A Thousand Stars: Episode IV, Part 18
Jan. 9th, 2025 09:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilHan Solo, and Harrison Ford with him, rocketed to such meteoric leading-man action-hero status in the decade following this first film that it's important to remember -- Han is neither the main character of Episode IV, nor even a full-fledged hero. He's a compelling character, no question, thanks in part to Ford's charismatic performance, but he's introduced as a braggadocio mercenary who drives a hard bargain. Just another example of the seedy, shady types who frequent the cantina.
Much of the entertainment we get from Han comes from the contrast with our heroes. The reaction shots of Obi-Wan and Luke are so delightful. The seasoned Jedi knows an overblown boast when he sees it. Luke, meanwhile, is disgusted with Han's greed (to be fair, a farmboy wouldn't know the going rates for chartering a flight, so maybe Han is being reasonable?) and filled with suspicion. It'll be a fun ride to watch the mercenary transform to something more promising, while his relationship with do-gooders like Luke changes dramatically. But this first look at Han shows us nothing but a profit-driven smuggler.
Next, the seediness continues...
Much of the entertainment we get from Han comes from the contrast with our heroes. The reaction shots of Obi-Wan and Luke are so delightful. The seasoned Jedi knows an overblown boast when he sees it. Luke, meanwhile, is disgusted with Han's greed (to be fair, a farmboy wouldn't know the going rates for chartering a flight, so maybe Han is being reasonable?) and filled with suspicion. It'll be a fun ride to watch the mercenary transform to something more promising, while his relationship with do-gooders like Luke changes dramatically. But this first look at Han shows us nothing but a profit-driven smuggler.
Next, the seediness continues...
