Summer of Star Wars: Ewoks: The Battle for Endor

Written for television and directed by Jim and Ken Wheat from a story by George Lucas, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is the sequel to the 1984 TV movie Caravan of Courage: An Ewoks Adventure that explores more adventures with Wicket and the Ewoks. Yet, it is about Wicket and an orphaned Cindel who try to seek help from a hermit following an attack by marauders who have taken control of the moon of Endor. Starring Warwick Davis, Aubree Miller, Paul Gleason, Sian Phillips, Carel Struycken, and Wilford Brimley. Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a very laborious and sappy TV movie from Jim and Ken Wheat.

When a group of marauders led by a warlord and a witch attack the Ewoks village and kill the family of a young girl who were just about to leave, the film revolves the young girl and the Ewok Wicket (Warwick Davis) trying to evade the marauders as they seek help from a hermit and his little fast-creature friend. It’s a film where a girl tries to survive and deal with loss but it’s a story where not a lot really happens but rather two characters get lost in the wood trying to find help and they eventually get help from some cranky old man. The script has elements that are quite dumb as the main antagonist in Terak (Carel Struycken) is someone that wants power thinking that some power generator for a starship has something mystical. It’s among these moments that is very stupid as well as plot-holes that relates to the entire Star Wars canon.

Wicket would speak some English in the film yet since the film is supposedly set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Why didn’t he speak English in the latter when he first appeared? Plus, how did the Ewoks not know about these marauders since there’s a castle somewhere in the moon of Endor? It’s among these plot devices that are very confusing as it definitely raises more questions than answers for even the most hardcore fan of the Star Wars series. The direction of Jim and Ken Wheat is quite uninspiring as it tries to mix in elements of fantasy, adventure, humor, and drama but it never meshes. Especially as there’s scenes where Wicket and Cindel (Aubree Miller) roaming around the woods and dealing with the hermit Noa (Wilford Brimley) as a lot of it never goes anywhere.

Shot on location in California at the Redwood forest, the film does maintain a sense of naturalism in its setting but the mixture of visual effects and action is quite wobbly considering that either there wasn’t enough money for the visual effects budget or they didn’t do enough work to make it look realistic. It’s among the many issues in the film that really hampers any elements to keep it engaging. Instead, a lot of the scenes that doesn’t involve any sense of action or adventure ends up being very boring and whenever they try to liven things up for humor. It feels forced and uninspiring while the action scenes themselves don’t really say anything as some of it comes off as cheesy. Overall, the Wheat brothers create a film that is just ponderous and unexciting about a girl trying to survive with the Ewoks from a bunch of ugly marauders.

Cinematographer Idisdore Mankofsky does nice work with the film‘s cinematography to complement the natural beauty of the locations though its look for the castle where the marauders live in has some bad lighting. Editor Eric Jenkins does OK work with the editing as it is straightforward but doesn‘t do enough to make things exciting due to its awful pacing. Production designer Joe Johnston and art director William George do excellent work with the look of Noa‘s home and his spaceship as well as the interiors of the marauder‘s castle despite its awful lighting.

Costume designer Michael Becker does good work with the costumes from the lavish look of the witch Charal (Sian Phillips) as well as the rugged look of Noa. Visual effects supervisor Michael J. McAlister do some decent work with the look of some of the characters though the effects look very wobbly where its mix of stop-motion animation and other effects don‘t mesh. Sound designer Randy Thom and sound editor Gloria S. Borders do some wonderful work with the sound from the way the guns sound to other things that play into the world of space and nature. The music by Peter Bernstein is terrific as it‘s a mostly orchestral-based score that features sweeping arrangements and bombastic pieces.

The film’s cast features appearances from Eric Walker as Cindel’s brother Mace, Tony Cox, Pam Grizz, and Daniel Frishman as a few Ewoks, and Marianne Horne as a young witch who would trick Cindel. Paul Gleason is pretty good as Cindel’s father Jeremitt who would have a very good moment where he would tell Cindel what to do knowing what would happen to him. Sian Phillips has her moments as the witch Charal though much of it is very ridiculous while Carel Struycken is terrible as the antagonist Terak as he basically has a lot of makeup and such where he just looks stupid.

Niki Botehlo doesn’t do much as the creature known as Teek where he is just a dumb comic relief while Warwick Davis does have some moments as the character Wicket since he is a reliable character. Aubree Miller is OK as Cindel as a young girl coping with loss and terror though she isn’t really able to sell the dramatic elements of her character. Finally, there’s Wilford Brimley in an alright performance as the cranky Noa as a hermit living in Endor as he deals with the marauders as he is the key to saving Cindel and the Ewoks.

Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a terrible film from Jim and Ken Wheat. Not only is it a very messy film but also one that is very boring due to moments where not much happens and even when something does happen. The results are very poor as it’s really just a TV movie that doesn’t represent Star Wars very well. In the end, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor is a horrible film from Jim and Ken Wheat.

Star Wars Films: Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back - Return of the Jedi - The Phantom Menace - Attack of the Clones - Revenge of the Sith - The Force Awakens - The Last Jedi - The Rise of Skywalker

Related: The Star Wars Holiday Special - Caravan of Courage: An Ewoks Adventure - The Clone Wars - Fanboys - The People vs. George Lucas

Star Wars Anthology Films: Rogue One - Solo: A Star Wars Story - (Untitled Star Wars Anthology Film)

George Lucas Films: THX 1138 - (American Graffiti)

© thevoid99 2015

The Thing (1982 film)

Based on the novella Who Goes There? by John W. Campbell Jr., The Thing is the story about a group of mysterious life form that infiltrates an Antarctic research station where a group of men to defend themselves from the creature who can imitate these men as paranoia ensues. Directed by John Carpenter and screenplay by Bill Lancaster, the film explores the world of men trying to deal with something they don’t know as they eventually start to distrust each other. Starring Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Keith David, T.K. Carter, Donald Moffat, and Charles Hallahan. The Thing is a chilling yet harrowing film from John Carpenter.

A group of American Antarctic researchers witness a Norwegian helicopter team trying to kill a dog as it later shoots at them only to kill the shooter and save the dog. Suspicion arises as a helicopter pilot named R.J. McCready (Kurt Russell) and Dr. Copper (Richard Dysart) go to the Norwegian camp where they find the place in ruins as well as a strange body. Upon bringing the body and video documentation at the camp, something strange happens where an autopsy is made where a man named Blair (Wilford Brimley) makes a discovery about this strange thing as it starts to imitate various life forms and kill those around the area as many struggle to survive against this strange alien being. Yet, distrust and paranoia starts to play in as the residents in the camp try to figure out what to do just as their numbers start to dwindle.

The film is essentially a story of survival and paranoia that revolves around a team of American Antarctic researchers trying to kill a strange alien who can imitate all sorts of life forms including themselves. During the course of the film, these men realize that the monsters can turn into humans and is willing to kill at any length leaving to all sorts of mistrust among many. Leading the pack is a helicopter pilot who is trying to maintain his cool and get everyone in tact where everyone becomes afraid or starts to act erratic leading to them being suspicious around one another.

Bill Lancaster’s screenplay definitely plays to a lot of the schematics of horror in which characters get picked off one-by-one and whoever are left are all trying to deal with the monster. The script does manage to invest a lot of time with the characters as they’re all just normal guys who do their job and such as they try to live their life in the extremely cold Antarctic. There’s not much plot in the story but it doesn’t need one since it’s just simply about a group of men fighting a monster and eventually themselves just as distrust starts to arrive. Even as they all realize that if they need to survive, they have to trust one another through some strange tests and such where there’s also the feeling that they might not make it all.

John Carpenter’s direction is very engaging for the way he builds up suspense and horror as he knows how to maintain a sense of rhythm into creating that sense of momentum in the suspense and horror. From the film’s opening scene that is this amazing wide shot of a helicopter trying to follow a dog through these snowy rocky mountains. It is clear that Carpenter is establishing something that would play a key part in the story with this opening sequence for what these men are to face. Through these vast locations set around British Columbia, Canada and parts of Alaska, Carpenter creates a world where nature is unforgiving in the cold world of the Antarctic. It’s not just this dark creature and themselves that they’re facing but also nature itself.

Carpenter’s direction also has a sense of foreboding intimacy in his framing where it’s clear that everyone is trapped in the rooms they’re in as Carpenter shoots the actors in various group shots and cuts to another small group to see who is the monster and who is not. It’s all part of the world of paranoia that Carpenter is trying to set-up that adds to the suspense where the third act revolves the small group of survivors trying to fight the monster any way they can. Overall, Carpenter creates a truly captivating yet mesmerizing horror film that plays to a lot of its schematics and more.

Cinematographer Dean Cundey does great work with the film‘s exhilarating photography to capture the beauty of the landscapes along with the sense of dread in the film‘s nighttime interior and exterior scenes where the lighting creates an unsettling mood. Editor Todd C. Ramsay does excellent work with the editing to play up the suspense and horror while utilizing dissolves and fade-outs for the film‘s transitions. Production designer John J. Lloyd, along with set decorator John W. Dwyer and art director Henry Larrecq, does amazing work with the set pieces such as the base the characters live in to the ruined Norwegian base and spaceship that is found nearby.

Special creature effects designer Rob Bottin, along with Stan Winston, does brilliant work with the look of the monster as it imitates itself in various forms that also features an element of repulsiveness in its look as it plays a large key to the film‘s horror element. Sound editors Colin C. Mouat and David Lewis Yewdall do superb work with the sound to play up the sense of atmosphere that occurs as it also plays a key part in the film‘s suspense and horror. The film’s music by Ennio Morricone is fantastic for its intense, orchestral-driven score that adds to the film’s drama and suspense as Morricone’s score is a major highlight along with the film’s opening theme by John Carpenter that is this chilling, electronic-driven piece that adds to the film’s darkness.

The casting by Anita Dann is terrific for the ensemble that is created as it features some notable small roles from Norbert Weisser and Larry J. Franco as the Norwegian men in a helicopter as well as Adrienne Barbeau as the computer chess game that McCready is playing against. Other noteworthy small roles include Thomas G. Waites as the radio operator Windows, T.K. Carter as the cook Nauls, Richard Masur as the kennel operator Clark, Joel Polis as the scientist Fuchs, Richard Dysart as the doctor Copper, Peter Maloney and Charles Hallahan as the researchers Bennings and Norris, David Clennon as the scientist Palmer, and Donald Moffat as the base head Garry. Wilford Brimley is great as the scientist Blair who makes a discovery about the autopsy and his powers as he immediately starts to act erratic. Keith David is superb as the researcher Childs who rallies around everyone while often challenging McCready in the game of distrust. Finally, there’s Kurt Russell in an incredible performance as McCready who leads the team in fighting everyone while is willing to do anything to prove that he’s not the monster as it’s Russell bringing a lot of guts and charisma to his performances.

The Thing is an outstanding horror film from John Carpenter that features an intense performance from Kurt Russell. The film is definitely a horror film that doesn’t try to create any scares by focusing on characters and heavy themes that adds to the element of suspense and horror. Even as it explores the world of paranoia and survival in an unforgiving landscape that adds to the sense of terror in the film. In the end, The Thing is a hypnotic yet engrossing film from John Carpenter.

John Carpenter Films: Dark Star - Assault on Precinct 13 - Halloween - Someone’s Watching Me! - Elvis - The Fog - Escape from New York - Christine - Starman - Big Trouble in Little China - Prince of Darkness - They Live - Memoirs of an Invisible Man - Body Bags - In the Mouth of Madness - Village of the Damned - Escape from L.A. - Vampires - Ghosts of Mars - The Ward

The Auteurs #60: John Carpenter Pt. 1 - Pt. 2

© thevoid99 2012

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple (TV film)

Based on Karen Cushman’s novel, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple tells the story of a widowed mother and her three move to California from New England in the 1850s during the Gold Rush. The eldest daughter herself as Lucy as she tries to adapt to her new surroundings while dealing with her mother. Directed by Jeremy Kagan with a teleplay by Christopher Lofton, the TV movie is a coming of age tale as well as a period piece set at a time when California was a new world for Americans. Starring Glenn Close, Jena Malone, Chloe Webb, Robert Pastorelli, Bruce McGill, Meat Loaf Aday, and Wilford Brimley. The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is a good, heartwarming period drama from Jeremy Kagan.

After the death of her husband, Arvella Whipple (Glenn Close) goes on a journey from Massachusetts to California during the Gold Rush. Taking her three kids including her eldest daughter California (Jena Malone), son Butte (Michael Welch), and Prairie (Celeste Leary) to a small town that is run by Jonas Scatter (Bruce McGill). For Arvella, she hopes it’s a chance to start over though California has already begun to dislike the town, which is still in development. Meeting various eccentrics including a miner named Amos Frogge (Meat Loaf Aday) and a part-time prostitute named Sophie (Chloe Webb). The only person California befriends is a lawyer named Carrots (Dennis Christopher) who lends her his books.

With Arvella and her kids helping out in the town’s development, California renames herself Lucy as she meets a young girl named Annie (Olivia Burnette) who lives in the forest as she teaches her to read. A new town arrival in a preacher named Clyde Claymore (Robert Pastorelli) arrives to spread the gospel though Arvella isn’t keen on his ideals. Even as Lucy’s dislike for the town suddenly progresses into her liking the place more and more as she gets to know various locals including an androgynous cowboy named Buck (Judy Gold) and a Negro who she renamed Bernard (Neblis Francois). Though the tension between Arvella and Lucy is still evident over the decision to move.

Following a tragic event that shook up the entire Whipple family, Lucy uncovers more secrets about the town including Annie’s family where she meets Annie’s father (Dalin Christensen) as she learns why Annie lives in the woods. When he’s later found dead by the river and Annie’s mother (Elaine Kagan) is accused as she’s judged by the town’s deputy sheriff (Wilford Brimley). Lucy defends her as Arvella realizes what value Lucy has with her book reading. When Clyde makes a decision for his future with Arvella, another conflict with Lucy and Arvella emerges with the two unsure what to do next.

The TV film is essentially a mother’s plan to start over in a small Californian town in the 1850s while her eldest daughter isn’t happy about the decision. What happens is that it becomes a world where California becomes Lucy and finds herself being a part of this new world she’s living in despite some troubles and tribulations she would deal with. While her mother is a headstrong woman desperate for a new life and Lucy is a dreamer who wants to help teach people to read or use her knowledge for good. There is tension between the two women despite their similarities but their relationship is the heart of the film.

Director Jeremy Kagan does create a faithful period piece with some wonderful camera angles and wide shots of the landscape which is really shot in Utah. Since the script is a coming-of-age tale with elements of melodrama that is the norm of most TV movies. Kagan does play by the rules of what is expected though at times, it gets a little dramatic while there’s a scene where there’s a cheesy special effect happening that doesn’t really work. Despite the flaws the TV film has for its dramatic elements and conventional storytelling, it is still a solid TV film from Jeremy Kagan.

Cinematographer Neil Roach does an excellent job with the photography from the sunny, green look of the Utah landscapes as California to the dark nighttime scenes for many of the exteriors. The interiors also have a great look for the daytime scenes while it’s more intimate and sparse for the nighttime sequences in the tent. Editor Michael Economou does a very good job with the editing that is mostly straightforward in its approach to cutting though at times, the pacing lags a bit in a few spots.

Production designer Stephen Altman and set decorators John Bucklin and Anthony Maccario do a phenomenal job with the set designs from the period boarding houses that are created along with the tents. Altman’s work is truly amazing to watch in the design of those houses along with the objects created for the TV film. Costume designer Van Broughton Ramsey does a superb job with the costumes . From the cowboy clothes and pants that the men wear to the dresses the women including the yellowish dress that Lucy wears at times as the costumes help bring authenticity to the TV film.

Sound editor Joseph Melody does a nice job with the sound work from capturing the atmosphere of the town to the little noises such as gunshots, horse neighs, and other objects. Music composer Bruce Broughton does a good with the music playing to the old time folk music of the times though there’s moments when the score tends to overwhelm the drama in some scenes.

The casting by Jeff Johnson and Mary Jo Slater do a wonderful job with the casting with its large ensemble. Notable small performances include Elaine Kagan as Annie’s mother, Dalin Christensen as Annie’s abusive father, Charles Gruber as Arvella’s late husband (via photo), Celeste Leary as Lucy’s youngest sister Prairie, Dennis Christopher as a lawyer Lucy befriends early in TV film, and Judy Gold as the androgynous Buck. Other memorable small roles include Neblis Francois as the black man Lucy befriends name Bernard, Michael Welch as Lucy’s younger brother Butte, and in a cameo of sorts, Wilford Brimley as the town’s deputy sheriff.

Olivia Burnette is very good as the gritty though uneducated Annie who befriends Annie as she helps her get food while learning how to read in return. Legendary rock singer Meat Loaf (under the Meat Loaf Aday name) is excellent in a comical role of sorts as a man looking for gold while having a great scene where he tells a legendary story. Chloe Webb is really good as Sophie, a woman who is a part-time hooker but with a heart of gold as she helps out Arvella and Sophie in their duties. Bruce McGill is also good in a fine role as a town mayor who makes sure what is happening with the town and such. The late Robert Pastorelli is wonderful in his role as the preacher Clyde who helps to sooth the soul of the town while befriending Lucy and Arvella.

Glenn Close is superb as Arvella Whipple, Lucy’s mother who is a headstrong woman wanting to start over and create something for herself and her children. Close plays the character straight while being a bit comical at times as she truly revels in playing a free-spirited yet adventurous woman who loves her children including Lucy despite their differences. Finally, there’s Jena Malone in one of her finest performances as the title character of California “Lucy” Whipple. Malone exudes all of the character’s troubles to adjust not just to her new surroundings but also having to find ways to use her knowledge and love for books for something. Even as she is often in conflict with various people including Close as the two have great chemistry in the characters they play. It’s a truly outstanding performance from the young actress that would play to her evolution as one of cinema’s great young actresses.

The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is stellar yet touching period drama from Jeremy Kagan featuring top-notch performances from Jena Malone and Glenn Close. While it’s a formulaic TV movie that does have strengths in its story along with a wonderful cast. It’s also a coming-of-age film that plays true to the way mothers and daughters interact along with their differences. Fans of Jena Malone will no doubt see this film as one of her essential performances while fans of Glenn Close get a chance to see the famed actress in another memorable performance. In the end, The Ballad of Lucy Whipple is a very good TV film from Jeremy Kagan and company.

© thevoid99 2011