'Solo' a pleasant surprise despite poor box office numbers (spoilers)

Darth Maul is back. Darth. Maul. That fact alone makes 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' worth a look for Star Wars fans.

I must admit that when I walked into the theater, I wasn't quite sure what to expect given the polarizing fan response to 'The Last Jedi'. What I got was one of my favorite installments of the entire Star Wars saga. Whether it was the opening sequence on Corellia, the unbelievable train heist, Qi'ra's semi-predictable double-cross, or the mind-boggling cameo of everyone's favorite Sith Lord, this movie just about had it all.

One thing that kind of surprises me about 'Solo' is its disappointing box office performance. Part of me knows that it's the boycotters who were sour about 'The Last Jedi'. The other part thinks that it's just Star Wars fatigue. 'The Last Jedi' was released into theaters on Dec. 15. 'Solo' came out on May 25. That's two Star Wars movies in just over six months. For the casual moviegoer, that might be a little too much space opera.

Now, let's talk about the performances in 'Solo'. Alden Ehrenreich as Han is great. Throughout the movie, I never got the feeling that he was trying to mimic Harrison Ford's cinematic icon, which I thought was a positive. Ehrenreich definitely was the right choice for the role. Emilia Clarke as Qi'ra was probably the most complex character in the movie, as we were never quite able to discern which side of the fence she was on until the tail-end of it all.

Woody Harrelson put forth one of his better performances of the past few years, playing Han's mentor, Beckett. You kind of had the feeling that Beckett was going down, especially after he switched sides on us. Donald Glover as Lando cemented him as one of the future heavyweights in Hollywood. And finally, Paul Bettany was surprisingly convincing as the menacing crime boss, Dryden Vos.

But let's get to the real story behind this movie: the return of Darth Maul to the big screen. When a mysterious hooded figure appeared in a hologram in front of Qi'ra, I really had no idea who it could be. When the cloak was taken off, there was an audible gasp in the theater. The familiar red and black tattooed face, with those piercing eyes and sharpened horns. It was the Shadow Hunter himself, his first cinematic appearance since 'The Phantom Menace' in 1999.

Darth Maul's cameo tells me two things. One: Disney is finally willing to embrace the entirety of Star Wars canon. By bringing Maul back, they're also acknowledging the events of 'The Clone Wars', which is one of my favorite aspects of Star Wars and one of the best animated shows of the last decade. Two: There could very well be a sequel in the works. I mean, you can't just show Darth Maul for 30 seconds and then never expand on it. You've got to give us something to look forward to here.

Unfortunately, a sequel to 'Solo' may be in question after the poor numbers at the box office. Against a $250 million budget, 'Solo' has only grossed $379.9 million through two and a half months. To break even, it would have to make about $120 million more, which isn't going to happen.

All in all, I thought 'Solo' was just a great movie, and a solid addition to the Star Wars canon. If you're unfamiliar with the TV shows and are still trying to figure out how Darth Maul is alive, click on the link below. And if you haven't checked the movie out yet, don't waste any more time.

How is Darth Maul alive? Star Wars Explained

Image credits: StarWars.com, Comic Books & Beyond

YouTube channel: Star Wars Theory

Box office stats: BoxOfficeMojo.com