The Ewok Adventure

• Director: John Korty
• AMG Rating:
• Genre: Adventure
• Main Cast: Warwick Davis
• Release Year: 1984
• Country: US
• Run Time: 96 minutes

Plot

At this late date, it should hardly be necessary to inform viewers that The Ewok Adventure was inspired by those fuzzy little space muppets seen in the 1983 Star Wars sequel Return of the Jedi. This costly made-for-TV film was executive-produced by George Lucas, with special effects provided by Industrial Light and Magic. It was first telecast with great fanfare November 25, 1984; its soundtrack was simulcast on regional FM radio stations to provide a "full stereo" effect. The plot (frankly the least fascinating element of this project) concerns two young kids searching through space for their missing parents. The kids wind up on the forest moon of Endor, where dwell the courageous little Ewoks, commandeered by Wicket (Warwick Davis). The winner of an Emmy Award for Outstanding Children's Program (though not necessarily aimed exclusively at kids), Ewok Adventure was released theatrically as Caravan of Courage. It was followed in 1986 by a TV-movie sequel, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, and by a Saturday-morning cartoon series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Review

Representing all the cute and cuddly elements that were despised by some Star Wars fans when they were sprinkled in their favorite space fantasy, 1984's made-for-television spin-off movie The Ewok Adventure could make the devoted burn their fan-club cards. Obviously made for children, the film features a paper-thin story, laughable special effects, and some shockingly rotten child acting in the form of the two weak heroic leads, Eric Walker and Aubree Miller. Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia these two are not. Still, The Ewok Adventure works today as a bizarre time capsule from the period when the Star Wars movies were the biggest things around and could seemingly do no wrong. The behind-the-scenes involvement of series regulars Joe Johnston, Phil Tippett, and creator George Lucas gives the finished product an unmistakable Star Wars-esque feel, but without any of the blitzkrieg energy and revelry that made the films so popular to begin with. Recommended for either children with an undying love for all things Ewok or crazed Star Wars fans only. ~ Jason Gibner, All Movie Guide

Cast

Guy Boyd - Jeremitt Towani; Debbie Lee Carrington - Weechee; Tony Cox - Widdle; Warwick Davis - Wicket; Burl Ives - Special Guest Narrator; Aubree Miller - Cindel Towani; Eric Walker - Mace Towani; Fionnula Flanagan - Catarine Towani; Dan Fishman; Margarita Fernandez - Kaink; Kevin Thompson - Chukha-Trok

Credit

Harley Jessup - Art Director, Michael J. Becker - Costume Designer, John Korty - Director, John Nutt - Editor, George Lucas - Executive Producer, Peter Bernstein - Composer (Music Score), John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Joe Johnston - Production Designer, John Korty - Cinematographer, Thomas G. Smith - Producer, George Lucas - Screen Story, Bob Carrau - Screenwriter, The Munich Symphony Orchestra - Musical Performer