Review of Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) by Cole W — 16 Jun 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story Review.

I adored and loved Solo: A Star Wars story. Way better than Last Jedi and is more of a course correction to get back to the B-movie series charm of the original trilogy. Which director Ron Howard does, brilliantly, with a exciting and terrifically entertaining script by Lawrence Kasdan and Jonathan Kasdan.

Most importantly, the movie is pure Star Wars. Its sense of adventure, romance, danger, villainy, and heroism combine in some expected ways (ie: characters) with some unexpected story movements that are rich with motivation and stay true to the characters of Solo. To say too much here would spoil the movie, and I'd rather you, the reader, enjoy it moment-by-moment.

The score by John Powell is as impeccable as Michael Giacciano's from Rogue One, and Han Solo's theme and the Star Wars theme are composed and even expanded in expected and unexpected ways itself from the movie maestro himself, John Williams.

Alden Ehrenreich is a charismatic blast of charm as Han Solo, who does bring to mind Ford's iconic performance, complete with the arrogant wit/sarcasm; but brings an element of emotion and mystery not seen from Han Solo, before. Which makes sense, because Solo is about Han's formative years, and how exactly he got his name... ;).

The rest of the cast, with Emilia Clarke as Han's love Oi'ra, Paul Bethany as the gentemanly but sharply venomous villain Dryden Vos, the awesome Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian (who does the part amazing justice) and Woody Harrelson as the mentor Beckett (one of his best performances).

As a whole, Solo is a stronger and more exciting/engaging film than the Last Jedi, and I hope and truly want Ron Howard to direct Episode IX or find a way to co-direct with J.J. Abrams.

Viva La Star Wars! (or at least until the Star Wars fatigue sets in).

Until then, count me in on another Kessel Run in 20 (no, 12) parsecs!