Blu-Ray Review: “Solo: A Star Wars Story”
Hi everyone!
We received the Blu-ray of Solo: A Star Wars Story to review. The film was released on Digital HD on September 14th, 2018 and will bow on Blu-ray and DVD on September 25th.
This was my first time seeing the film, which I won’t discuss too much apart from the bonus features. In a nutshell, I didn’t find Solo: A Star Wars Story very engaging and I thought Alden Ehrenreich didn’t embody Han Solo in the way I hoped. I’ve read articles where it mentioned he was a young Han Solo. Really, Harrison Ford was also a young Han Solo, they aren’t too different in age from when Ford was in the original Star Wars (now Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope) – within about 5 years of each other in real life. It isn’t wide enough a gap for a younger version in my opinion. I plan to watch the film again in a month or so to see if I can put the original Han Solo out of my mind when watching, and will update this article at that time. I am a moderate Star Wars fan who enjoys each film (or doesn’t enjoy at times) generally on their own merits, not how they fit into the Star Wars universe so much. I first watched Star Wars in the theater at 1977, loved it and never expected to see it again – or a whole franchise, so that always enters my mind when watching and reviewing new films. Here is a look below at some of the bonus features.
Copyright Disney
I watched the major bonus features, and actually often enjoy them more than the film – and that was the case here. I like learning how films were made.
Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable: Ron Howard leads the questioning here to actors from the film including Alden Ehrenreich, Donald Glover and Emilia Clarke. Howard asks a wide variety of questions, including who they told about being in the new Star Wars film upon casting, along with questions regarding the film. Howard makes an earnest and fun moderator, and at one point Paul Bettany turns the tables on Howard to ask him about his first day (when George Lucas visited the set). Howard also mentions something that Harrison Ford said, “Don’t forget, I didn’t create the character (of Han Solo), George did”.
Kasdan on Kasdan: Kathleen Kennedy talked Larry Kasdan into coming back to the franchise, and asked if there were any of the characters he’d like to deal with, and he said Hano Solo. This bonus feature features Larry Kasdan and his son Jonathan, who co-wrote the film. Jonathan was born after the original film debuted and so they come from different viewpoints.
Remaking the Millennium Falcon: It’s pretty much what you’d expect. “Track the transformation of the most famous ship in the galaxy, from Lando’s swank and impeccable pride and joy to Han’s stripped-down hot-rod freighter with “special modifications.”
Other features can be found below in the press release.
BURBANK, Calif. (July 18, 2018) — Lucasfilm’s “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Ron Howard—the creator of unforgettable films, such as “A Beautiful Mind,” “Apollo 13,” “Parenthood” and “Splash”—took moviegoers on this summer’s wildest ride with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy, Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich). The action-packed journey explores Han’s first encounters with future friend and copilot Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) and notorious gambler Lando Calrissian (Donald Glover), as well as his adventure-filled past alongside fellow street thief Qi’ra (Emilia Clarke) and career criminal Beckett (Woody Harrelson). Watch instantly on Sept. 14th as the Millennium Falcon sets course digitally in HD and and on Movies Anywhere, and bring the adventure home on and On-Demand on Sept. 25.
“Solo: A Star Wars Story” bonus content takes fans behind the scenes to experience compelling discussions with the star-studded cast and screenwriters Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan (writer of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi); a revealing feature on Chewie and his enduring friendship with Han; a close-up look at the original version of the Millennium Falcon and Han’s first time piloting the infamous ship; the creation of the film’s otherworldly settings and pulse-pounding action sequences; and eight never-before-seen deleted and extended scenes.
DIGITAL AND BLU-RAY BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):
• Solo: The Director & Cast Roundtable
Sit down with director Ron Howard and the stars for an intimate and entertaining discussion of the film’s making.
· Team Chewie
See what it takes to bring your favorite Wookiee to life in this lighthearted look behind the scenes.
· Kasdan on Kasdan
Iconic Star Wars screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan and son Jonathan share what it was like to write the movie’s script together.
· Remaking the Millennium Falcon
Track the transformation of the most famous ship in the galaxy, from Lando’s swank and impeccable pride and joy to Han’s stripped-down hot-rod freighter with “special modifications.”
· Escape from Corellia
Get behind the wheel for the making of this high-octane chase through the streets of Corellia.
• The Train Heist
Explore the challenges and thrills of creating this action-packed sequence, including its remote location and spectacular effects.
· Becoming a Droid: L3-37
Meet the newest droid—and the talented actor who helps bring her to life.
• Scoundrels, Droids, Creatures and Cards: Welcome to Fort Ypso
Take an in-depth tour of the rough-and-tumble bar where strangers mix and gamblers risk all in the legendary card game, Sabaac.
• Into the Maelstrom: The Kessel Run
Join Han and Chewie at the controls of the Millennium Falcon to see how this legendary moment in Star Wars history unfolds.
- Deleted Scenes
o Proxima’s Den
o Corellian Foot Chase
o Han Solo: Imperial Cadet
o The Battle of Mimban: Extended
o Han Versus Chewie: Extended
o Snowball Fight!
o Meet Dryden: Extended
o Coaxium Double-Cross
- The Millenium Falcon: From Page to Park – An exclusive look at the history of the most famous ship in the galaxy, its origin and development, and how it will translate in one of the most anticipated expansions in Disneyland’s history.
Directed by Ron Howard, the fun-filled galactic heist movie stars Alden Ehrenreich (“Hail, Caesar!,” “Tetro”), Woody Harrelson (“Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” “The Messenger”), Emilia Clarke (“Me Before You,” “Game of Thrones”), Donald Glover (“Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “The Martian”), Thandie Newton (“Gringo,” “Crash”), Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag,” “Killing Eve”) and Paul Bettany (“Captain America: Civil War,” “Master and Commander”). Joonas Suotamo (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) returns to play Chewbacca.
Written by Jonathan Kasdan & Lawrence Kasdan, “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur and Simon Emanuel. Lawrence Kasdan, Jason McGatlin, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller are executive producers.
To create the unique look of the film, some of the industry’s top talent was recruited, including Academy Award® nominee Bradford Young (“Arrival”), director of photography; two-time Academy Award–winning editor Pietro Scalia (“Alien: Covenant”); Dominic Tuohy (“The Mummy”), special effects supervisor; Rob Bredow (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”), visual effects supervisor; and John Powell (“Jason Bourne”), score composed and adapted by.
They are joined by returning Star Wars veteran crew members: Neil Lamont, production designer; Neal Scanlan, special creature effects; David Crossman and Glyn Dillon, costume designers; Jamie Wilkinson, prop master; Lisa Tomblin-Fitzpatrick, hair designer; and Amanda Knight, makeup designer.
The legendary John Williams is credited with the “Han Solo Theme” and original Star Wars music.
SPECIFICATIONS:
FEATURE RUN TIME: Approximately 135 min.
RATING: PG-13 in U.S. (Bonus Material Not Rated); PG in CE and G in CF
PRODUCT OFFERINGS: Digital 4K UHD (Select retailers include Dolby Vision), HD, SD
4K UHD Multi Screen Edition (4K UHD + BD + Digital Code)
Blu-ray (BD + Digital Code) Feature Film
DVD, On Demand
ASPECT RATIO: 2.39:1
AUDIO: 4K UHD BD = English 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Thai 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish and French 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus
Blu-ray = English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Digital
DVD = English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital, English 2.0 Descriptive Audio
4K UHD Digital = English Dolby Atmos (for some clients), English 5.1/2.0, Latin Spanish 5.1/2.0, French 5.1/2.0 (for some clients), English 2.0 Descriptive Audio (for some clients)
HD / SD Digital = English 5.1/2.0, Latin Spanish 5.1/2.0, French 5.1/2.0 (for some clients), English 2.0 Descriptive Audio (for some clients)
SUBTITLES: 4K UHD = English SDH, Cantonese, Korean, Latin Spanish, Thai, Traditional Chinese for
English, French-Canadian
Blu-ray = English SDH, French & Spanish
DVD = English SDH, French & Spanish
4K UHD / HD / SD Digital = English SDH, French & Spanish
CLOSED CAPTIONS: English (DVD & Digital)
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Website: http://www.starwars.com/solo
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/StarWarsMovies
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StarWars
Instagram: http://instagram.com/StarWarsMovies
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/starwars
ABOUT LUCASFILM LTD.
Lucasfilm Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production. In addition to its motion-picture and television production, the company’s activities include visual effects and audio post-production, cutting-edge digital animation, interactive entertainment software, and the management of the global merchandising activities for its entertainment properties including the legendary STAR WARS and INDIANA JONES franchises. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in northern California.
ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:
For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; and Lucasfilm. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.