Having seen it a second time today, I think I like it better on repeat viewing. I love Woody as an Imperial officer. I love the nods to the previous uses of the Bapty-made base of Han's ANH blaster. I love that at various points, Lando refers to the events in the old Lando Calrissian trilogy... I can't help but wonder if those labor droids seen on Corellia and Kessel are of the same make as Bollux from the Han Solo books of similar vintage.
I'm annoyed now upon finding out that, while Vos may or may not have been one of Maul's Mandalorian followers, the armor on display is described as a "nearly complete set of Old Republic era Mandalorian Rally Master armor". So it's not modern, thus likely not something worn in the Clone Wars, and also the first direct clash I've seen of the new canon with the old pre-RotJ EU... Rally Master was only ever a rank in the Neo-Crusaders during the Mandalorian Wars, and that ain't Neo-Crusader armor.
Also mildly annoyed to find that my looking for Tag and Bink is pointless -- they're not in the finished film. They're in the deleted sequence at the Carida Academy. Hope it's on the Blu-Ray.
As for L3... I still like her, I still don't find anything out-of-place or wrong about her pet cause. Droid liberation has been a thing in the EU off and on for ages. And her relationship with Lando? Not physical. Not in that way. She mentions the awkwardness of working with someone who has feelings for her. Then "sometimes I think maybe... But no. We're not compatible." Implying to me that there's sexual tension (at least on her end), but that it's never been acted upon. And Lando still seems like he's fond of her, and that helps him tolerate her otherwise-annoying quirks. But that's it for him up until he's losing her.
And if that inneundo was too much, what about Han to Qi'ra in Lando's quarters? Where she asks him what next, and he suggests they try out Lando's bed?
Meanwhile, the whole box-office thing. Yes, it's underperforming. Yes, "Star Wars fatigue" probably plays a small part. I do think it's more that this is about the fifth big-draw movie to come out in the last month or so, it's Memorial Day Weekend here in the US, and people who have gone ot see Infinity War or Deadpool once or twice are more likely to want a bit of a break from paying to go to the movies.
...And for all that, it's still #1 at the box office, it's the highest-grossing Memorial Day Weekend opening in four years, it's Ron Howard's highest-grossing opening weekend ever, and a lot of people, myself included, are predicting more of a slow burn with minimal fall-off, as people get a bit of distance from Infinity War and Deadpool, get past the holiday weekend, and word of mouth continues to spread. Twice now for me, and I'm hoping for at least two or three more times with various friends and family before it leaves theaters.
lol:lol
