SOLO had a troubled production history like the iconic Han Solo character's past. It was taken over by director Ron Howard when the movie was originally supposed to wrap production three weeks later. Ron took over from the original movie directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller whose work that Lucasfilm wasn't happy with. Ron Howard ended up reshooting up to 80 percent of the movie. SOLO happily didn't end up as a train wreck. It is a light enjoyable sci-fi western/ heist movie. It is the origin story of Han Solo of how he met Chewbacca, won the Millennium Falcon from his best frenemy Lando Calirissian (Donald Glover who deserves his own movie as Lando), and flew the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs.

SOLO begins with how Han had a dream of running away from Corellia with his girlfriend Qi'ra (Emila Clarke of GAMES OF THRONES fame), but he ends up enlisting in the Empire's military forces only to find himself part of a group of thieves (lead by Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson)) years later with the prize being the hyperfuel coaxium. They plan to steal the coaxium only to have it lead to another heist to make good with the criminal organization known as the Crimson Hand. Han, Chewie (Chewbacca), Beckett, and one of the members of the Crimson Hand track down Lando to get his help or his ship for this new job.

If you're looking to have SOLO break new ground in the STAR WARS universe, you may be disappointed. If you're looking for a fun adventure that explores Han Solo, you may be entertained. SOLO is part of a continuing effort by Lucasfilm to build a new expanding STAR WARS universe which has ties to the original STAR WARS trilogy (this movie takes place 10 years before Episode IV: A NEW HOPE) and the two cartoon series (CLONE WARS and REBELS). It is refreshing to see a STAR WARS movie where they aren't trying to blow up some big Empire objective or save the universe. It is a simple Space Western that explores other facets of the universe without it being connected to all things Jedi and Sith.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
SOLO: THE DIRECTOR & CAST ROUNDTABLE- Ron Howard asks questions of the cast about making the movie and being cast in it
KASDAN ON KASDAN- Lawrence Kasdan and his son Jonathan Kasdan talk about collaborating on writing the SOLO movie where Lawrence was an Original Trilogy purist and his son was the Star Wars details nerd
REMAKING THE MILLENNIUM FALCON- a behind-the-scenes look at how they redesigned the Millennium Falcon before it came the ship fans know and love
ESCAPE FROM CORELLIA- a behind-the-scenes look at filming the opening scenes which combines location and studio and CGI
THE TRAIN HEIST- a look at the making of the Train Heist sequence
TEAM CHEWIE
BECOMING A DROID: L3-37- a behind-the-scenes look at the actress who plays the L3-37 droid
SCOUNDRELS, DROIDS, CREATURES, AND CARDS: WELCOME TO FORT YPSOINTO THE MAELSTROM: THE KESSEL RUN- behind-the-scenes of creating the scene where Han first meets Lando

Eight deleted and extended scenes which help add to the story and one scene even clears up a minor plot hole

Also a code for a digital copy to stream and download is included

FINAL ANALYSIS: SOLO isn't a bad STAR WARS origin movie despite its troubled production history. The extras aren't that bad, but I wish they would have addressed the troubled production history in the extras instead of not really addressing it at all.

This review is (c)10-4-2018 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com and look for additional content at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com