To say that Solo: A Star Wars Story had a turbulent development would be a bit of an understatement. You’ve probably all heard the story. The original directors were fired. The star was mostly unknown, and supposedly needed an acting coach. Many (myself included) questioned the very need for a Han Solo origin story. If Disney was ever going to make a Star Wars clunker, this was looking like the one.

When the trailers finally hit, I gradually changed my mind. It looked…interesting. Fun. Different! But the line that really won we over was when Han, in the pilot’s seat of the Millennium Falcon, grins at his terrified looking crew mates and says, “I’ve got a really good feeling about this!” For some reason, I was sold. I believed in Alden Ehrenreich. I believed in Ron Howard. Most of all, I believed in Solo.

I’m happy to report the movie didn’t disappoint. For those of you who haven’t seen it, go and do it! The movie is an awesome heist style story with excellent characters and some real surprises. However, this is your last warning, because spoilers and inbound.

Don’t Everybody Thank Me at Once…

Let’s talk about Alden Ehrenreich first. This casting was controversial from the very start. Han Solo as portrayed by Harrison Ford is absolutely iconic. Those black boots were large ones to fill. I think there were very few people, Star Wars fans or otherwise, who weren’t a little worried about another actor stepping into the role. Worries only grew larger when it was reported that Lucasfilm brought in an acting coach for Ehrenreich because they were unhappy with the performance.

I don’t know what changed (if anything even did; here’s Ehrenreich’s comments on the process) but I can say without reservation that I think Alden knocked it out of the park. He WAS Han Solo.

After watching Solo, I think everyone owes Alden Ehrenreich a huge apology. Not only was the film fantastic, he did great service to the character of Han Solo. — Adam Bracy (@ambracy) May 25, 2018

I think a lot of people mistakenly wanted someone to do a Harrison Ford impression for this movie. While that obviously needs to be a huge inspiration, I think it would have been a little awkward. Ehrenreich really stepped up to the plate with an awesome performance. He completely honors the Harrison Ford Solo we all know and love, but also imbues Han with a younger mans energy and enthusiasm. I loved his fire, his passion, and that huge grin.

One of my favorite Han moments was later in the film, right after Han completes his famous Kessel Run and in the process trashes Lando’s pristine Falcon, Han is giddy. Lando obviously does not share his enthusiasm, but Han refuses to wipe that grin off his face. Says Lando, “I hate you.” Han claps him on the back and says, “I know.”

Harrison Ford will always be Han Solo. That’s not up for argument. But Alden Ehrenreich really nails the part of the younger version of Han.

You Might Want to Buckle Up, Baby

One part Solo that pretty much no one worried about was the slam-dunk casting of Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian. And boy does he not disappoint.

Billy Dee Williams’ performance as Lando is in my opinion one of the secret strengths of Episodes V and VI. He made Lando a charming, wheeling and dealing delight. Donald Glover absolutely continues this tradition, stealing basically every scene he’s in. One of my favorite bits of the entire movie was when Captain Calrissian uses a quiet moment on the Falcon to kick back and continue recording what is certain to be a highly embellished yet highly entertaining account of his personal adventures. Han and Lando’s friendship/rivalry is one of the best things about Star Wars, and Glover and Ehrenreich give us excellent portrayals of their first few meetings.

My favorite line? “I don’t like it, I don’t agree with it, but I do accept it.” Poor Lando was bad at deal negotiation even before Empire.

Finishing the movie with the climactic sabaac rematch (winner take the Falcon) was also a perfect way to send the audience out with a grin.

I Might Be the Only Person Who Knows What You Really Are

One excellent surprise was just how great of a character Qi’ra was. Going into the movie, I kind of figured she’d be a bland, proto-Leia only their to serve as a doomed prequel love interest. Not only is she much more than that, she’s the most interesting character in the whole movie and sets up many intriguing story telling possibilities in the future.

Qi’Ra’s story was actually incredibly tragic to me. Here we have a woman who’s likely been through more than the other characters, and that’s really saying a lot since we’re talking about pirates, smugglers, and gangsters. We don’t get to know much about what happened to her between the failed escape from Corellia and her meeting with Han three years later, but the horrible things she had to do are referenced several times. It’s clear right from the get-go that Qi’Ra isn’t the same lovestruck girl that Han was separated from three years ago. As much as Han thinks they can pick up right where they left off, something has permanently changed.

Qi’Ra breaks my heart because she’s someone who’s lost herself and her dreams. In Lando’s luxurious cape closet, we’re SO CLOSE to seeing the Qi’Ra we were introduced to at the beginning of the movie. We as the viewers can tell that there’s a part of her that would still love to leave with Han and fulfill their romantic dreams. She tries to warn him, tells him that she’s done things and that Han doesn’t know her anymore.

To Solo’s credit, they stick to this gun. Just when it seems that Qi’Ra has followed her predictable path to redemption by killing Dryden Vos and choosing Han, we see that she wasn’t lying about who she was. Whatever those three years of being branded by the Crimson Dawn forced her to do, she’s been permanently changed. Her last betrayal of Han stings the most, because we see her tears. We know she’s conflicted as she finally closes the door on her girlhood fantasy, but we also know that she is not one of the good guys. This was powerful stuff.

Emilia Clarke is fantastic in the role. I haven’t seen her in much, I just knew she was that dragon princess from Game of Thrones. She brings charm, toughness, and humor to the role, but her portrayal of a woman who has been broken and transformed was what impressed me the most.

Qi’Ra’s betrayal and impending meeting with her true master also lead the franchise into some VERY exciting story possibilities, but oh yeah that reminds me…

DARTH FREAKING MAUL IS IN THIS MOVIE

No that wasn’t a typo, and no I haven’t been sniffing hand sanitizer again (at least not too much). In what has to be the most surprising cameo I’ve ever seen, it turns out the Artist Formerly Known as Darth Maul is now the leader of the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate. It appears Qi’Ra was actually answering to him the whole time. He’s very pleased with her work, and orders her to come see him in Dathomir.

If you’re caught up on Star Wars cartoons and comics, this is a logical but still shocking turn of events. If you are just a casual fan, I’d imagine you’re pretty confused. Check out this article for a quick explanation on how the former Sith apprentice is still alive and kicking.

Obviously where know where the Maul story line begins and ends, but this sets up some awesome potential movies.

But Don’t Forget the Others

I don’t want this review to turn into a novel, but the rest of the cast is also excellent in their roles. Woody Harrelson’s Tobias Beckett was a perfect mentor, and ultimately adversary to Han. Paul Bettany was actually kind of terrifying as Crimson Dawn underboss Dryden Vos. His completely insincere sympathy one moment, and brutality the next, were very intimidating. Lando’s droid (pardon, the droid who works with Lando) had some of the funniest lines in the whole movie, and her droid’s rights perspective is honestly a long time coming for Star Wars. Joonas Suotamo again proves that he’s a worthy successor to Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca.

The Scruffy-Looking Nerf Herder Parts

Now obviously no movie is perfect, and Solo has some elements that people are going to take issue with. The most obvious one is that Han was given the name “Solo” from an Imperial Recruitment agent, because he didn’t have a last name. Get it? Because he was solo? Yeah it’s kind of goofy. However I think there’s also some tragedy that Han didn’t even have a family name. Adds a little bit to his rough childhood, and bolsters his story of being a self-made man who came from nothing.

Solo could also be accused of pandering too much to the fans. A good friend of mine was frustrated that we had to see every moment (Getting his gun! Kessel run! Meeting people!) and I think there’s some validity to that.

My biggest gripe was L3. She was built up to be a completely different kind of droid, one who thinks for herself and believes in droid’s rights. And she was! But instead of really engage with any of these ideas or set anything up for the future, they kind of just unceremoniously kill her. I’m hoping the droid autonomy is something that gets addressed in the future.

Did We Really Need a Han Solo Movie?

This was my biggest question ever since the movie was announced. It just never seemed terribly necessary. My conclusion? It might not be, but that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t still an awesome story to tell. Solo expands the Star Wars universe in new and exciting ways. We get to see Imperial Army troopers fighting in desperate, terrible conditions. Crime syndicates take center stage. There’s new, fresh, and exciting characters everywhere. Best of all, we get new and exciting opportunities for more future stories.

Although we already knew that Han was a good guy, this movie re-enforces it. Even though he’s in no rush to embrace a rebellion or join a cause, he’s a man who just can’t resist helping those who are in need. We also see that he was motivated by devotion to his friend, Qi’Ra, for the three years they were apart. This informs what we know about him in the OT. Han does not abandon people. The one time he tried, he had to come back.

So in the end, I guess we did need a Han Solo movie. The most shocking thing of all? I wouldn’t mind seeing Han, Chewie, Lando, Qi’Ra and Maul again. What started out in my brain as an ill-advised cash grab has become something with fantastic potential. I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I hope this doesn’t stay as a standalone movie.

Other Favorite Parts

Chewie and Han’s first meeting

Han shot first!

L3 freeing all the prisoner’s and droids on the mining colony

Multiple levels of betrayal and deception in the climax

Millennium Falcon body-checking a TIE fighter

Casual mention that Beckett killed Aura Sing

Han basically funding an early rebel sect

Imperial March used in Empire propaganda videos

Tears Shed?

Zero this time, but I came close multiple times. Second and third viewings usually get me.

Final Score

9 out of 10 canisters of coaxium.

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