Mad props to Disney for giving me opportunity to see Solo: A Star Wars Story at the World Premiere
SOLO: a Star Wars Story hits theaters on May 25th. Buy your tickets now because this is a movie you will not want to miss.
I’m a skeptic when it comes to many things in life. Movies are one of those things.
I’m easily entertained, but once I come away from a movie, it has to make an impression or it disappears into the abyss that is my deep, dark mind and I forget it ever existed. I went into Rogue One not believing I would really like it and it wound up being one of my top 3 favorite Star Wars films.
I’m not going to lie and say I was excited that Alden Ehrenreich was cast as the young Han Solo, I wasn’t. It’s hard to find someone who can top Harrison Ford, can we at least agree on that?
Things I was hoping “Solo: A Star Wars Story” would resolve:
*The number one thing I hoped “Solo” would touch on was why Han cannot tell Leia he loves her. I believed it was something deeper than his rough exterior, something that had happened to him when he was younger. (YES)
*How do Han and Chewbacca meet? (YES)
*Where does Han get his cocksure personality? (NEUTRAL)
*What do “the dice” mean to Han? (KINDA)
*How does Han get the Millennium Falcon from Lando (Okay, so if you’re a true Star Wars fan, you already know *how* he won the Falcon, but YES)
What’s up with the love story?
Listen, I wasn’t looking forward to having to answer this question because several people expressed their displeasure with there potentially being a love story between Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) and Han. The truth is, you cannot learn how Han becomes Han without there being some sort of love interest. Without the trials of relationship, how can one change?
Yes, there’s a love story at the heart of this film, but it’s necessary to move the character of Han Solo along. I do not feel it was indulgent in any way. The relationship between Qi’ra and Han evolves with the story and stays true to the characters.
Is it appropriate for Children?
It’s long. “Solo” is two hours and thirty minutes long which means that if you have a child with a bladder the size of a walnut, you’ll want to dehydrate them before you go see the movie, or put them in a diaper. Yes, even if they’re 7.
A more responsible parental move might be to go see the movie sans kids the first time you see it, then take your children to see it so you don’t miss anything.
“Solo” doesn’t have many dead spots. The movie rolls along at a pretty quick pace the whole time running from job to job, punchline to punchline. Also: Chewbacca.
This keeps the film interesting, even for younger children.
Even though the film follows the development (or dissection?) of Qi’ra and Han’s relationship, there are no overt sexual scenes. There is a kiss or two that doesn’t last very long, and everyone in the film is, in my opinion, appropriately dressed.
No hussies in Star Wars!
There are guns in “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, so if that bothers you, you may want to keep your kids from seeing the film. There aren’t any gory scenes, and guns are only used in a defensive gunfight situation.
But seriously, if guns bother you, you might want to just go live in a cabin in the middle of the woods. With bows and arrows.
In all seriousness, my younger children who are 7 & 8 will be going to see Solo with my 16 year old and me on May 25 when it hits theaters nationwide. We will probably go see it early so they aren’t too tired and haven’t had time to drink their bodyweight in water yet.
What did I *REALLY* think of “Solo: A Star Wars Story”?
Alden Eldenreich did a fantastic job of showing the evolution of the cocksure Han Solo we all know and love. He IS the right choice for young Han. The film is fast and funny and has all the makings of a biopic. You’ll walk away understanding why Han is the way he is, loving Lando Calrissian even more, and not sure whether you love or hate every other character in the movie.
I wasn’t thrilled with the first ten minutes, but the story takes on a life of its own and as you see Han become Han Solo, it picks up and blasts off into light speed to Great Storytown. Ron Howard turned “Solo” into pure gold. This film has landed itself firmly in my top 5 favorite Star Wars films and I can’t wait to share it with my family.
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