Spoilers Star Wars: Solo - Grading and Discussion Thread

[Turtletrekker]

I felt that this film compared favorably to Rogue One and that its main strength was in its characters. The best part about Rogue One was that incredible action sequence at the end, but the the characters were bit paper-thin. When they all started dropping like flies, all I felt was a sense of inevitability. There was no feeling of attachment to the characters, no grief.

However, in Solo the characters seem to have a little more depth. I empathized with Beckett and Val's dreams to go home and start a better life. I felt Beckett's grief at Val's death. I was saddened by Beckett's death. Likewise with L3 and Lando. The genuine grief that Lando felt for his droid was powerfully portrayed by Donald Glover. Q'ira's betrayal was a little obvious, but I still felt sad for Han. And of course Han, Chewie and Lando are all great characters to begin with.

 

[I Grok Spock]

Notice a certain golden idol in Dryden’s office?

 

[Tuskin38]

There was also an Ewok in there

 

[Xerxes82]

Saw this today. Fun, if utterly predictable. Somewhat soulless, in it's way. It does what it set out to do, but it isn't particularly effective or elegant in going about it. It felt to me, at times, like a series of vignettes they strung together to try and generate a narrative. But at other moments it let itself go and was just silly, pulpy Western joy. I'm going to be generous and give it a C+/B-. It's not trying to be deep or pretentious, or really say anything at all. But it knows how to deliver visually. It wears it's influences on it's sleeve like NASCAR sponsorships. But I was never bored or listless.

I disagree with the poster above, I thought the characters here were all really one note. Beckett forgot about Val as soon as the scene transitioned. Qi'ra was a plot MacGuffin they gave dialogue. Dryden Vos was only menacing because they told us he should be (although Paul Bettany at least looked like he was having fun). Chewie and Lando were the only characters that felt alive to me, and a lot of that may just have been nostalgia.

That said, visually I loved this film. Much like Rogue One, the filmmakers capture so very much of what Star Wars should 'feel' like visually, while still delivering something that is both polished and modern.

And you know, after all the talk about Alden Ehrenreich, he wasn't bad. Nothing groundbreaking, but he didn't weigh the movie down. I'm not totally convinced that this character can be reconciled with the Ford version from '77 by the end of the film, he feels a little too much action hero and not enough down-on-his-luck smuggler. But it's nothing that is world breaking, and there are a lot of years between here and there for the character to change and grow.

P.S. Also, Disney, if you have any joy in your hearts at all, you need to capitalize on the opportunity Solo has offered you. The Chronicles of Lando, starring Donald Glover, and based on the story he starts telling here with him and L3 in the sacred temple. Guest starring Aphra, from the Marvel comics. You know you want to. You know we want you to.

 

[thribs]

Shame it is isn't doing so well. I think it's the best Disney Star Wars movie easily.
Speaking of which, it broke with tradition with not having C-3PO and R2 in it. I would have had them at the bar they first met Lando. Perhaps Antilles wanted a drink.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have never seen TCW or Rebels. How the HELL did Maul manage to recover from being sliced in half?

(With future SW films, are those shows going to start becoming...required...in order to understand what’s going on? I mean, I caught the basic thrust of the gist, but I’m wondering if the homework is gonna start piling up )

 

[thribs]

I have never seen TCW or Rebels. How the HELL did Maul manage to recover from being sliced in half?

(With future SW films, ae those shows going to start becoming...required...to understand what’s going on?)

Well everything is canon now.
There are videos on YouTube that show how he returns. This one is when his brother first discovers him.

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[Xerxes82]

I have never seen TCW or Rebels. How the HELL did Maul manage to recover from being sliced in half?

(With future SW films, ae those shows going to start becoming...required...in order to understand what’s going on? I mean, I caught the basic thrust of the gist, but I’m wondering if the homework is gonna start piling up )

The same way Vader survived mutilation and immolation. Hate. The sheer, raw, unnatural power of the Dark Side. There's more to it, obviously. But that's really all you need.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Well everything is canon now.

I didn’t ask if they were canon. I asked if they were required.

Hell, even the ‘episodes’ have the text crawls to bring newbies up to speed. They don’t assume intimate familiarity with the shows (which I hardly even knew existed until I read this thread).

The same way Vader survived mutilation and immolation. Hate. The sheer, raw, unnatural power of the Dark Side. There's more to it, obviously. But that's really all you need.

Shit, does anyone ever truly DIE in this?

 

[thribs]

Shit, does anyone ever truly DIE in this?

I imagine Han is pretty much dead. Unless someone clones him or something.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

They brought back Maul, so I wouldn’t put it past them to bring back Han as well (assuming Harrison Ford would allow it). I mean, how is being CUT IN HALF any less final than a simple stabbing?

And you didn’t answer my question regarding how much of these other shows are required viewing. I hate to keep harping on ya about this, but it would be helpful...

Don’t mistake my meaning, though, I did like the film. Not a lot, but I did like it. I’m just wondering what else I may be missing here.

(Side note: Is that 4-armed pilot - the one voiced by Jon Favreau - of the same species as Maz Kanata? I realize Maz only had the two arms, but maybe that’s a male/female thing on her homeworld)

 

[Xerxes82]

Shit, does anyone ever truly DIE in this?

It's got space wizards, so no, probably not.

 

[Set Harth]

Speaking of which, it broke with tradition with not having C-3PO and R2 in it.

It's also the first SW film to never mention the Jedi or the Force anywhere.

And the first SW film to not have a character say "I have a bad feeling about this". ( Subverts the trope by changing it to "I have a good feeling about this". ) That's if we assume that TLJ counts by giving the line to BB-8 untranslated.

They brought back Maul, so I wouldn’t put it past them to bring back Han as well (assuming Harrison Ford would allow it). I mean, how is being CUT IN HALF any less final than a simple stabbing?

Starkiller Base completely exploded, that's kind of final.

(Side note: Is that 4-armed pilot - the one voiced by Jon Favreau - of the same species as Maz Kanata?

No.

 

[Velocity]

It was ok, but frankly I was a little bored during some parts. The "Free the Droids" subplot reminded me of Dark Matter a little. The underlying theme of underdogs surviving and escaping bondage in whatever form it took wasn't really written very well. Hard to care about characters you don't know if they are mostly just in the background. I really wanted to like this movie better than I did.

 

[FreezeC77]

It's got space wizards, so no, probably not.

I'm waiting to see Mace Windu show up if sequels continue in this time period.

 

[thribs]

I'm waiting to see Mace Windu show up if sequels continue in this time period.

With an eye patch I hope, forming his own team to take down Sidious.

 

[Skywalker]

P.S. Also, Disney, if you have any joy in your hearts at all, you need to capitalize on the opportunity Solo has offered you. The Chronicles of Lando, starring Donald Glover, and based on the story he starts telling here with him and L3 in the sacred temple. Guest starring Aphra, from the Marvel comics. You know you want to. You know we want you to.

I never realized how much I wanted this until now. Aphra is a great character and I'd love to see her show up in live action. She and Lando would be amazing together.

 

[guyute03]

Enjoyed 'Solo'. Fun movie. Gave it a B+. Better than Rogue One for me and I liked Rogue One. I did enjoy that we got to see some SW criminal underworld stuff and hope we get more of that in the future.

 

[M-Red]

Better than any of the prequels and the best Disney Star Wars movie. It's quintessential Star Wars and why I love Star Wars. And it did it without the Force.

Shame that it's box office isn't doing well. This one actually deserves accolades. It's pretty damn good....so much fun.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Really enjoyed Solo a lot and loved all the little Easter Eggs dropped here and there from pre-Disney Expanded Universe. It was just really fun and I really liked Ehrenreich as Han. Donald Glover totally had Lando down pat from the moment we saw him, and L3 was a total hoot. Unlike Rogue One--which left me a little depressed at the end--I can't want to see Solo again.