On The Screen – Solo: A Star Wars Story – 2/28/2018

**No Real Spoilers Here**

I’m really not sure why I’m even going to do this.  Expressing an honest opinion about a Star Wars movie can – depending upon the crowd – be every bit as fraught as bringing up religion or politics.  Still – here goes…

Sue went with me to see this last night – testament once again the patient and selfless nature of her commitment – given that this is not her genre and that she has ever so graciously stayed with me through almost every science fiction and superhero release over the course of the last decade.  Gentlemen – one bit of advice – never overlook those smaller, less dramatic gifts on her part which help to prove just how committed she is to your partnership and be very ready to reciprocate in kind.

We both enjoyed the movie – I likely enjoyed it more than she – but here’s the problem – reflected in our conversation after the final credits:

• Me:  What did you think?
• Sue:  It was cute.
• Me:  Yeah – it was fun

I think that says it all and I’m not sure that I could possibly write a more damning review.

It wasn’t a bad movie – the acting was a bit unpolished at times – the story was episodic and less than seamless – but I have no regrets.  Like I said – it was fun.

The problem with the movie is more – for me – a problem with the franchise.  I saw the first movie in the ’70s – while I was in High School.  Despite the fact that I was up to my neck in Science Fiction and Fantasy, Comics, Dungeons & Dragons – I wasn’t really aware of the movie – not sure how it hadn’t popped up on my radar.  I just got a call from a buddy one afternoon who invited me to go with him to see a new movie called Star Wars.  I had nothing to do so I was in – with almost no expectations.  Needless to say – I was blown away.  It was one of the most overwhelming movie experiences I’d ever had – from the moment the introductory scrolling dialogue appeared – to the music during the closing credits.

Given the time and the novelty and the unknown actors and actresses and what were – at the time – very innovative special effects – that movie was a pretty seminal experience for a whole lot of people.  I also suspect that for many of us, it’s one that will never be matched – with the possible exception of “The Empire Strikes Back”.  Every entry in this franchise since “Empire” has simply failed to live up to the original vision and the original experience for me.  I was so ambivalent about the three prequels that I’ve only – in all these years – watched each of them once.  IMHO, they were mediocre and they’d lost the clean, simple good vs. evil contrasts of the first three which made them so much fun.

The entries in the third trilogy are – in my opinion – struggling with this problem – basically, after damaging the franchise with the prequels – how can we repair it and ensure that it remains emotionally and commercially relevant.  I can’t say that Disney has found a good answer just yet.

I truly hope that they do and I’ll continue to give them more chances – the original movie was just too good and too important to so many of us to see the entire brand get buried under poor management of the franchise.  Until then – I guess “cute” and “fun” will have to do.