Boycotting Solo: A Star Wars Story? You’re not a real fan

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

Why Boycotting Solo: A Star Wars Story because you didn’t like Star Wars: The Last Jedi is pretty dumb.

I will say it even if no one else will. If you’re boycotting Solo: A Star Wars Story because you didn’t like Star Wars: The Last Jedi, you’re not a real fan. And I don’t want to hear your justification for hating The Last Jedi, your fandom membership card is now revoked.

Now maybe I’m an easy mark for Lucasfilm. I have loved everything Star Wars since before I can remember. Perhaps it’s because as a fan even though I feel some ownership over the franchise, I realize that I’m just here to come along for the ride.

Maybe it ’s because I realize that the franchise is greater than just what my desire is for these films. Star Wars speaks to many people in many different ways, and that’s what I love about these movies, shows, comics, and books.

Minor spoilers are ahead for Solo: A Star Wars Story.

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What Solo: A Star Wars Story actually is…

Solo: A Star Wars Story, for all intents and purposes, is an excellent Star Wars movie. It has the right spirit, hits the right notes, and provides the kind of fan service that you angry fans felt The Last Jedi did not.

Even I went into the movie skeptically only to find myself very pleasantly surprised by what I had just seen. The film is action-packed, fun, funny and lets some of our favorite characters shine in a way we hadn’t seen before.

Photo Credit: LucasfilmIf you’re a huge EU/Legends fan, there are enough references in the film to get you to crack a smile. The fact that EU content is getting folded back into canon should make you excited.

The surprise (not so surprising?) twist near the end will generate interest in a sequel just a can see more of this seedy underside of the galaxy.

There’s only one Han Solo, and that is Harrison Ford?

I can’t argue with the sentiment against iconic character’s recastings. Han Solo is easily my favorite character in the Star Wars Universe. When I heard Lucasfilm was making a Han Solo movie I wasn’t equal parts excited and terrified.

Could I possibly ever see some other than Harrison Ford as Han Solo? After watching the movie, the clear answer is yes.

Photo Credit: Lucasfilm

More from Dork Side of the Force

Alden Ehrenreich makes the part of Han Solo his own. And he does so by capturing the essence of the character without directly imitating Harrison Ford. He delivers the bravado and swag we’d expect from Han Solo, and he certainly doesn’t fall short on wit.

But I realize that haters gotta hate.

Let’s face; it doesn’t matter what I or anyone else tells you about Solo, you hate it for the sake of hating it. What’s sad is that you hated it before you even watched it, if, in fact, you went to see the film.

Because what I think is sadder than you boycotting Solo: A Star Wars Story is you tweeting the hashtag while posting a photo of yourself in an empty theater. Stirring the crap while not even being a person of your own convictions is tragic.

Photo Credit: LucasfilmOr maybe you’ve just outgrown the franchise — it’s entirely possible. There are times the things we loved just don’t hit those right notes for us anymore. If that’s the case, then move on.

Don’t cry, don’t whine, move on. And if you hate on these new films for more despicable reasons, well — don’t even get me started on that. The point is don’t ruin it for the rest of us. We love the ride we’ve been on since Star Wars: A New Hope released in 1977, and we don’t want to hop off.

Photo Credit: LucasfilmWould you boycott your favorite show just because you didn’t like one episode in the series? Wouldn’t that be a bit petty? But remember that if you can’t love something at your self-perceived worst, maybe you didn’t genuinely love it in the first place. And for that, your fan card has been revoked.

Next: Solo Easter eggs bind the galaxy together

Solo: A Star Wars Story is playing in theaters, worldwide.