If you haven't seen Solo yet. Why?

I have a friend who is a Massive Massive fan of the old EU. He was upset with the "Legends" thing and he despised TLJ so he didn't want to see Solo. I paid for him to go with me to a showing and he enjoyed it immensely. Said what I said: It's a fun film. That's all. Just a fun film.

Yeah, there were things I didn't care for: I didn't care for L3, and I didnt' need to know how he got his name... his gun. The focus on the dice started to get annoying for me. But again, it's a fun film.

 

Not to derail too much, but man...I'm really thrilled that I never was an EU fan.
It seems solid fans of the old EU are having the most difficulty liking the new stuff.

For me, when EU started happening, I felt about it probably somewhere close to how some of the EU fans feel about the ST+. The only difference is that it was really easy to ignore the EU since it wasn't a film. It was just, to me, fan fiction on steroids. (I know...a bunch of folks just spilled their drink; sorry, but that's how it struck me.)

So when the ST came around, and it wasn't EU riddled, and the EU was converted to "Legends"...man, I was thrilled!

Cheers,
Jayson

 

I was in the same boat leading up to it.
I went simply because Star Wars in the theater is always a "go" for me just because it's such a spectacle.

And then I loved the film!
It immediately tied for first place in my book.
(ANH, anf TFA are my other number 1's.)

It's such a fun romp! I didn't need the film, but holy cow, it's so much of a blast, and as far as the craft of film....Ron Howard just nail the hell out of it!

I always thought of Howard as middle of the road vanilla, but he really showed his full capability here. I strongly suggest watching it.

It's just a blast of fun!

Cheers,
Jayson

 

Ron Howard also wanted, desperately, to direct a prequel film, I understand. He actually gave George Lucas some suggestions, on sequences he'd been shown, that did seem to improve the quality of them. So, I'm not surprised that Ron had fun making Solo. He's always been a fan!

 

Yeah, and he was really scared. He actually turned it down, but like Abrams, eventually took it.

I've a whole thread just on Solo, but I'd suggest watching it first because it's all spoilers.

Cheers,
Jayson

 

Thanks! Harisson Ford made Han Solo such a cool character, I really shouldn't blame Disney for making a Solo film. And I don't, really. Who knows, I might even check it out, eventually. As an aside pertaining to Han's favorite haunt, I came across Disney's cantina bar (via online) and it looks pretty bad ... I always thought it would be cool as a real location, but it's just touristy.

 

Don't go with Ford in mind.
That was a huge thing to me ahead of it. How in the hell can I ever see Han as anyone other than Ford??

But I caught myself because this idea is such a weird thought in the lens of theater and the arts.
There's been scores of Hamlets. We don't stop at one and say that because an actor is not available, no more Hamlets. lol

At some point, of course someone else has to play Star Wars characters already played by other actors. Otherwise it just rots and dies.

Alden did a pretty smart thing in playing the character, and capturing his essence, but not trying to be Ford. Smart. No one can be Ford.
The only guy ever close was Tom Selleck, and that was like the good boy Ford; a little less rogue and snide.

The Cantina...lol. Yeah. Well, health things prevent that from working right.
If you want that vibe for real, drop into a bar in Cambodia, or a back alley dive in South Korea. lol

Cheers,
Jayson

 

Cambodia ... here I come!!

 

Oh, and don't rent or buy the "UHD 4K" version of the film. Just go with Blu-Ray (not 4k Blu-Ray...just regular Blu-Ray).
I've read several scrubdowns on the "UHD 4K" copy and it just wasn't done well, so it comes out muddy and too dark to even see right as it was intended (it's a dark film by design to begin with). The Blue-Ray, however, came out more clear and bright (don't get me wrong here...again, this film is intentionally dark).

For example, video quality rating for the UHD 4K by ultra highdef digest:
Video Rating: 64/100

Meanwhile the same ultra highdef digest rated the Blu Ray as:
Video Rating: 84/100

That's a hell of a point difference and one that you wouldn't naturally expect intuitively. Usually we think, "more is better", but that's not always the case. And with Solo, it's really brought to the table as an issue that sometimes UHD formatting just epically fails.


* Sources
https://bluray.highdefdigest.com/60747/soloastarwarsstory.html
https://ultrahd.highdefdigest.com/60750/soloastarwarsstory4kultrahdbluray.html

Cheers,
Jayson

 

News I can use!! Thanks alot.

 

Well I started watching the first 10 minutes and stopped. The lead wasn't doing anything for me. It also doesn't help that I heard an interview that described Emlia Clarke's character as being able to 'eat Solo for breakfast'. Meaning she tougher than he is. The aging high school quarterback doesn't do anything for me. I am a Bond fan so I like my heroes to be a bit more noble. A bit of insouciance is fine. But not all the time. I might give it another go someday.

 

Probably should.

Ten minutes and a single line from a review aren't much to go by.

 

I'm not a Harrison Ford fan, so seeing SOLO with Han as Alden was a welcome change for me.

I personally prefer Alden's Solo to Ford's.

 

Interesting.
Don't come across folks who don't like Ford too often. I feel like I'm seeing a Tasmanian Tiger. lol

Cheers,
Jayson

 

Yep. I like to break the mold.....stir the pot..... personally I find Ford a Star Wars-hating curmudgeon. Have never seen him in a good mood for an interview.

 

Well...to be honest. He doesn't like interviews period, he doesn't like seeing his own films (neither does Adam Driver), and he does actually love his Star Wars troupe...just not the hype and fanaticism that comes with it.
He never has in general, not just Star Wars.
He likes acting, but doesn't enjoy any of the other stuff that goes with it.

That's why he lives in the sticks away from everyone.

He's actually a super nice guy to the crew and cast (although a prankster).
He just happens to think the politics of the film business is junk, and reporters are on the low end of the value stick in life.

Cheers,
Jayson

 

She's trained in Teräs Käsi, yes, and not just able to eat Solo for breakfast, but Vos too. I'm okay with that. I would argue that she's not as tough, because at the end of the day he's stronger character wise, cause unlike her he's living a free life.

 

I'd have to slightly disagree with your assessment of Ford. I really do think he truly despises Star Wars. Everything I have read about him, his interactions, etc. IMO of course.

 

He was asked why he hated SW recently - why did he want to die and leave it.
He said that he doesn't hate SW, he likes it. He just wanted Han to have an important value to the story and he didn't see that he did in ROTJ and thought he could bring value in death (which, boy, he definitely got that now ).

This Ford hating SW has kind of been a fan thing blown up.
Ford just hates interviews and will straight face prank everyone.

Hamill is a very straight forward person who speaks his mind, so was Fisher.
Neither have ever spoken of Ford in that way. Both love(d) him dearly, and he them.

It really is that Ford hates the zeitgeist of SW.
And um...I don't blame him.

I would never go to cons much or step into fan public if I was in their shoes.
I think they're all psychotic for doing that, honestly.

Cheers,
Jayson