May 5th
Solo* (12) 
(US 2018)                       

A Corellian daredevil pilot escapes but is separated from his girl, whom he later discovers has reluctantly sided with the galactic criminal organisation Crimson Dawn.                       
Relentlessly fast-paced and wisecracking instalment in the Disney saga,  a Star Wars heist movie missing the gravitas of the original saga, with a cheekily grinning star instead of the self-deprecating charm of Harrison Ford. Occasional moments of characterisation and charm slip in along the rollercoaster ride.

Written by: Jonathan Kasdan, Lawrence Kasdan.
Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Allison Shearmur, Simon Emanuel.
Director: Ron Howard.
Starring: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover (as Lando Calrissian), Joonas Suotama (as Chewbacca), Paul Bettany, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Ray Park.
Photography: Bradford Young.
Music: John Williams, John Powell.
Editing: Pietro Scalia.
Production Design: Neil Lamont.

+ Ron Howard was a mid-production replacement for Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, whose semi-improvisational style didn't suit either the studio or star Alden Ehrenreich. As a result, it has become (to date) the most expensive Star Wars film ever made (over $275 million), and significantly, only grossed a fraction more than that at the box office.