Movie review: Solo: a Star Wars story

Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to the movie review.

From two years ago, i talked about "Rogue One", which it was considered as the first anthology series of Star Wars. The result is probably above average, which it had a good actions and some good characters, but some production would've been great, some other characters are forgettable and the main story was blocked by a big subplot, which i considering it as a disappointment since "The Last Jedi".

Fast forward to this year in 2018, we got the second anthology of the series, this time, it goes to the origin of our favorite smuggler, Han Solo.

"Solo: a Star Wars story" is a 2018 sci-fi adventure with western directed by Ron Howard, produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel, and written by Jonathan Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan.

This is one film that i was curious to find out where did Han begin as a smuggler and meeting Chewbacca. Even though back then before Disney, there are some stories that took place before "A New Hope" like novels, comics and others.

Its also noted that the film was originally directed by the duo directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller in early 2017, but sadly at June of same year, both of them got fired due to the creative differences of the movie, which is why they're replaced by Ron Howard, which many people had a mixed feeling that some say that maybe it will be good for Howard, but others felt that it won't be as good for direction.

So, with all that said, will this movie holds up with Ron Howard's new direction, or is this is nothing but a scruffy looking Nerf Header.

Well, lets find out.

The Story

It takes place before the event of "A new hope", where Han was born in Corellia in order to stealing a hyper fuel coaxium with his love interest named Qi'ra. Once they escaped, they went into transport of Imperial in order to exchanging for passenger seat, it worked, but Qi'ra was taken away, leaving Han Solo all alone for his business. But three years later, he was expelled  Imperial Flight Academy, causing him as an infantryman in Mimban with Tobias Beckett. After attempting to blackmail him, he was taken to the pit where he's about to get beaten by a Wookie, who's none other than Chewbacca. He managed to save himself with a Wookie language (for...   questionable reason that i didn't know why.), he manage to become a friend of Chewie quickly as they're going after Tobias for help, Beckett accepted that they teaming up together for their goal to getting coaxium for money to get a ship for Solo's girlfriend and his home.

I find the story itself is rather interesting for his goal to collecting energy fuel for money, since in the galaxy, it was in jeopardy from the crimes syndication of valuable resources like coaxium in the movie. There's a subplot involving the reunion of Qi'ra after three years that Solo missed her, its nice for that, but i felt the relationship wasn't as great than Solo and Leia. And of course, lets not forget we also introduce a gabbling smuggler named Lando Calrissian to befriend with solo, kinda.

Though some fans (including my father) are probably felt disappointed that it has no mention of the forces or even the Jedi/Sith. But personally, im technically fine without the plot element of Jedi and stuff, since we're focusing with other stuff in the legacy of Star Wars. If you're one of those fans who's begging to have a Jedi in this movie, sorry, im probably stand by their story outside the element.

I find the story is rather good, even if some development would've been better for Solo's flashback.

The production

Of course, its a big budget movie that we like to see something new quality and more since "The force awakens", otherwise you'll probably hate it if you're a fan of old school effects.

Anyway, the presentation itself looks pretty cool that i can say, the locations of Corellia, the inside of Millennium Falcom and some others. But others are rather typical like the mining place in Kessel or even an obvious deserted planet like Savareen. Don't give me wrong i find them to be not bad, but its just that we've seen this before. For the appearances of the characters, its quiet common if you looking around the wiki of the species in the universe of Star Wars, some are famous that we're familiar like Wookies and others are rather average. As for the actions, they're entertaining and maybe a wild ride with the early Millennium Falcon. But one thing im disappointed is that there's no more than one action with Stormtroopers that i like to make fun of for their lack of accurasies.

But the problem that i have is that despite it has nothing special for the story, but i find that the pacing of this movie is questionable. Like it goes to an action, but then it ended shortly out of nowhere. Despite the rest went slow that i got a bit bored, since this movie was 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The production is pretty good for actions and concept, even though it would've done good for the pacing and some missing parts that we like.

The characters

If you've seen the previous Star Wars, you're probably familiar with three recognizable characters.

First, we have our titular hero Han Solo (played by Alden Ehrenreich who replaced Harrison Ford) is a charming but kinda arrogant. But of course, he's also badass for his quick reflex of shooting with his blaster. In this movie, even though i never heard of Alden, but i think he did a nice work of his role.

Then we have Chewbacca (played by Joonas Suotamo who replaced Peter Mayhew due to his age) is a famous Wookie friend and probably served as his first mate from the origin. Though despite known for shooting, but man, i never know how some Wookies like Chewie could be stronger.

And finally there's Lando Calrissian (played by Donald Glover who replaced Billy Dee Williams) who's Solo's friend/rival which not only he's a smuggler to rise in the galaxy, but also a gambler.

All them are familiar that we've seen in the original trilogy. And they did a good job as a replacement at the veteran actors.

As for the new casts? Well, it was a mixed bag. some that i think who's likable, but others fall flat quickly from no special and short-lived (Sadly Spoiler Alert)

First, we have Qi'ra (played by Emilia Clarke), who's Solo's old childhood love a daughter of crime lord and... Thats all she got. She's just a typical love interest from the past with no other personality or extra development to given. Talk about a waste of relationship since Anakin and Padme from Episode 2.

Next we have Tobias Beckett (played by Woody Harrelson), he sorta like a father figure of his group, but probably badass for his action with dual blasters. Even though i don't like Qi'ra, but i think he's rather pretty cool and Woody did a nice job of his role. He has his wife name Val (played by Thandie Newton), but could've make more appearance.

There's Enfys Nest who's a leader of the pirate called Cloud Riders, it looks pretty cool that they could like an antagonist, but im gonna tell more truth about it.

Next, there's a crime lord named Dryden Vos (played by Paul Bettany), despite Enfys, but i think Dryden is a badass looking crime leader for how ruthless he is and he had a history with Tobias. When i heard is that he was originally played by Michael K. Williams to be look a half human/half lion, but he didn't a return for a reshoot and being replaced by Bettany for changing the character's look. But i think it looks interesting than having a questionable hybrid that i've heard. But of course, Bettany did a good job as a serious lord.

And last and probably my favorite to give more chance is L3-37 (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge with voice and motion-capture), who's a female droid of Lando's companion and a navigator. But she's considered being superior than some scrappy droids than some perfect ones with a "don't give a F***" persona. Despite that, but she's kinda funny that i like her. Though i heard that she was claimed as the first feminist droid in Star Wars universe, but i think they're wrong that we've seen some other female droids before. Hypocrite aside, but i think she's a likable character, but probably short, which it sucks since they could've give more chance to shine for her.

There are few others, but i don't get carrying on for limit list or even spoilers. The characters are rather above average with some characters that i like such as Solo himself, Chewie, Tobias and L3-37. But some aren't as interesting, but rather a waste of potential of development or appearances.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, its probably a lot better than Rogue One, with some fun actions, some good characters, the production looks great and the story is nice. Although its not a perfect one with some flaws like it feels a bit nothing special, the pacing is questionable since its a 2 hours film, some characters could've give more chance and forgettable and no Stormtroopers in action scene that i wanna make fun of. (Aw well...  But so does the Jedi element that some fans are disappointed, but it didn't matter for me.) I guess its no wonder how their the box-office is pretty weak that it could be a bomb.

Even though it has some problems, but i maybe considered to be recommend to watching this over than Rogue One, but we have to wait for more anthology film to be good, including Boba Fett.

So for that, il give it 7/10. I may not be recommend to watch, but go watch it if you want as a fan of Star Wars.

Now im done of it, but next year, we're going back to the sequel trilogy to end the chapter at Episode IX and hope its gonna be good in conclusion, despite how "The Last Jedi" is the biggest disappointed one we've ever seen.

So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.