Ewoks are not that bad, and Boba Fett is not an interesting character

[Ithekro]

Some roleplaying materials suggest that the Empire blows up an Ewok village while clearing the area for their Garrison and Shield Projector complex. Than this scary looking skeletal sphere with the ominous eye came and stayed in the sky over the new metal platform where there was once an Ewok village. The Ewoks don't know what to make of it, but its kind of scary. The Empire may or may not have cared what they were clearing out to put in the garrison, since all they needed was a reasonable surface location for the Death Star II to remain in orbit over. One wonders if they built the frame there at Endor, or if they had been building it elsewhere, and moved it to the remote Endor system later.

 

[HugeLobes]

I guess the question you eventually get to when discussing the Ewoks is whether ROTJ should have been a relatively lighthearted film or the bleaker ending originally intended.

I can’t help thinking the OT would be as close to perfect as you can get if Gary Kurtz hadn’t found it necessary to part ways before ROTJ.

 

[fireproof78]

I guess the question you eventually get to when discussing the Ewoks is whether ROTJ should have been a relatively lighthearted film or the bleaker ending originally intended.

Personally, I would prefer the lighthearted. And, given the pushback against the ST for being a downer, I would say that Lucas' instincts, regardless of execution, were probably more accurate.

Some roleplaying materials suggest that the Empire blows up an Ewok village while clearing the area for their Garrison and Shield Projector complex.

One of my favorite books as a child was called "The Worlds of Star Wars" and featured an in-universe exploration of 8 major worlds, with Endor being written from the perspective of an Imperial surveyor regarding local wildlife and suitability for the new Death Star project. He is extremely jaded and makes for a fun read.

 

[JD]

Or they could have made the actor in AOTC sound more like Boba Fett? Absolutely no reason why not. Or George could have made up a new character instead of milking Boba Fett to get more fans in the theatre... Two choices right there. Seriously though, just listen to the difference on YouTube. The voice makes a huge difference.

I can see not wanting to limit themselves to finding someone who sounded like a voice we only heard a couple of times. I have heard both voices, and I don't really see where it makes that much of a difference. If I was forced to choose, I'd actually prefer Temuera Morrison's voice of Jason Wingreen's.

 

[HugeLobes]

I can see not wanting to limit themselves to finding someone who sounded like a voice we only heard a couple of times. I have heard both voices, and I don't really see where it makes that much of a difference. If I was forced to choose, I'd actually prefer Temuera Morrison's voice of Jason Wingreen's.

Why? The original voice just suits the character so much better than Temuera Morrison's. Also, it's really not such a limitation, but I doubt Lucas cared much at that point. Honestly stunned we didn't see Jango Fett using a lightsaber.

 

[fireproof78]

Why? The original voice just suits the character so much better than Temuera Morrison's. Also, it's really not such a limitation, but I doubt Lucas cared much at that point. Honestly stunned we didn't see Jango Fett using a lightsaber.

Personally, I like the idea of Boba having his own voice, apart from his father. Him separating himself from the clones to craft part of his own identity, while emphasizing more of the Mandalorian aspects of himself makes sense.

 

[Reverend]

Personally, I like the idea of Boba having his own voice, apart from his father. Him separating himself from the clones to craft part of his own identity, while emphasizing more of the Mandalorian aspects of himself makes sense.

Well for one thing neither of them are Mandalorian and genetics are genetics. His vocal chords are identical, so even if he makes a conscious effort to change his accent, it's still going to sound like Jango doing a voice.

 

[Myko]

Funny how both Jason Wingreen's and Clive Revill's contributions were removed from ESB considering they were both on Star Trek.

 

[fireproof78]

Well for one thing neither of them are Mandalorian and genetics are genetics. His vocal chords are identical, so even if he makes a conscious effort to change his accent, it's still going to sound like Jango doing a voice.

You don't think surgery or even smoking death sticks could impact his voice?

 

[Reverend]

You don't think surgery or even smoking death sticks could impact his voice?

So could having his entire head being surgically replaced, but why introduce complications that have nothing to do with the story that moves the two incarnations of the same character further apart when bringing them closer together better serves the larger narrative?

Sometimes the "why" is more important than the "how". After all, you can make up some excuse justify just about any discrepancy, but that doesn't make it any less incongruous in the context of the story. Indeed, if you have to make up an explanation like that, that means it's a problem.

 

[fireproof78]

So could having his entire head being surgically replaced, but why introduce complications that have nothing to do with the story that moves the two incarnations of the same character further apart when bringing them closer together better serves the larger narrative?

While I see the point, I don't entirely agree that it serves the narrative to bring them together. But, it's a minor quibble over a character I couldn't care less about.

 

[Reverend]

While I see the point, I don't entirely agree that it serves the narrative to bring them together. But, it's a minor quibble over a character I couldn't care less about.

It serves the larger narrative in the sense that it confirms that yes, they are the same person. Same basic deal as reshooting the ESB Emperor scene.

 

[fireproof78]

It serves the larger narrative in the sense that it confirms that yes, they are the same person. Same basic deal as reshooting the ESB Emperor scene.

Again, minor quibble, I don't really want to associate Jango and Boba as the same. Personally, I like Jango a whole heck of a lot more than I ever did Boba. So, connecting them together, while narratively it might make sense (I'm on the fence on this one) I'm not 100% convinced it is as needed as the Emperor scene.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

My main complaint about the new Boba Fett voice dub is that it sounds like it's phoned in, as the saying goes. I don't feel the same impact from the lines, it feels like they are just being recited, with only perfunctory inflection.

 

[Reverend]

I think it's mostly just a cool little detail for those new fans who's first Star Wars movies were the prequels. it really doesn't need to be any more complicated than that and really, if you'd never heard the old voice, you'd never even think twice about it.

 

[fireproof78]

Yeah, it's fine as connective tissue.

It's a nitpick for me because I don't care about the character, so connecting him to Jango and the clones is less of a priority.

 

[JD]

Why? The original voice just suits the character so much better than Temuera Morrison's. Also, it's really not such a limitation, but I doubt Lucas cared much at that point. Honestly stunned we didn't see Jango Fett using a lightsaber.

I just think Morrison has a more interesting voice, Wingreen pretty much just sounds like your typical heavy.

 

[Koric]

Hey all,

Just an FYI to everyone on this thread. On Amazon right now the ebook for The Making of Return of The Jedi by J.W. is an insanely cheap $6.99.

Im just curious as an open question to all who have posted on this thread how many of you have read Rinzlers books on the Making of Empire and the Making of Jedi honestly? Or George Lucas's rough draft of Revenge of the Jedi from 1981 on the Star Wars script site? Did any of those books change your mind about Fett or the Ewoks?

Hey let me know.
-Koric

 

[Grendelsbayne]

Attention grabbing headline drew you in bwahahaha.

I recently watched Return of the Jedi, which was the first time since I was a teenager I saw the whole thing end to end. I usually only watch the first two.

Compared to the other two the puppets appearance of the aliens didn’t age well. But the criticized things about it are overstated. Ewoks don’t look great due to limitations of their tech. But having a fight where little forest creatures fight storm troopers with rocks and ropes was a cool idea.

And Boba Fett only looked cool. He didn’t talk or do anything interesting besides put up a poor fight and die. He doesn’t deserve his status in fandom.

I always think it's funny how much backlash there is against Boba Fett because 'he just looks cool'. As if Star Wars isn't littered with shallow, vaguely defined characters who succeed primarily by virtue of cool visuals or simple attitude (Darth Maul, R2D2, Chewbacca, TR8R, Phasma, Jabba, BB8). Even Vader himself was more visual presence than anything else back in the first movie.

 

[HugeLobes]

I always think it's funny how much backlash there is against Boba Fett because 'he just looks cool'. As if Star Wars isn't littered with shallow, vaguely defined characters who succeed primarily by virtue of cool visuals or simple attitude (Darth Maul, R2D2, Chewbacca, TR8R, Phasma, Jabba, BB8). Even Vader himself was more visual presence than anything else back in the first movie.

Hard disagree on Vader.

Honestly, I'd say only Maul and Phasma really succeeded on looks alone, especially Maul.