So, my final verdict, as if you couldn't already tell, is that I loved Solo. I thought it was just what was needed to keep my interest in these movies that I have enjoyed so much. I felt like I finally knew who Han was and got a glimpse into some of the life-situations he had gotten into. I think all of the actors did a great job, but I was most impressed with Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover for genuinely capturing who Han and Lando were. I couldn't be more impressed with the overall story and how it played out. Last but not least, the camera work really shines through on this one and drew you into the movie. I am excited to see what the next spin-off is because it has many things to live up to.
Solo. Wow—just wow. I cannot say enough about how much I enjoyed this movie. I’m not sure there is something negative to say about it. As soon as I thought I had figured the film out, I was wrong. I sat there and guessed each event and was wrong each time. That could be because I’m a terrible guesser, but it’s not. Let’s get right to the best part of this movie: the story. This movie could have a whole series about made into it, and it would be better than the episode seven and eight. Besides that, I think they picked the two best actors they could have for Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) and Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover). Additionally, this movie felt like Disney just did it right. They were on par for about 90 percent of the emotions. Lastly, like all Star Wars films, it had the best cinematography.
Let’s take a brief looks at what this story has to offer without giving away too much. You learn about Solo’s early adult years and his struggles of being on his home planet, Corellia. His home is nothing more than a hellhole full of slave overlords and the people unfortunate enough to be there. There are only two ways of making money: running one of the businesses if you’re lucky, or, doing what Solo says he does best, smuggling/stealing. Solo and his girlfriend try to leave the planet but an unfortunate circumstance happens, and only Solo makes it out. Fast forward, and you are left with Solo finding his calling, smuggling. The rest of the story is about how he makes the Kessle run in 12 parsecs. His group is led by Beckett, a well-known smuggler. Long story short, he’s a scumbag, but damn does he fit the role. He finally runs into his girlfriend, who is working for the Crimson Dawn syndicate, and then some more plot twist happens and bing-bang-boom, you have a great movie that tells a unique story.
SPOILERS AHEAD
So, let’s get into the important part. How does one play one of the most iconic actors? It can’t be as perfect as the original, but it can be close. Alden Ehrenreich has just the right amount of swagger and style, mixed with comedy and edge to play one of the most well-known characters in Star Wars. He did a great job of not imitating Harrison Ford by creating his own unique Han Solo, and it makes a great mesh of the two actors. His emotions throughout the story was great, except at the very end when he realizes that his first love is not who she said she was. This leaves a bit of a bad taste in your mouth because the movie was terrific, but this taste comes at the end of the dinner (film) so not enough to ruin what you had before. Han Solos’ friend/nemesis Lando Calrissian, played by Donald Glover, was just as fantastic. Glover does a great job of showing who you always thought Lando was in a way the previous movies never could. He’s a snake and narcissist who has always cared for only his image and what he can gain out of it. Glover also does a great job of showing you that there is more to Lando by showing you that he does care for at least one thing, his robot L3-37, and that most of all, he’s still a coward. To backtrack for a second and talk about L3, Lando does a great job of showing you that all of the things he cares for. Even after the many bickering matches Lando and L3 get into, he makes sure not to leave her behind. During that scene, you can see the real emotions that Lando felt as she slowly turned off never to turn back on.
Now for the meat, the story behind the man, the myth, and the legend, Han Solo. I had no idea what to expect coming into this movie. Up until they mention a smuggling operating and were traveling through the abyss of space, I couldn’t even remember the Kessle run. That could be because as much as I like Star Wars, it has been some time since I last watched it. I thought they could have done a better job of showing what his childhood was like and how he got involved in smuggling, but, hey, I’m not a director. So, they cut out most of that part and skip to him becoming an Imperial soldier, soon to be kicked out of the Imperial Academy. This is where he runs into his soon to be mentor Beckett. While he’s trying to talk his way into Beckett’s group, he is thrown into the monster pit to be killed for deserting. Little did Han know, he would meet his best friend, Chewbacca. Luckily for Han, he speaks Chewy’s language, and the rest is history. They finally agree to take him, and this is where Han meets his beloved girl and her boss, Dryden Vos, who is the leader of the Crimson Dawn. They have to make up for a job that they failed to complete, and this is where the Kessle run starts. Fast forwarding through the journey and the stealing of the coaxium, we start from when they leave the planet. They run into an Imperial Star Destroyer and have no choice but to travel through the abyss I mention earlier, dodging Tie Fighters the whole way. During this, they run into a monster the size of a planet. Han being Han makes sure to use his wit to maneuver the beast into what is best described as a black hole. They then have to use some the coaxium to boost the ship out of the black hole and right into hyperdrive. There you have it: the Kessle run in 12 parsecs. The real twist comes at the end when you find out that Han Solos’ first love kills her boss and takes over as the leader of the Crimson Dawn. I think this is the best part of the movie not only because you didn’t expect it happen but because you see Darth Maul as the new supreme leader, and he has a speaking role. SHOCKER. This story really gets at who Han is as a person and how he became who he is. His girlfriend in the movie says it best, “Han, you’re the good guy.” I felt like out of all the one-off movies, this should have been the first. I could see Disney making at least another film just about Han and end it where the main film picks up.
Lastly, this movie wouldn’t be complete without the help of some fantastic camera work and post-editing. Star Wars has always done a great job of using the right angles and mixing close shots with far shots that make the viewer think, “Wow, what are the characters thinking,” or “:ook how beautiful everything is.” This movie is no different. Ron Howard does a great job of drawing you into the scene with long shots of the surroundings or getting very up close to feel the emotions coming through the screen. The special effects are no different. Once you see the eyes of the monster in space, you feel as if it is about to jump off of your screen. With the right filmmaking and a large enough budget, you can do just about anything you want with special effects, and they made no stops here. One negative I do have to say is that I wasn’t convinced by the black-hole vortex. I felt like it was just a bit overdone but hey, it’s Star Wars.
So, my final verdict, as if you couldn’t already tell, is that I loved Solo. I thought it was just what was needed to keep my interest in these movies that I have enjoyed so much. I felt like I finally knew who Han was and got a glimpse into some of the life-situations he had gotten into. I think all of the actors did a great job, but I was most impressed with Alden Ehrenreich and Donald Glover for genuinely capturing who Han and Lando were. I couldn’t be more impressed with the overall story and how it played out. Last but not least, the camera work really shines through on this one and drew you into the movie. I am excited to see what the next spin-off is because it has many things to live up to.
