Solo: A Star Wars Story Initial Review/ Impression (Partial spoilers for half!)

Solo: A Star Wars Story Initial Review/ Impression (Partial spoilers for half!)
(Starting out I will give some non-spoiler thoughts about Solo until I decide to go into some spoilers that I need to put in to fully review the movie in detail. If you have not seen Solo you should read the first section and then come back after you've seen the movie.) You have been warned.

"Part of the crew. Part of the ship."
Right away, I will say that I super enjoyed this movie, not as much as The Last Jedi (which I was so excited about for a while after seeing it that I said it was my third favorite Star Wars movie.) The overall pacing and tone of Solo is on point with lots of fun throughout, although the very beginning was not supremely excellent, I was delighted by all of the action and adventure of the movie. Being a Han Solo movie it is character driven to the max. Han is by far the best character which makes the movie. Since he is the only character that carries through to almost every scene you are always entertained. Alden did a terrific job in his performance that is most worthy of the character and the Star Wars name. Han was one of the best parts of the movie for me, there are other things to get on with. Lando played by Donald Glover was great for Solo while he was in it, which is a fair portion of the film. His attachment to L3 and embodiment of the role along with the humor that Lando brings is excellent. When they play Sabbac as we have seen in the marketing, it is so cool and a game of personalities. Chewbacca's introduction was wonderful, the film didn't have very much time to spare to go into the details of the life debt to Han, which somewhat disappointed me. The scene to introduce Chewbacca in the film is absolutely great, I will say. The villain, Dryden may have been used sparingly, but was one of the best and only non-imperial non-force  villains in Star Wars and Paul Bettany pulled it off marvelous. I could only compare him to Krennic, who is one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite Star Wars movies. Qi'ra was one of the main charcters in Solo and not bad at all, the on-screen chemistry with Han worked well and she was a very good and well portrayed character in her own right.
Very neat features of the Millennium Falcon were present that have never been explored in any other movie, partly because Lando didn't own it then and we didn't get to travel around the ship as much as in Solo. The visual effects in the movie were almost all the way perfect and Solo had wonderful imagery, the effects blended in to make the movie seem real. I very much liked the music and score of the movie, by John Powell and while subtle it has a neat Star Wars spin. The Star Wars lore is very much explored with great easter eggs and some very meaningful mentions and inclusions. That said, I don't think that was at all "shrinking the universe", moreover the non over-reliance on the force or even the underground of Star Wars too much widens the universe. Solo helps with understanding of Han's character and his later relationships with Lando and Chewbacca. 10/10 Right now, Solo is my sixth favorite Star Wars movie, just after Last Jedi (but that ranking changes all of the time and definitely will for better or worse after I watch the movie more.)
If you haven't seen Solo yet, stay connected. Because, I am now going into spoilers.
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SPOILERS
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Ok, I think I'm safe.
Please don't read further if you do not want to be spoiled. I won't mention some of the biggest spoilers, but many I will.
Solo starts of with a few paragraphs, but not really a crawl explaining the happenings of the galaxy and Han. I think that is a cool twist and something Rogue One was lacking of. The entire beginning scene with Lady Proxima is shot with a very dark tint on it that makes it seem almost purple in the movie theater. I wasn't a fan of it vision-wise, but I understand it thematically and I liked the transition going out of it. Shortly afterwards, Han joins the empire and it's revealed... he has no last name! I did not want this at all going in, but I'm glad he at least had his first name and the scene was fine. My biggest problem with this now is that the movie is named after his new name, Solo. Which is now from the empire, it is also somewhat thematic. Very quickly, here are some other "nitpicks", things I didn't like about Solo: not showing or saying the names of some planets on film, the removal of the academy/ Tag and Bink scene, and some plot contradiction.
One small thing I really liked was the mention of Aurra Sing and her death, this character means a lot, in The Clone Wars and was in The Phantom Menace for less than 15 seconds. The fact they dedicated at least 30 seconds of dialogue in Solo to her death was cool and something that should be further explored in another medium or media.
I suppose that I should return the quote of "Part of the Crew. Part of the ship.", from Pirates of the Caribbean (One of my favorite film series, read my past blogs.) I say this as a reference now to L3-37 and as to how Solo's tone, feel and general direction feels a lot like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (at least the good ones, what that may be for you.) My favorite scene in Solo, out of a lot of great scenes is the Pyke Syndicate/ Kessel Run extended scene, because of L3, Han, Lando, Chewie, and Qi'ra, and kind of Beckett. This is some of the best action in the entire movie as well as some of the best emotion all happening at once and every piece of information and messages goes along fine. L3 of course almost dies and is put into the Millennium Falcon to communicate with it's computer through the navigational system and it is a sacrifice that helps Han make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs, if you round down. When L3 is uploaded Lando even says that she's part of the ship now. So that's my take on that, but not the last you've heard from me about Solo. I had a lot of fun with the film. It really feels like an entire movie of all of Han's amazing moments from the Empire Strikes Back.
Stay connected.

The Characters of Solo

Characters of Solo

Note: This is being written before the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story and before I have seen it. No spoilers.
So, before everyone else along with myself sees the film I would like to familiarize or re-familiarize with the characters in Solo. Since this is the first anthology film based solely on one character (although it is very much a ensemble) I would expect it to be character driven. Some characters we have seen, others we haven't, I am excited for all of them really, making excitement for Solo.

Han Solo
The main character of the movie. Rebellious scoundrel smuggler. Han Solo is one of the most iconic and notorious characters in the Star Wars franchise, only fitting that he would have a movie-worthy background, although some wouldn't wish it to be told. Han was born on Corellia, joins the Empire, and meets Chewie and more along the way. The movie takes place about 10 years before A New Hope, and Han is played by a different younger actor, Alden Ehrenreich for his origin story.

Lando Calrissian
Han's human counterpart, previous owner of the Millennium Falcon, gambler, and future operator of Cloud City on Bespin. Lando practically deserves his own post, right? He is also going to appear in the movie, less as a betraying businessman as in Empire Strikes Back, but rather more care-free, not to say that there won't be any betrayal or tensions. Lando has already appeared around this stage and otherwise in Last Shot, From a Certain Point of View, the Marvel Lando comic, and Star Wars Rebels (appearances all great and recommendable) in addition to the movies, Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. He's played by Donald Glover in Solo.

Chewbacca & Co
Chewbacca in this movie will likely be found on Mimban, Kashyyyk, Kessel or some other planet in this movie. His appearance might be different from the past because his wife and son, Mala and Lumpy might appear as well. And Chewie was in slavery to the Empire. I think it will definitely be notable to see how he and Han will interact without already knowing each in Solo. As well as how if they handle Chewbacca's appearance in Episode III alongside Yoda. Chewie is played by Joonas Suotamo.

Qi'ra
I would speculate that Qi'ra would be the love-interest for Han in this movie and possibly a betrayer. Seeing that she isn't in any of the other movies, I find it unlikely that there won't be some kind of trauma. With not much known about her other than being from Corellia with Han, not much more can be said.
Qi'ra is played by Emilia Clarke.

Val
This character appears from the marketing to be in the Empire with Han and Beckett, and then leave an help with the heist. That is about all we know about her and I expect her to be a more minor character.
Val is played by Thandie Newton.

L3-37
L3-37 is a new droid character for this movie but has now appeared in the book, Last Shot. I mentioned her as, "I did very much enjoy the presence of L3-37 or L3 for short in the Lando sub-plot. She was funny, had an interesting personality, and connected to the plot very well. The droid is set to appear in Solo: A Star Wars Story and I am excited to see her in the movie more now." She is a droid, programmed as a female and is very "free the droids"-like.
L3 is played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge .

Beckett
This character is in the Empire with Han, although it is unknown if he legitimately joined or was recruiting. He will probably be a sort of mentor over Han and help out with the "hovertrain" heist that we have seen in the trailers. I will just say that his future is not as secure as some other characters.
Woody Harrelson plays Beckett in Solo.

Rio
Played by the same Jon Favreau of Iron Man, Jungle Book, Chef, Elf, Zathura, Cowboys vs Aliens, and the upcoming live-action star wars show fame. This guy is basically a mo-cap "monkey" guy. We don't know that many details but he seems awesome and I hope he makes it out OK.
Obviously, Rio's played by Jon Favreau.

Dryden Vos
Who we could assume would be a villian of the film along with the Cloud Rider gang, this guy is played by the same actor behind the Vision in the Avengers movies. What we really know is that he is putting together the crew for the heist and that he has some sort of vibroblade or lightsaber concoction. And no relation to the Jedi, Quinlan Vos.
He's acted by Paul Bettany.

Millennium Falcon
If you have read the book Millennium Falcon by James Luceno then you know that the ship is more than that, it is really a character. Same goes for watching any of the movies, you will notice that it is different between episode iv and Solo which shows how different Han and Lando's personalities are under the same ship.

Possible Characters

Jabba the Hutt
Since we know about Han's later debt and service to the Hutt it is very possible that we will see Jabba in Solo.

Boba Fett
As a coworker of sorts alongside Han Solo, Boba Fett's origin with Han could definitely appear in the movie.

Tarkin
It had been rumored that Grand Moff Tarkin will appear in Solo, but I find it unlikely because of how it isn't cost effective to do the cg and he has already been used in Rogue One, not really having a place in Solo.

Lobot
Lando's future cybernetic assistant, could we see the origin of his imperial implants in this movie? Whatever the case if Lobot makes an appearance or is mentioned that would be epic, because he really is a great character.

Thrawn
While I don't think Tarkin could appear because a run-in with Han Solo would just be too important not to mention later, but it really would be just an average day for Thrawn. His first live-action appearance needs to be noteworthy and I think that Solo cameo or minor role could be fitting and great.

Galen Erso, Krennic, Saw, Jyn
The characters of Rogue One appearing would be a neat surprise and a good way to interconnect the Star Wars Story films. The timeline is right, they wouldn't be in hiding by Solo. For Galen and Krennic there would have to be much more imperial entanglement. But, if say the people that Han Solo is fighting in the Empire happen to be Saw Guerra and his group of partisans along with Jyn that could be awesome, although I somewhat doubt it.

Thank you for reading, I hope you have more fun and understanding with Solo now and that I didn't accidentally spoil anything through speculation, (this is me basically wishing my own theories to be wrong, ironic) and please stay connected.

Star Wars: Last Shot Book Review- No Spoilers

Star Wars: Last Shot, by Daniel Jose Older is the most recent novel from Del Rey and Lucasfilm and I would like to thank them for a copy to review. The plot of the book, is that three years after Return of the Jedi, a criminal named Fyzen Gor comes back from Han Solo and Lando Calrissian's past. His plan is to use a destructive weapon on the galaxy. Han, Lando and an assembled crew must go on a hunt around the galaxy to stop him. The story primarily takes place there, but every few chapters is one about Han, ten years before or Lando, twelve years prior, both of them dealing with Fyzen Gor. There is about four chapters that take place roughly twenty years before-hand and are about Fyzen Gor's past on Utapau, him being of the Pau'an species, these chapters are especially good.

Two Noteworthy Pau'ans

 Daniel Jose Older has in the past written for Star Wars in From a Certain Point of View, with a story about a stormtrooper and a Dewback, he gets in a couple references from that story. This novel is called Last Shot and even after reading, I am not really sure what the title refers to, maybe it is connected to Han saying, "I've been waiting a long time for a shot like this." in the Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer. The cover of the book is actually very interesting because it is reversible between a cover with Han or Lando. The art on the the cover is also very good. I appreciate the interconnectivity to all three trilogies, comics, other books, and even The Clone Wars in Last Shot. That brings me to the characters, Sana Starros from the Star Wars comic series appeared during Han's chapters, ten years earlier, I really like how Older was able to connect the books and the comics that way. The story is really on Han and Lando, both of them are written very well. I could tell instantly that the author had an understanding of these characters and I really felt their voice come out. Both of them fit very well within the story and back into the dangerous smuggler-like life. Ben Solo as a baby and Leia also appear and we get to see much of what Han's family was like, and how he struggled with it. Due to the time period, the New Republic is present and so is much new information about the government as it starts, as well as what Leia and Han did and how they felt.
The heroes encounter a Gungan named Aro, who speaks normally and changes what we think all Gungans to be from Jar Jar Binks. Although he is only around for a few chapters, Aro is a cool and funny character. Some of the other new characters developed for this book don't work as well and are not very developed. For example, there is a pilot named Taka who has a plot point very similar to Ezra from Star Wars Rebels.
                                     

I did very much enjoy the presence of L3-37 or L3 for short in the Lando sub-plot. She was funny, had an interesting personality, and connected to the plot very well. The droid is set to appear in Solo: A Star Wars Story and I am excited to see her in the movie more now. We learn several neat things that it is known will play into the movie and several other which might. So overall, the book makes me feel even more hyped for the movie.
Star Wars: Last Shot has short very readable chapters, sharp-witted humor, at-times an interesting dialogue on Star Wars, and great writing along a galaxy-spanning adventure. On a scale from one to ten, I would rate Star Wars: Last shot a 9.5/10. Thank you for reading and stay connected.