User reviews

I sat down in 2021 to watch the 1985 "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" with my 11 year old son, as I assumed that this was definitely a Star Wars movie for kids. However, I wasn't really expecting that we were in for a sort of mash-up between "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" and "Willow". But that was exactly how "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" felt to me.

And while it might be aimed at a younger audience, you might have to keep in mind that there is a fair amount of action and semi-violence on the screen. And there is a distinct pseudo-dark atmosphere to the movie, which may prove a bit unsettling to a younger audience, I think.

The storyline told in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor", as written by Ken Wheat, Jim Wheat and none other than George Lucas himself was pretty straight forward. Though, it should be noted, that the storyline wasn't really overly memorable or indulging. It felt like a cheesy laid-back movie aimed at a younger audience, but at the same time trying to cash in on the success of Star Wars and have some appeal to the adult audience that grew up watching the original trilogy.

Visually then "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" wasn't actually all that bad. Sure, the stop motion animation footage with the creatures was hopelessly outdated by today's standards, but it was still watchable. It was definitely a blast to see the screen debut of the blurrg creatures, that were later risen to stardom in "The Mandalorian" series. They moved like horrible rigid dolls, but it was still fun to watch. And of course it was the ewoks that stole the show in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor"; could it have been any other way? For me, it was definitely a nice treat to see the ewoks milling about on the screen in this 1985 movie. And the visuals on the raiders, whatever race they were supposed to be, were definitely also good and fit right into the Star Wars galaxy of strange alien creatures.

It was nice to have Warwick Davis return to reprise the role of the lovable character Wicket. But I just don't understand the fact that they made him capable of speaking English. Sure, for the sake of entertaining the kids watching it. But come on, at least have kept it like they did in "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" where he didn't speak English, but communicated in the jibberish ewok language and by gesturing.

I never would have guessed that I would ever see Paul Gleason make an appearance into the "Star Wars" universe, but here he was, playing the character named Jeremitt.

Then there were the issues with horses on the forest moon of Endor! Wait, what? Seriously? Yeah, they had horses running around here. And there was a woman sorceress of some sort whom could turn into a crow. No. That was just downright bad and set in the wrong universe. Hence the mutated hybrid feel of the "Willow" movie. It was just misplaced in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor".

And while on the topic of Endor, then there wasn't that particular distinct feeling of a vast forest moon present in "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor", not like what we saw in "Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi", as there were vast plains and mountains here as well.

"Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" is enjoyable for what it was, love it or hate it. I found it to be a watchable enough foray, but it didn't capture that essence of "Star Wars" as seen in parts IV, V and VI, nor in the subsequent movies and series that followed.

My rating of "Ewoks: The Battle for Endor" lands on a mere four out of ten stars, given the fact that it felt more like a movie set in the universe where the movie "Willow" took place, than it felt like a "Star Wars" movie.

This steady-going follow-up is simply both more and less. Even though the stop-motion effects look out of date, the visual quality is an improvement over the previous Ewok adventure. You won't be seeing too many strings attached anymore, and the costume appearances are much cleaner. What it lacks for the continuous thrills and excitement of the last one greatly gains in the characters including "Cindel", "Noa", and the stellar cast of Ewoks. Both movie adventures aren't too shabby when it comes to George Lucas' imaginable sensations, but does this mean they're an absolute must-have for every STAR WARS collector? Hmmm....

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.

This story of an orphaned girl and the lovable teddy bear ewoks is no masterpiece by far, but still is a great family movie. I loved the ewok movies as a child, and I believe that generations of children will love it in the future. 7.4 out of 10.

First things first, both this movie and the "Ewok Adventure" were made for TV-movies. Therefore, to compare them to Star Wars is unfair due to the differences in budgets and people on board. That being said, I love this movie! Both The Battle For Endor and The Ewok Adventure were childhood favorites of mine. The story is still entertaining, albeit still on a child's level. But that's OK, because that's what these movies were meant for. George Lucas continues to show us again and again how to believe in fantasy and have fun. I recommend watching this movie with the whole family, and if you're into the Star Wars Universe like myself, you'll certainly get a kick out it.

Despite some reviews, I think both the Battle For Endor and the Ewok Adventure are fun and well done (for TV) movies.

How did I miss seeing this movie? I saw Star Wars first-run.

I would've liked this as a kid, but not now. This is just too gimmicky. I don't care about the low effects & animontronics, but the content is just bad & kid-like.

If I had offspring (god forbid), I would probably show them this movie. Of course, this content isn't questionable, but its just worthwhile.

Since my first Star Wars experience was Return Of the Jedi I have always had a soft spot for those furry fellas. I know a lot of older fans consider them the weak point of the first trilogy, but I think they're great, especially the song at the end of Jedi!

I had seen the first spin off, Caravan of Courage, a long time ago on video. So when I got the Caravan of Courage/Battle for Endor double bill, despite this being the second film, I watched this film first.

Was I in for a surprise. Not only does Principle Dick Vernon from Breakfast Club turn up, but a lot of the major characters from the first film die very early in the film. Although Deej and Shoda from the first film appear, the only Ewok to feature prominently in this film is Wicket. He, along with the girl from the first film, an old man plus a speedy little thing called Willy eat up most of the film with their crazy hi-jinx. I have to admit to to having a smile on my face through most of the comedy middle part of the film and even chuckling a few times.

Also |all the Ewoks seem to be be able to speak English with no problem at all! The ending of the film has the real shock for me. The Ewoks manage to get their hands on some firearms and seeing them shoot within sharpshooter accuracy is a bit disturbing.

Despite all the changes difference from Ewok canonlogy (is that a word?) and the very ropey special effects, I prefer this to the first film. It may not be that great a film, but anyone like me with a soft spot for the Ewoks will probably get something from this.

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor. The adventure continues. One level up and not so irritable story about little Ewoks. Loved the cutie Teek. But it still feels more like a movie about magic and the Middle Ages than Star Wars.

What the hell is this!? That was my first reaction to this film (actually, my first reaction contained more swearing). This isn't Star Wars! Star Wars is space battles, this movie has none. Star Wars is the Force, this movie only has a retarded witch with a magic ring. Star Wars is lightsaber battles, this movie hasn't got any battle worth mentioning. Star Wars is humor, this movie isn't. Star Wars is a galaxy far, far away, this movie has HORSES in it!!! Besides all of this, how did Lucas get the insane idea to let a five year old baby do the leading role !? Big, big disappointment. Do you like Star Wars? Don't watch this! 1 out of 10

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.

Same as first uninterseting and boring story of life of ewoks

If you don't count behind the scenes programs and internet films like Dark Redemption featuring Myra Jade, this is the best of the Star Wars television offerings. Yes it is rough in some places, but it is an improvement over The Ewok Adventure and I give this one extra points for having the balls to kill that annoying older brother Eric Walker right at the top. I wonder what happened to the little kid Cindel. I though she was quite promising. I personally think aiming at children in film writing can water down the dramatic impact. The ewoks were the Jar-Jars of Return of the Jedi, a dramatic buffer between incidents in which we already had an emotional investment. The Mos Eisely Cantina would be a more lucrative setting for a TV series or set of TV movies.

This movie is awful. At first I thought it may appeal to children, due to the cuddly Ewoks, the fury little people from Stars Wars. After sitting through this monstrosity of a movie, I am certain that not even a 4-year-old would find this movie interesting. The special effects are by far the best of this movie and compare well for other 80ies TV movies. The script is bad, the actors, especially Aubree Miller and unbelievably bad and the flick is so predictable that I still can't believe I was able to not touch the forward button on my VCR. However, I came close to switching this mess off more than once.

This movie is a little painful to watch now days, but I remember really loving it as a kid. The important thing about this film is that is does nothing to tarnish my love for the original trilogy. You can make a bad Star Wars film and that's fine, but when you destroy the characters I grew up with and loved and change the story so that it no longer makes sense with the original, that's when we have a major problem Ryan Johnson.

Finally, I can connect the dots between Return of the Jedi and Phantom Menace. We see here where Lucas lost touch with what made the original Star Wars films great and began to descend into the plot less tripe that ruined episodes 1-3. This film is more like one of those cheesy low-budget 80s swords and sorcerer films than anything worthy of being associated with the Star Wars saga. As with the Jar-Jar character, this seems targeted at children (and the toy market). The battle scenes are particularly bad. It was depressing to see Sian Phillips' incredible talent go to such a waste, after her classic performance in I, Claudius.

There's nothing I like about it, but it at least betters 'The Ewok Adventure'.

'Ewoks: The Battle for Endor' makes for a boring watch, despite some attempt at action and even a minute amount of heart at the conclusion. Overall, it's not good enough... but there isn't anything I hated or anything, I just won't remember it for all that long after viewing.

I have officially vomited in my own mouth, thanks to this movie.

I expected the absolute worst with this movie, but I expected a heartwarming and pleasurable absolute worst. This is just terrible. Absolutely terrible. Terrible like Nazis spreading the black plague. Let me explain: Ewoks are speaking English. It's horrible.

The villain girl looks like she travelled from the future set of Power Rangers. I really really want her to rise up from the ground and say "At last! After ten thousand years I'm free! It's time to conquer Earth!" The putties... er, I mean the big bad whatever the heck they are... they growl a lot. Many of them look like an even lamer version of the Cryptkeeper. The Cryptkeeper was pretty cool, but these guys were not.

The only merit to this movie was Paul Gleason. This movie might have been better if he'd went to the bad guys and said "If I have to come in here again, I'm crackin' skulls." It would have been even better if one of the Ewoks was played by Judd Nelson, who mouthed his words as he said this.

Also, that speedy little creature is pretty badass. Word to that.

No word to the movie, though. I want to give this movie a two. I want to, so badly. There's a passage I have memorized: The path of this movie is beset on all sides by the inequities of terribleness and the tyranny of spin-off awfulness. Blessed is nothing, for this movie blows.

If you're holding this movie to a current grading system of what we expect today from TV, then yes this movie probably won't fair well. However for those of us old enough to remember 80's Television (CHiPS, Airwolf, MacGyver, Knight Rider, Magnum PI), this movie is very well polished and decently entertaining for its time compared to anything other broadcast on TV for its time period.

If you start this movie expecting something that has a production quality of A New Hope then you'll be disappointed. This was a time where TV programming had small to little budget PERIOD! Even the most popular show in the 80's still reek of bad production.

I thought the movie was fun if you take it for what it is.

The title basically sums up everything you need to know about this movie. If low-quality generic fantasy flicks are your guilty pleasure, then you can give it a watch. However, if you're a Star Wars, sci-fi or action movie fans, then you can pretty much forget that this movie exists. There's nothing of value for you here. It's not part of the Star Wars canon (yes, even the expanded universe), the sci-fi elements are almost not present and the action quality is very bad. It's just another project created solely for the purpose of making more money.

The only reason why I'm giving it a 2 instead of 1 is because at least this movie is somewhat watchable. But don't expect anything more than that.

I know that many Star Wars fans resent the Ewoks for adding cuteness and comic relief to Return of the Jedi. I also know that they relate him to Jar-Jar Binks, the obnoxious, terribly written character from Episode I. However, I disagree with them. I did not think that the Ewoks served the same purpose as Jar-Jar. I did not like Jar-Jar in Episode I. I found his humour juvenile--but I understand why it was. The humour was juvenile because Episode I was aimed toward a new generation of Star Wars fans: children. The Battle for Endor and its prequel, Caravan of Courage, are spinoffs from Star Wars using the fuzzy little creatures that helped out the Rebels on the forest moon of Endor in that galaxy far, far away. The movie is for children, and teaches important lessons. It deals with issues that children are not usually exposed to, such as death, grief, and abandonment. It also tells children that family is whoever loves you and will care for you, regardless of apparent differences. When I was very, very little, the Ewok movies were my very favourite. My mother gave me a present when I had successfully been potty-trained: a Wicket stuffed animal (just to let you know HOW young I was when I watched these movies). I remember years later seeing Return of the Jedi for the first time, when it premiered on television. That movie enthralled me as well, but at the end, I was surprised and excited to see my little friends, the Ewoks, getting in on the action as well. I don't think the Ewoks spoiled anything in Return of the Jedi--they are not unlike other Lucas creatures. They serve their purpose of being the indigenous species of Endor, and so big deal if they are tiny and furry. Its allowed once in a while. So chill out, and let kids enjoy the movies.

1984's Ewok movie, Caravan of Courage proved to be a decent enough of a success to warrant a sequel. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor was aired on TV in the United States in 1985 (also receiving a theatrical release elsewhere) and was written and directed by Jim and Ken Wheat (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master) and stars Wilford Brimley (The Thing), Warwick Davis (Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi), and Aubree Miller (Caravan of Courage).

Cindel (Aubree Miller) and her family are still stuck on the planet Endor when some marauders invade and kill Cindel's family and also capturing some Ewoks. Apparently these Marauders are interested in some sort of power source for a spaceship (but they don't seem to be aware of this). Cindel and her Ewok friend Wicket (Warwick Davis), meet up with (a mountain man?) Noa (Wilford Brimley) who could help save the captured Ewoks and keep away from the Marauders.

Needless to say, I find Ewoks: The Battle for Endor to be quite a significant improvement over Caravan of Courage which I found to be nearly intolerable. Going in, I was not expecting much. Within the first 10 minutes the film managed to give me a few surprises. First off, having a well known actor like Paul Gleason (Die Hard and The Breakfast Club) is in a film primarily made for kids and of this magnitude really surprised me. The other thing that surprised me was that they killed off Cindel's family (whom the whole first film devoted it's time to have get rescued and whatnot). Personally, I found the family to be unbearable that I wasn't mad at all. In fact, right after the first 10 minutes, a much darker tone is established which is something that is drastically different in comparison to the sunshine and rainbows of Caravan of Courage. I was really hoping this film was not of the same quality as Caravan of Courage and a change of tone relieved me of any worry. The film is a sci fi, fantasy, hybrid with, it seems, to be a much heavier focus on the fantasy elements. I have seen many compare this film to Willow of which George Lucas wrote and yeah, it makes perfect sense to me. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor was a sort of test put on by Lucas to see if he was any good at writing dark fantasies. Granted, much of the criticism I have seen directed towards this film say the presence of witches and magic should not belong in a "Star Wars movie". Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is it's own thing and I have a bit of enjoyment for that. It's also funny to see another well known actor like Wilford Brimley to pop up in a film like this and he does add a bit of enjoyment into the film. The overall plot of the film involving the Marauders and their obsession with this power supply of sorts is a bit goofy in my mind but perhaps outside of their more intimidating appearance, should suffice in entertaining the kids. They are bad and intimidating enough to feel somewhat threatening that for the kids, should find the final act to be very pleasing. Yeah surprisingly, this film has a Return of the Jedi forest battle for it's final act and it is very surprising as well considering Caravan of Courage was nearly devoid of substance in general. It was overall nice to see some blaster play in this film. Any sort of negatives mostly revolves around the poor acting (mostly towards Aubree Miller who played Cindel), the fact that Wicket speaks English for some reason, and the stop motion effects which I did not find charming in any way. The film has a bit of story flow problems where the film slows down when Wicket and Cindel meet Noa for the first time (Context: earlier they were worried about saving the captured Ewoks and after meeting Noa they seem to forget all about that until they finally leave).

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a film that is leaps and bounds better than Caravan of Courage in that there is actually a film with substance this time around. It's not one that not every Star Wars fan will enjoy but I'd at least keep an open mind for this one.

Wow did Lucas take a lot from He Man and the Dark Crystal ... Its endearing though...if not say ... well made Definitely for the 8 and under crowd ...