The six episodic “Star Wars” films, adhering to George Lucas’ philosophy of putting story first and not getting too showy about the artistry, don’t wallow in their settings or cultures. They pique our interest, then allow the books and comics to further explore places like Coruscant, Tatooine and Yavin.
Although Endor and the Ewoks are largely snubbed in the books and comics, they arguably get a pretty sweet deal overall, as they are featured in the only two live-action “Star Wars” movies outside the episodic structure. With Disney talking about future non-episodic films, and with Dark Horse recently releasing the comic “Shadows of Endor,” which bridges the gap between the “Ewoks” films/cartoon/comics and the Imperial presence on Endor in “Return of the Jedi,” I thought it’d be a good time to revisit the made-for-TV films.
“Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure” (1984) is a smorgasbord for “Ewoks” fans, as we experience the full vibrancy of a culture given comparatively cursory treatment in “Jedi.” Of course, we already loved Warwick Davis’ Wicket, but it’s adorable how he forms a friendship with 5-year-old human girl Cindel (Aubree Miller) here. Although Cindel’s arrogant-but-big-hearted 14-year-old brother, Mace (Eric Walker) — yes, he’s the “original Mace,” predating Samuel L. Jackson’s Jedi Master Windu — initially sees the Ewoks as “animals,” Cindel bonds with Wicket, as they are both children who haven’t yet been taught speciesism. She even teaches him a few words, such as “star cruiser,” although in this movie the furry creatures mostly speak Ewokese and the soothing narration of Burl Ives helps us through some of the action.
More Ewoks beyond Wicket develop personalities here as we meet many of the cast that will carry into the cartoon (with the exceptions of Chief Chirpa, Paploo, Teebo, Kneessa and Latara). We meet Wicket’s dad and mom, Deej and Shodu; the magic-and-medicine man Logray; the woodland hypnotist Kaink; and the woodsman Chukha-Trok, who bonds with wannabe-warrior Mace due to his ax-throwing prowess. We also see the Ewoks’ pack animals (horses) that will play a role in the cartoon, plus a scary giant-boar-like creature; an oversized spider; and the humongous, hairy Gorax, which has captured the kids’ parents.
As the kids and their Ewok helpers trek to the Gorax’s caves, “Caravan” has a journey-of-adventure structure like “The Hobbit,” and it has several moments of “Harry Potter”-esque mysticism, such as when Wicket uses his magic stick to rescue Mace from a pond that had sucked him in then developed an impervious cover.
“Caravan” isn’t nearly as polished as the episodic films — for example, when Mace poofs away from the water’s edge, you can still see his reflection in the water. Obviously, much more time and money went into the big-screen films. Nonetheless, “Caravan’s” creators seem to be having experimental fun; there’s no sense that they’re just churning out a cheap movie using the “Star Wars” storehouses and sound library (although there is still a “Star Wars” feel, as Mace dresses like Luke, in an orange jumpsuit, and Cindel like Padme, in all white).
It’s neat to see the tricks of the trade from just before traditional special effects allowed digital effects to join the club. Phil Tippett, who animated the rancor monster in “Jedi,” gives us the stop-motion giant boar that chases the kids and fights the Ewoks. It’s notably herky-jerky, but more effective is the Gorax, a man in a suit given monstrous heft via forced perspective and compositing.
Perhaps the most memorable thing about “Caravan” is how — thanks to Joe Johnston’s production design — it puts a lie to the theory that every “Star Wars” world has one climate, even though Ackbar and Han call Endor “the forest moon.” The caravan treks through northern California-style redwoods, sure, but it also encounters lakes and ponds, cracked and parched desert, and rocky mountains. Beautiful matte paintings help bring the moon to vibrant life, establishing it as a viable location for the varied stories that follow in the cartoon.
With Peter Bernstein’s music nicely springing from John Williams’ Ewok theme (which makes a cameo), plus the fact that we can finally immerse ourselves in one corner of the “Star Wars” universe on screen, it’s a wonder that the Ewoks movies aren’t more beloved (they are both rated 5.3 on IMDB, compared to 6.3 for the lowest-rated of the main films, “The Phantom Menace”). Luckily, Lucas liked them well enough to release them on DVD in 2004 (in full screen, not widescreen, since they were made for TV), yet he’s not so obsessed with them that he did any tinkering. (It’s too bad he — or now Disney, I suppose — hasn’t allowed the “Ewoks” and “Droids” cartoons to be released in their entirety.)
It might be because I’m part of the Ewok-loving generation, as opposed to the slightly older Ewok-hating generation (so nicely defined on “How I Met Your Mother”), but I enjoyed revisiting “Caravan” and Endor. I probably hadn’t watched it in 15 or 20 years, yet I remembered many lines of dialogue and moments.
My look back at 1985’s “Ewoks: The Battle for Endor” — which I recall as the superior of the two films — will follow in an upcoming post.