Movie Review- Solo: A Star Wars Story (1 Viewer)

[Darkseid]

Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Directed by: Ron Howard
Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover, Paul Bettany.

After the Rogue One spinoff movie, Solo: A Star Wars Story marks the second installment in the Star Wars extended universe under Disney, and acts as an origin story for everyone's favorite rogue space cowboy Han Solo. Set 10 years before the events of Episode IV: A New Hope, we get to see Han Solo take his first steps into becoming the lovable scoundrel we all know him as from the movie trilogy.

Plot synopsis:

Spoiler: Spoilers beware

Han and his girlfriend Q'ira are "scrumrats" working in the planet Corellia, run by a crime syndicate, with dreams to escape and build a new life for themselves. After one of their stunts goes sideways, Han's quick thinking allows them to make a getaway and almost escape before Q'ira is caught and detained, while Han has to go away by himself. He promises to come back for her once he becomes a pilot and gets his own ship.

Three years later, Han has been kicked out of the Imperial Academy for being insubordinate and is a ground soldier, engaged in brutal skirmishes and nonstop war, when he runs into the outlaw gang of Tobias Beckett, Val and Rio Durant. After more shenanigans, including an event leading to Han meeting Chewbacca, they run a job trying to steal coaxium from the Empire. Unfortunately their attempt is interrupted both my a marauder gang lead by pirate Enfys Nest, as well as Empire droids. In the resulting skirmish, Val and Rio die, and the crew loses their prize. It is then revealed that this job was an assignment for dreaded cartel Crimson Dawn, run by Dryden Voss, who are really powerful and merciless. Looking to broker a deal and not be hunted, Beckett, Han and Chewie visit Dryden Voss, and here Han runs into his old sweetheart Q'ira, who it turns out, was rescued by Voss and has risen to become his most trusted lieutenant.

In a quick bargain to save their lives, Han and Beckett convince Dryden to let them steal unrefined coaxium aka hyperfuel from the mines of Kessel. Voss makes Q'ira tag along to ensure the operation goes smoothly. They need a ship and for this, Q'ira introduces them to Lando Calrissian, and his trusted Millennium Falcon. From here, the story becomes a series of adventures spanning different locations, rife with double crossings and betrayals. In the end, Beckett betrays Han to Dryden Voss but Q'ira and Han manage to kill Dryden Voss and go after Beckett to reclaim the coaxium. However, it is revealed that Q'ira doesn't intend to follow Han Solo as she is actually working for former Sith lord Darth Maul aka Zabraks oppar, who asks her to come to Dathomir to work together.

Meanwhile, Han and Chewie hand over the hyperfuel to Enfys Nest who plan on using it to help the rebellion. Declining to join any side, Han and Chewie take off on the Falcon for Tattooine, looking for new jobs and heists.

Review:
Solo falls in that middling area between great and forgettable. There are enough things to like about the movie, but nothing quite leaves a lasting impression. It makes for a fun one time viewing but lacks much substance to consider revisiting and picking up new things, nor does it add anything to the already existing Star Wars lore or enhance what we do know in any way.

Let's start with the positives. First things first- the action rocks. This is easily the best part about the movie. There are numerous chase sequences, heists and shootouts in various colorful locations, which are a visual treat. In particular, the train sequence when Beckett and crew try to steal hyperfuel while being hounded by droids and Enfys Nest's gang looks amazing. In another instance, when Han has to first pilot the Millennium Falcon and somehow escape a dangerous space creature and a gravity well, the visuals and music combine to get the viewer's adrenaline pumping. Such delightful action sequences are peppered throughout various points in the movie and will be thing that impresses the audience the most.

Another good thing is the cast and the performances. Alden Ehrenreich has big shoes to fill for Harrison Ford as Han Solo, and while he doesn't knock it out of the park, he plays a convincing young Han. One who's still optimistic, not cynical or as distrustful of the world. Yet retains that roguish charm and wit that made him so popular with Star Wars fans. The standout characters though are Emilia Clarke as Q'ira and Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. Overall, the cast has good chemistry and charisma, the dialogue isn't really memorable but nothing cringy and serves it's purpose in moving the plot forward.

The movie is pretty much structured like a space western, and a globe galaxy trotting adventure. It quickly devolves into "we gotta get to place A for this, but something went wrong or complications arose, so now we go to place B to do this, that somehow didn't work either, so now as a last resort we go to place C and finally back to A." In some ways, this helps in coming up with new and imaginative adventures and action scenes, but the pacing and plot suffer.

Which brings me to the bad/mediocre stuff:

The pacing is all over the place. Because it's constant adventure after adventure, you don't get time to cool down or process what just happened. The consequences of all actions are glossed over and as a result, the events lack weight. Before you can deal with the aftermath of one event, you immediately are thrust into the next one.

The plot also suffers as a result. Initially, it's about Han's desire to earn enough money to get his own ship and go back to Corellia to rescue Q'ira. Then suddenly Q'ira is fine so now Han has to pull another job to stop being hunted by the Crimson Dawn cartel. But once it's done there's a twist and now it becomes about standing up to the evil Empire and helping the rebels. The main objective and motivations change multiple times and you don't find one core theme to latch onto as a viewer. As a result, it's hard to get emotionally invested in the happenings. Also, this hampers anything from having any real consequence on the events of the main films.

And finally the characters. Apart from Q'ira, all other characters are pretty much who they were at the start of the movie. There really isn't much development to speak of. Even Han is still not too different from the beginning of the film and you get the sense that he still has a long way to go before he becomes the Han Solo of the OG trilogy. Some characters who could have been memorable had they been explored more, come and go quickly. This ties into my pacing problems too in a way. By choosing not to dwell on any character moments or showing how they feel about the events transpiring, it lessens the impact and turns the movie into pretty much just an action highlight reel.

Which is still fine, if all you're looking for is a fun action entertainer. Fans unfamiliar with the Star Wars legacy will thus probably enjoy it more when they watch it without any expectations. For others, it's a decent film that is lighthearted fun, but doesn't come close to realizing it's full potential.

Final Rating:
Solo: A Star Wars story gets a 6.5/10 from me
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[Darkseid]

Tags: @Darth_Felflame

Zabraks: @Darth_17 @Darth_berries @Darth_Bitzy @Darth_Lixo @maruberry

 

[blueberries]

While not sth minblowing that sounds pretty fun. I need to check it out some time.

 

[Darkseid]

While not sth minblowing that sounds pretty fun. I need to check it out some time.

Yeah it's basically like Fast and Furious in Space lol.

 

[blueberries]

Yeah it's basically like Fast and Furious in Space lol.

I haven't seen Fast and Furios, but if it's sth similar as Guardians of Galaxy i'm sold

 

[Darkseid]

I haven't seen Fast and Furios, but if it's sth similar as Guardians of Galaxy i'm sold

Not really Guardians level lol, GOTG is a lot funnier and has these character moments. But yeah cool visuals and action.

 

[blueberries]

Not really Guardians level lol, GOTG is a lot funnier and has these character moments. But yeah cool visuals and action.

I kinda love the ones with ragtag team just adventuring and screwing up together xd

But visuals hmm, I'm expecting something better than prequels then

 

[Darkseid]

I kinda love the ones with ragtag team just adventuring and screwing up together xd

But visuals hmm, I'm expecting something better than prequels then

Not that the prequels set a high bar to clear
I guess for that time they were pretty good lol.

Ragtag groups are usually fun but again it's the character interactions and bonding that makes it so. Here you have a little fun but nothing too deep or memorable lol. But it's not bad by any means, you'll have a nice time watching it.

 

[jasque]

So, it's So So.

 

[Darkseid]

So, it's So So.

The action scenes are really good tbf.
Although the best sequence happens like 30 mins into the movie, the later ones don't quite manage to top it.

 

[blueberries]

Not that the prequels set a high bar to clear
I guess for that time they were pretty good lol.

Ragtag groups are usually fun but again it's the character interactions and bonding that makes it so. Here you have a little fun but nothing too deep or memorable lol. But it's not bad by any means, you'll have a nice time watching it.

True, the technology has come long way since then.

They are, but ur right u need the right mix of characters.

 

[Darkseid]

True, the technology has come long way since then.

They are, but ur right u need the right mix of characters.

Yeah that's how the Avengers movies can be fun even with underwhelming antagonists lol (except Thanos oppar).

 

[blueberries]

Yeah that's how the Avengers movies can be fun even with underwhelming antagonists lol (except Thanos oppar).

That's only downside of films. And it's not like they don't have good arsenal they just suck writing them and kill them off way too soon. Like both Crossbones and Zemo are pretty good villains.

 

[jasque]

The action scenes are really good tbf.
Although the best sequence happens like 30 mins into the movie, the later ones don't quite manage to top it.

These movies where everything goes wrong in the production fascinate me for some reason.

 

[AnotherKpopTrash]

I definitely enjoyed it more than most of the new trilogy. Adding emilia clarke to the universe is pretty good too.

 

[Darkseid]

These movies where everything goes wrong in the production fascinate me for some reason.

Me too lol, I love Justice League
Snyder cut releasing soon

 

[Darkseid]

I definitely enjoyed it more than most of the new trilogy. Adding emilia clarke to the universe is pretty good too.

She was definitely best part of the movie
I guess I enjoyed it more than The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker too

 

[jasque]

Me too lol, I love Justice League
Snyder cut releasing soon

That one wasn't that bad, except the moustache thing xD

The snyder cut though... the dude wanted to release a 4 hours movie, now that is some planning.

 

[Darkseid]

That one wasn't that bad, except the moustache thing xD

The snyder cut though... the dude wanted to release a 4 hours movie, now that is some planning.

I actually liked the Whedon cut too lol, except the mustache situation and terrible CGI
Mostly coz they hyped up my boi Supes, although he stomped on Steppenwolf pretty much lmao.

I actually liked BvS Dawn of Justice director's cut so cautiously optimistic about JL.

 

[Ahsoka]

Holy crap that's long