Solo: A Stars Wars Story - Horsing Around In LA

Solo: A Star Wars Story

By Jonelle

I was worried. I heard the rumors. I watched the YouTube videos. Solo isn’t supposed to be a good movie. After watching this film, I learned that I shouldn’t listen to rumors. This movie is an all-out space western, starring an adorable cowboy, with a whole lot of heart.

I thought it was going to be difficult watching another actor fill Harrison Ford’s shoes. Let’s face facts, for a Star Wars geek like me, Han and Chewie are much beloved characters who we feel must be protected. Han Solo isn’t much older than this when we meet him in A New Hope. This story takes places roughly ten years before that film. Surprisingly, Alden Ehrenreich fills these massive shoes with ease. He’s the scoundrel we’ve all grown to love. In the end, he does the right thing, because he truly is one of the good guys. However, there may be many bumps along the way.

The saga begins with Solo and his love Qi’ra, played by Emilia Clark, trying to escape their home planet Corellia. Don’t get me wrong, it’s strange to see Han Solo with anyone other than Princess Leia, but the chemistry between Ehrenreich and Clark is pretty amazing. Qi’ra is shrouded in mystery. Han escapes Corellian, but Qi’ra gets captured and sold to the dangerous and oh so creepy gangster, Dryden Voss. She, Qi’ra, and Han have been separated for years. We do not know what happened to Qi’ra all those years away from Han, but it must have been bad, she’s been branded.

They work with a smuggler named Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) to steal some pricey fuel for Voss. If not, it’s off with their heads, so-to-speak, but pretty literally. Who do you trust? Beckett wisely tells Han, “Assume everyone will betray you, and you’ll never be disappointed.” Woody Harrelson is a cowboy on and off screen. Can he be trusted?

What fans will love about this film, that was missing in The Last Jedi, is the nostalgia. We learn about some of the events mentioned in A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I didn’t know that Han Solo was a pilot for the Empire. Of course, he doesn’t follow rules and gets thrown out.

Being introduced to a young Lando is a lot of fun. Billy Dee Williams played him with such charisma in the originals, Donald Glover does the same here. He’s sneaky and feisty. You can’t truly trust him. Let’s face facts, the real star of the movie the Millennium Falcon. The first time it was on screen, the audience cheered. You get to see more of the Millennium Falcon this time around. You finally get to see living quarters. I never realized just how livable the Millennium Falcon can be. I’d like a Millennium Falcon of my own please.

Meet the Cast of Solo: A Stars Wars Story

By Jonelle

Spending a day in Pasadena, California is always great, but spending a day in Pasadena with the stars of the new Star Wars film Solo: A Stars Wars Story, is even better. To say that I’m not mildly (or extremely) obsessed with the Star Wars universe would be a lie. So, when I was offered the chance to see a special screening of the film and to hear the cast speak in person, I jumped at the chance.

The press event was held at the Pasadena Convention Center. As soon as I checked in, I was ushered into the press conference where the other journalists were waiting patiently for the cast’s arrival. It didn’t take long. Below are the talent and filmmakers that were in attendance.

Alden Ehrenreich (“Han Solo”)

Donald Glover (“Lando Calrissian”)

Emilia Clarke (“Qi’ra”)

Paul Bettany (“Dryden Vos”)

Woody Harrelson (“Tobias Beckett”)

Thandie Newton (“Val”)

Joonas Suotamo (“Chewbacca”)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“L3-37”)

Director Ron Howard

Jon Kasdan / Screenplay

Lawrence Kasdan / Screenplay

Donald Glover; Alden Ehrenreich; Emilia Clarke; Joonas Suotamo; Paul Bettany; Ron Howard. Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney

Seeing this cast and crew in person, was amazing. When you go to these press junkets you only get a snippet from each actor. Director Ron Howard, discussed the fact that he was brought on later in the filming process and that he hoped he wouldn’t “F*** it up.” Trust me, he didn’t. He said that he loved telling the story and that he was going to, “treat this like it’s a true story.”

Everyone seemed to really have a strong connection and they looked like they had a good time working together. This is also evident in the movie. Thandie Newton told us a story about one of the days she brought her son to set. Being a two-year-old, he wasn’t yet a fan of the Star Wars universe. He walked up to R2-D2 and they ended up having a “conversation”. What a special encounter this was for him. Newton said, “this is the stuff that dreams are made of.” I would like to have a conversation with R2-D2.

I had the privilege of viewing the movie the evening before the press junket. I’m going to be honest and say that I read all of the rumors about how awful this movie was going to be. What an awful actor Alden Ehrenreich was. It turns out we should never believe rumors because those rumors were very wrong, Ehrenreich is amazing, with that smirk and mischievous, smoldering twinkle in his eye!!!!! He was also given approval by Harrison Ford, himself, who surprised Ehrenreich that morning to tell him how much he enjoyed the film. Ehrenreich does breathe new life into a character so many of us already love. Ehrenreich has a lot of heart, and so does Han Solo. Donald Glover said it best, “you get to see why Han is complicated. Maybe he did the wrong thing but for the right reasons, or maybe the right thing was for the wrong reasons.” Isn’t that the Han we are introduced to in A New Hope?