An appealing score by composer John Powell and John Williams’s theme music, hilarious chemistry between castmates, excessive thrills and touching story elements will leave audiences feeling elated when they watch “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
When I saw the trailers for “Solo,” I thought it was funny and energetic. I did not see it standing out from the previous films of the franchise. However, it was great. It showed what made character Han Solo so special.
Set before “Episode IV: A New Hope,” a young Han Solo, played by Alden Ehrenreich, is struggling to survive in a galaxy where criminal organizations are competing for resources such as food or hyperfuel.
With his lover Qi’ra, played by Emilia Clarke, mentor Tobias Beckett, played by Woody Harrelson, the original Millennium Falcon owner Lando Calrissian, played by Donald Glover, and a young Chewbacca, played by Joonas Suotamo among others, Solo has a chance to take a stand against the criminal underworld and demonstrate how he is the best pilot in the entire galaxy — all while dodging the blasters and enemy droids/aliens hitting him at every turn.
After seeing “Solo,” I appreciated both Ehrenreich and Glover’s performances, both of which live up to the original “Star Wars.” Ehrenreich really honored Harrison Ford’s former role as the smuggler by acting as an elusive outlaw while living a hero’s status at the same time. Ehrenreich’s work gives a feeling of adventure coming at every corner and his passion is clear. Glover’s performance as the younger Calrissian showed him to be a charismatic, overconfident individual. Glover acted like a tough competitor against Ehrenreich’s character while also displaying his efficiency in mechanical battle.
Donald Glover reprises Billy Dee Williams’ role as Lando Calrissian in “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
The film has moments of questioning one’s trustworthiness. For example, many people doubt if Han Solo’s younger self is the right man for a job. However, even when all odds were against him, he manages to complete the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs just like he said he did in “Star Wars: Episode IV'” back in 1977. Throughout the film, he gets his comrades out of impending danger.
The film has people questioning if they want to follow the light side of the force or join the Dark Side. Characters contemplate finding new family members in each other, and characters choose to die a hero’s death or become a victim of their own wrongdoings.
It was uneasy to differentiate between telling if the scoring was the work of John Powell or John Williams, who has been a part of the with the series for over four decades. Either way, the music sounded enthusiastic in moments of destructive combat and during missions on their way to accomplishment. Industrial Light and Magic have done their best with inputting visual effects for the film when it came to scenes filled with grotesque alien creatures and ships going into hyperspace. The effects were greatly influenced by visual effects supervisor Rob Bredow.
Emilia Clarke costars as Qi’ra, opposite Alden Ehrenreich as Han Solo.
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm
All in all, this film is something for everyone to see this summer — especially fans of the long-lasting film empire. If anyone wants to see Han Solo’s rise to prominence and be filled with excitement, go watch “Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
