The Ewok Adventure

Plot synopsis:
The galaxy is in the midst of a civil war. Spies for the Rebel Alliance have stolen plans to the Galactic Empire's Death Star, a heavily armed space station capable of destroying an entire planet. Rebel leader Princess Leia has the plans, but her ship is captured by Imperial forces under the command of the evil Darth Vader. Before she is captured, Leia hides the plans in the memory of an astromech droid, R2-D2, along with a holographic recording. R2-D2 flees to the surface of the desert planet Tatooine with C-3PO, a protocol droid.
The droids are captured by Jawa traders, who sell them to moisture farmers Owen and Beru Lars and their nephew Luke Skywalker. While cleaning R2-D2, Luke accidentally triggers part of Leia's message, in which she requests help from Obi-Wan Kenobi. The next morning, Luke finds R2-D2 searching for Obi-Wan, and meets Ben Kenobi, an old hermit who lives in the hills and reveals himself to be Obi-Wan. Obi-Wan tells Luke of his days as one of the Jedi Knights, former Galactic Republic peacekeepers with supernatural powers derived from an energy called The Force, who were all but wiped out by the Empire. Contrary to his uncle's statements, Luke learns that his father, Anakin, fought alongside Obi-Wan as a Jedi Knight. Obi-Wan tells Luke that Vader was his former pupil who turned to the dark side of the Force and killed Anakin. Obi-Wan then presents to Luke his father's weapon – a lightsaber.
Obi-Wan views Leia's complete message, in which she begs him to take the Death Star plans to her home planet of Alderaan and give them to her father for analysis. Obi-Wan invites Luke to accompany him to Alderaan and learn the ways of the Force. Luke declines, but changes his mind after discovering that Imperial stormtroopers searching for C-3PO and R2-D2 have destroyed his home and killed his aunt and uncle. Obi-Wan and Luke hire smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate Chewbacca to transport them to Alderaan on Han's ship, the Millennium Falcon.
Upon the Falcon's arrival at the location of Alderaan, the group discover that the planet has been destroyed by order of the Death Star's commanding officer, Grand Moff Tarkin, as a show of power. The Falcon is captured by the Death Star's tractor beam and brought into its hangar bay. While Obi-Wan goes to disable the tractor beam, Luke discovers that Leia is imprisoned aboard, and with the help of Han and Chewbacca, rescues her. After several escapes, the group makes its way back to the Falcon. Obi-Wan disables the tractor beam, and on the way back to the Falcon, he engages in a lightsaber duel with Vader. Once he is sure the others can escape, Obi-Wan allows himself to be killed. The Falcon escapes from the Death Star, unknowingly carrying a tracking beacon, which the Empire follows to the Rebels' hidden base on Yavin IV.
The Rebels analyze the Death Star's plans and identify a vulnerable exhaust port that connects to the station's main reactor. Luke joins the Rebel assault squadron, while Han collects his payment for the transport and intends to leave, despite Luke's request that he stay and help. In the ensuing battle, the Rebels suffer heavy losses after several unsuccessful attack runs, leaving Luke as one of the few surviving pilots. Vader leads a squadron of TIE fighters and prepares to attack Luke's X-wing fighter, but Han returns and fires on the Imperials, sending Vader spiraling away. Helped by guidance from Obi-Wan's spirit, Luke uses the Force and successfully destroys the Death Star seconds before it can fire on the Rebel base. Back on Yavin IV, Leia awards Luke and Han with medals for their heroism.

Tags: good versus evil, cult, tragedy

Review:
All right I know, Star Wars is very much enjoyable for adults.
This movie isn't.Everything is about the Ewoks here, those fuzzy little furballs from The Return of the Jedi.
They talk the same way they did there, by operating with such words as 'gunda' (good) or 'feech' (what seems to be an Ewokian cuss-word).Of course there are also humans in the movie, 2 children, who are lost and are looking for their parents in the vast forests of the moon of Endor.
The storyline covers the journey of a little girl and her brother to the hideout of a giant, who apparently holds their parents hostage, with the local Ewoks helping the children throughout their quest.
And I mean tedious even to adults who are otherwise Star Wars fans/addicts.
It's important to note that George Lucas wrote the story, so it's actually the creation of the father of the Star Wars universe and it's got a bit darker, grimmer sequel named The Battle for Endor..
Although many people think this is just a cheap movie made to capitalize on the popularity of the Star Wars films, I see this film and it's sequel as an interesting way to look at the Star Wars Universe when Luke and company aren't around.
I even joked with a young couple at the check-out counter, (who remembered the movies), about how we all liked it as kids.
What I didn't expect was that the movie would hold up after all these years, and mind you, I haven't seen this since the mid or late 80s.A lot of movies we liked as kids age badly due to the fact that we all grow up.
But I found The Ewok Adventure, now called Caravan of Courage, to be just as exciting, fun and charming at 29 as I found the film when I first saw it 20 or so years ago when it debut.
I think that's a compliment given to only the very best of films.There is some, (not all), stop-motion animation special effects that have aged to be sure, but that is to be expected of a made-for-TV movie with a decidedly less expensive budget than the actual Star Wars films.
Most of the time, I was impressed that the Star Wars magic extended beyond the big screen and onto a TV movie.When Return of the Jedi came out, I was like a lot of other hardcore Star Wars fans: I didn't like the seemingly overused furry creatures.
I've lightened up on the little guys, but I don't think hardcore Star Wars fans have anything to fear though.
I found the Ewoks to be even more endearing, brave and charming in their own adventures, which play off as a kind of Goonies: Star Wars style.
Above all, I recommend this movie to anyone because it's one of those special films, (like the original Star Wars movies themselves), that entertain adults and kids.
The film has great characters, has a very fast pace, has a good story and is nicely acted.
Caravan of Courage, the first of two Ewok films is a nice adventure film for kids, but too slow for adults to enjoy.
The film captures the essential elements of what an Ewok film should be like but fails in certain other areas.Firstly the film looks rather messy in comparison to other LucasFilm productions and particularly when compared to its immediate sequel.
The narrator is also more distracting than anything and would sound more appropriate in a nature documentary rather than a children's fantasy adventure film.On the other hand, the film sets itself apart from the bigger SW films quite nicely, feeling more like a fantasy than a science fiction film and having some fairly good special-effects and interesting creatures.
I know it may seem a little goofy to those of you who are big sci-fi buffs and are looking for in-depth high caliber writing, but for those of you who are looking for light hearted fun, this is the movie!
These furry little bears known as "Ewoks" had been related to the STAR WARS legend, but this made-for-TV concoction (and the one following this) has nothing to do with the legendary movies.
It is, of course, an expansion of the STAR WARS universe that reaches into the realms of mystical adventures, while still holding on to the familiar science fiction theme that George Lucas once created.THE EWOK ADVENTURE isn't going to win any awards for its basic storyline, plot, and acting routines, and it may remind some of us about the silly live-action Filmation programs that once dominated Saturday mornings in the 70s.
I loved every minute of this movie as a kid and I just watched the trailer on this website and now I want to rush out and buy the movie on DVD!
I want my kids to fall in love with it like I did!
Even as a "Star Wars" fanatic it is a bitter pill to swallow with the "Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure" movie.
Sure it had ewoks, but the "Star Wars" atmosphere was not present in this 1984 movie.And while it is a children's movie, it just wasn't particularly entertaining and seemed more like a series of random events rather than a continuous storyline.The ewoks were the same as in "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi", and as such that was a good thing.
However, the other creatures, aside from the gorax, were abysmal to look at; fake and poorly animated.For the two main roles they could have cast two children with at least a bit more talent; Eric Walker (playing Mace) and Aubree Miller (playing Cindel) were not really delivering on their roles.The children will most likely find more enjoyment in the animated additions to the "Star Wars" franchise, such as "Clone Wars" or "Rebels".All in all, no wonder this came without a fanfare and faded into oblivion as quickly as it had arrived.
This movie, a made for TV-movie intended for children/family-viewing, serves a completely different purpose.The story is simple and easy to follow, two lost children searches for their parents with help from the Ewoks.
I must admit that the story did very little for me, and especially Walker's character were at times especially annoying (mostly to create smaller scenes of conflict).The highlight of the movie is the stop motion, the costumes, the matte paintings and sets and the special effects.
It's obviously far from perfect, but very charming.In keeping with the Star Wars Holiday special, it does not subtitle the alien characters, or dub them.
The human characters do at some points seem a bit unfamiliar with the fact that the Star Wars universe is filled of all sorts of unknown creatures - but it's hard to say exactly what their background is.At its best, the movie is the like other 80s fantasy/adventure classics about children, like the Time Bandits, Labyrinth and the Goonies.
If you are interested in Star Wars-lore, special effects, popular culture or film making, you might enjoy this movie quite a bit..
In this case, Lucas tried to do the same thing with the prequels (though Episode 3 was great, don't hate me) and failed horribly and Ewok Adventure is another example albeit from a much less commercialized era.
well I could say its cute in a "Star Wars geek" kinda way but then I'll be lying to myself if I do.
That's just about it.You could do a lot worse and I MEAN A LOT WORSE seeing this vomit-inducing piece on Lucas's now-corporate-minded part or if you want a more "humane" solution you could check yourself into a mental health facility where you're most likely stay for several years if you can't erase those horribly disturbing haunting images from your ever so delicate psyche.
The sky is falling in this Orwellian age of psychotic pop stars, weak US dollar, Tom Cruise's fax paux religion, and other bizarre things happening in the world today, one can only hope that a resistance movement is formed to combat and defeat the evil forces of commercialism to ensure the rest of humanity that crap like this NEVER is made to be seen AGAIN.
The first of two EWOK ADVENTURES, known as "CARAVAN OF COURAGE," does not hold a candle to the original STAR WARS trilogy in terms of story-telling, effects, or production design, but it is an interesting little footnote for anybody who wants to explore the SW universe a little further.
The first and third act are kind of exciting and cool, but the middle drags, and if you didn't like them in ROTJ, you're certainly going to find the Ewoks awfully annoying here.
even Direct to TV movies).It is very slowly paced, which only degrades the storytelling because it is a good story once you RETELL it in another medium, this slow pacing makes the movie seem to have almost no noticeable conflict in objectives and obstacles, it has vague character definition and you barely get involved with the characters, acting is as bad as it can get: When Cindel faints in a scene it seems like she just turned her head down so the director could yell cut; in another scene, Mace yells at some of the Ewoks, he screams at them, but the camera keeps rolling for seconds with the ewoks standing there doing nothing, which made him look less menacing (also badly paced).The casting was surely to blame for the bad acting performances.
The story is good (it would make a great kid's book), but the magic of film editing didn't do it's magic here..
The grandparents wandered in to say "hi" and ended up staying to watch.Be forewarned- if you're a parent that wants their kid watching too-adult-for-them trash--- you're not going to like this, and neither will they.
We got to see the movie "The Ewok Adventure" as a "reward" for being such a good class.
The effects are pretty lame, and the evil monster looks stupid.If you like to make fun of movies, though, this is a GREAT one to watch.
I love the Ewoks but this film doesn't do them justice.
Star Wars Magic before the dark times...Before CG.
Both Ewoks films have the Star Wars magic which is missing from Episode I and II, AND PROBABLY III.
The creatures, places, and ships look real, the lasers are great, the music is wonderful and the story is both exciting and fun.
It's a shame the new Star Wars films couldn't even come close to the old stuff.
It would be great to get the Ewok films on DVD (But then I guess George Lucas would want to go back and computer animate the ewoks or put Jar Jar or Jabba-The Hut in it and reveal that the ewoks are all clones)See this film for good old Star Wars goodness!.
A wonderful fantasy movie....if you like star wars, i can make sure you that you will love The Ewok Adventure.
Actually, im not a star wars fan, but this one is different.
As soon as the kids, a little older, a little wiser, realise they have found their parents they realise a hard-earnt truth.People think you're complete nerds if you hang out with your Teddy Bears after a certain age.Lucas tells it like it is, and that's why kids and adults love him so..
definitely not for Star Wars fans.
I thought a real Star Wars fan would have to see the Ewok movies, too.
The special effects look like they came from the 60s, the story has uncountable flaws, and the characters are extremely weak.
I do not recommend this film for Star Wars fans ...well, to be honest: I don't recommend it to anybody..
George Lucas made a shrewd marketing move in the early eighties; changing the creatures to feature in 1983's Return of the Jedi from forest-dwelling Wookies, to small, cute and furry Ewoks.
Ewoks were the cross-gender Star Wars 'commodity'.
So, Lucas pens "An Ewok Adventure" (story only), and cheaply produces a TV-movie.Mace (Eric Walker), a mini-Skywalker, and his little sister Cindel (Aubree Miller), a sickening Curly-f*****g-Sue, are stranded on the forest moon of Endor after their space cruiser crashed.
In 1985, both the "sequel" TV movie Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and Ewoks: The Animated Series were produced, further exacerbating the kids "nag factor" element of toy marketing.Oh, how times have changed!
It could well have just been Chewbacca shitting in a basket (or even The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)), but I would have loved it anyway.
I used to watch "The Ewok Adventure" on VHS when I was younger and was a huge fan - I'd view it frequently (probably even before I saw all the original "Star Wars" films) and, although I recognized it was cheesy even as a child, I still enjoyed it.Today, it simply doesn't hold up.
It comes across as a desperate and silly cash-in on "Star Wars: Episode IV: Return of the Jedi." The "lovable" Ewoks of that film return here to wreak more havoc - they find a boy and his younger sister after they crash land on the planet.
The boy and sister have lost their parents, whom were apparently grabbed out of the space ship by some scary alien creature.The alien creature's special F/X are absolutely terrible which explains why his full frontal view is saved until the ending - which is ludicrous and way over-the-top.If you're a "Star Wars" fan you'll need to own this simply because it's got the Lucas "stamp of approval" - but to any casual viewer it comes across as a desperate and pathetic franchise cash-in..
Maybe simply because of the adventure cinema alone, but I don't think so.Wicket and Kneesa have been good friends for years of my life, and how many tears have I shed for the woodcutter who gave his life to make the escape of the others possible...Maybe this movie is no masterpiece, but it will always keep it's place in my heart!.
I know people say that the ewoks movies were a stupid waste of time and money, but I totally disagree.
I think that if you are a child at heart, and still know how to use your imagination, then you would love these movies.
This is one of the great movies of the 80s in MY collection that I think about all the time.
Back in the early 80s there were two good movies about the the Ewoks from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.
Both films are sad in a way but they are never boring and both have good special effects and the whole nine.
The Ewok Adventure is a good film and it has a giant monster and other creatures.
Fans of Star Wars is gotta check this out!.
By far the best Ewoks movie.
You'd be lucky if it worked and luckily our Ewoks tape worked a lot during its course.Anyway the movie starts off giving us a hint of what happened to our protagonist's parents.
Cindel is a very cute and friendly kid, whereas her older brother Mace is protective and seemingly narrow-minded.Throughout the movie you'll probably develop a distaste for Mace, and deep fondness for Cindel and the Ewoks.A great family movie, they re-mastered this on DVD and I got it as soon as I could.
Not a great film but I prefer this movie then any of the prequels or any of the Disney version.
The real Star Wars ended in 1983 but this tv production made kids believe it was a little alive until we woke up in this horrible prequels.Two kids Cindel and Mace crashes to an unknown planet with their parents.
To their help are the ewoks the cute teddy bears tribe of Endor.Before the prequels this movie was doll and understandable due to the low quality of ewoks suites and tv standard but after the prequels well this is near Star Wars we could get and the two kids here are better actors than the entire cast of the prequels and recently SW movies (with the exception of the returning cast).
When it came out I was a kid and it was a good movie.
But the story is great and a fun adventure.
I found it interesting to find that apparently Lucas made this for his daughter who loved the Ewoks.
But let that simple, irrelevant fact spoil my enjoyment of films I LOVED as a kid?
It's got a great setting, a rolling little adventure for the kids, a cute-ness factor that is through the roof thanks to the little fuzzball Ewoks and little Cindel.
It's actually kinda strange to think that out of all the characters in the Star Wars films that could have been given their own spin-off films, it happened to be the ewoks.
The characters in this story....well they aren't bad, but aside from the ewoks none of them are memorable by any.
Now the special effects in this film are well done, I think.
The Ewoks befriend and come to the aid of human children Mace (likeable Eric Walker) and Cindel (adorable Aubree Miller), who have to rescue their parents from a ferocious behemoth monster known as the Gorax.Director John Korty relates the simple and engrossing tale of love, loyalty, strength, and courage at a steady pace, maintains a warm and pleasant tone throughout, and presents a neat array of gnarly creatures.
The Ewoks are cute and children like them.
The Ewok Adventure is fun for the whole family.
The Care Rank Ki look like Yoda from the Star Wars Saga if you think that I am making this up.
Check out the other Ewok movie as well..
The Ewoks aren't annoying as they are in Return of the Jedi.
The plot does meander but there are cool moments, like a creepy monster spider in the climactic battle.The only thing that keeps this movie from rating a respectable seven out of ten with me are the kid actors.