The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

The Star Wars Holiday Special dvd review

I have come to like the Star Wars Holiday Special

Its incredibly strange. I read in a cover feature on the Special in SFX magazine that Lucas didn't really have too much input with the plot, which perhaps explains why nothing really happens

But if you enjoy it for what it is (Star Wars as variety show) I think its quite good. The music is ok (Jefferson Starship in a Star Wars tv show is incredibly strange, but the tune they do is not bad)

Some parts are very odd indeed (many of the scenes are just Wookies talking, and though you can figure out what they're on about, incredibly strange again)

There were worse tv shows (anyone ever see Pink Lady and Jeff) but the Star Wars Holiday Special was so very odd. Whats with the cartoon? (The first appearance of Boba Fett in the Star Wars universe btw!)

Whats with Boba Fett singing a song to clear out her bar? and whats with Harvey Korman wooing her?

I like Harvey Korman. Hes a talented man, and he was a hoot in Blazing Saddles. But here hes totally wasted. Its rather like watching a car accident, his bits (he plays the chef on the tv that Mora imitates, then a couple other bits later on)

I mentioned the cartoon - the cartoon is quite good, but it doesn't really fit. Thats the trouble with the Holiday Special and why I'm only giving it a couple of stars: much of it doesn't really fit. Theres musical guests, and an (endless) acrobat performance that Lumpy very much enjoys, and an Itchy masturbation scene (when hes watching this chick tell him hes very sexy). Its all so very odd..

There are classic bits. The intro is ace - you've got Hans and Chewie outrunning some ships, trying to get Chewbacca home for Life Day (something to do with the Tree of Life or something, I didn't quite get what it was all about!)

And you've got the original actors too (R2D2 as R2D2). Nice to see Leia, and Luke, and Han

But its so very odd. It really is. My superego is telling me to give this one star, but I think its better than Phantom Menace although some of the singing here I can certainly do without (Carrie Fisher.. gulp!)

And it is possible to enjoy the Star Wars Holiday Special. It helps if you're drunk. I remember one time with my friend Adam when we were crumpling up newspapers and throwing them at the screen, then just fast forwarding to the commercials

But its a definite grower. The first time you watch it CAN be painful, but you give it a chance; as I said, enjoy it for what it was, a variety show in the Star Wars universe with just a sliver of plot (Hans and Chewie trying to get home for Life Day)

Considering, thats more plotwise than the recent Star Wars Clone War film (Anakin and apprentice saving Jabba the Hutt's son - rubbish film)

Stick to the Holiday Special on those nights when you just need a laugh, just need something to bend your brain and you can't find any of your Residents albums!

PS the Star Wars song is utter crap. Try to fast forward through that bit at the end when Carries singing. Harrison Ford looks particularly pained while shes singing btw! November 21, 2008

When Hell Freezes Over

Don't bother clicking on email when this becomes available. It will be a cold day in hell before George Lucas puts this "special" out on DVD. He has noted on several occasions that he would pay good money to make sure every bootleg copy of this program is destroyed.

I don't even think this is considered canon in the Star Wars universe. May 8, 2008

Poor quality, Great fun

I really love the Holiday Special. Yes, the quality of the production is poor, and seeing Carrie Fisher sing can be painful; but the upside is the use of characters and the cartoon. This episode led to so many ideas in the future of Star Wars. The Wookie home world of Kashyyk, Boba Fett, and deeper insight into individual background characters. This is a must see if you are a Star Wars fan. If you're not a huge fan of Star Wars at least go check out the cartoon. It's less than 10 minutes long, but gives a nice introduction of Boba Fett. May 2, 2008

The Best Part of the Original Quadrilogy

The Star Wars Holiday Special is a sadly forgotten classic. The epic storyline is primarily concerned with Chewbacca trying to make it home in time for Life Day, but at its core the film is a metaphor for the common man's attempt to make a better world for his family in the face of corrupt and uncaring universe. Parallels to 1984 are envisioned by the Empire occupying their house and manhandling their property.

This classic also allows us insight into the supposedly gruff character of Han Solo, who reveals a tender side in his relations with Chewbacca's family and his crying when Princess Leia sings the lyrics to the Star Wars main theme. December 28, 2007

educational

This is what I call "anti-art". There is talent here, and there is ambition. There is also of a large sense of WTF?
Something went terribly wrong with this idea, but it was bulldozed through the actors, the cameras, the direction, the producers, the network, and of course, George Lucas.

Along the way, something unique was created.

Film students should see this film in order to process ambition, ideas, conception and execution. A "what went wrong" book could be culled out of this production, if Lucas wasn't paying off people to keep their mouths shut.

It's not unwatchable, but the dropped jaw you get every five minutes is a bit distracting. December 15, 2007

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