After being negative about recent Star Wars projects, I wanted to talk about this movie.
I have never seen it before now due to how uninterested I became in Star Wars after The Last Jedi. I now realize it was foolish to never give this film a chance.
While it sounds crazy to have someone other than Harrison Ford play Han, I think Alden Ehrenreich does a great job in the role. I can't stress how well he portrays what a younger, more naive Han would act like. A big part of why this movie works is his performance and how real he makes his love for Qi'ra feel. Emilia Clarke also does an awesome job in bringing Han's first-ever romance to life. Together these two create a charming, tense opening that puts the plot into motion.
This plot ends up being a crazy space western heist film about trying to get the girl. It's simple but works so well in this universe.
While Alden makes the movie work, what makes it great is the premise and the cool lineup of characters. Like most every film he's in, Woody Harrelson's iconic presence brings a lot to this story. Tobias is an endearing trickster and mentor; I really like how his story ends.
Chewie and Han's introduction to each other is also a fun highlight. It's cute to see how this famous duo became friends.
Another cast member I need to shout out is Donald Glover. Like Alden with Han, he pulls off Lando perfectly. So much of the charm present comes from him and his droid.
Not every character is too memorable though. Val and Enfys Nest are big examples of this. And Dryden Vos, while cleverly written, isn't the best Star Wars villain ever. I really like Maul's cameo, and while yes, it'd be weird if he knew Han, I kinda wish he was the main villain. It was clear a Maul/Qi'ra spinoff was being set up. I hope that story is realized one day.
While I mostly like the movies pacing, I must admit that at times the plot felt like it was forced along - it is a bit out there Han and Qi'ra would quickly run into each other again in the vast universe by chance. But for the most part, everything is very well done.
The movie has one of the most cinematic dogfights the Falcon has experienced. I loved the visual spectacle that was the gravity well and the monster within.
You really feel the aforementioned western inspiration with all the well-done trickster characters constantly turning on each other, especially in the final act. Because of this, the ending is great and shocking to follow the first time around.
In regards to Qi'ra, it also ends super sad, but it had to be written in such a way so that Han could fall for Leia in the future.
But all in all, this is one of my favorite outings from the Disney era of Star Wars. It's no Mandalorian, but this earns its placement in canon as the story of how Han became the experienced infamous smuggler we know from the original trilogy.
I have never seen it before now due to how uninterested I became in Star Wars after The Last Jedi. I now realize it was foolish to never give this film a chance.
While it sounds crazy to have someone other than Harrison Ford play Han, I think Alden Ehrenreich does a great job in the role. I can't stress how well he portrays what a younger, more naive Han would act like. A big part of why this movie works is his performance and how real he makes his love for Qi'ra feel. Emilia Clarke also does an awesome job in bringing Han's first-ever romance to life. Together these two create a charming, tense opening that puts the plot into motion.
This plot ends up being a crazy space western heist film about trying to get the girl. It's simple but works so well in this universe.
While Alden makes the movie work, what makes it great is the premise and the cool lineup of characters. Like most every film he's in, Woody Harrelson's iconic presence brings a lot to this story. Tobias is an endearing trickster and mentor; I really like how his story ends.
Chewie and Han's introduction to each other is also a fun highlight. It's cute to see how this famous duo became friends.
Another cast member I need to shout out is Donald Glover. Like Alden with Han, he pulls off Lando perfectly. So much of the charm present comes from him and his droid.
Not every character is too memorable though. Val and Enfys Nest are big examples of this. And Dryden Vos, while cleverly written, isn't the best Star Wars villain ever. I really like Maul's cameo, and while yes, it'd be weird if he knew Han, I kinda wish he was the main villain. It was clear a Maul/Qi'ra spinoff was being set up. I hope that story is realized one day.
While I mostly like the movies pacing, I must admit that at times the plot felt like it was forced along - it is a bit out there Han and Qi'ra would quickly run into each other again in the vast universe by chance. But for the most part, everything is very well done.
The movie has one of the most cinematic dogfights the Falcon has experienced. I loved the visual spectacle that was the gravity well and the monster within.
You really feel the aforementioned western inspiration with all the well-done trickster characters constantly turning on each other, especially in the final act. Because of this, the ending is great and shocking to follow the first time around.
In regards to Qi'ra, it also ends super sad, but it had to be written in such a way so that Han could fall for Leia in the future.
But all in all, this is one of my favorite outings from the Disney era of Star Wars. It's no Mandalorian, but this earns its placement in canon as the story of how Han became the experienced infamous smuggler we know from the original trilogy.