Fellman's Movie Reviews

Solo: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film in the Star Wars franchise that takes place in between Episode 3 and Episode 4. It is the origin story of Han Solo growing up on Corellia as an orphan and then escaping the planet by joining the Empire to become a pilot. The movie also shows how he meets Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian, as well as how he eventually wins the Millenium Falcon off of Lando in their contested Sabaac game. 

Technically, Solo is considered a box office bomb as far as numbers go. But that’s only because it’s one of the most expensive Hollywood films ever made. Costing almost $300 million, and making back only about $400 million, that’s technically a loss for a movie studio, despite a gain in profits. After expenses like marketing and other things, Solo eventually ended up costing the studio close to $100 million. 

As far as I know, however, most people like Solo. Everybody I know that has seen it thought it was a good movie. And all of the reviews that are online are positive. Rotten Tomatoes has it at a 69% rating. That’s a pretty good score as far as ratings go. And most people think that Alden Ehrenreich plays a good Han Solo. I personally think he was the perfect casting for the part. He has a swagger about him that makes you think “that’s probably how Han acted when he was younger”.  

I read a review that said the movie felt like it was “too safe” and that it “played out like it should”. I don’t know what that’s really supposed to mean. I think with the storyline involving Tobias Beckett and Crimson Dawn, the movie did exactly what it was supposed to. It told Han’s origin story. It wasn’t supposed to be surprising and full of plot twists. You should already know what’s going to happen. I mean, not all of it, of course. But there are parts of the movie that you can assume, because obviously, the rest of the Star Wars universe wouldn’t exist if they didn’t happen. 

And I think that some of the bad press that Solo got was just because of the bar that got set so high, that not even a movie revolving around Han Solo could reach it. Because, I know, while I’m watching it, I’m entertained the entire time. The dialogue is great. The action scenes are fun and exciting. Han, of course, has a lot of witty lines, simply because he’s Han Solo. And that’s what he does. 

So, yeah. Go and see Solo: A Star Wars Story. It might not be the most financially successful Star Wars movie. But you most definitely won’t be disappointed. And if you like flying and lasers, you’re gonna love this movie. And as always, may the force be with you…