Solo: A Star Wars Story (5/25/2018)

[Mecca]

If you are saying Jedi should have been the end of Star Wars and any continuation ruined the fairy tale then that's fine but if you are going to continue with those characters where should Han be thematically?

sitting at home, being less cynical and musing about his glory days

I get what you're doing, but I'll be a sucker.

I would have been more interested in a story where his current posit is actually left unexplained or only barely explained (leave the guy some mystery), and something like the following occurs:

1. The New Order has been basically reduced to what the rebellion was in New Hope (it's like poetry. They rhyme). Small. Ineffective. Basically, we've had 30 years of mostly peace. Hooray for Endor!

2. Luke is traveling to a destitute nowhere planet while investigating/pursuing a mysterious figure who recently began rising up in the NO ranks, has been making gains against the Republic that should be beyond his grasp, and who he believes may have Sith-like powers.

3. Luke is killed in a confrontation on this nowhere planet at the top of the first third...maybe after passing key information to our main characters, he dies so they can escape. This establishes for us what a threat the new villain is (no pouting or Vader skulls allowed) without introducing another planet weapon. Han swings in to action when he eventually hears about it (late in the story), cameoing a bit and Millenium Falconing in the big end action sequence. Otherwise the middle story is about the nobodies who are not magic children of magic people, are being hunted by a guy who just killed Luke fucking Skywalker, and will become our next generation heroes.

It's not a particularly novel story, but it took me less than 10 minutes to think up and didn't unwrite everything...that outline is at least a movie I probably would have bothered to watch.

TFA didn't unwrite everything. That's a strawman and you know it.

[Strat]

If you are saying Jedi should have been the end of Star Wars and any continuation ruined the fairy tale then that's fine but if you are going to continue with those characters where should Han be thematically?

sitting at home, being less cynical and musing about his glory days

I get what you're doing, but I'll be a sucker.

I would have been more interested in a story where his current posit is actually left unexplained or only barely explained (leave the guy some mystery), and something like the following occurs:

1. The New Order has been basically reduced to what the rebellion was in New Hope (it's like poetry. They rhyme). Small. Ineffective. Basically, we've had 30 years of mostly peace. Hooray for Endor!

2. Luke is traveling to a destitute nowhere planet while investigating/pursuing a mysterious figure who recently began rising up in the NO ranks, has been making gains against the Republic that should be beyond his grasp, and who he believes may have Sith-like powers.

3. Luke is killed in a confrontation on this nowhere planet at the top of the first third...maybe after passing key information to our main characters, he dies so they can escape. This establishes for us what a threat the new villain is (no pouting or Vader skulls allowed) without introducing another planet weapon. Han swings in to action when he eventually hears about it (late in the story), cameoing a bit and Millenium Falconing in the big end action sequence. Otherwise the middle story is about the nobodies who are not magic children of magic people, are being hunted by a guy who just killed Luke fucking Skywalker, and will become our next generation heroes.

It's not a particularly novel story, but it took me less than 10 minutes to think up and didn't unwrite everything...that outline is at least a movie I probably would have bothered to watch.

Sounds like even more of ANH rip off.

[Mecca]

all of you lack focus; you need a teacher.

[Mecca]

like, all these stupid little arguments pale in comparison with how hollow of a decision it is to make a Han Solo prequel. I have a problem with that more than anything. We all know he will make it out of any predicament he finds himself in because he becomes the smuggler han solo.

[Strat]

i fucking love star wars so much.

[BurtReynolds]

Why is the Kylo/Han story interesting to you? Its certainly not interesting in the way its blurted out to you in a few lines of dialogue and a few vague flashbacks. Literally anyone can come up with that backstory, and since its all exposition, you don't even have to film it. You don't have to craft interesting characters or stories. I mean, it could potentially be good hook for a story (almost certainly more interesting that FA), but as it is executed it very clearly comes off as rehashed elements of previous movies, with none of the character investment or emotional connection (except a nostalgic love for Han Solo), all to ultimately serve as a crude device to tell the same story again. Because that's exactly what it is.

[McParadigm]

Sounds like even more of ANH rip off.

Good. I was trying to create an approach that would give everyone their wanky "homage" desire, but not have every new character be super capable straight out of the gate and also be maybe a child of someone we know and Han has to regress and also there's a Death Star.

[Mecca]

Why is the Kylo/Han story interesting to you? Its certainly not interesting in the way its blurted out to you in a few lines of dialogue and a few vague flashbacks. Literally anyone can come up with that backstory, and since its all exposition, you don't even have to film it. You don't have to craft interesting characters or stories. I mean, it could potentially be good hook for a story (almost certainly more interesting that FA), but as it is executed it very clearly comes off as rehashed elements of previous movies, with none of the character investment or emotional connection (except a nostalgic love for Han Solo), all to ultimately serve as a crude device to tell the same story again. Because that's exactly what it is.

lot of assumptions in this premise.

[BurtReynolds]

Why is the Kylo/Han story interesting to you? Its certainly not interesting in the way its blurted out to you in a few lines of dialogue and a few vague flashbacks. Literally anyone can come up with that backstory, and since its all exposition, you don't even have to film it. You don't have to craft interesting characters or stories. I mean, it could potentially be good hook for a story (almost certainly more interesting that FA), but as it is executed it very clearly comes off as rehashed elements of previous movies, with none of the character investment or emotional connection (except a nostalgic love for Han Solo), all to ultimately serve as a crude device to tell the same story again. Because that's exactly what it is.

lot of assumptions in this premise.

wat

[E.H. Ruddock]

Guys, this thread is 8 pages already.

[Mecca]

Why is the Kylo/Han story interesting to you? Its certainly not interesting in the way its blurted out to you in a few lines of dialogue and a few vague flashbacks. Literally anyone can come up with that backstory, and since its all exposition, you don't even have to film it. You don't have to craft interesting characters or stories. I mean, it could potentially be good hook for a story (almost certainly more interesting that FA), but as it is executed it very clearly comes off as rehashed elements of previous movies, with none of the character investment or emotional connection (except a nostalgic love for Han Solo), all to ultimately serve as a crude device to tell the same story again. Because that's exactly what it is.

lot of assumptions in this premise.

wat

nobody is arguing whether it is interesting or not.

[stip]

I started typing something in response to stip, but then I remembered I'm talking to stip. And this whole maelstrom started because I engaged with stip.

Why don't I fucking learn? Things truly are cyclical.

You are no different than stip, my friend.

hey, lets not say things we can't take back

[Strat]

I just love the fact that McP still hasn't seen it.

[stip]

like, all these stupid little arguments pale in comparison with how hollow of a decision it is to make a Han Solo prequel. I have a problem with that more than anything. We all know he will make it out of any predicament he finds himself in because he becomes the smuggler han solo.

we all agree there. that's why we immediately moved on.

[Mecca]

I just love the fact that McP still hasn't seen it.

I painted him a rather lovely picture of it

[bada]

That picture belongs in a museum.

[Mecca]

That picture belongs in a museum.

[BurtReynolds]

Why is the Kylo/Han story interesting to you? Its certainly not interesting in the way its blurted out to you in a few lines of dialogue and a few vague flashbacks. Literally anyone can come up with that backstory, and since its all exposition, you don't even have to film it. You don't have to craft interesting characters or stories. I mean, it could potentially be good hook for a story (almost certainly more interesting that FA), but as it is executed it very clearly comes off as rehashed elements of previous movies, with none of the character investment or emotional connection (except a nostalgic love for Han Solo), all to ultimately serve as a crude device to tell the same story again. Because that's exactly what it is.

lot of assumptions in this premise.

wat

nobody is arguing whether it is interesting or not.

LV was arguing that this story wasn't worth telling in the first place. Stip was arguing that it beautifully wrapped up Han's arc. McP was offering up better alternatives.

But I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth here so: Great then we are all in agreement that this isn't interesting. Can we also agree that this uninteresting idea isn't executed well? Please oh please oh please.

[Kaius]

Team Mecca.

[Strat]

Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens has been praised for many things, and while it's not without it's flaws, the film certainly did Han Solo justice. Many fans were concerned that this older version of Han wouldn't line up with the space cowboy scoundrel we know and love from the original trilogy. And while his story in Star Wars 7 did take an unexpected turn, ultimately this really was the best thing for the character.

Killing off such a beloved character was bound to garner criticism from fans. Some argued that the way he died didn't do justice to the character: that Han should have gone down in a blaze of glory. As it happened, Han Solo's death paralleled Obi Wan Kenobi's in A New Hope, right down to his protoges viewing the death and being forced to flee soon after.

Parallels aside, this death was actually the most in character way for Han Solo to die, and here's how it also sets up his role in Episode 8.

"I used to be Han Solo"

We get an interesting view of Han Solo in Star Wars 7: Finn remembers Han as a war hero, while Rey is more impressed with his deeds as a smuggler. Yet when Rey asks if he is Han Solo, Han responds "I used to be", implying he feels distanced from the legend he became.

Han Solo is a man of many disguises. With his roguish attitude it's easy to assume he's just a scoundrel, but the original films proved time and again that Han Solo has a heart of gold. From coming back to help the Rebellion in A New Hope, to leading the charge on Endor in Return Of The Jedi, this scruffy looking nerfhurder isn't nearly as gruff as he'd like us to believe. This is especially apparent in his relationships with both Leia and Luke, both of whom he cares for deeply.

"That's two you owe me, kid."
As the film begins with Han risking his own life to save Luke, we definitely see a softer side to Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. And although he spends a lot of effort seducing her, when Leia is anxious on Bespin Han's first instinct is to support her.

We see this compassionate tendency in Han Solo again in The Force Awakens, as he takes Finn and Rey under his wing, even offering Rey a job. His affection towards these kids he barely knows is obvious, and very true to Han's character.

Although the popular interpretation of Han Solo is that he's a womanising space cowboy, underneath the bravado he's really just a softie. Which is why his death played out perfectly.

Noble Sacrifice

Ultimately, Han Solo is on a mission to save his son, the twisted and torn Dark Side acolyte, Kylo Ren. At first he's reluctant to reach out to Ben, but Leia has faith that where Luke Skywalker failed, Han Solo can bring her son back to the Light.

Of course, Han fails. But the important thing is he put himself in danger in an attempt to save his son from the Dark Side. And honestly, I can't think of any action more quintessentially Han Solo than sacrificing himself trying to save someone else. The fantastic thing is, as the newly released screenplay confirms, Han Solo's death may have started Kylo Ren's redemption anyway...

The novelisation also deals with Kylo Ren's shock: it turns out that although he thought killing his father would complete his journey to the Dark Side, his guilt just makes him wish to turn back to the Light more.

So how does this set up Han Solo's appearance in Episode 8? Well, as Snoke completes Kylo Ren's training, we're bound to see him struggle with this inner conflict more. In order to help the audience understand Ben Solo's journey, the best way to do this would be through flashbacks, and that's definitely a way to include Han Solo. Visions and Force ghosts are other options, though as Han never trained as a Jedi, seeing him as a ghost is pretty unlikely.

But considering Kylo Ren is definitely feeling guilty about his father's death, there's no doubt Han Solo's presence will be felt in Star Wars Episode 8... one way or another.