When I was a kid, playing with my star wars figures, I used to make a hole on the floor with a towel wrapped in the shape of a donut. This was the Sarlaac from Return of the Jedi. Now, I didn't use any paint, crayons, or anything else to make it LOOK like the sarlaac, i said "its the sarlaac" and therefore it was.
What I'm getting at is, when I view these films i am very nostalgic for, like this one, I can simply ignore the fact the sets/matte paintings/stop-motion-animation etc might not be up to say, Lord of the Rings quality. But let that simple, irrelevant fact spoil my enjoyment of films I LOVED as a kid? No way, not on your life! I adored this movie as a youngster, and I just had the great fortune of finally finding it on DVD (with the added bonus of the sequel, which I have NOT seen, so I can't wait to curl up in front of the fire and experience that one) and I am looking forward to showing it to my young nephews. 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. Now it's no great epic installment to the Star Wars saga we're talking about here, but I refuse to believe they made this film JUST to cash in on Star Wars' success at the box office. This tiny film wouldn't have made them much money anyway! Why would a creative bunch of people get together and spin a wonderful yarn for kids simply to line their own pockets. There are a LOT of ways to make money, but there are less ways to bring a smile to a child's face, and that's far more important.
I love this movie, it's a near-forgotten gem now, lost in the swirling CGI-miasma of the new "Star Wars" movies...and I use the term Star Wars there, lightly indeed. This film probably cost 5% of the Phantom Menace budget, but the Ewoks can visit my lounge-room anytime...Jar Jar however, will be shot on sight...
What I'm getting at is, when I view these films i am very nostalgic for, like this one, I can simply ignore the fact the sets/matte paintings/stop-motion-animation etc might not be up to say, Lord of the Rings quality. But let that simple, irrelevant fact spoil my enjoyment of films I LOVED as a kid? No way, not on your life! I adored this movie as a youngster, and I just had the great fortune of finally finding it on DVD (with the added bonus of the sequel, which I have NOT seen, so I can't wait to curl up in front of the fire and experience that one) and I am looking forward to showing it to my young nephews. 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. Now it's no great epic installment to the Star Wars saga we're talking about here, but I refuse to believe they made this film JUST to cash in on Star Wars' success at the box office. This tiny film wouldn't have made them much money anyway! Why would a creative bunch of people get together and spin a wonderful yarn for kids simply to line their own pockets. There are a LOT of ways to make money, but there are less ways to bring a smile to a child's face, and that's far more important.
I love this movie, it's a near-forgotten gem now, lost in the swirling CGI-miasma of the new "Star Wars" movies...and I use the term Star Wars there, lightly indeed. This film probably cost 5% of the Phantom Menace budget, but the Ewoks can visit my lounge-room anytime...Jar Jar however, will be shot on sight...