the crimes of george lucas ('90s on)

wasn't it sort of during the course of the original trilogy that the idea of "high-budget, non-animated, fantastical movie aimed at kids" kinda firmed up and became more of a thing? like kind of a boom around, say, E.T. or The Dark Crystal or whatever?

Definitely a demi-trend. The Neverending Story would count too.

like even in terms of money and popularity, surely it seemed more like you could sell a shitload of Ewok merchandise in 1984 than it would have in 1977

Didn't this whole merchandising boom happen BECAUSE of the original trilogy?

I mean, think about how many Star Wars toys were put out there before the Ewoks even showed up.

probably in large part, yes! but that's what I mean about the guy possibly following his own success out in that direction and being like "hell yeah, if that's working, let's put teddy bears in the last one"

(note: I like Ewoks fine, I'm just saying)

i think that has to do with the ewoks being cute and cuddly and more appealing to the masses--i knew someone who claimed that the ewoks were invented just so lucas could make $$$ selling teddy bears. star wars toys were insanely popular straight out of the gate.

What the hell:

Ewok Festival of Love is an event. Ewoks are small creatures that are native to the forest moon of Endor. The trees of the forest provide not only physical shelter to the Ewoks, but also give the tribe a sense of protection as the trees watch over them.

The Ewoks live in harmony with nature and forage for food in the lush vegetation. Camby berries are given freely during the Festival of Love, celebrated once a year to honor the kinship and love between tribe members. During the festival, the Ewoks present this gift of their hard-earned food to other members of the tribe to demonstrate trust and acceptance.

As the Ewoks celebrate the Festival of Love, tribe members prepare meals, dance, and sing traditional songs, such as this ancestral chant often heard drifting through the treetops of the forest moon: Dugun duca lula ludia nuna, dounga, luna nudia!

i mean INSANELY popular

goddamn you Ned.

http://www.starwarstoymuseum.com/star_wars_toys.html

luna nudia

you have ruined my entire life

Uh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xdd0edT-BeE

Behind the scenes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhyWRaSaPig

okay PHEW that was a Star Wars Galaxies thing and not a real life thing

nude Star Wars fans yub nubbing under the pale moonlight was going to give me night terrors

As the Ewoks celebrate the Festival of Love, tribe members prepare meals, dance, and sing traditional songs, such as this ancestral chant often heard drifting through the treetops of the forest moon: Dugun duca lula ludia nuna, dounga, luna nudia!

This is some sort of furry/Star Wars crossover, isn't it.

The 'guest star' in the video seems only appropriate.

furry/sw/ilx crossover

Title: Ewok Murder Rampage: A Hero Emerges

you know, the Ewok thing would be better if Billy Dee did the whole thing as opposed to the a capella reject

http://circusfiretragedy.com/FanArt/ewok_murder_rampage.jpg

my new favorite band

you know, the Ewok thing would be better if Billy Dee did the whole thing as opposed to the a capella reject

Yes.

Cinematic glory.

why the fuck did I read that Ewok story, there was no way it could be better than "Ewok Murder Rampage"

'Some warriors believe that eating a beast transfers it's soul into you. That would explain the contented joy one feels after consuming a fresh, well-barbecued Ewok'

1 package Boba Fett's Ass-terburner Hot Spice ™ (optional)

No.

ARGH:

http://craziestgadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/ewok-soap.jpg

that soap looks... used

that soap makes you smell like an ewok

Flashing back a few months.

mmmm... chocolate-y soap

Oh good grief:

Posted by Andrew Zilch on April 30, 2009 at 7:52 pm

Having fought for the fair treatment of Ewoks with my "Ewok Gospel" video, I am deeply hurt by Mr. Colbert's recent anti-Ewok hate crime.

As a result, I just posted an open letter to Mr. Colbert on my site — andrewzilch.com. Please help me bring this monster to justice.

Yub-nub!!

mdk

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/starwars/images/thumb/e/e9/Dexter_Jettster_NEGTC.jpg/180px-Dexter_Jettster_NEGTC.jpg

http://blog.gamer20.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/george_lucas.jpg

not to be captain-save-a-neck, but here's a riff-in-progress on what makes 77 Star Wars so great: http://www.mstrmnd.com/log/1241

Same guy also did an excellent shot-by-shot analysis of The Shining: http://mstrmnd.com/log/802

not to be captain-save-a-neck, but here's a riff-in-progress on what makes 77 Star Wars so great: http://www.mstrmnd.com/log/1241

Good analysis, if though a bit everything-and-the-kitchen-sink. I suppose that my problem with everything after 1977 Star Wars is that Lucas saw it as a green light to load up future movies with even more half-assed remembrances of The Hero with a Thousand Faces.

I suppose it's time to link to David Brin's "Star Wars despots" article again: http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/feature/1999/06/15/brin_main/

I don't see why we must make a case for Star Wars' greatness to consider it worth watching. It's a pretty good movie, sometimes very exciting, often much worse than that, about which it's impossible for a certain generation (mine) to remain objective.

I actually own this book, in which Brin figures heavily:

http://www.sff.net/people/John-C-Wright/cover%20Star%20wars%20on%20Trial.jpg

It didn't hold up so well the last time I saw it, but I still maintain that The Last Starfighter is better than the original Star Wars. Like Quiznos is better than Subway.

I don't see why we must make a case for Star Wars' greatness to consider it worth watching. It's a pretty good movie, sometimes very exciting, often much worse than that, about which it's impossible for a certain generation (mine) to remain objective.

Yeah--it's fun, exciting, often clever, pretty charming, has an ace villain, and I (along with millions of others) watched it at just the right age.

http://www.scifitv.com.au/Blog/2009/07/jake-lloyd-exclusive-ten-years-after-ep-one/

it seems like the unrelenting awfulness of Episode I turned him into a pretty cool guy.

haha ya!

that's kinda nice.

woah he seems a bit bitter about high school and college. and the rocking back and forth is weird.

you're reading too much into it.

I just saw Crystal Skull on Bluray and that shit is almost as bad as Episode I. I couldn't fucking believe it.

you gotta watch it on regular DVD

cgi gophers don't really hold up well in hd

it really comes into its own on telesync avi

It actually might be better on VHS because the plasticity of the Skull wouldn't come through so much.