Scruffy-looking untitled Han Solo film thread
- Thread starter Skywalker
- Start date
"A Star Wars Story" is the branding initiative Lucasfilm is using to differentiate the anthology films from the Saga (Episodic) films. Even if you don't think such differentiation is needed, Lucasfilm clearly does, so that's what we're getting.
You don't understand or agree?
If you don't understand, I can sum it up in several one word sentences. Boring. Uninspired. Unoriginal.
If you don't agree, ok. That's fine.
As far as "everything is explained," I couldn't disagree more. It's merely a label. It's like putting "milk" on a bottle of milk.
I doubt anybody under the age of 60 would ever think of Napolean Solo and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. before they would think of Han Solo.
I might have preferred something a bit more interesting, but it's a good title, it tells you everything that you need to know about the movie with one simple word.
Have fun with that. Since its a "Star Wars" film, the title really doesn't matter.
Also, for one name titles, I referrer to one of my other favorite SF properties:
It’s a title. That’s for sure. It tells us that Han Solo is in it.
Which, of course, we already knew.
PS: I’m under 60 and I know of Napoleon Solo. I’m a fan of the spy genre so found out about it and I also saw the Guy Ritchie movie. And the point of my scene was that everyone OF COURSE would know it’s Han Solo. So why do you need to call it Solo?
I agree. It doesn’t really matter. It’s clear the producers didn’t think it mattered either.
The movie is going to do well, regardless of quality, regardless of title.
Doesn’t mean it should be free of criticism.
Also, for one name titles, I referrer to one of my other favorite SF properties:
Pitch Black is better. And a better title. It’s more evocative. It’s more exciting. And I would argue, you have a better sense of what the experience is going to be.
Riddick, without the context of the franchise, is pretty meaningless.
Obviously, Solo would never have been made without the massive success of the Star Wars brand. In a parallel world where Solo was the first movie, hopefully it would have had a more interesting name.
Did I say it should be free of criticism? No. I'm making an observation, from my point of view, that it doesn't matter.
That's the thing-this all exists in context. Marketing doesn't exist in a vacuum, and neither does this film. "Pitch Black" as a title, didn't get me excited to see the film-the trailer gave me a better idea. Similarly with Riddick. Or, even with books. "Mistborn" is a rather odd title, but it makes sense when I read the book.
Sorry, I don't see the point in removing it from context. I don't need an exciting title-I would like an entertaining story..
What a shitty title.
"Han Solo and the Smugglers of Kessel" would have been brilliant, if suitable, or something in that vein.
"Han Solo and the Smugglers of Kessel" would have been brilliant, if suitable, or something in that vein.
Doesn’t matter in which way? It won’t matter in box office, it’s a Star Wars movie, I’ve said as much.
It matters, to me, because 1. It’s a boring corporate title, what does that say about the thinking that has gone into the movie? 2. Will we be getting cookie cutter movies from now on because it doesn’t matter because it’s Star Wars?
Mistborn and Pitch Black are certainly more evocative titles than just a name of a character. You didn’t know what it meant, yet, you read Mistborn.
I don’t need one either. I would like one. I would LOVE one. I would love to hear a title that makes me excited to see a movie rather than “meh, ok.” I would love a title that makes me sit up and ask questions. I would love a title that makes me curious.
I’m way more intrigued by The Last Jedi as a title than Solo.
Probably. Would you feel the same way about "Kenobi" as a film title?
I read it because of the back of the book, not the title. I watched it because the premise intriguied me, not the title.
Context matters.
It's funny, I'm intrigued by either titled. Agree to disagree, YMMV, and all that. Titles don't interest me-stories do. And, this all from my personal expereince-I have read some absolutely garbage books, seen terrible films, all because the title sounded amazing and awesome. So, I've given up on titles. It's not worth it to me. Call it Star Wars: Red, Blue, Yellow, etc, for all I care.
Cynical? Not really, as I think the film will do well, and I think it has had the appropriate level of engagement by the production team. I think that its emphasizing the wrong aspect of a film if the title is somehow reflective of corporate disinterest.
Unless I am completely misunderstanding your point, in which case, I apologize. I just don't see it as that important, but if you think its important marketing tool, then I'll concede the point.
I'm with you here @fireproof78 , I never pay that much attention to a movie or book's title, it's usually other things like the creator/cast, or trailer/blurb that get my attention. Hell, most of the time titles don't even really make sense until you learn about the story.
We still don't know exactly what the movie is even about entirely, so more it's a bit hard to judge the appropriateness of the title. If it covers just one event, like the Kessel Run, I could be see giving it a title like the one suggest a couple times, but there's a pretty good chance the movie could cover more than one event in Han's life and in that case a general title, like Solo, is more appropriate.
We still don't know exactly what the movie is even about entirely, so more it's a bit hard to judge the appropriateness of the title. If it covers just one event, like the Kessel Run, I could be see giving it a title like the one suggest a couple times, but there's a pretty good chance the movie could cover more than one event in Han's life and in that case a general title, like Solo, is more appropriate.
If the best title they could come up for a Jedi Master living on desert planet in secret is Kenobi.... I would find that incredibly disappointing.
And as a side note: I’m more interested in Ben’s story than Han’s.... if we’re talking prequel stories. #SoloIsAPrequel
Fair enough
And that has happened to me.
But, there’s something exciting when the title and the movie work together.
The Empire Strikes Back is a great title and a great movie.
True, it doesn’t happen often. But no reason we should ask for better than fine
I don’t think it’s corporate disinterest—they wouldn’t have fired the directors if they didn’t care—it’s more risk aversion impacting creativity.
They have one of the safest brands in the galaxy, and they chose to be risk averse. Like, what are they afraid of? Only making a billion?
It’s not hugely important, as the movie will open big, but that’s because it’s a Star Wars film, and not necessarily the film itself.
It’s a marketing tool not about getting butts in seats—that’s going to happen—but to build excitement, to get people talking and buying all of the toys and merch. And in that way... I think Solo is meh.
YMMV, of course.
Or loss of interest in the brand. Yeah, that is possible with Star Wars at some point in time. Just because its safe now, doesn't mean you take it for granted.
A boring, but expected title. @Neroon, would you mind changing the thread title to Solo: A Star Wars Story, please?
I would have preferred something more evocative like the titles of Brian Daley's Han Solo books (Han Solo at Stars' End, Han Solo's Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy) but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
I would have preferred something more evocative like the titles of Brian Daley's Han Solo books (Han Solo at Stars' End, Han Solo's Revenge, and Han Solo and the Lost Legacy) but I knew that wasn't going to happen.
I'd have gone with something like "I Know: A Star Wars Story" or "Anthony Ingruber Got Shafted and All We Got Was This Dodgy Movie." But Solo works, too.
I'd've gone with "Koona T'Chuta: A Star Wars story." 
Pretty much what I expected. I'm Ok with it.
Here's the thing guy: the only people that would want a more exciting title are the hrdcore fans who are all going to go see it anyway. The average moviegoer on the other hand; the ones that like Star Wars movies but don't necessary follow all the minutia that fans take for granted (and yes, I knew several such persons who were genuinely confused as to where 'Rogue One' fitted into things chronologically.)
They just need a simple title that tells them the movie's focus is. Just "Solo" does that quite neatly, from a marketing standpoint.
They just need a simple title that tells them the movie's focus is. Just "Solo" does that quite neatly, from a marketing standpoint.
As the thread starter, you're able to do this yourself by going to Thread Tools > Edit Title at the top of the thread. There's no time limit.