filed under Film
Ewoks: a controversy
1:58PM ON
07/15/2008
BY
Will Emmons
I’m in the midst of a fight with my friend about whether the end of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi had a totally sweet ending or not. The issue at hand is whether or not Ewoks–the Teddy Bear-shaped warrior race that inhabits the forest moon of Endor–are totally sweet. I know for a fact that they are. Here’s why:
My friend, on the other hand, tows the line from Clerks that Ewoks are “a bunch of fucking muppets,” an unwanted invasion from Saturday morning televisions, a foretelling of the coming of Jar Jar Binks that ruins the last moments of an otherwise brilliant trilogy of epic cinema. The house in which I live is divided 50/50 into pro- and anti-Ewoks camps, so I’ve decided to take it to the people. Are Ewoks totally sweet or totally lame? YOU DECIDE.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:21PM
THE OTHER JOE BERSTEIN Says:
When I was growing up there was no negative connotation to the word ewok, and kids used “a bunch of fucking muppets”, in a way similar to “Teddy Bear-shaped warrior race”- there was no connection to an ewok’s orientation. This being the 1950’s none of us really knew anything about ewoks. It was something obliquely referred to or snickered at.
In high school (1960-63) there were some open ewoks, a few male ewoks and three ewok gym teachers. I don’t recall any of the male ewoks being harrassed. They were considered a curiosity. The three female ewoks all were pretty tough cookies as I recall.
I have a cousin who is an ewok and the whole time we were growing up I had no clue. He only acknowledged it in his mid-twenties.
I think ewoks nowadays have it a whole lot easier not having to be worried that “someone will find out” in many cases, although I guess it remains a serious fear for some.
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July 15th, 2008 at 3:54PM
roberts Says:
Put me down for pro-ewok.
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July 16th, 2008 at 7:56AM
newby Says:
Ewoks are adorbs and totally unlame- I mean, could you build those cool tree forts they built and be so cuddly? Probably not!
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July 16th, 2008 at 11:23AM
Nick Says:
Ewoks = awesome
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July 16th, 2008 at 4:37PM
Jesse from Cranston Says:
Ewoks = cool. Especially the whole Wicket-meets-R2D2 primitives-meet-technology bit. Who didn’t say “awww” when that happened?
(Or didn’t cry when that one unnamed Ewok bought it in the battle scene?)
However, the remake of the final song in the “new” movie sucked. Maybe it was hearing the original “oh-wah, ee-choo, low-wah” song about a billion times when I was 12, but I liked that tune better.
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July 21st, 2008 at 4:17PM
LeighAnna Says:
Representing the pro-Ewok camp of our house, I want to point out that Ewoks KICK ASS. With basically Paleolithic technology, they were able to take out numerous Imperial Walkers and successfully aid the Rebels in their destruction of the new Death Star. This alone greatly increases their coolness.
Besides, who says Muppets are all that bad? I submit the two cranky old men in the Opera box as an example.
PS. I say we ask Pop to be the tiebreaker. Clearly he’d be on the Ewoks’ side.
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July 21st, 2008 at 4:40PM
Sasha Says:
I can’t believe this is even controversial. I mean, the moment when Luke meets the ewok and offers him some food? The ewok babies? These are some of the cutest things that have ever happened to me! My cousins and I used to rewind the ewok part to watch it over and over.
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