Totally agree: Han shooting first is totally aligned with his character. A re-release with Han reactively defending himself does a disservice to this much-touted rogue being the “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerve hurter” that he is (although, it is debatable whether Han is scruffy-looking or not 😉).
Now let’s widen the lens. We see Han Solo in many of the dozen or so movies set in the Star Wars Universe. In Episodes 4-6 we see a bit of an arc - from a narcissistic liar to a selfless devotee (to Luke, Leila, and the rebellion).
In the movie, “Solo,” we see a much different character than we see in the core trilogy, and we learn what turns a clever (but naive) young man into an intergalactic pirate. In the films set after the core trilogy we see a further evolution of Solo, this time into a father who is willing to lay down his life for his son.
To me, this very wide, multi-film arc makes complete sense, with the one inconsistency being “Greeto shot first.” Just goes to show how one incongruent moment in a story can stain an otherwise flawless character.
I haven't seen "Solo" but it's an interesting comparison of the two origins so to speak of the Han character -- "Solo" being the extended version and the Mos Eisley cantina scenes being the original origin story.
Yep - totally agree. I also think the addition of Luke screaming when he falls down the shaft in the remastered Empire Strikes Back is a similar problem - Luke chose to step off of that perch and fall to his potential demise rather than joining Vader. It was an idealistic and principled decision, showing his commitment to what he deemed was good and right. To add him screaming when he falls there completely negates the strength of his choice. It irritates me every time I see it!
Wow, I was not aware of the revised version with the scream. Yeah, it certainly undermines the power of the scene and the strength of Luke's choice, as you mention.
Totally agree: Han shooting first is totally aligned with his character. A re-release with Han reactively defending himself does a disservice to this much-touted rogue being the “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerve hurter” that he is (although, it is debatable whether Han is scruffy-looking or not 😉).
Now let’s widen the lens. We see Han Solo in many of the dozen or so movies set in the Star Wars Universe. In Episodes 4-6 we see a bit of an arc - from a narcissistic liar to a selfless devotee (to Luke, Leila, and the rebellion).
In the movie, “Solo,” we see a much different character than we see in the core trilogy, and we learn what turns a clever (but naive) young man into an intergalactic pirate. In the films set after the core trilogy we see a further evolution of Solo, this time into a father who is willing to lay down his life for his son.
To me, this very wide, multi-film arc makes complete sense, with the one inconsistency being “Greeto shot first.” Just goes to show how one incongruent moment in a story can stain an otherwise flawless character.
I haven't seen "Solo" but it's an interesting comparison of the two origins so to speak of the Han character -- "Solo" being the extended version and the Mos Eisley cantina scenes being the original origin story.
Yep - totally agree. I also think the addition of Luke screaming when he falls down the shaft in the remastered Empire Strikes Back is a similar problem - Luke chose to step off of that perch and fall to his potential demise rather than joining Vader. It was an idealistic and principled decision, showing his commitment to what he deemed was good and right. To add him screaming when he falls there completely negates the strength of his choice. It irritates me every time I see it!
Wow, I was not aware of the revised version with the scream. Yeah, it certainly undermines the power of the scene and the strength of Luke's choice, as you mention.