Alpha

Year: 2018

Director: Albert Hughes
Starring: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Johannes Haukur Johannesson, Natassia Malthe, and Jens Hulten 

Tagline: Leaders are born from survival
Synopsis: Around the time of the last ice age, a young man gets separated from his tribe.  In order to survive he befriends man's best friend.

Review

There's something wonderful about a well-told story.  Even if it is a simple, familiar story, when it is told with skill and sincerity, it can be a thing of beauty.  That's the case with Alpha.

The story takes place during the last ice age, when men were hunter/gatherers in tribes.  Keda is a young man on the cusp of adulthood and has finally earned the right to journey with his father and others of his tribe to an annual bison hunt.  Far from home, Keda gets separated from his father and friends and is left for dead.  The rest of the story follows his journey home.  On his way, he takes in, cares for, tames, and befriends an injured wolf, who he names "Alpha."  Together they face what nature throws at them during their quest to survive.  Thus is forged the bond between men and dogs (well, future dogs).

Is Alpha historically or scientifically accurate?  Probably not, or at least not entirely.  Did I care while watching the film?  Not in the slightest.  Instead, it is the almost mythological version of boy meets dog that all dog-lovers want to believe in.  Alpha is emotionally accurate and thus emotionally satisfying.

Alpha is also beautiful.  If the cinematography doesn't get nominated for an Oscar next year, I'll be seriously surprised and disappointed.  It's not just that the scenery is gorgeous, the framing of the shots is beautiful too.  There's also a shot with a masterful use of slow motion.  But my favorite shot is a sort of split screen moment.  Part of the scene is in the trailer, so I'm not spoiling anything here.  The bottom of the shot is underwater, with Keda trapped under the ice of a dark blue lake.  The top of the shot is Alpha on top of the ice surrounded by wintery white.  I don't care if the shot required green screens and/or CGI; the shot is epic and amazing.

The filmmakers made an interesting choice for the language of the film.  Instead of being in English, the dialogue is in an unknown foreign language, one that sounds sufficiently prehistoric.  The movie is then subtitled.  As a former film student, reading subtitles is no big deal to me.  I thought it was a neat touch really.  And there's not a lot of dialogue in the story to begin with.

There was only one thing in the film that I found fault with.  For all the realism of the settings, the clothes, the way of life, and the language, Keda has absolutely perfect teeth.  It is only in a few shots where there is a close-up that includes his teeth, but they are so bright white and straight that it is jarring.  It was enough to throw off my suspension of disbelief for a moment.  The makeup team dropped the ball there.

The film is rated PG-13.  Alpha is a survival story, which means our heroes must survive all sorts of peril from both beasts and the elements.  There are deaths.  There are injuries.  Nothing is ever graphic though.  I only looked away when Keda was eating still squirming bugs.  Bleh.

If you love dogs and the role they play in our lives, I recommend seeing Alpha.  And even if you are a cat person, you can still go and enjoy a beautiful, well-told, well-acted, survival/coming-of-age story.

*** Spoiler Section ***

In case you are worried, Alpha lives to become part of Keda's tribe (because he lives too).  The film's final shot is pretty epic: the tribe of hunters - in silhouette - walking forward, joined by Alpha and her grown pups.  Man and man's best friend: united.

Quotable Quotes

• "Raise your head and your eyes will follow." -- Tau to Keda
• "You are my tribe." -- Keda to Alpha

ISFS

Christopher Robin

Year: 2018

Director: Marc Forster
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Jim Cummings, Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Mark Gatiss, and Brad Garrett

Tagline: Sooner or later, your past catches up to you.
Synopsis: Winnie the Pooh helps a now-grown Christopher Robin set his priorities straight.

Review

After the non-stop action of Mission: Impossible - Fallout, the quiet, gentle pace of Christopher Robin was quite the change.   I've actually seen it twice at this point.  Upon the first viewing of Christopher Robin, I liked it.  Upon the second viewing, I liked it a lot.  Maybe it was because I was prepared for the slower pace and the (at times) bittersweet mood.

Winnie the Pooh has never been one of my favorite characters.  He's likable enough.  But I always found Eeyore, Rabbit, and Owl to be more amusing (and perhaps more relatable).  So I'm very glad that the whole gang is back in this tale.  Yes, it is mostly Pooh, but Piglet and Tigger also get their moments to shine.  It's Eeyore, though, who steals the show.  His self-deprecating, deadpan humor perfectly suits the tone of the film.  I love Eeyore.

Of course this movie isn't about the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood.  It's about Christopher Robin, who is all grown up.  He is perhaps too grown up.  Through a montage (told in a chapter style reminiscent of the books), we see highlights from Christopher Robin's life and see how he has come to his current state.  Through that, we also meet his wife and daughter, both of whom are missing Christopher Robin as much as his old childhood friends.

The story that follows is very much what you'd expect.  And that's OK.  We know the path Christopher Robin will take, because it's the path we want him to take: first back to the Hundred Acre Woods, then to his happier self, and at last back to his family and a re-prioritized life.  There's nothing new or unexpected in the journey, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable or charming as we tread familiar ground with familiar friends.

One thing I appreciated about the film, it never tries to explain things.  Christopher Robin never questions Pooh's existence, just how he came to be in London.  The only explanation for anything that happens is Pooh's comment regarding the tree passage that leads to the Hundred Acre Woods.  He simply says it is where it is needed, which Christopher Robin promptly dismisses as silly.  It is amusing that he should find that silly, while never questioning that such a tree portal exists in the first place.  But that's part of the magical charm of these stories.  They need no explanation.  They just are.  Just like Pooh Bear.

The film is rated PG.  I've been puzzling over why.  There is one short montage scene that shows Christopher Robin as a soldier in a very dangerous situation with explosions in the background.  Or perhaps it is because the theme of finding your inner child again goes over the heads of actual children.  There was certainly nothing offensive in the film.  But its tone has a certain melancholy to it at times.  You might say the film is more an Eeyore than a Tigger.

If you are looking for a sweet and gentle film to top off your summer, I recommend Christopher Robin.  The story may not tread any new or surprising ground, but it's still a charming "expotition" [expedition] and adventure with lovable and funny friends.  As the film ended, I had a smile on my face.

*** Spoiler Section ***

There's a quirky little mid-credits scene featuring the Winslow office workers on holiday at the beach.  Also at the beach is a fellow singing and playing the piano.  That fellow just so happens to be Richard Sherman, of the Sherman brothers.  They wrote countless classic Disney songs, including "Winnie the Pooh" and "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers."

Quotable Quotes

• "I've cracked!"  "I don't see any cracks.  A few wrinkles, maybe." -- Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh
• "Doing nothing often leads to the very best kind of something." -- Winnie the Pooh
• "I suppose [the tree's opening is] where it needs to be."  "That's a silly explanation."  "Why, thank you." -- Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin
• "I don't remember being cheery." -- Eeyore
• "[singing] The most wonderful thing about tiggers is ... I'm the only one!"  "He does that a lot." -- Tigger and Eeyore
• "Thanks for kidnapping me, Heffelump." -- Eeyore to Christopher Robin

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Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Year: 2018

Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Alec Baldwin, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, and Michelle Monaghan

Tagline: Some missions are not a choice.
Synopsis: After a mission goes wrong, Ethan Hunt and his team must race against the clock to prevent a greater disaster orchestrated by old and new enemies.

Review

Wow.

If you were to look up "blockbuster action spectacle" in the dictionary, I think you'd find a picture of Tom Cruise and the IMF (Impossible Mission Force) logo.  Because seriously.  Wow.

I love superhero movies.  And I know that the only way they are feasible is through the use of digital effects.  And certainly those actors put a lot of time, effort, and energy into their roles.  But when you watch Ethan Hunt do a HALO jump out of an airplane, you know perfectly well that Tom Cruise did many, many, many such jumps in order to practice and perfect the scene.  When Ethan Hunt is zipping around the Arc du Triomphe on a motorcycle going opposite traffic, you know Tom Cruise was really there, really doing that.  Yes, in a controlled environment.  But a real environment.  Digital effects just can't mimic the visceral feel of practical stunts.  And that is the Mission: Impossible franchise's bread and butter.

Of course Fallout, like its predecessors, is more than just one action sequence after another.  I mean, it is.  But there's also a thought out plot, with clever twists and misdirects.  There's humor.  There's some heart.  But mostly, there's terrific characters.

I've never liked James Bond.  I could never get into Jason Bourne.  Napoleon Solo was fine.  But Ethan Hunt is terrific.  I love his on-the-fly, figure-it-out-as-we-go-and-hope-it-works style.  Maybe that's because it reminds me of a certain fedora wearing archaeologist's style.  In some respects, Ethan seems superhuman.  But most of the time we see that he is very, very human.  And Fallout does a great job showcasing that side of Ethan.  He doesn't win every fight (perhaps even most fights) all on his own.  He gets battered and banged up and needs the assistance of his team.  He has to improvise and switch from plan B to plan C to plan D.

Also returning for this mission are Luther (who gets a couple of surprisingly serious scenes), Benji (who ever lightens the tension with his humor), and Ilsa (who is as beautiful, dangerous, and enigmatic as ever).  Joining them is Secretary Hunley, who seems to have fully embraced his switch from the CIA to the IMF.

New to the scene are the White Widow (an amoral woman focused primarily on profit and self-preservation) and a "it's nothing personal" CIA operative (played by Henry Cavill).  Yes, Superman has grown a mustache and joined the CIA.  But not really.  August Walker is a far cry from Clark Kent.  And apparently the prep work for the two characters is also quite different.  To be Superman, Cavill had to look ripped.  To do the stunts required for Fallout, he had to truly be ripped.

Ghost Protocol is still my favorite in the franchise.  I'd say Fallout is neck and neck with Rogue Nation (which Fallout is a follow up to).

The film is rated PG-13 for violence and swearing.  The violence is the same as the previous films.  Annoyingly, one character in Fallout does shout the F-word.

I thoroughly recommend Mission: Impossible - Fallout.  The action alone is jaw-dropping and worth the price.  But the film also has the same humor, clever twists, and relatable characters as its predecessors.  I hope another mission comes to the IMF in a few years.  Although how they can keep topping the previous film's stunts is beyond me.

*** Spoiler Section ***

That Julia (Ethan Hunt's former wife) is in the film is revealed in the trailers.  But the trailers nicely don't reveal what her role is.  Not that it is a big surprise as the story unfolds, but it works so much better that way.  And I loved what her role in the film was and how things played out in the climax.  The final scene between Ethan and Julia was, in my mind, perfect for this franchise and true to the characters.

Quotable Quotes

• "What's the plan?"  "Hope they've never met."  "Hope is not a plan!"  "You must be new." -- Walker, Ethan, and Ilsa
• "That was Ilsa."  "Shut up."  "Very interesting.  It's good to see you again, Ethan." -- Lane and Ethan
• "What are you waiting for?"  "I'm jumping out a window!"  "Oh.  Sorry.  I had it on 2D." -- Benji and Ethan
• "What's he doing?"  "I find it's best not to look." -- Ilsa and Benji

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Ant-Man and the Wasp

Year: 2018

Director: Peyton Reed

Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangaline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michael Pena, Laurence Fishburne, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, and Abby Ryder Fortson
Tagline: Real heroes.  Not actual size.
Synopsis: Still on house arrest, Scott Lang tries to figure out how to juggle being Ant-Man and a good father while being embroiled in an adventure with Hank Pym and Hope Van Dyne.

Review

Marvel is basically on fire this year.  And the great thing about their movies is each has a distinct enough feel to keep things interesting.  This year has brought us Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and now Ant-Man and the Wasp.  Each is fun, action-packed, and enjoyable.  But each is also quite different.  Right now, Ant-Man and the Wasp is just the movie we need ... especially after the world-changing (universe-changing) events of Infinity War.

I was pleasantly surprised by the first Ant-Man.  If you enjoyed that one, you are sure to enjoy this one.  The story, though, is more of a sequel to Captain America: Civil War, as the main characters all deal with the repercussions of that.  The story is thus more personal and grounded (again, something much needed after Infinity War).  Much of the movie focuses on the relationships between fathers and daughters: both Scott and Cassie and Hank and Hope.  Those relationships drive the plot and the characters.

It's nice to not have the entire world at stake for a change.  That was one thing that was so enjoyable about the first film.  It was on a much smaller scale (pun intended).  And rather than taking over the world or altering the state of the entire universe, the antagonists are doing what they are doing for either personal reasons or business.  There's not really a villain per se.  And it works.

The biggest reason Ant-Man and the Wasp is the MCU film we need right now is that it's light and funny.  Like, it's really, really funny.  I laughed the entire way through (well, not during the mid-credits scene, but I laughed again during the post-credits scene).  It's not quite the same style of humor as Thor: Ragnarok.  But it was still enjoyable to me.  The film has perhaps the best seagulls gag since Finding Nemo.  And watching things shrink and/or embigify never gets old.

All the characters from the first movie are back, including Luis, Kurt, and Dave.  Their roles are smaller than in the first film, but they are just as funny.

Scott is as charming and down-to-earth as ever.  I love that he is (mostly) an ordinary guy thrown into this extraordinary world.  He's not trying to balance brain surgery or managing a gigantic corporation or running an entire kingdom.  He's trying to figure out how to be a good dad and have a day job.  He's the most relatable of the Avengers.

This time around we get to see Hope in action as the Wasp.  She takes up her mother's mantle with some intense action sequences.  Wasp has some serious skills.  And the film has some pretty awesome action.  Between the humor and the action, there is never a dull moment.

The film is rated PG-13 for the usual Marvel reasons.  There might have been less swearing in this one than in the first Ant-Man.

I highly recommend Ant-Man and the Wasp.  It has great action, terrific humor, and the right amount of heart.

*** Spoiler Section ***

It seemed inevitable that the mid-credits scene was going to tie into the events of Infinity War.  And boy does it ever.  I'm looking forward to seeing just what it will mean for the next Avengers film and what roll our shrinking heroes will (or won't) have in that storyline.

The post-credits scene nicely leaves us with a chuckle.

Quotable Quotes

• "So cranky."  "Do you want a juice box and some string cheese?"  "Do you really have that?" -- Hope, Hank, and Scott
• "You can do it.  You can do anything.  You're the world's greatest grandma!" -- Cassie to Scott
• "So, it's truth serum."  "It's not truth serum!"  "Walk like duck, talk like duck ..." -- Luis, Uzman, and Kurt
• "Do you guys just put 'quantum' in front of everything?" -- Scott

ISFS

Incredibles 2

Year: 2018

Director: Brad Bird

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Samuel L. Jackson, Bob Odenkirk, and Catherine Keener
Tagline: It's been too long, dahlings
Synopsis: With Helen (Elastigirl) off saving the world (and saving their chances of getting superheroes legalized again), Bob (Mr. Incredible) watches the kids.

Review

Like all Pixar films, we are first treated to an animated short.  This time it is "Bao."  As always, the animation is beautiful.  And the story is clearly heartfelt and personal.  I got where the story was going, but it didn't quite click with me.  To me it was nice.  To someone else (perhaps a parent) it might better resonate.

And now for our feature presentation ...

It's been 14 years since we met the Parr family, Lucius, and of course Edna Mode.  Was it worth the wait?  My answer is a resounding "Yes!"  While I don't think it fully recaptures the original magic, Incredibles 2 is still a terrific follow-up to a terrific original.

One of the best parts of the film is it has something for everyone.  Is it a comedy? An action film? A story about family dynamics and parenthood? Or a story about superheroes?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes.  It's all of those things and balances them in a way that never gets old or feels forced.  The story does borrow some elements from the original, but it takes them in a fresh direction that allows for further character development as well as the introduction of new characters.

And really, this is all about the great characters.  Edna again steals the scenes she is in.  Lucius is as cool as ever (forgive the unintended pun).  As for the Parr family, we pick them up right where we left them.  They have the same faults and hangups and are continuing to learn.  They are just like a normal family ... only with superpowers.

Another fun aspect of this film is getting to see even more of what Elastigirl is capable of with her powers.  She has some great action scenes.  We also get more of what Frozone and Violet are capable of.  The new supers are interesting too, especially Voyd.

I watched The Incredibles a few weeks ago to get ready for the sequel.  And one of the most apparent things is just how much animation has improved in the intervening years.  Pixar has especially excelled at humans and hair in those 14 years, and it shows.  The original still looks good.  But this one looks fantastic.

Also important, the music is just as good as the original.  And we get introduced to theme songs for Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, and Frozone.

Topping it all off, Incredibles 2 is funny throughout and flat out hilarious at times.  Jack-Jack steals the show with his ever-increasing powers.  But the rest of the family, Edna, and Lucius have lost none of their own wit.  Neither have the film-makers.

The film is rated PG for some mild language and peril.  It seemed on par (on Parr ... get it?) with the original in terms of the action and danger.  The mild language flew past me the first time I saw the movie.  Then it was pointed out in a review I read.  I guess it is the kind of stuff I'm too used to hearing.

If you haven't already seen Incredibles 2, what are you waiting for?  Go see it.

*** Spoiler Section ***

I don't know if there will be an Incredibles 3.  I'm certainly up for the idea if they can come up with a story.  And I hope we don't have to wait 14 years for it.

Without being heavy handed about it, the film does leave open a couple ways for the story to continue.  First off, the Underminer is still on the loose.  We can't leave that unresolved forever, right?  Second, the Screenslaver does pose an interesting question that the film doesn't truly answer.  Why should people simply trust the supers?  Sure, we know that Bob, Helen, and Lucius are in it because they truly want to help others (a fact Rick Dicker acknowledges).  But it's an interesting idea I think they could play around with in another film.

Quotable Quotes

• "Num num, cookie?" -- Bob to Jack-Jack
• "How's Jack-Jack?"  "... He's in excellent health." -- Helen and Bob
• "Combustion imminent?  What does that mean?"  "It means fire, Robert." -- Bob and Edna
• "No firing the baby in the house." -- Bob to Dash and Violet
• "I renounce my renunciation." -- Violet
• "You want me to un-crush?"  "What?  Nobody's ever asked that before?" -- Krushauer and Bob

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Ocean's 8

Year: 2018

Director: Gary Ross

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Richard Armitage, and James Corden
Tagline: The plan is priceless.
Synopsis: Debbie Ocean and her crew attempt to pull off a jewel heist at the Met Gala.

Review

Although it's been a while since I've seen it, I quite enjoyed Ocean's 11.  And I remember thinking Ocean's 12 and Ocean's 13 were reasonably fun heist films too.  So I was looking forward to Ocean's 8.

So where does the film fall within the series?  It's been so long since I've seen the previous two, but I'd say 8 is better than 12 and maybe on par with 13.  But it just doesn't have the same panache as Ocean's 11.  Like the necklace in the movie, the film is a really good copy, but it just doesn't hold up under closer inspection.  It's got the look, but not the sparkle.

The heist itself is pretty well thought out and interesting.  The film starts out a bit slow though as Debbie Ocean (Danny Ocean's equally larcenous sister) gets herself paroled, immediately breaks parole, and gathers her crew.  Things pick up when we get to the actual heist.  From there on my attention was held and I enjoyed watching things unfold.

Even though there are fewer characters in this film, it felt like we had less chance to get to know them, compared to Ocean's 11.  Sandra Bullock's character is well done.  And I liked both Helena Bonham Carter's and Anne Hathaway's characters.  But the rest felt a bit flat and perhaps more like stock characters.  James Corden (as an insurance investigator) is fun, but he has very little screen time.

As enjoyable as the heist is, I did find myself picking holes in some aspects of it, once the credits had rolled.  When I was in the moment, I was able to suspend my disbelief ... mostly.  But those holes left a bit of an aftertaste that dampened my overall enjoyment.

The film is rated PG-13 for some adult situations and for language.

If you are a fan of the Ocean's films, or just enjoy watching a clever heist film, I'd say go see Ocean's 8.  It could have done more, but it was still an enjoyable time at the movies.  I'm glad I saw it, though I don't know that I need to ever see it again.  I do, however, want to go back and watch Ocean's 11.

*** Spoiler Section ***

The film has two twists.  The first one isn't much of a twist though.  The promotional material basically gives it away and I had it figured out before I even set foot in the theater.  The second twist I didn't see coming, but then I also wasn't looking for it.  That said, it isn't the least bit surprising.  It is more of an, "Oh, well of course" kind of thing.  But it makes for a nice wrap up at the end.

I'm really not sure the revenge plot would work or that the authorities wouldn't eventually piece everything together.  The evidence they plant against Debbie's ex (Clive Becker) seems circumstantial.  Any good lawyer would be able to point out all the holes in the story.  He had only limited opportunity and very little means to logistically have pulled off the plot he is accused of.

Speaking of Becker, why doesn't he ever turn in Debbie for parole violation?

Quotable Quotes

• "Why do you need to do this?" "Because it's what I'm good at." -- Lou and Debbie
• "These are all Russians." "They're hackers." "Are there hackers who aren't Russian?" "No.  There's barely any Russians who aren't hackers." -- Debbie and Lou
• "How long would it take you to make seven pieces of jewelry?" "Five or six hours." "How long if I told you you didn't have to live with your mother any more?" "Less." -- Debbie and Amita
• "Is it genetic?  Are the whole family like this?" "Literally." -- Frazier and Debbie
• "You would've loved it." -- Debbie

ISFS

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Year: 2018

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Joonas Suotamo, and Paul Bettany
Tagline: Never Tell Him the Odds
Synopsis: The early adventures of Han Solo.

Review

Well, it's no Rogue One, but it's also not The Last Jedi.  Solo is a fun yet flawed film that takes place in the increasingly familiar galaxy far, far away.

I enjoyed the film.  I did.  There are things it does totally right.  But, the film also has struggles at times and falls far short of the film our favorite scruffy looking nerf-herder deserves.  Here are some of my thoughts.

The question on most people's minds going into this film was: can Alden Ehrenreich pull off the iconic Han Solo.  Eh, mostly.  He's not Harrison Ford.  And those are impossible shoes to fill.  But Ehrenreich does an admiral job capturing the swagger of our favorite smuggler.  Put it this way, I more readily believed that he was Han Solo than I believed that Mark Hamill was really Luke Skywalker in The Last Jedi.  He does his best and I would not mind seeing him take on Han Solo again.

Although it isn't Peter Mayhew under the iconic fur (hair?) of Chewbacca, everyone's favorite Wookie is still one of the best parts of Star Wars.  And seeing him first meet and become friends with Han is indeed fun and enjoyable.  Does anyone not love Chewie?  (Side note: I enjoyed Han's reaction to learning his new pal's name.)

Yes, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian steals every scene he is in.  He's perfect in the role.  That said, his droid, L3 is one of the low points of the film for me.  She just annoyed me.  A droids' rights subplot was not really what the film needed.  Mostly though, she seems totally unsuited to the charming and debonair Lando.  The film tries to explain the unlikely duo, but it still just felt off to me.  I can understand why Lando has the banal Lobot by Empire Strikes Back.

I did think that Qi'ra (played by Emilia Clarke) was a fitting addition and a worthy foil to Han Solo.  But their love story was the cheesiest.  Yes, Han and Leia had some pretty cheesy lines.  But Han and Qi'ra were making my eyes hurt from rolling.  I'm no expert, but I don't think people actually talk like that.

As for the other characters, they were ... there.  And they were functional.  In a universe with some of the most iconic characters ever to grace the silver screen, nobody stood out as being memorable here.  But they aren't bad characters either.

The story has a western feel to it, which works for Han Solo.  The story is serviceable in that it gets Han, Chewie, and Lando all to meet each other and assures that a certain Kessel run takes place and that a particular game of sabacc is won by the right person.  But other than that, it's not a particularly compelling narrative.  A smuggler owes debts to a crime lord and has to pull another, bigger heist to pay his debts.  Double crosses ensue.  There's nothing new there.  It's not until the last act that things really pick up and start getting intriguing.

Again, I did enjoy Solo.  But I went with low expectations and it never really exceeded those expectations.  If this film weren't about characters we already know and love, it would fall completely flat and be forgotten.  Fortunately, we do love Han and Chewie (and even Lando).  So I hope that perhaps we do get another future outing with them.

If you are a Star Wars fan, I'd say go see Solo.  It has its fun moments and pays respect to the original trilogy.  Just don't have your expectations set too high.  If you aren't an avid fan of the galaxy far, far away ... well, maybe wait until Netflix.

*** Spoiler Section ***

Perhaps one of the best things Solo does is it answers (in its own way) the argument about whether Han shot first.  Han most definitely shot first.

I appreciated some of the references to the original trilogy, such as Lando telling Han "I hate you" and Han responding with, "I know."  We also see the same guard outfit that is used by Lando in Return of the Jedi.  Apparently they keep that on the Falcon as a disguise.  It was fun to watch Chewie first playing the holographic dejarik game on the Falcon.  And of course we see Han's lucky dice.

There were a few missed opportunities though.  I kept waiting for someone to refer to Han as either "scruffy" or "a scoundrel."  There were a few perfect opportunities.  But no.

It is a little weird that Han is given the surname "Solo" by an Imperial recruiter.  Certainly the name suits him, but would he really keep anything the Empire gave him?

One review I read criticized the reveal of Enfys Nest as if it was supposed to be shocking that this seemingly hardened marauder was a female.  That's not how I took it at all.  To me, the shock of the moment was to see how young she was.  She looks like a teenager, not the grizzled, middle-aged male or female I was expecting.

And then there was the twist at the end.  Who is the secret head of Crimson Dawn?  Darth Maul.  Wait.  What?!  The last time I checked, Maul had been sliced in two by Obi-Wan Kenobi and was tumbling down one of the ubiquitous bottomless shafts that every space station must have.  It was a cool twist, but I left very confused.  I had to go home and do some Googling.  Turns out Maul's whole "not dead" storyline is told in both the animated Clone Wars and Rebels series.  Huh.

Quotable Quotes

• "I hate you."  "I know." -- Lando Calrissian and Han Solo
• "Assume everyone will betray you, and you will never be disappointed." -- Tobias Beckett to Han Solo
• "That's my cape!  It's custom made!" -- Lando Calrissian to Qi'ra, who is using a cape to put out a fire
• "I've got a really good feeling about this." -- Han Solo
• "Throw him to the beast."  "There's a beast?!"  -- Empire Soldier and Han Solo

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