Han Solo
**This is a spoiler free review*
Solo: A Star Wars Story is the newest installment in the Star Wars saga. Don’t expect to see the iconic scrolling opening narrative explaining where we are or what we’re about to see. Solo takes us straight to where we want to go: Han Solo’s origins.
Solo is directed by Ron Howard, and it lays out who Solo was before we met him in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope back in 1977. The young Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich, is a lightweight version of the Solo we know today – he hasn’t grown into his wise-cracking gunslinger persona quite yet.
Star Wars fans will recognize Solo’s feisty character in his younger re-incarnation, but only those invested in the franchise will pick up on a few well-delivered remarks that will give you a sense of déjà-vu.
MOVIE SYNOPSIS
Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in Solo: A Star Wars Story, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and encounters the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes.
The movie starts off in Solo’s home planet of Corellia, an incredibly dark (literally) and gritty place where he learns his street smarts and dreams of becoming a pilot. We also meet his love interest, Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke), who is left behind when they try to escape the grip of this planet’s oppressive regime. Solo manages to get out and vows to come back to get her. He spends the rest of the movie trying to keep true to his word.
Han Solo and Qi’ra
It’s in this opening sequence that we also learn how Solo got his name, which means alone or one. No more on this or the spoiler police will grab me!
After he escapes, Solo ends up joining up with outlaw Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson), who teaches him how to navigate the galaxy’s warring factions. One of the first lessons for Solo takes place high above the snow-covered mountains on a western-like train robbery. The special effects are in full display in this sequence, as are some intense acrobatic-inspired fight scenes that will entertain and satisfy Star Wars aficionados.
Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon
As the film progresses, we’ll go through a list of components that will neatly tie in with the original Star Wars storyline; how Solo met Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo), Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), and the moment Solo laid eyes on the Millennium Falcon for the first time. Cue the John Williams’ score!
Donald Glover as Lando Carlissian
In typical Star Wars style, there’s a new droid in town with a sarcastic motherboard that provides feminist wit and intelligent support when needed. L3 is an expert navigator and Calrissian’s side kick, though she tells him their relationship will never work.
There are more than a few big action sequences in this movie that are sure to satisfy the Star Wars/LucasFilm special effects faithful. But they also serve a purpose; they show us that Solo had already been through quite a bit by the time he met Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.
So, before you go into the theater expecting to see the smirk or the signature arrogance that oozed out of Harrison Ford’s Solo, remember he’s not the best pilot in the galaxy famous for making the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs…yet.
In Solo’s own words, “I’ve got a really good feeling about this” …movie and I suspect you will too.
Rated PG-13
Runtime 2 hours and 15 minutes
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