Movie Info
Movie Name: Star Wars: Caravan of Courage—An Ewok Adventure
Studio: ABC
Genre(s): Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Action/Adventure
Release Date(s): November 25, 1984
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
See Ewoks kill a big claymation dog!!!
When a ship crashes on the forest moon of Endor, Mace (Eric Walker) and Cindel (Aurbree Miller) find themselves lost when their parents are captured. Cindel and Mace are found by the Ewoks and join them on an adventure through the forests to find their parents and free them from the evil Gorax.
Directed by John Korty, Star Wars: Caravan of Courage—The Ewok Adventure (originally just titled The Ewok Adventure) was a made-for-TV movie released after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The movie aired on November 25, 1984 on ABC and won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects with another nomination for Outstanding Children’s Program.
Marvel at the fairy Izerinah!!!
I missed The Ewok Adventure the first time it aired, but got a VHS recording of it soon after. I watched it a number of times as a kid and Star Wars junky (it probably was the only Star Wars we had on tape at the time). It wasn’t good, but it was Star Wars and as a kid, that was all that mattered.
The story for the Ewoks is rather odd. There is debate by fans whether it takes place before or after Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and where The Ewoks cartoon falls in regards to the movie. Many believe that the film (and its sequel) are supposed to be set before Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, but others argue that they aren’t even really part of the Star Wars canon.
Wonder as Ewoks fight a spider of death!!!
The movie plays out weird in that at points it is like watching a nature documentary. Burl Ives provides a spotty voiceover narrative that appears and disappears randomly throughout the film. The story itself is quite basic but for a kid keeps moving. I actually find the Gorax a little scary as a kid (but I have enjoyed that in some of the Star Wars comics he has shown up again).
The movie hinges on the two children since the Ewoks can’t speak. Unfortunately both Eric Walker and Aubree Miller aren’t the strongest kid actors. Walker comes off as a bit of a Mark Hamill in that his character complains through the whole movie. Miller is cute as Cindel, but other than providing cuteness, not very engaging. It is also important to note how young Warwick Davis was in this and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. He was only about thirteen or fourteen when he portrayed Wicket.
Fear the evil Gorax!!!
The movie at the time was pretty strong visually for a made-for-TV film. It doesn’t quite have the bigness of the Star Wars movies, but it does contain some technical shots. I liked the designs of most of the creatures and found the weird animated fairy Izerinah interesting as well. The second film in the Ewok series actually stepped up effects and looks a bit better.
Star Wars: Caravan of Courage—An Ewok Adventure is for kids and young kids will probably still enjoy it. The movie was briefly released on DVD but the DVD is now out-of-print, and not easy to find without paying high prices (which you shouldn’t). It would be nice if Lucas put out good copies of this and more of the Star Wars supporting material like Droids and The Ewoks cartoon on Blu-Ray…or even the maligned Star Wars Holiday Special for fun. Star Wars: Caravan of Courage—An Ewok Adventure was followed by Star Wars: Ewoks—The Battle for Endor in 1985.
Related Links:
Star Wars: Ewoks—The Battle for Endor (1985)
Star Wars—Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars—Episode II: Attack of the Clone (2002)
Star Wars—Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
