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Director
Daniel Smith and Co-Collaborator Jeff Sheetz took it upon themselves to
create possibly one of the finest homages to the "Star Wars" universe of
all time, and one of the most clever looks in to the untold story of
Lucas' most iconic characters by taking the combined talents of Dave
School from Universal Studios to tell their own prequel, the prologue to
Han Solo and Chewbacca. Filled with masterful animation and sharp voice
acting, "The Solo Adventures" elaborates on the cargo drop that Han and
Chewie engaged in before they landed at the Cantina to meet Obi-Wan and
Luke that grabbed them such hot water from Jabba and his gang. Speeding
across the galaxy in the Millennium Falcon, Chewie and Han make it their
mission to deliver said cargo to Jabba with the guidance of a droid who
is insistent on getting this cargo to Jabba or else. But with the rising
power of the Empire and the war taking siege across the skies, Han and
Chewie inevitably come across the Imperial ships and make a break for it
while also crossing the droid who is intent on getting the mysterious
cargo to Jabba whether they're alive or dead.
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Filled with the same buddy
action comedy we saw in "Star Wars," Han and Chewie are in
rare form here as two mismatched best friends who are forced
to make a decision when they're confronted with the Empire
tie fighters and Chewbacca actually manages to display some
brains and decisions of his own against Han's own
frustration. |
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Filled with the whimsy and free spirited
humor and swashbuckling adventure that went missing from the series
after "Return of the Jedi," Smith and Sheetz along with the Dave School
team manage to concoct something of a really exciting and fantastic
introduction to these two anti-heroes who are at constant odds with one
another but are never afraid to fight on the same side when approached
with the villainous tie fighters in the sky.
The character designs
are very detailed and often vivid while Han's depiction is very true to
the character persona we saw in the original film. Meanwhile Smith and
Sheetz squeeze in their own villain with Jabba's droid agent leading to
a rather surprising final scene that is not only a tongue in cheek hint
at Han's fate at the hands of Jabba in the original trilogy, but yet
another giant wink from true fans of the saga that will leave hardcore
"Star Wars" buffs laughing until the credits roll.
The Dave School award
winning fan film "The Solo Adventures" is what every "Star Wars" fan
tribute should aspire to be, recalling a more innocent time where
excitement and characterization was always a top priority while the duo
behind the animation top it all off with a rather clever little closer
you won't soon forget.
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