Solo: A Star Wars Story
Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Image From IMDB
If I'd have written this review when the movie came out it would read very differently, but I've had a little time to let my initial disgust wear off and give the movie a second chance. And you know what… it was actually quite a bit better than I first thought. There’s still things I don’t like about it, namely any of the crowbarred origins stuff, and everything to do with that stupid android, but it is more fun than I remember.
Leading the charge on my rethinking is Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett. He really is the most interesting and competent character I've seen in all of modern Star Wars. I loved his story, the performance, how he could actually shoot straight (a first in the Star Wars universe) and ultimately his downfall. Tobias encapsulated what the Star Wars world had become in-between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.
His relationship with the titular Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) showed a different side to the mentor student relationship that’s always been prevalent in the franchise, and their chemistry on screen together was great. I loved all the disapproving looks but growing respect. How they became friends, but were destined to be enemies. It was great Space Opera.
And that’s what made the difference in my second viewing, I enjoyed the Space Opera of it all. I could ignore the stupid ‘Solo a’ lines, or the ridiculous this is how Han got his jacket, this is how Han got his blaster, this is how Han got his Wookie nonsense.
Instead, I was able to focus on the outrageous train heist. Emilia Clarke’s Qi’ra’s story in the underworld of Crimson Dawn. Paul Bettany’s villainous Dryden Vos. Chewie and Han having some good scenes together outside of the whole weird Wookie’s eating people comment. There was basically fun to be had, if you kind of ignored the Star Wars stuff, which is difficult to get your head around at first seeing as Star Wars was once awesome and this is a film about one of its most iconic characters.
So, while still being far from perfect, there was a lot of sci-fi to enjoy within the movie. It had some cool characters (Not you L3) good set pieces, and some interesting relationships. Who knows how I'll feel on a third watch, but I'm glad I gave it a second chance. Maybe my hatred of everything after it has softened my heart towards this film, or maybe I'm just better at separating my expectations versus what’s in front of me, but either way it’s no longer the 1/10 I originally gave it.
