MARCUS BLAKE

Solo a Star Wars story, let’s get to it, I didn’t think this was going to be a good movie because let’s face it and I know we’re all thinking it, how can you make a Han Solo movie without Harrison Ford? But hey, I’ve been wrong before and this is one of those times.  This movie couldn’t possibly be good, but then I saw it.  The truth is it’s a hell of a lot of fun. A Star Wars movie doesn’t always have to be serious, it can be fun and entertaining. You know, like Pirates of the Caribbean or a Deadpool movie.

I know there will be a lot of criticism of this movie… most of it just good old-fashioned nerd nitpicking because sometimes we can’t help ourselves. As apprehensive as I was going into this movie, thinking that it was going to be a disaster, I loved it. I had fun watching it. And at the end of the day it felt like Star Wars movie even though at its core, it simply is a heist movie with Han Solo, a former Imperial Soldier, turning into a criminal while along the way meeting his sidekick Chewie. It’s not a perfect movie. One of my main complaints is the pacing.  It’s a little fast pace in the beginning and you hardly have time to get introduced to the main characters before you are off to the next adventure in the movie. I understand you have to cram a lot in while explaining Han Solo’s origin , even right down to how he got his name, but they certainly could have spent a little bit more time explaining where he came from before joining the Imperial Academy.  This movie had much more of an action feel then a dramatic tone. While that’s okay, we are used to seeing kind of a slower pace when dealing with a typical Star Wars story. A perfect balance between action and dramatic pacing. A Han Solo story so a little bit more action is required than your typical Star Wars story that centers around Jedi.

There’s been a lot of talk that Alden Ehrenreich wasn’t going to to do a good enough job play Young Han Solo because there’s a certain Charisma you have to have to play Solo, a certain level of cockiness that manifests itself into confidence. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t skeptical of him myself, but to be honest he was one of the better parts of the movie. He’s not perfect and of course, he doesn’t have everything that we love about Harrison Ford playing Han Solo or Indiana Jones, but he makes it work. I think you can certainly see a younger version of Han Solo within him. But the highlight of this movie really comes down to Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. There is nobody better who could have played a young Lando. He is so believable that one might expect him to be the son of Billy Dee Williams. Like every great Star Wars movie, it takes the right casting to make it work even when the movie is bad. Star Wars has always prided itself on being able to put together a fantastic cast. Sometimes the chemistry doesn’t always work like in the case of Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman, but as long as good actors have good material you will always get a great performance. Ron Howard always puts together a good cast and I’m never been disappointed by any of his movies, Solo is another great example. Fans tend to be very divisive when it comes to Emilia Clarke. Sure she’s great in Game of Thrones but is she really that good anywhere else. Well, I have to admit she was good in the Solo movie…. she has the flare of a confident character who can manipulate people and play the odds…. perfect for a Heist movie. And do we really need to talk about Paul Bettany  and Woody Harrelson, have they ever done anything bad. Woody Harrelson is pretty much good in anything he does.

If you’ve ever read the Han Solo adventures in the expanded universe whether they are considered Canon now or not then you know that the stories are filled with more action than dramatic tone because that’s basically Han Solo… this film does a great job representing that. And at the end of the day, it’s just a fun Star Wars movie. I think that’s all you can really ask for. It doesn’t matter how this really connect to the Rebellion or anything else, it’s about showing us Han Solo’s Origins. So I think if you go into this movie expecting the same kind of tone as you would the trilogy movies, especially that of the original trilogy then you will miss the point and you might be disappointed. But if you understand what this film is supposed to be and can just have fun at the movies, then you will enjoy it. Yes, it’s a summer popcorn movie within the Star Wars universe, but it doesn’t need to be anything else.

There are a lot of great nods to the prequels and the original trilogy so you do get a sense of the timeline weed in the Star Wars universe. But this film is more of an exploration of the underworld and black market dealings with n a galaxy far far away. However, there is a moment in the film that I’m sure you will be just like us and yell “fuck yeah” because it really that nostalgic nerve when it comes to Star Wars and is probably the one moment that really connects this movie to the prequels to clone Star Wars Rebels and even to the original trilogy.

I had so much fun watching this movie but really I just have a few complaints that make it less than perfect. And they’re probably minor complaints if you really look at the movie as a whole. But again as fans, don’t go into it expecting the same tone as a Jedi movie because it’s not that. Expect to have a lot of fun and you’ll probably even want more on solo movies afterward because this one does such a great job. Probably the biggest complaint I have is that we didn’t get more adventures with Han Solo but you can’t cram everything in one film, but I do compliment the filmmakers because they made me want more. Solo is not a perfect film and it shouldn’t be on the same level as Empire Strikes Back or even maybe A New Hope. It might even be better than the last Jedi which I still think is a great film. But if I have to give solo a grade then it’s an eight for me. The origin story of Han Solo death change a little bit from what we have known over the past 40 years and that’s okay. One important factor of this movie is we get to see two important moments that help to find Han Solo. The moment he rescues Chewbacca from the empire and the Kessel Run in the Millennium Falcon. And let’s be honest, what more can you ask for…anything is just hardcore nerd nitpicking. This film is certainly entertaining and I guarantee you, you will watch it more than once. After all, we’ve all watched the prequels more than once despite horrible acting and bad dialogue. But the good news is Solo is way better than the prequels and you will have fun at the theaters. I’m glad this movie was better than I thought it was going to be…very glad.

BRENDAN SMITH

How would Han Solo describe this movie? Probably something along the lines of “Great kid, don’t get cocky.” The movie is not your typical Star Wars fare, but still manages to feel like Star Wars. While it isn’t about saving the Galaxy this time, its got blasters, villains, the Empire, Gangsters, Swashbucklers and Smugglers galore. It’s a heist movie at it’s heart, but a Star Wars movie in its presentation. The tone is also slightly different, which reflects the reduced stakes. With Ron Howard at the helm, he’s crafted a film that is reminiscent of another of Harrison Ford’s favorites, Indiana Jones. At least, in it’s lighthearted tone and attitude.

Alden Ehrenreich does a passable job as the younger version of everyone’s favorite scruffy looking nerf herder. Let’s face it, he’s not going be winning Tony Awards on Broadway, or be accepted into the Royal Shakespeare Academy any time soon, but he really doesn’t need to. He needs to be cocky, foolhardy, with a touch of naivete that hasn’t yet touched the younger version of Han Solo. He’s not yet the hardened, jaded smuggler with a heart of gold. He’s still a young man, who despite a difficult youth hasn’t yet been beaten down by circumstance or the Empire. In this respect, Ehrenreich does a good job.

Donald Glover on the other hand, was born to play Lando Calrissian. He did such an amazing job capturing the essence of Lando, he almost sounded like Billy Dee Williams from time to time, without I think, ever really forcing it. And his relationship with his droid, L3, voiced by Phoebe Waller-Bridge is every bit as good as other great pairs in Star Wars lore. Ms. Waller-Bridge’s performance also steals many a scene. She does a superb job.

The villain is a little one note, but Paul Bettany does his best to at least make him entertaining, but Emilia Clarke is not really a convincing femme fatale. They allude to all the terrible things she’s done, but you never quite believe it from her. Maybe if they showed some of those things, it would’ve been more convincing. By contrast, Woody Harrleson was fantastic. As was Thandie Newton. And with much love and respect to the venerable Peter Mayhew, with youngster Joonas Suotamo as Chewbaccca, we get to see the athletic and when need calls for it, brutal Wookiee many of us had always hoped to see. Chewie also is finally given has due as a main character and is really the heart of the film.

In the end, while not perfect, this is exactly what I hoped it would be. An extremely entertaining film, which I had a lot of fun watching. After all, isn’t that what we go to the movies for? Oh yeah, and if you’re like me, there is one scene in the final act of the film that will make you yell, “Expletive Deleted, Yeah!” in the middle of the theater. But, I shall not spoil that for you.

I give Solo: A Star Wars Story a solid 8 Sabacc cards out of 10

STAFF GRADE