SOLO, A STAR WARS STORY
US, 2018, 135 minutes, Colour.
Alden Ehrenreich, Amelia Clark, Woody Harrelson, Paul Bethany, Joonas Suotamo, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller- Bridge, voices of: Jon Favreau, Linda Hunt.
Directed by Ron Howard.
A solo Solo story. So low in early box office returns, a major financial disappointment. Moving away from the wordplay, expectations of any Star Wars film, in the series or spin-off, are very high. But audiences didn’t flock to Solo as hoped for. Some suggested that it was released too soon after the previous episode in the series. Some suggested, and this has a point, that the lack of a strong adventurous female presence meant that it lacked an overall appeal.
But, the focus has to be on Han. And, for those who wondered about his name, Solo, and for those who didn’t, there is a scene where he is leaving his dark planet to enlist in the Empire’s air force and is questioned about his name. He has only the name, Han. And, he is alone – and so the official designates him Han Solo.
Alden Ehrenreich shows some courage in taking on the role. We all know that he has to grow into Harrison Ford, not an easy task for anyone. However, he gives it his best, young, rather cheeky, adventurous, eager for risks.
As regards the plot, long ago in the faraway galaxy, a lot of things are comparatively modern. While young Han is involved in some shady activities and is really attracted to Qi’ra (Emilia Clark), he is quickly involved in a car chase that looks like any other thriller chase only a bit more spectacular and crash-worthy. He is separated from Qi’ra, does his training in the air force, joins in battles – after all this is Star Wars.
However, he is caught up in some confusion and comes to the attention of Tobias Beckett, a space adventure and smuggler, along with his associate, Val (Woody Harrelson always welcome, Thandie Newton unfortunately killed off rather quickly). He joins them in an enterprise which provides the most spectacular part of the film, a raid on the super train, travelling through snowy and icy mountains, often on the edge of the cliffs, turning from horizontal to vertical towards its destination. The group is to steal some chemicals and, with great risks and special effects, they do so but not as intended.
They have been commissioned by Dryden Vos (a sinister Paul Bettany) and who should be in his entourage but Qi’ra. The adventurers offer to do another robbery and Qi’ra is sent to share the adventures with them. Plenty of expected Star Wars stuff here. But, there is something of a difference because Han, at one stage, is thrown down into a muddy pit and forced to fight a seeming monster – who, when washed, turns out to be none other than Chewbacca. A welcome return.
There are some twists in the plot, some goodies are really baddies and some expected baddies who turn out to be goodies – one of them are female warrior but coming in fairly late to the film.
There have to be some betrayals, there have to be some confrontations, the villain has to be thwarted – and, somehow or other those in control of the Empire have to have their say.
Partly a happy ending but, of course, an ending that the film is about Han will not be Solo but we might expect a Duo companion piece.
1. Audience desire for more Star Wars stories? The early history of the galaxies? The story of Han Solo?
2. Long time ago, the galaxies, the range of planets, the central planet and its industry, dark, harsh, life, families and not? The Empire and its influence? Stealing, car chases? Recruitment for the Empire air force? The score, the eventual theme been played when Han and Chewbacca sat in the pilot seats?
3. The background of the administration of the planet, the mixture of strange creatures, Imperial guards, humans? Lady Proxima emerging from the water? Han and his threats, submerging?
4. Han, his age, the, the other thieves, dealings, relationship with Qi’ra, love for her? The elaborate car chase, even to the car on its side? The plan, the airport, infiltrating? The bribe, their being reported, court, harm about to go, his receiving his name, Solo, Qi’ra staying? The effect of the separation on each?
5. Han, the three years of training, in the wars, the battles, his not being good at obedience? The encounter with Tobias and Val, their disguises and uniforms? Being caught? Tobias and the rebuff? At home, thrown into the mud, the prison, the Wookie present, the fight, the mud, the pillar and moving it, getting out? The shower? The emergence of Chewbacca? The bond between the two? Audiences liking this because of the future?
6. The plan, the flight, the creature piloting, being wounded and dying? The robbery, the train through the icy mountains, the spectacle, the train carriages moving on their side driving around the cliffs? The planes, the attack? Trying to get the carriage? The fighters, dropping the carriage? Val dying? The failure?
7. The audience with Dryden, his tower and its height, at the edge of the sea? Qi’ra present? Her being enslaved by Dryden? The society, the touch of decadence, the singer, Tobias warning Han to keep his eyes down? The encounter with Qi’ra, the kiss, the memories? At a distance?
8. Dryden, their fear, his cruelty? The failure, his being indebted to the Empire? Vengeance? Han, his brainwaves, the plan, the preparation for the raid, Tobias, Qi’ra going as well?
9. Lando, his headquarters, playing cards, the range of friends and creatures, Han playing with him, the bet for the plane, losing? The deals, the percentages?
10. The flight, Lando and his pride in his plane, L3–37, the voice, the skills, the machine, not relating well in terms of love! The flight, going through the maelstrom, going to the destination and the planet, the plan to steal, the operation, getting the chemicals, the guards? The fight, L3-37 breaking, Lando wounded, Chewbacca and the rescue? Driving, getting the energy, using the fluid, Tobias and the experiment? Getting the map from L3, the warp travel, landing, confrontation with the warriors, discovering the young heroine and her revealing herself, the oppressed people, the cruelty with cutting out their tongues?
11. The return to Dryden, the pretence, one canister made to look like the real thing? Dryden revealing the betrayal, not Qi’ra, Tobias? His escaping with Chewbacca? Qi’ra releasing Han, his going to catch them, the confrontation, Tobias killed?
12. The images of Han, Chewbacca, the people and the warrior leader?
13. Qi’ra, the farewell to Han, her staying, her enslavement, the death of Dryden, his wing, putting in the machine, contact with the empire? Her watching people go away? Her sinister stands, her future? Sequels?
