Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) – Encore Review 6

“I ran away with my life. I think that means something. That means something to me.” – Han Solo

Number of Times Seen – 7 (24 May 2018, 30 May 2018, 13 Sep 2018, 30 Oct 2018, 14 Jan 2019, 19 May 2019 and 2 Feb 2020)

Link to original review – Here, Here, Here, Here, Here and Here

Brief Synopsis – An orphan living on the streets of Corellia tries to find a way to get off the planet and make something of himself.

My Take on it – As a HUGE Star Wars fan, I’m willing to watch just about anything they make and the opportunity to see the origin story of Han Solo was a draw from when it was announced.

It’s such a great film in the series and is so enjoyable to watch over and over.

Alden Ehrenreich is a great choice in the title role and manages to find a way to emulate the charm and panache that this character has embodied ever since he was first played by Harrison Ford over 40 years ago.

The story is played out really well and they do a wonderful job establishing the character of Han Sol and his checkered past so well that it’s constantly quite easy to see the anti-hero that we all love so much slightly below the surface.

The film tips its hat too much to the origins of many things that we know about this character, but in retrospect, they chose well to include so many references since the idea of a sequel was trashed, this still giving us the opportunity to experience these references.

The film expertly utilizes the special effects to enhance the story and it also allows things to both look and feel more realistic and plausible the whole way through.

The way that this story introduces us to some really fascinating and intriguing characters is done so well and helps make things even more fun and poignant as things move along in a very unique way.

I’m still surprised that this film didn’t do as well at the box office as the other films in the series.

I think that this film is better than any of the films in the new trilogy and is able to stay entertaining the entire time since it manages to work on so many levels.

Bottom Line – Great origin story that works so well. Ehrenreich is perfectly cast as Solo and allows us to see the charm and panache that Ford delivered in the original trilogy. The story works really well in establishing this character and how he became the anti-hero that we all love so much. The film gives us a bit too many connections to the later films, but in hindsight it works better that way since no future sequels are planned. The special effects are superbly done and really enhance the story to a point where things look and feel so realistic the whole way through. The film introduces some very intriguing characters who help make this story so much more fun and poignant the whole way through. I’m not sure why this film didn’t do so well in the theater because it is quite an entertaining film that manages to work on so many levels. Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – The Imperial March, in a major key, plays during the recruitment film at the Corellian spaceport. The same variation was used during a parade in Star Wars Rebels: Empire Day (2014). (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10) (no change from original review)