When I was growing up back in the 1970’s a friend of mine couldn’t stop talking about this new movie he had just seen in the theaters. I decided I wanted to go see it in the theaters along with him and that movie was Star Wars. This movie gave us some of the most iconic characters known to cinema including Han Solo and his shipmate Chewbacca. But what was the story behind this? How did Han meet Chewie? How did he manage to get his ship the Millennium Falcon? These are some of the questions that are answered in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
While I will not give away some of the major plot points that happen later on in the film there are going to be some spoilers at the beginning of the review. You have been warned.
The film starts on the shipbuilding world of Corelia where most of the Imperial navy’s ships are constructed. We see that Han is one of many of the orphaned children that are made to steal in order to survive this harsh land. Han steals a speeder and he goes back to the hideout where he meets up with his female friend named Qi’ra. Han was supposed to have something for the boss of a local gang and when he comes up empty they have to flee off this world. The two make their way over to a spaceport and they bribe an Imperial officer with coaxium (which is a hyperfuel that is used in starships) to get past the checkpoint. Han also enlists with the Empire as he wants to fly starships and when asked about his last name the officer gives him the surname Solo. However, complications arise and the two are separated as Han vows to come back to rescue her as he is now part of the Imperial forces.
The rest of the film shows how he meets up with Chewie, his first foray into a life of crime and his excellent pilot skills. There are other events explained like how he completed the Kessel run in 12 parsecs however, you will have to watch the movie to find out how he achieves this.
Solo: A Star Wars Story is an amazing piece of film and a great addition to the Star Wars universe. Who knows? We might get more adaptations of some of the other books (maybe a Han Solo at Stars End?) done about this iconic character. Go out and see this movie today as it lets us in on some great secrets about this scruffy looking nerfherder.
