In today’s more prominently continuation-based film economy,
there is one thing that everyone can be given credit for: We’ve learnt proper
continuity. Say what you will about the wavering quality standards between
sequels/reboots/reimaginings and what have you, but filmmakers and in
particular screenwriters know what they’re doing when it comes to making one
story feel like an actual follow-up to another. We’re past the days of going
from Batman Returns to Batman Forever, where the tonal shift was enough to melt
your spine at a moment’s notice. Or, at least, I thought we were. And then came the trailer of today’s film, and we
all collectively went pulled the head tilt that is synonymous with reading a
large number of Star Wars fanfiction: Where the fuck does this fit into the canon, if at all? Is it a prequel? Sequel? Mid-quel? Attempt to create a TV series that didn't get picked up? It’s kind of astonishing that a
trailer for a film can come out that raises so many questions that they
actively had to make another one just to answer them as best they could. I’d make a
statement about not judging films entirely by their trailers, given some of the
*ahem* controversies going on at the moment concerning a release that is fast
approaching, but quite frankly this is a pretty bad first impression to get.
But credit where it’s due, the film itself straightens the timeline out; it
just finds whole new ways to be shit.
