I’m obsessed with this trailer.
In case you didn’t know, I write spec fic, and my debut novel which is coming out this May, is actually a space opera mystery. I happen to think space opera can be very engaging and is the way most people come to a love of science fiction, but because of its very nature, it’s easy to do it badly, hence the scorn some hold for the genre.
John Carter is really the only recent space opera we’ve had to hold on to, and it wasn’t terribly good. Still, perhaps because I already have an affinity for the genre, I did enjoy it more than I thought I would.
Jupiter Ascending, on the other hand, looks like a studio finally wants to put big money into creating a space opera where they actually pull out all the stops and do the genre some justice. Not only are there big stars–Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis (I actually would watch for Channing)–but there are tantalizing hints of big ideas. Earth as part of an industry it doesn’t know about? I’m sold.
Sure, it can still go wrong. Neither of the stars in question are known for their amazing acting or their previous roles in big budget scifi movies. But good old Sean Bean is in, and I can pretty much watch anything he’s in.
Take a look at it below. Tell me what you think. Does its somewhat steampunk visuals and hints of a big plot make you excited too? Or do you think the trailer is going to be the best thing about it?
R.S.A. Garcia 
I’m not sure. It does look cool, but we got so royally screwed by the two sequels to the Matrix, which kept promising stuff but all they delivered was nonsensical and inane. I hope I’m wrong, but the Wachowskis seem to have tended towards style over substance. The Matrix was super cool. I almost hope they keep it simple and play to their strengths, though with a title like Jupiter Ascending it sounds like the sequels are already being planned. This website has it as a scifi Snow White: http://www.vulture.com/2012/05/plot-details-of-wachowskis-jupiter-ascending.html
I agree with all your points. It’s my fear they are just style mavens too. But it does look so cool, I’m hoping for one film of the first matrix’s quality. They did so well with the first, I never understood why they needed three, and I hope they don’t make crappy sequels here as well. I do like the idea of an intergalactic fairy tale retelling, but snow white again? Why? What is Hollywood’s obsession? And please, can she believably rescue herself for once? Really tired of the damsel in distress thing.