Okay gonna try for a full review here but I'm still decompressing so here goes. Spoilers below.
I've seen comments on other sites indicating that this film was totally "unnecessary." And I'd have to say I'd be inclined to agree. But so what when it's this entertaining.
Was Temple of Doom necessary? Hell no but it was fun to watch Indy in action again. Did Han have really any character arc to speak of in this film? Not really other than his possible complacence with letting Q'ira go in favor of exploring the galaxy with Chewie instead.
But Solo had three things in spades:
1. Very likable characters
2. Incredibly exciting action sequences
3. It honored the entire collective EU backstory of Han Solo that I've always held onto in my own personal head canon.
Does that third bit really mean anything to anyone other than me? Not really but #1 and #2 alone make this an easy recommendation for any fan of exciting heist movies.
I honestly don't even remember where I've gleaned all of Han's backstory anymore.
1. Him having a brief stint in the Empire
2. Him being from "Corellia."
3. Him winning the Falcon from Lando in a card game called Sabaac (I believe the 1980 Topps ESB cards first hinted at this? I honestly can't remember anymore.)
4. Him rescuing Chewie from slavery and winning the Wookiee's loyalty
It was *all freaking there.* And just as importantly or more importantly it was all executed well! I loved seeing him aspiring to be a pilot but ending up as a dirty mud-infantryman since apparently he was too mouthy to even be a lowly Stormtrooper, lol. Classic.
Loved the Sabaac games.
Loved Chewie's intro.
Loved Han's face the first time they went to lightspeed.
Liked all the characters with the possible exception of Rio. After one viewing he felt a little more "Mike Wazowski in Pixar" than a SW character to me. Drydon was good but not great.
Absolutely loved the train heist.
Was grinning ear to ear at Alden standing in classic "Harrison Ford promo shot/Brian Daley novel cover" stance with the blaster up and one arm extended while he was shooting the Kessel guards outside the Falcon.
And speaking of Alden sure he didn't look like Ford (and his height was definitely distracting especially whenever he'd stand next to Harrelson who isn't that tall himself) but he owned "young Han." Maybe not as good as River Phoenix as young Indy but the beginning of TLC sucked regardless so who cares, lol.
Glover WAS young Lando, he was basically perfect IMO.
I was put off by the different look of the Falcon in the marketing but once I realized that it was essentially "Lando's Falcon" for most of the movie I was fine with it.
I was disappointed to hear that Han Solo would be getting a "mentor" character after again how lamely TLC had young Indy essentially just copying the look of some no-name relic thief but the dynamic between Han and Beckett was awesome. Loved Harrelson in the role and was very pleased that Han only fell in line until he had the angles he wanted and/or the upper hand.
One of the biggest laughs for me was the clever way they explained why Billy Dee Williams never pronounced Han's name correctly in the OT.
Speaking of his name once again I scoffed at the notion that this movie would "explain how he got his name" (*shudder*) but if you think about it "Solo" really has always been a bit too "on the nose" of a moniker but we've always accepted it because it was instantly iconic. Whether he only went by his first name or was reluctant to divulge his true identity to the Imperial recruiting officer I'm fine with both because I found the acquisition of his adopted surname to be quite organic and appropriate. Thank God there were no "Dread Pirate Roberts" or "Darth is a title" shenanigans.
I loved the twists and turns with loyalties and double crosses and am glad that Q'ira didn't die. I am also fine with the surprise cameo and now that I'm hearing that Obi-Wan might be a direct sequel to Solo with Kenobi crossing paths with you know who again all I can say is "all right then, sign me up" lol.
I was really hoping for a Fett "RO Vader" moment in this or Jabba or a Rancor but have to tip my hat to the lack of gratuitous callbacks to the OT.
Is this film a masterpiece? No, maybe an 8/10 or even 7.5/10. I'll figure it out when the dust settles after a few more viewings. But I loved it (just like other non-masterpieces--Temple of Doom, ROTJ, and so on) and that's all that matters to me. As I've already said it even trumps the mighty RO in some pretty significant ways (though I still give the edge to RO overall.)
I've read that Alden let slip that he signed on for two more sequels and in some ways it'll be too bad if the box office earnings kill future films with this cast but maybe it'll be for the best. Poor Emilia Clarke though if she has to star in yet another failed attempt at a trilogy, lol.
