Ewoks: Caravan of Courage and the Battle for Endor

[ThePhantasm]

Anyone remember these movies?



I have to admit, I loved these movies as a kid, though I haven't seen them in a long time. The first one in particular was good, cheesy fun. I do think it is odd that only the Ewoks, of all things, got spin-off live-action films after the original trilogy.

[James]

I...had no idea these even existed. Are they considered canon?

[ThePhantasm]

I think they are officially regarded as "C-Canon" now. However, they were written by George Lucas and I think intended to be more officially main canon at the time of their production.

[ThePhantasm]

[ThePhantasm]

The villains of the films:

[Jedi-Spirit]

Good Low-Budget Fun...

[C. Lee]

I recorded them off of TV when they were first shown, so saw them a couple of times that way...but in 2004, LUCASFILM released them together on DVD on a 2 sided disc. I'm not sure if you can still find it anywhere now though.

[danoyse]

I had them on VHS too, recorded on TV. When the first movie aired, they were also simulcasting the movie on the radio station, so we could turn it on and get the movie's sound in stereo.

The 80s were fun.

[ThePhantasm]

Originally Posted by danoyse

When the first movie aired, they were also simulcasting the movie on the radio station, so we could turn it on and get the movie's sound in stereo.

Ha, that's cool. I didn't know they did that.

[James]

Amazing.

[C. Lee]

I was just looking at the DVDs....the only extras on it is the choice to have subtitles or not.

Also, it was such a throwaway production by 20th Century Fox, that they didn't even bother to put them on the disc in the right way. As I said, it is a two sided disc, one movie on one side, the other on the other side. The side with the writing (where the first movie should go) has BATTLE OF ENDOR on it with CARAVAN OF COURAGE on the reverse (back) side.

Caravan - screenplay by Bob Carrau....story by George Lucas.

Battle - screenplay by Ken and Jim Wheat....story by George Lucas.

[Human Torch]

I actually watched these fims for the first time in years a couple months ago.I kinda liked the second film better as a kid.But it's mad depressing.Cindel's entire family gets killed within the first ten minutes of the movie!

I always hoped they'd do a third and make a trilogy.(I think there were even rumors that there was to be a third film) Maybe now they will.

[danoyse]

Originally Posted by ThePhantasm

Ha, that's cool. I didn't know they did that.

Yep. Whenever it came back from a commercial break, there would be a graphic at the bottom of the screen to turn to whatever radio station it was to hear the movie in stereo. My dad put the radio on, it was cool!

When I was in school the next day after the first movie aired, some kid was just sitting at his desk saying, "Starcruiser whoosh!!" "Starcruiser crash!!!"

[ThePhantasm]

Originally Posted by Human Torch

But it's mad depressing.Cindel's entire family gets killed within the first ten minutes of the movie!

Yeah, I think that's why I didn't like the 2nd one as much when I was a kid... that was pretty dark.

[danoyse]

Originally Posted by ThePhantasm

Yeah, I think that's why I didn't like the 2nd one as much when I was a kid... that was pretty dark.

I remember one of the reviews really ripped that movie for killing off the family. It was pretty harsh. When we were watching it, my folks both commented that they didn't think it was necessary.

I did love Teek, though.

[danoyse]

Here are the trailers:

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

VIDEO-CLick to Watch!:

I love that Wicket was speaking total English by the second movie.

[ThePhantasm]

I just found this interview with Ken Wheat, who says that Lucas killed off the rest of the Towani family because he was inspired by the movie Heidi.

"Lucas guided the creation of the story over the course of two four-hour sessions we had with him," Wheat explains. "He'd just watched HEIDI with his daughter the weekend before these took place, and the story idea he pushed was having the little girl from the first Ewok TV movie become an orphan who ends up living with a grumpy old hermit in the woods."

Never thought about it before, but I can see the similarities now.

[Human Torch]

That makes sense.I always found it kinda strange.I mean the whole family survives the first film only to get killed minutes into the second film!

I always dug the baddies in that film.Terrack (sp?) and that Witch woman were pretty cool.And of course,it afforded Wilford Brimley his finest role.

[Willi Berg]

Originally Posted by danoyse

When the first movie aired, they were also simulcasting the movie on the radio station, so we could turn it on and get the movie's sound in stereo.

Wow, I had forgotten about that. That was great.

[ThePhantasm]

Originally Posted by Human Torch

I always dug the baddies in that film.Terrack (sp?) and that Witch woman were pretty cool.And of course,it afforded Wilford Brimley his finest role.

Yeah. It was interesting seeing magic in the Star Wars universe. I think in the EU they later explained it away by saying that the Witch was a Force Witch who had once been a Jedi or something.

[Human Torch]

Originally Posted by danoyse

I remember one of the reviews really ripped that movie for killing off the family. It was pretty harsh. When we were watching it, my folks both commented that they didn't think it was necessary.

I did love Teek, though.

I remember before the film,they had a disclaimer saying "This film may be too intense for young childeren."(or some such variation).I remember at the time thinking that's a strange thing to have in front of a "kids movie".

[danoyse]

Originally Posted by Human Torch

I remember before the film,they had a disclaimer saying "This film may be too intense for young childeren."(or some such variation).I remember at the time thinking that's a strange thing to have in front of a "kids movie".

That's right! I had forgotten about that.