Chad R
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Jul 14, 1999
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- 2,183
- Real Name
- Chad Rouch
The key phrase there is "while slowly grabbing hold of his gun". He is furtively preparing to blow Greedo away, and the entire conversation is nothing more than a stalling tactic on his part while he prepares to do so.
He has no choice in either scenario (stalling to shoot him in cold blood or hoping he can talk his way out of it) since the first thing Greedo does is stick a gun in Han's chest. He's slowly pulling his gun because any fast movements will make Greedo shoot.
I've never bought into the idea that Greedo shooting first changes Han's character. He's at gunpoint, under the immediate threat of being shot. Shooting first is not 'cold blood' no matter how you interpret it, he was under direct threat by a gun being pointed his way.
Then Greedo directly threatens him in his reply to "over my dead body;" "That's the idea. I've been waiting for this a long time, Solo." He's going to shoot. He's said as much. Han just gets the drop on him. That really hasn't changed. the only thing that has is Greedo is a bad shot.
And in both versions Han shows no remorse. He nonchalantly gets up and flips the bartender a coin for the mess (Classic western move). Lucas may think it softens Han, but I don't think so.