Star Wars is a franchise that expands far beyond the obvious. With countless novels, comics, and derivative works, it is absolutely vast. It is perfectly possible to consume only related works in one way or another with Star Wars without always needing to be watching or reading exactly the same thing. This demonstrates its cultural importance for an entire generation.
That’s why there is so much Star Wars that you know and imagine. Something that is helped by the fact that a good part was taken out of the canon when the new trilogy came out. But even without taking that into account, there is a lot to talk about. Even if we only talk about the movies.
There are many Star Wars movies that you probably don’t know about. And that’s what this article is about. All those movies that for one reason or another have gone unnoticed, have been semi-forgotten or have never had the impact of the others. Among them there are great movies, others terrible and everything in between. Although what there is the most are Ewoks. Many Ewoks. So, for your own good, we hope you like space teddy bears.
Star Wars Holiday Special
Perhaps the most forgotten movie when we talk about Star Wars is the Star Wars Holiday Special. Following the long tradition of Christmas special episodes of television shows, this time it was Star Wars’ turn with a story based on a very simple idea: Chewbacca and Han Solo go to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day. An equivalent to our Christmas. Of course, things don’t go well and the Wookiees have to save the day so that everyone can enjoy a meal together.
Even if we overlook the cameos, the peculiar mix of musical acts, comedy, and cartoons, or the vague connections between all of them, the result is disappointing. It had a terrible reception and to this day, it is considered one of the worst specials in television history. Not just in Star Wars. It is doubtful that we will see something like the Life Day again.
The Adventure of the Ewoks and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor
Another one of the attempts to bring Star Wars to television, more successful at the time without being a hit, was Caravan of Courage: An Ewok Adventure. A story about a human family that crashes into the moon of Endor and must fight alongside the ewoks to escape from there. It will have a sequel, Ewoks: The Battle for Endor, where an orphaned child will help the ewoks defend their home.
Although they are now considered very simple movies, without cinematographic merits, at the time they were well received as interesting films. Particularly for the youngest viewers. But the fandom’s hatred towards the Ewoks and their simplicity themselves have made them two movies rarely referenced.
The Clone Wars
More recently, another unnoticed movie was Star Wars: The Clone Wars. This is a movie directed by Dave Filoni, set between Episode 2 and 3, following Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. With excellent animation, a fascinating script, and extremely solid direction, this was the movie that served as a pilot for the series of the same name, Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The series would go on to have six seasons, 133 episodes, and is the modern favorite of many fans.
So, why does it seem like the movie is forgotten? Once again, it had a rather questionable critical reception and, although it had a good box office performance, it didn’t become a resounding success. The nominations for ‘worst prequel’ didn’t help its case, but the reality is that it is an interesting film that is worth revisiting.
SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back
To end on a more positive note, it is important to highlight a documentary. In fact, one that many consider the best documentary about the making of Star Wars, especially The Empire Strikes Back. Because that’s what the television special SP FX: The Empire Strikes Back is about.
Presented by Mark Hamill, this documentary showcases the creation of various special effects sequences. Diving into many details, with interviews with those responsible for different aspects of the film, it is an excellent behind-the-scenes look at the most spectacular film of the original trilogy. One more reason why it’s worth watching again. Because sometimes, when a film is forgotten, it’s not necessarily because it was hated.
