Skip to main content

Review: Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)


Well, this is not "normal" for me: reviewing a second movie that's recently been in the theaters.

Of course, this could be related to what Jay was discussing in his article about Studios closing the "Theatre-to-Digital Gap".  I suggest reading that article by the way.  I rate it in "The Good".

But I'm here to review to "Solo: A Star Wars Story".

The story of a young man who wants to escape his scoundrel existence, and to fly among the stars.  The story of a man and his Wookie... and how they turn a new ship into an almost wreck...

I have to confess, that I was intrigued by the idea of a Han Solo "origin" movie... but it wasn't something I was prepared to obsess over.  At least not in the manner in which I would obsesses about the possibility of a Dr McCoy "origin" movie- which would be fucking cool, right?

Right.  *ahem*

Story-wise, it was actually quite decent, and fairly solid- but it took a little while for me to get engaged by it... about the time that Han decides to weasel himself into a heist group.

The characters felt almost like they did under the original actors, but not quite.  The closest in spirit for me was Chewie, followed by Lando.  And like the story, it took me a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief to buy into the portrayal of Han.  This isn't to say the characters weren't likeable, developed, etc- because they were.  They just felt a touch... off.  Kinda like sipping that glass of milk, and noticing that it's one day past the expiration date.

In my opinion, the acting was great.  I have absolutely no complaints about that.  They brought real energy, life, and adventure to the screen- which is a great thing in any movie, let alone part of an iconic franchise where fans'll rip you a new hole inside of the new asshole they'll rip in you for not getting Han's hair style correct... or making the mistake of thinking that Lando wouldn't entertain the thought of having a gold sequined cape.

The look and feel of the movie was fantastic, with great art design, costumes, and camera work creating a rich, textured, and realistic environment to tell their story.  Great work.

While it's not what I would consider a great Star Wars spin-off ("Rogue One" was- in my opinion, a far superior piece of Star Wars storytelling), it was entertaining, and certainly doesn't deserve the hate that it's gotten.  Would I be inclined to watch it more than once?  Probably not- which is why I have to put in "The Bad".
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou
Post a Comment
Read more

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo
Post a Comment
Read more

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e
Post a Comment
Read more