Again....

For me thus far there isn't a Star Wars film that can top the OT films mostly because I grew up on those films. ANH is my favorite not because it was the first one, or because of the special effects. Its my favorite because i enjoy it more then the others. Films are subjective everyone is different.

Its just shocking to me when I see a Sequel Trilogy/Prequel/Standalone film as someone's number one film. They have all the right to have it that way... just saying... shocking to say the least or we will see shortly Episode 9 is the best!!!

 

Solo was great! I can't wait to see it again when I get the chance!

 

Knowing the spoilers, I'm picking up a few things that I didn't notice the first time around. For example the Maul stuff/references. Oh and Han being "frozen" in the mud when Han and Chewie first meet.

 

I always thought that it felt a tiny bit forced

 

was it a good movie? no. Was it a fun movie? yes absolutely. it had a very troubled production and it showed. but will i watch it again? you bet.

 

Don’t beat yourself up for missing Solo as I almost did the same. I have seen every SW film going back to 1977 and I was not seeing this movie out of principle because of feeling burned by TLJ and I didn’t buy the actor playing Solo.

My best friend (who is also a huge SW fan) was relentless in pushing me to see it in the theater. After a few weeks, I gave in but went there with lower expectations then the PT days.

Boy was I wrong as it’s just a fun SW movie and I really enjoyed more then TFA, R1, and TLJ. It’s not for everyone as I feel it’s geared for the fans that ANH as their #1 favorite SW movie. There is no Jedi stuff, no force stuff, just good ol 1977 style adventure.

 

Boys, you are not alone

it's hard for me, to put TFA/TLJ and R1/SOLO in the same bag.
In one hand, TFA/TLJ are part of the saga, they expand and continue the story that started in 1977. TFA was particularly expected, given the excitement and hope generated by the purchase of the franchise, brightened by the long period that separates it from previous films, by the first leaked pictures who were showing a sand planet and then by the trailer who showed us the famous Han and Chewie "we're home". Inevitably, it generated (for some people) a disappointment at the height of the hope... After this movie, came TLJ : it was supposed to answer a lot of the questions TFA had asked, but it didn't ; thus, it generated even more frustration.
In the second hand, I consider R1 and SOLO more of "bonus tracks"... y'know, they are something not needed at all in the whole tale, they are just a bit of "extended good time". Inevitably, the hope/expectation is far lower than for the 2 previous ones, thus, one tends to appreciate them much more.
In all the cases, I think frustration is proportionate to the aroused expectation, stating that saga movies deliver more expectations than spinoffs.
I have no regrets to have not seen SOLO in theaters, except, perhaps, one or two scenes I would have love to see on a big screen...

 

yeah...that first trailer really got to me but it is because of the final product that ended up disappointing me, but not nearly as much as TLJ did in comparison.
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And still it is.

 

I'm thinking about something else...

R1 and SOLO both take place by the times of (or near) ANH.
They both managed - or at least tried to do so - to bring back and take advantage of the OT look and feel (... the same RotS just did, in its end).

I think this is an important point, as they both set up the stage in a beloved period.

 

No doubt as I think R1 and Solo are made for the more 'hardcore' fans, and I think the box office for Rogue One deceived Disney into thinking ANY SW movie could gross a billion dollars. I guess my point is R1's box office rode the momentum of TFA where Solo box office rode the negativity of TLJ, so one overperformed and one underperformed.

I think I like R1 and Solo (as you said) because they really tie into Episode 4 and the OT story, so it appeals to hardcore fans like me who have been there since 1977. Where TFA and TLJ are more made for the 'general audience' because they played it real safe with TFA and then tried to subvert everyone with TLJ. I still believe if Disney adjusts their budget and understands their audience, they can succeed with Standalone movies in the long run. I still think it would be cool to have a different standalone movie come out every December because they just seem less divisive and more interesting. Now they won't make as much as a Saga movie with Luke, Leia or Han, but you could only bring back those characters one more time, so they had to know that they needed something after that?

For me, I like Solo and R1 because they stand on their own and even though they are a Prequel to Episode 4, they don't have to tie nicely in a bow like the PT and ST did. The Saga movies get analyzed because it is one narrative so they are somewhat limited in their storytelling. If you think about it, the beginning of Episode 9 is Rebels vs First Order, Rey vs Kylo Ren, so it's right back to Episode 4. A standalone movie gives them that freedom to tell a different story, as R1 is a War movie, Solo is a Heist movie. For me, I'm more interested in those stories, then the Rebels vs First Order rehash story.

 

I enjoyed Solo a lot. I too didn't see it in theaters (it wasn't a boycott of the film, I just couldn't make the time to go, figured it was better to put elsewhere) however as the digital release approached, I was very excited to finally watch it. It blew away the admittedly mild expectations I had for it, I was very surprised.

However, and I've said this before in other threads... I don't think I could ever rank a standalone film above a main episodic film. It's just a personal thing. No matter how much I may like a standalone film, they never captivate me in the same way. Sometimes I wonder what that means for my future as a Star Wars fan in a post Episode 9 world but we don't have to think about that right now.

Solo sits comfortably in 3rd place behind TLJ and TFA as far as the new films go for me. It has a place on the podium and earns a well received medal.

 

It's an interesting point because the Saga films definitely have more depth and the story delves more into the mythology of the franchise. Where the standalones are more popcorn entertainment, but good/fun popcorn entertainment with rewatchability.

In saying that the Saga films live and die by their ability to tie in with 4,5,6. I guess what I mean is that I love their story because the PT is giving us the backstory for the OT, and the ST is continuing on with that story was 30 years later. So it's almost like one big novel at this point, but the negative of those Saga movies is they have to stand with the OT, or it becomes jarring. When I watch the ST, it feels like they have taken so many themes and plot points from the OT, it's almost like they are undoing 1-6 in some respects.

So that is really the dilemma right now with the ST and Standalones. They both have positives and negatives, so only time will tell what will hold up better for all of us 10-15 years down the road.