Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

[ray245]

Me, unless their's some obvious huge defect, I like to give a film the benefit of the doubt until I've seen it at least once, preferably twice, in a theatre.

Like I have mentioned before. I do not necessarily think the movie is bad as I have not seen it. I just dislike the approach the creative team seems to take in all of the promo-art, art-design, director's choice and etc.

I will probably watch it no matter what. It is just that I won't bother being the first in queue, and I would wait for the reviews to be out before I decide to watch it.

[Lagmonster]

Like I have mentioned before. I do not necessarily think the movie is bad as I have not seen it. I just dislike the approach the creative team seems to take in all of the promo-art, art-design, director's choice and etc.

You're adorable. 'Course, your problem is that half the people working on this film that I've seen in interviews have at some point said, "I was a big fan as a kid, and now I'm WORKING on Star Wars!". So the people making the movie don't give a shit, and the people paying money for the toys for their 10-year-old kids and giggling because Han Solo!!! don't give a shit. In fact, they are largely the same people.

Film critics, and people who comment on story and direction and art? They just don't stand a fucking chance to be heard or their ideas considered worth attention, and are going to spend the next several months around a crowd of escaped inner children who will make them feel like sourpusses (sourpi?) by comparison.

[AniThyng]

So...

[ray245]

Like I have mentioned before. I do not necessarily think the movie is bad as I have not seen it. I just dislike the approach the creative team seems to take in all of the promo-art, art-design, director's choice and etc.

You're adorable. 'Course, your problem is that half the people working on this film that I've seen in interviews have at some point said, "I was a big fan as a kid, and now I'm WORKING on Star Wars!". So the people making the movie don't give a shit, and the people paying money for the toys for their 10-year-old kids and giggling because Han Solo!!! don't give a shit. In fact, they are largely the same people.

Film critics, and people who comment on story and direction and art? They just don't stand a fucking chance to be heard or their ideas considered worth attention, and are going to spend the next several months around a crowd of escaped inner children who will make them feel like sourpusses (sourpi?) by comparison.

I'm have no problem with other people enjoying this new film because they grew up with the OT as kids. I have no problem being the minority voice here that dislike the approach taken by the creative team. All I am saying is what pleases people who grew up with the OT isn't necessarily going to make me enjoy it. You might see new TIE fighters on screen as something that rekindled your childhood, I see it as stale and boring.

What I am arguing is that a more daring approach could actually make the film more appealing to even more people. Many people like Thrawn because he is a different kind of threat from the usual sith-wannable or some minor Imperial warlord. You can have a interesting story about a guy with less resources outwitting the protagonist with his intellect, as opposed to trying to tell yet another story about rebels fighting a new( or the same, but slightly different) empire .

I just want a good Star Wars movie that dares to be a lot less conservative.

[The Romulan Republic]

And then people would whine that its different.

Anyway, I actually think that the trailers suggest that they're trying to balance old and new. We have the old heroes alongside the new ones (including, apparently, black and female leads) and technology that looks like the old stuff but is still somewhat new and distinct.

[Lagmonster]

I have no problem with other people enjoying this new film because they grew up with the OT as kids. I have no problem being the minority voice here that dislike the approach taken by the creative team. All I am saying is what pleases people who grew up with the OT isn't necessarily going to make me enjoy it. You might see new TIE fighters on screen as something that rekindled your childhood, I see it as stale and boring.

Sure, cool. But I'm not suggesting that you're pissing in other people's soup. I'm saying that by sheer force of childlike joy, other people's soup is nowhere near being in range of your dick.

[ray245]

And then people would whine that its different.

Anyway, I actually think that the trailers suggest that they're trying to balance old and new. We have the old heroes alongside the new ones (including, apparently, black and female leads) and technology that looks like the old stuff but is still somewhat new and distinct.

I've never really hear much complaints about having battledroids in the prequels. I think fans in general are a lot more willingly to embrace things are different than what studio bosses think. Sometimes, having slightly bigger change is good for the franchise.

Despite what people may say about the prequels, they still added a very different way of looking at Star Wars. Via the prequels, designers learnt that not everything needs to be old and used. I was hoping for a Ep 7 that looks a little bit more different than what we got in the end.

Sure, cool. But I'm not suggesting that you're pissing in other people's soup. I'm saying that by sheer force of childlike joy, other people's soup is nowhere near being in range of your dick.

I don't necessarily care about whether I can influence their views or not. All I am doing is simply saying we could have gotten something better than what we got so far.

[FSTargetDrone]

I think it's the same type Tie Fighter we see in this released concept art.

(Pic snipped)

I also think it's weapons are turreted and it's shooting aft in the trailer.

(possibly this is where Finn first defects from the First Order by napping a Tie fighter only to crash it on the planet Jakku ..and later run into Rey)

Oh it looks just like the one in the trailer! Good catch. Given what looks like a flaming/smoking engine, I think this is clearly looking at its aft end, you're right.

[Iroscato]

Looks like the chatter about the plot is mostly correct, going from the trailer. Spoiler

I'm thinking maybe the new characters are sent by Queen Leia to find Luke and ask for his help. They may use his first lightsabre to remind him of the loved ones he's separated himself from, and try to get him back into the groove, so to speak.

[Skywalker_T-65]

Interesting note from an article on the new Battlefront: Spoiler

Here's how DICE describes the scene:

"...the Battle of Jakku [is] the pivotal moment when the New Republic confronted key Imperial holdouts on a remote desert planet on the Outer Rim. Taking place in the aftermath of the Rebel victory in the Battle of Endor, players will experience the events that created the massive, battle-scarred landscape of Jakku in Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

So we may still have Spoiler

The New Republic after all.

The article in question.

[Agent Fisher]

Crazy idea for the reason it's First Order vs Resistance.

Spoiler

So, New Republic and Empire still exist after a peace treaty, each controlling their own space and leaving hte other alone. A bold new Sith lord begins making moves, recruiting people to his First Order, and the Empire keeps telling the New Republic that 'no, it's fine, it's an internal matter, we've got this covered.' But because it's a Sith, the Jedi, or maybe just Leia, decide to send some volunteers to help fight against this First Order, thus Resistance T-70 X-Wings. Kind of like the Flying Tigers in China, 'former' New Republic fighter pilots and ships battling against the First Order.

[Irbis]

@irbis where are these army troops you speak of? I just see stormies...

This guy:



Doesn't look anything like TIE pilots, but more like TOT black helmeted army personnel seen from behind. At least IMHO, I could be wrong, but his presence at troops parade would seem to indicate ground personnel.

What I am arguing is that a more daring approach could actually make the film more appealing to even more people. Many people like Thrawn because he is a different kind of threat from the usual sith-wannable or some minor Imperial warlord. You can have a interesting story about a guy with less resources outwitting the protagonist with his intellect, as opposed to trying to tell yet another story about rebels fighting a new( or the same, but slightly different) empire.

And you know this is not the case how exactly?

For all we know, the Sith side is weaker one, but is winning due to guile and help of the Force, necessitating Republic asking Luke for help.

[Anacronian]

Oh fuck me i thought the poster above me was talking about the other guy in the picture - mods please delete this post.

[Irbis]

That looks like this guy

Not that one, behind him, in front of TIE...

Uh, that was different era, different state. If PT was WW2, TOT Vietnam war, then what we see is F-16F and HK-416 to TOT F-16A and M-16. Makes far more sense than inventing stuff with all steam going into badly thought aesthetics plus form not function, like PT did.

The point is there is a even bigger gap between EP 7 and Ep 6 than Ep 3 and Ep 4.

So fucking what?

Clone wars was era of innocence and peace, "before dark times". When they tried to wage war they threw crap at wall and see what stuck. TOT was Galaxy at war footing after 25 years of arms testing and people knowing what works and what didn't. New Trilogy builds up on that development.

To give you example, compare Me-262 from 1945, F-16A from 1965, and F-16F from 2015. Here, modern basic jet fighter looks barely changed from Vietnam war, with minor wing and body changes, despite nearly three times as long gap. Gee, reality is unrealistic

I never said the movie as a whole is bad. All I have said was from thematic point of view, it makes the whole battle of Endor largely irrelevant in the long run. What I have a problem with what I have currently seen so far is the approach taken by JJ and his crew. There seems to be an attempt to recreate the OT for the fans who grew up with the OT. For people like me who grew up with the PT, there seems to be a level of emotional disconnect.

Meh, I heard dozen times I critique things too hard, yet in this case, I'd say you'd really need to reach to find any damning conclusions. Yet, looking at your posts, I also see a lot of jabs at people simply for liking what they see. There is criticism, and there is bitterness.

I get what you're saying about PT, but to be honest, if you look at episodes 1-7 as a whole, when were bad guys really defeated despite setbacks? You can say in episode 6, after 35 years, but if you look at Star Wars as history of Skywalkers, ultimately, Palpatine's defeat wasn't that far from deaths of Maul and Dooku. Luke still has story to tell, you see end point where there wasn't one, really.

If the creative team decides to approach things differently, I would be more ready to accept the possibility that Ep 7 can be a film I can enjoy. As it is, there is a deliberate attempt by Lucasfilm to throw out as much OT stuff as possible.

Dude, it's called 'intermediate' phase. Even if they wanted to make episodes 8 and 9 radically different, to capture the audience you need to provide some ties between episodes 6 and 7. Did you also criticize Ep 3 for these ridiculous TIE-like cockpits, almost-TIEs, almost-Destroyers, and almost-Stormtroopers?

The difference is, as far as I am concerned, that with exception of ball droid, Ep 3 designs were mostly butt-ugly and incoherent, while EP 7, despite some problems, really look sleek and dangerous. So far, art team really showed prequel designers how you do the job right.

[Anacronian]

That looks like this guy

Not that one, behind him, in front of TIE...

Yeah, I realised that - sorry.

But I do think it looks like a New Order Tie pilot - you can barely see the gray hose coming from his helmet.

Also, the new Tie pilots do look thinner than the old ones, Their suits doesn't seem to have so much padding and the suit is more formfitting.

[Adam Reynolds]

The problem with a prequels, was that they had to show the fall of the Old Republic. Thus relatable everyman characters in the style of Han Solo would not fit the setting Which is why they had Jedi and politicians as the main characters..

Why not?

You need to qualify this statement.

When you are showing the fall of those in power, you have to show people that are in power in the first place. A Han Solo like character really doesn't fit this. Though from a certain point of view, Jango Fett does actually fulfill this role. And its no coincidence that he works for the CIS rather than the Jedi.

It's being handed to Leia, obviously.

Based on the wrist strap, it appears to be Rey passing Luke's lightsaber to her. Which would make sense if she is Leia's daughter.

I've never really hear much complaints about having battledroids in the prequels. I think fans in general are a lot more willingly to embrace things are different than what studio bosses think. Sometimes, having slightly bigger change is good for the franchise.

Some people thought battle droids were too childish, obviously intended to allow violence for kids. In a way this is true, it wouldn't do for our heroes to chop organic enemies in half on a regular basis.

Despite what people may say about the prequels, they still added a very different way of looking at Star Wars. Via the prequels, designers learnt that not everything needs to be old and used. I was hoping for a Ep 7 that looks a little bit more different than what we got in the end.

And it was a completely different era that should have had vessels that appear newer and less worn. It was something akin to the fall of Rome. The tech afterwards should be older and more worn on average than what came before.

Interesting note from an article on the new Battlefront:

From on that article, I am somewhat disappointed we won't see space battles. I wonder if they will have unlockable Jedi as in BF2? The article did specifically mention lightsabers when discussing the props they used. I am somewhat suprised that there is little focus on locations from the new movies, though presumably that is what DLC is for. They could also have DLC for space combat as well, though implementing capital ships properly would be somewhat difficult(something BF2 did terribly).

Crazy idea for the reason it's First Order vs Resistance.

This might be rather interesting. I feel like the reason for the smaller resistance groups on both sides is that it is due to the general populace not really wanting Jedi. Thus Leia's resistance group would be one of the only organizations in the galaxy who wanted Jedi.

Has anyone seen spoilers on the state of the galaxy? The battlefront rumors also fit this idea somewhat.

For all we know, the Sith side is weaker one, but is winning due to guile and help of the Force, necessitating Republic asking Luke for help.

The Sith could also have the problem that the rest of the Empire is in the mood to shut them down. What I would like to see is neither Sith or Jedi in power. We have already seen the other two sides of the coin, with Jedi in power in the PT and Sith in power in the OT. Though based on those images, the X-wing belongs to the "resistance" whatever that is, rather than the main Republic.I doubt the Republic is directly involved due to politics.

To give you example, compare Me-262 from 1945, F-16A from 1965, and F-16F from 2015. Here, modern basic jet fighter looks barely changed from Vietnam war, with minor wing and body changes, despite nearly three times as long gap. Gee, reality is unrealistic

Slight nitpick. The F-16 came out in 1978. And it is currently meant to be replaced with the F-35 in 2015 (though who knows if that will ever work properly). But you are otherwise right. Even the F-35 looks more like the F-16 than the ME-262 to the F-16 over a shorter time period. Once tech stabilizes, appearances change less. And with a millennia of peace, the ideas of how to properly design weapons would have been somewhat lost even with tech stasis.

[ray245]

And you know this is not the case how exactly?

For all we know, the Sith side is weaker one, but is winning due to guile and help of the Force, necessitating Republic asking Luke for help.

Then why do we have a very convenient way of calling the people who use the X-Wing the resistance?

So fucking what?

Clone wars was era of innocence and peace, "before dark times". When they tried to wage war they threw crap at wall and see what stuck. TOT was Galaxy at war footing after 25 years of arms testing and people knowing what works and what didn't. New Trilogy builds up on that development.

To give you example, compare Me-262 from 1945, F-16A from 1965, and F-16F from 2015. Here, modern basic jet fighter looks barely changed from Vietnam war, with minor wing and body changes, despite nearly three times as long gap. Gee, reality is unrealistic

That's ignoring the fact that many things do look different visually. F-4 used to be the plane everyone sees in the 60s/70s, now the F-15 is the plane everyone notices in the sky. More importantly, in a film that couldn't depict all aspect of visual change in a culture, it is important to show us what we did see as something different, something that reminds us that 30-40 years have passed since the events in ROTJ.

All those design could easily be new starship produced five years after the battle of Endor. I have a problem with the EU, especially the content that was set centuries before the movies, when they depict a slightly different version of Star Destroyers used by the bad guys. The whole technology is stagnant came about mostly because all the writers and artists were often too conservative in terms of designing stuff. The only time there was something bold in terms of visual design is the prequel-era stuff.

Meh, I heard dozen times I critique things too hard, yet in this case, I'd say you'd really need to reach to find any damning conclusions. Yet, looking at your posts, I also see a lot of jabs at people simply for liking what they see. There is criticism, and there is bitterness.

I get what you're saying about PT, but to be honest, if you look at episodes 1-7 as a whole, when were bad guys really defeated despite setbacks? You can say in episode 6, after 35 years, but if you look at Star Wars as history of Skywalkers, ultimately, Palpatine's defeat wasn't that far from deaths of Maul and Dooku. Luke still has story to tell, you see end point where there wasn't one, really.

I think story-telling needs to have some sort of finality, some sort of closure. Not all stories can be resolved completely, but the main story arc and plotlines needs to be given a proper resolution. I just find it bad storytelling if you reveal at the end credits that the bad guys isn't really dead. It makes the whole SW films feel like some sort of horrible horror movie where the villains never dies.

The idea that you can never defeat evil seems to undermine a core message of what Star Wars is about. To me, Star Wars represented classic fairy tale, where the heroes can live happily ever after as opposed to a lifetime of endless suffering because evil will never be defeated ( for the sake of milking the cash cow). It just make the whole franchise overly tragic.

Dude, it's called 'intermediate' phase. Even if they wanted to make episodes 8 and 9 radically different, to capture the audience you need to provide some ties between episodes 6 and 7. Did you also criticize Ep 3 for these ridiculous TIE-like cockpits, almost-TIEs, almost-Destroyers, and almost-Stormtroopers?

The difference is, as far as I am concerned, that with exception of ball droid, Ep 3 designs were mostly butt-ugly and incoherent, while EP 7, despite some problems, really look sleek and dangerous. So far, art team really showed prequel designers how you do the job right.

I don't think you need that kind of intermediate phrase in terms of design. You can make a Star fighter that came from the same lineage as the X-Wing, as opposed to giving us X-Wing Mark F.

In my opinion, Ep 3 works because it shows things moving towards the visual style we saw in Ep 4, but at the same time, we know it is not quite there yet. Ep 7 visual design philosophy on the other hand, is trying too hard to remind us of the OT, as opposed to letting it have more room to stand on its own.

I don't think we can ever agree on the visual approach used in Ep 7, because while you want something that is nostalgic to you, I couldn't relate to the same sense of nostalgia that you have. I don't need things to be the same. I just think that this, in the long run, can be damaging to the visual creatively Star Wars artists can have. Instead of expanding the visual language and visual vocab like what the prequels have done, we are going to see an ever increasing attempt to "hark back" to an supposed "golden" age.

[ray245]

And it was a completely different era that should have had vessels that appear newer and less worn. It was something akin to the fall of Rome. The tech afterwards should be older and more worn on average than what came before.

Why should this be the case? Why can't artists and designers create things that looks better with time? It is a paradigm I find to be rather troubling, for it basically assumes that once the golden age is reached, things will never be better. It just feels very anti-progressive in my opinion.

Slight nitpick. The F-16 came out in 1978. And it is currently meant to be replaced with the F-35 in 2015 (though who knows if that will ever work properly). But you are otherwise right. Even the F-35 looks more like the F-16 than the ME-262 to the F-16 over a shorter time period. Once tech stabilizes, appearances change less. And with a millennia of peace, the ideas of how to properly design weapons would have been somewhat lost even with tech stasis.

Why should we accept there is tech stasis at all? Throwing out the old EU means we could avoid falling into the tech stasis frame of writing Star Wars stories.

[Tychu]

One of my worse fears have come true. Disney is trying to remake the OT by having yet another story about a bunch of 'resistance' fighting a new 'order'.

Basically ROTJ is now pointless because the rebels lost the war despite winning the battle, and Vader's sacrifice is in vain.

Possible spoilers indicate its a great deal more complicated than that.
Spoiler

The First Order != the Galactic Empire, I believe. The Empire and the Rebellion continued to fight after the OT. Then someone pulls a 'Hydra' within the Empire, creating the First Order - controlled by the Sith - causing elements of the Empire and the Rebels to team up against it.

So pretty much the plot of Dark Horse's Legacy series. I really enjoyed those

[Adam Reynolds]

Why should this be the case? Why can't artists and designers create things that looks better with time? It is a paradigm I find to be rather troubling, for it basically assumes that once the golden age is reached, things will never be better. It just feels very anti-progressive in my opinion.

You are making an assumption based on the modern era. If SW has discovered all of physics(in a similar manner to the Shadows and Vorlons in B5), then there would no longer be such a thing as technological progression. It would simply be a matter of designing new technology based on what is already known. While it might be boring and anti-progressive, it is what the setting shows. Your feelings on the matter are irrelevant.

Why should we accept there is tech stasis at all? Throwing out the old EU means we could avoid falling into the tech stasis frame of writing Star Wars stories.

The films show tech stasis on their own. We see no apparent increase in technology over 40 years from TPM to ROTJ. The Death Star is the only arguable case, and it was simply an evolution of composite beam weapons, simply with the largest possible reactor ever created as no one before ever committed the industrial potential necessary to make it. This is an assumption based somewhat on AOTC, but I would guess that beam weapons have the weakness that they trade higher firepower for a reduced rater of fire and are thus somewhat rare as mainstream weapons. Thus we rarely see them used apart from Republic gunships and artillery. Nothing in the OT era seems to use it apart from the Death Star, which obviously trades firepower for an extremely limited rate of fire relative to its power output.

And the EU actually showed some progression, far more than the films.

[FedRebel]

One of my worse fears have come true. Disney is trying to remake the OT by having yet another story about a bunch of 'resistance' fighting a new 'order'.

The names aren't exactly creative, "First Order" is missing what it's the 'first order' of

It could be an ISIS like fundamentalist Sith group

It could be an Imperial Unified Combatant Command (like USSOCOM)

Could be a Coruscant University fraternity

If the Galactic Empire was the 'New Order'... the "First" could be a vestige of the original Sith.

Basically ROTJ is now pointless because the rebels lost the war despite winning the battle, and Vader's sacrifice is in vain.

Let's say Obama and Biden were to both be on an Aircraft Carrier at the the same time and ISIS...or whatever blows it up.

The US wouldn't disintegrate, instead Obama/Biden would be martyred and used as a nationwide rallying cry for a Crusade to hunt down those responsible, seething with unquenchable bloodlust and revenge.

in part the Emperor 'allowed' the Rebel Alliance to exist as long as it did to suit his political ends, his death means that restraint is now gone and the Empire will be taking the gloves 'way' off.

On top of that not a lot of people are in on the loop concerning Vader's redemption, and the entirety of Death Squadron and the 501st couldn't possibly be at Endor (some assets logically had to be..."spread across the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us.") to successfully sell Endor as a target. The First Order could consist of remnants of Death Squadron and the 501st going rogue to hunt down the killer of their Commander.

[The Romulan Republic]

First off, the US is not the same as the Empire. Losing Palpatine and Vader is a much bigger deal than losing Obama and Biden would be. The Empire has only ever had one leader and a succession conflict is a real possibility. In the US, on the other hand, Presidents come and go and their's a long chain of command.

Secondly, all of Death Squadron and the 501st. might well have been at Endor. Yes, their were other forces around the galaxy, but those other forces don't have to include elements of the 501st. and Death Squadron. Its not as if those were the only Imperial units.

[Irbis]

First off, the US is not the same as the Empire. Losing Palpatine and Vader is a much bigger deal than losing Obama and Biden would be. The Empire has only ever had one leader and a succession conflict is a real possibility. In the US, on the other hand, Presidents come and go and their's a long chain of command.

Much smaller, actually. USA doesn't consist of million worlds, so loss of leader is proportionally smaller. Given scale, in GE there had to be some highest layer of governing all of this (what Grand Moffs did in old EU). Logically, all what needs to happen is for these Moffs to gather together and pick one of their number as new Emperor. Sure, in the chaos GE will probably lose some worlds to Rebellion and separatism, but alas, tough luck, not like rebels have a lot of forces left.

Did Roman Empire collapse after assassination of Julius Caesar? He disbanded Senate, too.

When you are showing the fall of those in power, you have to show people that are in power in the first place. A Han Solo like character really doesn't fit this.

Um, wasn't Ep 6 all about 'fall of those in power', both Jabba and Palpatine...?

Slight nitpick. The F-16 came out in 1978. And it is currently meant to be replaced with the F-35 in 2015 (though who knows if that will ever work properly). But you are otherwise right. Even the F-35 looks more like the F-16 than the ME-262 to the F-16 over a shorter time period. Once tech stabilizes, appearances change less.

Ah, yes, I was thinking about its predecessor, LWF. Still, doesn't change the fact once technology matures, it evolves, not changes rapidly. F-15 and B-52 are in service how long now?

[AniThyng]

Well there was a civil war between Augustus and that other guy...

[Adam Reynolds]

Much smaller, actually. USA doesn't consist of million worlds, so loss of leader is proportionally smaller. Given scale, in GE there had to be some highest layer of governing all of this (what Grand Moffs did in old EU). Logically, all what needs to happen is for these Moffs to gather together and pick one of their number as new Emperor. Sure, in the chaos GE will probably lose some worlds to Rebellion and separatism, but alas, tough luck, not like rebels have a lot of forces left.

Did Roman Empire collapse after assassination of Julius Caesar? He disbanded Senate, too.

But Palpatine specifically arranged to not have a clear line of succession as he never planned on his death. After Alexander the Great died the Diadochi failed to develop a clear line of succession, with the empire devolving into a series of civil wars among regional governors. That was what I think would happen under the Galactic Empire.

As for the Rebel Alliance, they don't really have the military strength on their own, but if local governments have enough military strength, they could begin receiving support from that. Possibly enough to sucessfully challenge the Empire militarily.

Um, wasn't Ep 6 all about 'fall of those in power', both Jabba and Palpatine...?

But it was about those who brought it down rather than about those who allowed it to fail. The prequels were about the tragedy of the old Jedi Order, exemplified by Qui-Gon's response to Anakin in TPM "I didn't come here to free slaves." The Jedi were so caught up in their own politics that they failed to help the downtrodden. Their policies were nearly as bad as Star Trek's prime directive.

Ah, yes, I was thinking about its predecessor, LWF. Still, doesn't change the fact once technology matures, it evolves, not changes rapidly. F-15 and B-52 are in service how long now?

I completely agree on the main point. Though part of the problem in reality is simply that budgets aren't there. The F-15 was supposed to be replaced by the F-22. Now they are stuck with both due to insufficent numbers. And ironically the F-15 actually has a more powerful AESA radar.

If the Galactic Empire was the 'New Order'... the "First" could be a vestige of the original Sith.

That would put the whole "chosen one" into question. Unless the chosen one refers to his bloodline. In which case his granddaughter and son would likely be the ones who finish it.

It could be an ISIS like fundamentalist Sith group

It could be an Imperial Unified Combatant Command (like USSOCOM)

The impression I get is that they are more powerful, though in fairness, we don't see any New Republic assets. But that in and of itself is indicative that the Sith are more powerful.

Let's say Obama and Biden were to both be on an Aircraft Carrier at the the same time and ISIS...or whatever blows it up.

An aircraft carrier with the entire US nuclear deterrent? That would be a massive loss in American power. One that would be extremely difficult to recover from. I got the impression that the Empire committed resources into the Death Star to avoid having to rely solely on conventional firepower. The new Darth Vader comic seems to indicate this.

in part the Emperor 'allowed' the Rebel Alliance to exist as long as it did to suit his political ends, his death means that restraint is now gone and the Empire will be taking the gloves 'way' off.

That was the case in the old EU, in the rather idiotic game The Force Unleashed. More reasonably I doubt he would just allow them to exist. The whole point of Endor was to crush them.

On top of that not a lot of people are in on the loop concerning Vader's redemption, and the entirety of Death Squadron and the 501st couldn't possibly be at Endor (some assets logically had to be..."spread across the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us.") to successfully sell Endor as a target. The First Order could consist of remnants of Death Squadron and the 501st going rogue to hunt down the killer of their Commander.

30 years later? That seems a long time to hold a grudge and not have done anything about it. Whatever the case, the First Order has enough power to control the desert planet.