Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985)

This movie is surprisingly dark at times, and for no clear reason. It doesn't explore the dark things that happen very much (there is one "dream"-scene which is the exception to this), and it's not really necessary to the plot. There would be plenty of ways to write around it. I don't mind a movie like this having dark sides (see what I did there?), but if you don't explore them or put them to use, they serve no purpose, and is only in the way of the story.But fair enough, lets look away from that. The movie follows Cindel and Wicket - both feeling more like sidekicks than they do protagonists. They end up in trouble a couple of times, and after a while meet Teek and Neo. These are more like side characters, the good helpers the hero meets on his way. The four of them works as a group in a sense, but even when they have a clear purpose, it feels like they have no aim. I think the movie wants Wicket to be the main hero of this movie. It's hard to have clumsy and heroic characters at the same time, but it is possible.The story is not really that interesting, and some of the plot elements in the movie feels a bit out of place, especially the ring and the witch-like Charal-character. It all builds up to the final battle for Endor, which is an obvious attempt to capture the magic from Star Wars episode VI. The battle is alright, but because neither the heroes nor the villains are particularly interesting, the big battle itself doesn't really grab a hold of you.Like in the previous Ewok film, the most interesting part are the visuals. This movie has some nice stop motion, especially the creatures the marauders ride. I also quite like the Teek character. Some of the scenes with him running are great fun.While I appreciate what they tried to do here: give the story some gravitas, create an ensemble of interesting characters on a quest, risking everything for each other, etc. etc. - it just doesn't work, and the charm from the previous movie is not to be found in this one. At least not as strongly.

Kids between the ages of 5 and 11 you should find this movie, entertaining and funny and just plain Enjoyable like I did. There is a new Villain in town named King Terak who is very different than any other Star Wars Villain, and though not as popular or charismatic as Darth Vader or the Emperor, he will still chill your bones.If your over the age of 11 but are a Star Wars fan I really recommend this film since it allows you to explore a different part of the Star Wars universe. Of course the main stream Star Wars characters like Luke. Han, and Vader are great, this movie also has some characters that you may find entertaining.

The Battle for Endor makes a number of improvements that luckily make it over-all a better film than the previous "Caravan of Courage". The film's mood is decisively darker and more serious, its cinematography is cleaner and for this it almost manages to capture the flavour of "The Return of the Jedi" and other bigger Star Wars films.Moreover, the film does away with the dreadful narrator of the first film by allowing Wicket to speak and simultaneously giving him more character. In all, the characters of BFE are far more colourful and interesting than those of the previous film. Additionally the aliens, the Marauders, add a nice sinister element which makes the film all the more dramatic.The only points of criticism for the film are undoubtedly its kid-friendly story and the character of Noa who delivers a number of unconvincing lines throughout the picture.None the less, The Battle for Endor is just exciting enough so that it wont traumatize the kids and will make the film fun for the adults as well.

Both Ewoks films have the Star Wars magic which is missing from Episode I and II, AND PROBABLY III. The creatures, places, and ships look real, the lasers are great, the music is wonderful and the story is both exciting and fun. It's a shame the new Star Wars films couldn't even come close to the old stuff. It would be great to get the Ewok films on DVD (But then I guess George Lucas would want to go back and computer animate the ewoks or put Jar Jar or Jabba-The Hut in it and reveal that the ewoks are all clones)See this film for good old Star Wars goodness!