Solo: A Star Wars Story

[Swindle]

I saw it. My friend and my brother went and saw it. My friend didn't even know its a thing, so marketing must be bad for this movie?

It was alright. Alright if it was a random episode of Clone Wars or Rebels, but we're talking about a movie experience, so 7 out or 10 or a +C.

Lando is pretty good. Chewie is good. The guy playing Han is passible, but I don't buy him as Han.

So, Han joins the Empire all to become a pilot and eventually get a ship so he can save his girl, Emilia Clarke. Only problem, she works it herself and isn't really into him. So Han comes off as a chump in regards to her.

I don't ever have to see Tie Fighter battle scenes again, it's played out.

So, the big problem I have with this, its not needed. At all. I think this "A Star Wars Story" sub-brand is a mistake. They got lucky with Rogue One because it tied into a untold story. Solo is basically, an adventure. That's it. Its an adventure you may like. But, we already got Solo's return and send off in The Force Awakens, so why would this matter to people?

I did like the backstory on Enfys Nest as a child freedom fighter. But I figure she's probably going to be forgotten because this movie looks to be flopping.

[Bravo]

Saw it today. Consistently mediocre. Entertaining, but forgettable...one thing a Star Wars movie really shouldn't be. I rate 6/10.

What I did NOT like:
Much of movie seemed like it was shot in an overly hazey or smokey style...are my eyes getting bad? Afterwards I even popped in another theater, and no, Avengers Infinity War still looked crisp. Was it that theater's projector? It bugged me. (Apparently, I'm not the only to notice this. It was the cinematography)

Han's first boss is a sewer bug that hates sunlight...WTF? Just felt like an excuse for a gratuitous creature effects scene and one that felt too cartoony.

Who were the Empire fighting on Mimban? Whoever they were, they were putting up quit a fight. Would've been nice to see them...just a little.

The Empire is corrupt...not the Sith corrupt we all know, but actively takes bribes and even aides organized crime at the lower levels. Sure, Moloch and his hounds can search for Han and Qi'ra. The villain's (Dryden something) cruise ship entertains Imperial officers. One wonder why a train heist was even necessary. Just bribe some folks.


Not Ree-Yees...how many multi-eyed aliens like Ree Yees can there fudgin' be? I swear there's a new one in every new movie.

Ginormous space monster...what does it eat? Rebels space whales?

The Maul reveal, spoiled by every click bait article and asshat online days ago for me. Since we know from Rebels how he ends up...WHY SHOULD WE EVEN CARE?

Stuff I have mixed feelings about:

Alden Ehrenreich...he's not bad. But he's also not quite there in terms of charisma. It's like what's his name new Kirk in NuStar Trek.

Hyper-fuel again...Last Jedi decided ships run on gas...or was it Rebels. I dunno.

How he gets his name "Solo", implying he was an orphan...yet later mentions his father worked making ships. So, Han, how come you got no last name? I'm confused.

The Empire now has basic infantry (the so-called "mudtroopers" on Mimban), something old gaming manuals said, but was later ignored and it sure seemed like stormtroopers were the army infantry and people joined that or the Navy.

Every movie introduces new Imperial units and this one they get very little screen time. (Patrol Trooper, Range Trooper).

4 armed not-Rocket-Raccoon, nice idea to have an alien in a more active role, but he was kinda irritating and killed off within 15 minutes so...

Beckett is an okay character, but how much of that is just Woody Harrelson's casting. Cast that part with someone else, would I give a shit?

Han now meets Chewie in a mud pit, chained together...maybe the movie could've be them as The Defiant Ones in space?

Name drop Bossk...but not show him...just as well, as he'd be a CG mess inconsistent with OT.


Crimson Dawn, why not Black Sun...then Xizor could be the end cameo...of course, no casual fan knows Xizor.

Lando is a bit too metrosexual. Its played for laughs.

Backett killed Aurra Sing...umm...how about limiting references to good references instead of saying "our blah movie character killed off a much more interesting EU character"?

Gratuitous Sabbca alien players/watchers. One so big I wonder how it even got inside the casino. I did like the little furry one.

L337....I know some hate her already, but I don't know. She did have a Guardians of the Galaxy silliness to her. But she's part of the Falcon...what? No, really, what?

Slavery on Kessel...because mining droids aren't as efficient as forced organic labor? What? I know, slavery was always mentioned in canon, but it must really be punishment more than anything else.

The Maw is an EU thing, decent usage.

Yeah, TIE Fighter chase...an Imperial tactic that apparently NEVER WORKS. Think about the waste of resources for something that fails every time we see it. Yet, it seemed obligatory.

So the short 12 parsect Kessel Run...which Solo will brag about, even though Qi'Ra claimed to her boss that everyone on the heist died except Beckett (who dies soon afterwards). So who would know that Falcon did the run? It doesn't add up.

Enfys Nest reveal/non-reveal. She was nobody we knew, a teen girl, but also...so what? She and her gang were going after the Crimson Dawn's contract goons...who were disposable to the Crimson Dawn. when she should be going after the big shots, right?

Qi-Ra has to be a badass...better fighter than Han. Because GRRL POWER, I guess. It wasn't bad, so much as you had 2 or 3 capable females in the film already. (One was a droid, but) Can't make a Star Wars film without a kickass British lass, I guess.


Stuff I liked:

The dirty Mimban battle scene. Even if we never see the enemy.

Despite what I said about cameos by imperial troops, it's a decent change that the Empire is really just in the background here.

"Death Star Droid" cameo...poor dude.

Lando straight up leaves. Does not come back. Does not save the day. LOL.

The Pike alien at Kessel, a clone wars alien race. See, that's a good reference.

"I hate you." "I know!"

Han shoots first!

No damned Boba Fett cameo. How did that happen? I guess they thought Maul was enough.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Swindle]

I hated that they were teasing sequels with Maul and the Jabba name drop. Rogue One did not do that stuff. I think the thing with Emilia Clarke, she has more charisma with the blonde hair in Game of Thrones. She loses something with her real hair.

[Bravo]

Never saw Games of Thrones. She was generic in Terminator Genysis. I'm over the now obligatory English girl they have to have in every Disney Star Wars movies.

There probably won't be Solo sequels. Maybe Maul will appear in the Obi-Won movie, but it'll either repeat REBELS or change it.

[Swindle]

Yeah, Maul's story was pretty much expanded and rapped up in Clone Wars/Rebels. Not sure what there is to mine in a movie format. The funny thing is, I doubt the casuals even remember him. And if so, they'd be like, ummm, didn't he get cut in half? I don't know if Obi can carry a movie, especially if he's camping out in the desert (my least favorite moments in the original movies happen on Tatooine). Just because someone is a "beloved" Star Wars character does not mean he's capable of being a lead in a movie.

They probably need to end these "A Star Wars Story" sequels. I don't need to see Young Adult Novel Han doing work for Jabba. Don't need to see Crime Lord Maul. None of this stuff is compelling.

[Bravo]

I can't bear the Sith/Jedi and Empire/Anti-Empire stuff much more. Evil keeps rising and taking over...every x-amount of years. And there's barely anyone to stop them, then I guess the galaxy gets the government it deserves.

[Felix]

I finally watched this, on my phone...thats as good as the internet get a for me these days.

Anyway, I finally got to read your guys' comments. I liked The movie. I know it could have been a lot better. But it was cool. I'm probably not as critical since I hardly watch movies anymore.

I felt Lando was way too emotional about his droid dying. It was uncomfortably awkward.

Also the droid being part of the falcon will now make comments about the Falcons computer in the original trilogy a little more interesting I guess. Sometimes I think that's all these movies really serve to do. Change the way you see the original trilogy, hopefully for the better.

I would have preferred Black Sun too.

Overall I thought it was kind of fun :-)