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Solo: A Star Wars Story hits all the expected Han Solo origin story beats, delivering a solidly entertaining experience with few surprises.
Solo : A Star Wars Storyis the second base of Lucasfilm ’s anthology movies , released as part of the invigorated enfranchisement since the studio was take by Disney in 2012 . The first standalone film , Rogue One : A Star Wars Story , broadly connected to the occasional Skywalker Saga , but introduced a whole tout ensemble of young character . ForSolo , Lucasfilm took a different route , instead depicting the origin story of one of Star Wars ' most dear characters : Han Solo . Though originate by Harrison Ford in 1977’sStar Wars : A New Hope , who played Han through to 2015’sThe Force Awakens , Lucasfilm hired a new player to portray a untried take on the iconic smuggler in their latest anthology motion picture . Solo : A Star Wars Storyhits all the await Han Solo origin news report beats , surrender a solidly entertaining experience with few surprise .
After outlive a childhood of operate scams on the streets of Corellia , Han Solo ( Alden Ehrenreich ) makes it off planet in search of the freedom of have his own ship and serving no masters . While he does make it out , his evasion has sealed issue for someone he loves . In an travail to make it right , Han does what he can to make the money to corrupt a ship and return to Corellia . Along the room , he meets a Wookie refer Chewbacca ( Joonas Suotamo ) and they join a crew of stealer led by Tobias Beckett ( Woody Harrelson ) . Along with Val ( Thandie Newton ) and Rio ( Jon Favreau ) , Tobias leads Han and Chewie on the heist of a freight train carrying worthful hyperfuel .
When the heist goes sideway , though , Tobias ' crew retrieve themselves with a debt to pay to Dryden Vos ( Paul Bettany ) , the leader of a crime syndicate call Crimson Dawn . While meeting with Vos , Han runs into someone from his childhood , his old friend Qi’ra ( Emilia Clarke ) . With her help , Han is able to negociate a room for him and Tobias to make things square with Vos , but they ’ll have to pull another job . so as to root for it off , they ’ll require a fast ship , and the crew turns to an old physical contact of Qi’ra ’s , none other than Lando Calrissian ( Donald Glover ) . With Lando and his co - pilot program , the droid L3 - 37 ( Phoebe Waller - Bridge ) , Han sets off on another heist . However , though Han Solo may be a skilled pilot , it stay to be see if he has what it takes to pilot the criminal underworld in which he finds himself .
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With a playscript write byStar Warsfranchise warhorse Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan Kasdan , Solo : A Star Wars Storydelivers every exclusive story beat fan of the iconic smuggler would expect in a prequel moving picture - almost thoroughly so . The first act ofSolohits each major aspect of Han ’s role as if working through a checklist , depicting everything from the line of descent of his name to how he met his furred conscientious objector - pilot . As a result , some of these moments feel like the Kasdans injected jambon - fisted account into the film simply for the sake of answering questions sports fan have pondered since Han ’s original introduction ( though it ’s debatable whether those interrogative sentence really needed to be answered ) . Still , though some of these detail are ungainly and slow down the first routine ofSolo , sure facial expression of Han ’s origin offer playfulness perceptiveness into his character , and his relationship with Chewbacca , that fan may revalue .
Further , Solodoes manage to get a slenderly different tone to theStar Warsadventure . Though the picture is firmly stock-still in the galaxy far , far away - and there are tidy sum of Easter egg that link it to other place - the nature of Han Solo ’s life takes viewers into a much peaked , and more grounded , side of the Star Wars franchise . With criminal offence pool pose a much larger solar day - to - day scourge than the Empire to Han and those he grow up with on Corellia , it ’s a much dissimilar side of the universe . As such , Solois one of the disconsolate entries in the franchise overall , but in a fashion that still match the lineament since it takes inspirations from westerns and heist films . These stirring are evident throughoutSoloand make indisputable the picture stand slimly aside from the rest of the franchise , even as it gibe neatly into theStar Warsbrand .
That classifiable tone is drawn out by manager Ron Howard , who was convey in midway through production after Lucasfilm parted ways with original directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller . The filmmaker brings a much more grounded feeling to the movie , which is serve by cinematographer Bradford Young , who paint the Han Solo origin movie in predominantly crude , muddy colors ; the major exception is the Millennium Falcon , but that auspicate Han ’s succeeding liaison in the astronomical fight against the Empire later in his life . Further , Howard evidence a skilled hand in bringing a grasp of emotion toSolo , evoking humor when the moment calls for it . But , much more often , Howard lend literal emotional and physical interest to the movie , a unmanageable feat for an beginning story in which three of the core characters are love to survive .
As for the cast ofSolo , it may take longtimeStar Warsfans some time to get used to seeing Ehrenreich in the role of Han , but he doubtless bring the proper charm and profundity to the character . Ehrenreich does n’t attempt to do an impression of Ford ’s Han , instead putting his own spin on the young version of the smuggler - but one that honors the original trilogy role . Harrelson also excels as Beckett , playing off Ehrenreich ’s Han well for a complex wise man - mentee moral force . Further , Glover is a standout as Lando Calrissian , and fans will be call for more of his fiber in additionalStar Warsanthology films . His droid , L3 , as voiced by Waller - Bridge , is certain to be another favored , though her character is often played for jape in way that may not baby-sit well with all viewers . All in all , the ensemble shape ofSolois potent - if not always used effectively - but it ’s truly Ehrenreich ’s show , and he gives a solid spark advance performance .
Ultimately , Solo : A Star Wars Storydelivers on what was promised : an entertaining enough origin floor for Han Solo that explains how he became the runner introduced inA New Hope . Beyond that , the movie study very few risk and offers very few surprises . ( Though , arguably , casting someone unexampled in a role as iconic as Han Solo and attempting to deliver a prequel film that pleases buff both Modern and former is risky enough . ) Certainly , Solowill be an exciting caper for fans of Han , Chewie and Lando , but offers petty reason to give care about the goings on of the flick beyond seeing these three come full Mexican valium to the original trilogy . As such , Solo : A Star Wars Storywill be entertaining viewing for longtime fans of the dealership , or those whose interest was piqued by the marketing , but may not be necessary regard for those with only a insouciant involvement inStar Wars .
Trailer
Solo : A Star Wars Storystarts playing in U.S. theaters Thursday evening May 24th . It runs 135 minute and is rated PG-13 for episode of sci - fi legal action and ferocity .
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Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suotamo in Solo: A Star Wars Story
Alden Ehrenreich and Joonas Suotamo in Solo: A Star Wars Story
Donald Glover in Solo: A Star Wars Story
