Swinging At Your Opponent AND MISSING At Weigh-Ins From Point Blank Range Is Not Great, Folks
Oh man.
The introduction of rogue scoundrel Han Solo in ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ (1977) is one of the best, and most iconic opening scenes a character has ever received in the history of cinema. Still to this day, Harrison Ford’s unbelievable suaveness in that cantina sequence is discussed in all kinds of film circles, and considering how much was said about Solo without ANYTHING being said about Solo, it’s usually studied in great detail by aspiring screenwriters. Take a look for yourself, below.
It just doesn’t get better than that! Some alien named Greedo giving you trouble about some unpaid debts? Unholster than DL-44 and shoot that mothafucka underneath the table, incognito-style! That’s right…fuck ‘em! Solo’s coin-flip to the bartender, paired with the unforgettable line of dialogue, “Sorry about the mess”, is the cherry on top of this sundae, truly solidifying it as the powerhouse of a scene I have been describing it as in this blog. And I’m getting around to a point, I promise, so just bear with me here.
In 1997, a “Special Edition” of ‘A New Hope’ was re-released in theaters to commemorate the film’s twentieth anniversary, and there was very little fans found “special” about it. Edits were made to the classic to nudge it closer to writer/director George Lucas’ “original vision” of how things should be, including the one found below, which is WIDELY loathed by Star Wars fans across the galaxy.
In an attempt to make Solo a much more heroic, stand-up character, a “white-meat babyface” as we’d call him in the wrestling business, George Lucas went back and digitally edited Han’s introduction so that Solo no longer “shot first”. Instead, Greedo now fires a shot from his hip – AT POINT BLANK RANGE – and misses. Han moves his head just a bit as well, you know, because when somebody shoots you, you could totally see it coming and slip it, you know?
Han then fires at Greedo in self defense, completely flipping the dynamics of his character on their head and I mean…it’s just so fucking annoying. Character bullshit aside, nobody and I mean nobody, especially not someone sent by Jabba the Hutt to collect debts, would ever miss ever a PUNCH from that close up, on an unsuspecting victim. Nobody.
Nobody except Terence Crawford, apparently…and that’s tough.
I’m dead serious when I say I don’t think Terence Crawford should fight tonight. I think he should pull out, and admit defeat. José Benavidez Jr is the victor.
I’ve never seen a man as morally defeated as Terence Crawford after he missed that punch. Not even Hubbs after the Yankees rolled over and let the Red Sox pet their bellies. Crawford just immediately didn’t wanna be where he was. Didn’t wanna see Benavidez anymore, didn’t wanna be on stage anymore, didn’t even wanna be a boxer anymore…I think he just wanted his mommy.
You just hate to see it.