finn.

your contention is that people assumed it. my contention is that they didn't. we know different people [shrug].

my whole point is that without actual data, we don't know what people thought about the marketing. we only know the heresay of our familiars, the chatter of social media, and even then, it's circles of influence in which our own confirmation bias reigns.

again, the TLJ trailer: Rey is going to the Darkside! Kylo Ren is coming to the Light side! Reylo! they're obviously blood-related! watching people react to that final scene in the "reaction" videos on youtube is hilarious. everyone thinks it confirms whatever they were already disposed to believe. maybe that's the most telling thing of all about the effectiveness of the marketing.

 

In my view, there is an appreciable difference between saying

"We can tell who the main character is based on the marketing"

vs.

"We can tell what happens in the movie based on the marketing"

The latter is a lot more ambiguous (so I agree with your contention that people can be misled about what happens in the movie; even intentionally so - but I don't think that that's been my argument here). But it's cool, like I said, I'm happy to agree to disagree. And as you said, it may be that we just know different people.

 

I've always considered the line was for the audience.

 

Too many people say the trailer is misdirecting about that Rey/Kylo-Scene.
But why would they misdirect an audience that is in fact incredibly hyped when seeing someting like that. Many people are now expecting that Rey is going "dark" at least at some degree. And in fact everybody loves it! I would be extremely pissed, if it really turns out as a misdirection ... I mean why tease the whole world something that would be a really cool development and then don't give the people what they are promised.

 

Lol. Amazing how people forget the whole misdirection with Finn for the Force Awakens.

 

The misdirection with Rey/Kylo is that she isn't being pulled to the Dark Side but that they are being pulled together...
When you watch the trailer reactions on YouTube, everyone is like "ah, is Rey turning evil?!".
As RJ pointed out in a recent interview, these things do happen but not in the ways we perhaps think.
Like i say, this will be about ReyLo more than Rey turning bad. IMO.

 

I'm just telling Next Skywalker how The marketing has done misdirection in the past, so there is basis for it, even when people are hype for it.

 

I'm very well aware of misdirecting strategies. But if this was in fact pure misdirection, it would be a very stupid strategy.

 

Remember that Rey is still a novice when it comes to the appropriate use of the Force. In TLJ there will be two competing influence on her, from Luke and from Kylo respectively. The trailer suggests that Kylo has a chance despite his evil deeds having been witnessed by Rey, because Luke is reluctant to train Rey or is afraid of Rey's power (Luke is taking himself out of the game so to speak).

 

Would it be?

The ultimate purpose of a trailer is to get people to pay for the piece of entertainment being advertised, and these days, tend to close on huge talking points (It’s time for the Jedi to end?! Rey’s joining Kylo?! What does it all mean?!) as this perpetuates the conversation regarding the trailer beyond the typical week or two of hype which follow a trailer. I’ve said it before, but TFA read a lot like this too (even if that was in the hands of J.J. and Lucasfilm, whereas the trailers are by some third party trailer company): Rey’s parents and the fact that TLJ immediately follows the events of TFA has perpetuated conversation for two years.

I think that it was a genius strategy. People are talking. This film’s advertising itself with word-of-mouth through speculation and discussion, and that means more people are going to go and see this film. The trailer company have certainly done their job!

Likewise, there can be no denying how both the shots depicting Kylo “aiming” at Leia and “offering Rey his hand” are cut in a way to maximise this sense of anxious anticipation, nor can it be denied that taking closer looks at how they’re cut seems to disregard any sense of continuity and cohesiveness in said shots.

Remember: these third party trailer-cutting companies won’t have been allowed to have access to, or even see, the whole film (to take this further, Rian Johnson has previously talked about how there were meetings as early as last year regarding what definitely would not be shown in the film’s promotion), so they’re just cutting what the material that they’ve been given into the most inviting trailer possible.

The end product might reflect the trailers...but they might not.

 

I can only speak for myself. I'm much more interested in the movie BECAUSE now I hope to see Rey go a "different direction". So yes, they are clever.
BUT: If she just keeps being "the good girl" despite their marketing campaign, I may be disappointed BECAUSE of a tease i was given.

 

I absolutely get where you’re coming from and agree, which is why I just think it’s best to be cautious and not look at movie trailers as anything other than the most interesting and intriguing short movie one can make with dramatic musical cues and unseen movie footage in 2-3 minutes.

 

It's very hard for me to ignore those trailers, tv-spots, pictures etc. because in fact I love the speculations.
But at least I learned to be a little bit more cautious.
Back then, when I was watching AOTC at the midnight premiere many years ago, I already knew the entire film by heart. Which didn't make it any better.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I didn't know anything about it prior watching the film. But propably not.

 

I’m right there with you. It’s why I’m not as big a fan of Pablo Hidalgo as some others here: he’s great for the community and seems like a great person, by all means, but he (seemingly) shuts down speculation waaaaaaaay too early.

Speculation is all of the fun in the build-up to a film. Take away two or more of our Snoke options and we can’t make a bingo sheet for the next film, at any rate

 

It’ll be the same 2 everybody has - “who is your daddy?” And “do you get with kylo?”

Neither of which she’ll answer.

 

I actually responded to them on Twitter with that, so credit to you!