How Much Do You Want to Know Before it Comes Out?

So, by now we are all hearing bits and pieces of actual news about this movie.  It is becoming more and more real that it is actually happening, and now we can at least relax in the knowledge that our favorite characters are, in fact, coming back.  And likely in fairly substantial roles (especially one ex smuggler in particular).  But I find myself wondering how much and what I really want to know before it comes out.

Many of you are probably hearing these rumors swirling around that Han Solo will die.  Now, I think I said a long, long time ago, when all we knew was that there would be a new movie and that our favorite characters would likely be back, that if done well, I could live with that.  I don't really want to argue over whether or not that is something they should do, because they're going to do what they're going to do there and there is nothing we can do to change it.  I'm more curious to know how "spoiled" you all want to be going into this movie.

I have mixed feelings here.  I know for a fact that I do not want to know everything.  I mean, how fun would that be?  I also know for sure that what I mostly wanted to know was that Han, Leia and Luke would be back, and that Han and Leia would be an old, married couple.  Since that fact has been basically verified, I am feeling a lot more at ease and a lot less interested in scouring movie news for information.  I think we are all also basically assuming that at least one of the young actors will be their child, so that also makes me happy.

Beyond that?  I'm not sure what I want to know.  Back when Episode I was coming out, it was truly exciting.  I was in college at the time and the internet was just starting to become a thing that you really used quite a bit, though not quite as big that you spent hours and hours on it like we do now.  Although that was probably just because it moved a lot slower.  I was so excited for these prequels, and had also felt much like I do now, that I'd never get to see a new Star Wars movie.  I made a conscious decision to try not to read/see too much about it before it came out so I could go in with fresh eyes and see it all as new and exciting.  So I could really see it all unfold before my eyes.  I remember that the first trailer coming out was a huge deal, but I don't remember if I let myself watch it or not.  I probably did, but after that, I'd avert my eyes when it was shown on TV.  I would save magazine articles to read later, after I'd seen it.  I never looked at message boards or web sites that would tell me anything about it.  Although to be fair, at the time I don't think I ever went on message boards anyway.

So, I went in with those fresh eyes.  And I wound up being bitterly disappointed.  Well, not at first.  Honestly, at first, I think we all wanted so badly to like it that we wouldn't admit even to ourselves let alone out loud that we didn't really like it.  We'd waited our entire lives to see it, and it was mostly crap.  It was hard to really accept that, let it sink in, and vocalize it to see if everyone else felt the same way.  But oh, it was painful.

I don't expect this one to be nearly as painful.  Now, do I expect it to be amazing?  Right now, no.  I won't let myself get my hopes up.  But I do know I'm debating in my head what I want to know going in.  I already know the most important things, that Han and Leia are still together and have at least one child.  Do I want to know more beyond that?  If Han Solo is going to die, do I want to know that before I see it?  I don't know!  Although honestly, if that is slated to happen, I actually would find it hard to believe that a living soul could go into that movie and not already know that.  The internet is a crazy place, and for better or worse, information like that would be impossible to keep under wraps.  I mean, if we had the internet in 1980 I'd be willing to bet that most people would've known before they saw ESB that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker's father.  I think it's kind of sad that we've lost the element of surprise, but it is what it is and there's no going back.

But still, will I avert my eyes when the trailers come on?  Will I be able to not watch clips that are shown before it comes out?  Will I try not to see much media before?  I still don't know.  I will say though, I've had this thought in my head that sooner or later there will be the first shots of Han and Leia as their old, married selves, and I'm not sure I'll be able to not look at that, or contain my ridiculous excitement upon seeing it.  But specific plot details?  I don't know!

Have any of you given any thought to this?  I'm all about spoilers when it comes to things I don't care about that much, but if it's something I really want to see, I kind of like to be surprised.  I just wonder how surprised I'll really let myself be.  Really it'd probably just be easier to go into a coma tomorrow and wake up in December of 2015 but then, well, that's actually probably a terrible idea.