There are already plenty of words on websites and blogs about this film, and it’s alleged shortcomings, so Im not going to add too many more.
More importantly, don’t let the bad press and low box office numbers keep you from seeing it. SOLO is highly entertaining. It’s a side story from the main Star Wars canon (the Skywalker family, Jedis and Sith, etc) and I appreciate the diversion. SOLO also fills in some gaps in the early days of Han Solo and Chewbacca before STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE (a.k.a. Chapter 4).
I feel bad for the Star Wars die-hards who can no longer be satisfied and can’t enjoy these films for what they are anymore. The criticism began with A FORCE AWAKENS through ROGUE ONE, and THE LAST JEDI ramped it up to a whole ‘nother level. The purists are going to nitpick the crap out of SOLO, and that’s too bad.
As much as I love Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Han Solo, insisting that he reprise the role for a film based on the more youthful early development years of Solo the character would have been a big mistake. Number 1 - - Ford has already gone on record as saying that he didn’t want to do anymore Star Wars movies and he was happy to be killed off in A FORCE AWAKENS. He actually requested it. I could just see him going through the motions if coerced into being a part of SOLO. Number 2 - - while filmmakers could probably make Ford look younger with makeup and wigs, Star Wars purists wouldn’t be satisfied. Heck, they could have done a cgi version of Han Solo like they did with Princess Leia in ROGUE ONE — but I’m sure that would not have been acceptable. Number 3 - - I’m perfectly happy with a more appropriately-aged actor playing the role of Solo and don’t expect him to look exactly like Ford or to ape his every move.
Alden Ehrenreich does a commendable job. He’s got the smirk and the swagger that goes with the character but not exactly in the same way that Ford portrayed him. Likewise, Donald Glover is also great as a young Lando Calrissian, and fleshes out the character beyond what Billy Dee Williams accomplished in the original movies.
SOLO was scripted by Lawrence Kasdan, the screenwriter who helped propel THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK to it’s lofty ranking in the Star Wars legacy. It’s a smart and clever script, peppered with Easter Eggs and references to the original trio of films that will please long-time fans. We learn how Han and Chewie met, as well as how they acquired the Millennium Falcon.
The film contains a batch of new characters, all fully realized and interesting in their own right. Most notable is Emilia Clarke as Qi’ra, an early associate of Han who went her separate way and comes back to play a prominent role in the story. Woody Harrelson as Beckett is a lovable mercenary/thief for hire along with Thandie Newton as Val, a key member of his band of thieves. Droids are present in the background, even a short spotlight on an R2D2 lookalike. The newest droid, L3-37, portrayed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a new spin on mechanical humanoids — a sassy, free-thinking independent advocate of equal rights for robots. Paul Bethany as the main villain (but not the only one) is a classy, stylish take on
megalomaniacal crimelords.
There, I”ve tried to provide a short and nearly spoiler-free review. Just go and see the thing now, alright?
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