Han Solo has been a fan favorite since first being introduced in the cantina in Star Wars: A New Hope. He is impulsive, brash, and obviously a scoundrel. Through all of his adventures shown in Star Wars though, he has been far from a solo artist. With Chewbacca and his beloved Millennium Falcon, Solo one day will smuggle contraband and another help defeat the Empire! Through the last four decades, there have been clues dropped to the origin of how Han Solo and Chewbacca came to be the captain and first mate of the Millennium Falcon. However, it has never been elaborated upon. Instead, it was left to the realm of speculation and myth. In Solo: A Star Wars Story, the questions and speculation get a definitive answer. Solo shares how Han Solo and Chewbacca end up being such a dynamic team. On top of that, this is also the story of how Han Solo became the owner of the Millennium Falcon.
Quality
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a beautifully shot film. First seeing it in the theaters, I enjoyed the various landscapes that were used throughout the adventure. Watching it again from the comfort of my home theater, I found this to be even truer. It is a film that is simply enjoyable to watch. The various planets and settings that are shown are beautiful. And then there is the Millennium Falcon. It’s amazing to see this beloved ship looking new and polished. Fun side fact, some of the original set was used to recreate the ship for this film. All that to say, Solo: A Star Wars Story is very enjoyable to watch visually. Thankfully, the same can be said about its audio profile. This is a movie that has a lot going on in the background audio. It was fun listening to the movie and hearing different sound effects and musical queues that I didn’t catch when I first saw this in theaters. I look forward to watching this again to catch more. All this to say, Solo: A Star Wars Story hits the quality markers that are expected in a Star Wars film.
Extras
There were several extras included with Solo: A Star Wars Story. I found myself curious to see how they would be due to the change of directors more than halfway through. However, within seconds of director Ron Howard introducing a roundtable including him and the actors, I found myself hooked. There is a lot of heart behind this movie. There also were some hurdles that clearly the cast appreciated Howard for helping them overcome. This, and other bonus features, really were a joy to watch. As so often happens with good extras, my biggest complaint is that I found myself wanting more! Here are the included bonus features:
- Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable – Sit down with director Ron Howard and the stars for an intimate and entertaining discussion of the film’s making.
- Team Chewie – See what it takes to bring your favorite Wookiee to life in this lighthearted look behind the scenes.
- Kasdan on Kasdan – Iconic Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and son Jonathan share what it was like to write the movie’s script together.
- Remaking the Millennium Falcon –Track the transformation of the most famous ship in the galaxy, from Lando’s swank and impeccable pride and joy to Han’s stripped-down hot-rod freighter with “special modifications.”
- Escape from Corellia – Get behind the wheel for the making of this high-octane chase through the streets of Corellia.
- The Train Heist – Explore the challenges and thrills of creating this action-packed sequence, including its remote location and spectacular effects.
- Becoming a Droid: L3-37 – Meet the newest droid—and the talented actor who helps bring her to life.
- Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards: Welcome to Fort Ypso – Take an in-depth tour of the rough-and-tumble bar where strangers mix and gamblers risk all in the legendary card game, Sabaac.
- Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run – Join Han and Chewie at the controls of the Millennium Falcon to see how this legendary moment in Star Wars history unfolds.
- Deleted Scenes
- Proxima’s Den
- Corellian Foot Chase
- Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
- The Battle of Mimban: Extended
- Han Versus Chewie: Extended
- Snowball Fight!
- Meet Dryden: Extended
- Coaxium Double-Cross
- The Millenium Falcon: From Page to Park – An exclusive look at the history of the most famous ship in the galaxy, its origin and development, and how it will translate in one of the most anticipated expansions in Disneyland’s history.
These extras are definitely worth spending the time to watch. If I had my choice, I’d love to see another one with John Powell talking about scoring the soundtrack for this film. I would also like to see an Easter Egg feature as I’m sure there are more than what I caught! There are other ideas for extras I have but really, just enjoy the ones that were offered. They are quite enjoyable. Definitely watch the roundtable. It was easily my favorite.
Final Thoughts
Solo: A Star Wars Story is a movie that I wrestle with on a conceptual basis. Han Solo is an almost legendary and mythic character. Sometimes those characters are best left with a bit of mystery. However, since the story IS going to be told, Ron Howard and team did a fantastic job with it! It is a movie that has moments of heart, humor, adventure, and even a surprise or two along the way. It also is a movie with a lot more than initially meets the eyes. I’m looking forward to re-watching this and catching some of the connections and hidden details in the film. This film also brings up questions about the bigger Star Wars story that I hope are answered in the future. If not, it will be fun to speculate and discuss the possibilities. Solo: A Star Wars Story is definitely one to get and put in the movie library. It is a movie that gets better with more viewings. I have no problem giving this movie a hat tip. Go out and get it. Then let me know what you think of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the extras included with it in the comments below!
Solo: A Star Wars Story Photo Gallery
