Why do people hate Ewoks?

[Jarlaxl]

I'm re-watching the wonderful Red Letter Media reviews of Star Wars Episodes 1, 2, and 3, and I was reminded of something.

People hate ewoks. Why? More generally, why is Jedi seen as the weakest of 4-6?

I think we can all agree that all three parts of the original trilogy are excellent. These movies are like kids - you love each one for different reasons, but you love them all anyways.

But I love Jedi. I think it's as good as its brothers, if for different reasons. I even love the ewoks. I think they make sense and work well in the movie.

But then I read stuff like this, and I feel alone: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Episode_VI:_Return_of_the_Jedi#Reception

Can someone explain this to me? I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Odinsson]

With regards to the Ewok thing, I think part of it is that it sort of ruins any threat that the Empire's troops held. Granted, in the preceeding two films the Stormtroopers weren't exactly competent, but they had at least some sort of intimidation factor. When the 'best unit' of the Empire's force is taken down by some teddy bears with sticks and rocks, it pretty much removes any plausible fear of the Empire.
At least, that's my view

 

[Smertnik]

With regards to the Ewok thing, I think part of it is that it sort of ruins any threat that the Empire's troops held. Granted, in the preceeding two films the Stormtroopers weren't exactly competent, but they had at least some sort of intimidation factor. When the 'best unit' of the Empire's force is taken down by some teddy bears with sticks and rocks, it pretty much removes any plausible fear of the Empire.
At least, that's my view

That's pretty much it. The Ewok fight is just ridiculously silly.

 

[Abedeus]

"Ok people we have a cloning technique that lets us create millions of perfect soldiers equipped with blasters and rocket launchers and flame throwers, on top of that some heavy machinery that would effortlessly destroy a small country if left unchecked."

"But sir, they have rocks and ropes."

"Can't you just shoot them all to hell and burn down the forests?"

"No, sir."

"WHY NOT?!"

"They can hijack those machines."

"You mean some devolved bears that can't even talk can pilot the vehicles many people can't?"

"Yes, sir."

"Damn it all to heellll!!!"

 

[BringBackBuck]

Caravan of courage ruined ewoks for me.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I liked RotJ when it was all about Jabba the Hut and the giant sand vagina (courtesy of RedLetterMedia), but the moment it shifted towards the teddy bear picknick I was out.

 

[Fasckira]

Pretty sure the imperial forces would have wiped out the Ewoks long ago anyway, particularly during the building of the base. Its satisfying to know that the Ewoks were wiped out shortly after Return of the Jedi though: http://www.theforce.net/swtc/holocaust.html

 

[SniperMacFox]

Contextually it was the gap between "the Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" that saw the greatest increase in merchandise sales for Mr Lucas, who might I add recieved a cut of all such merchandise.

The first two films were always about creating storylines set in a sci-fi universe yet that are relatable in many levels, that's why kids loved it as it made them feel like there were being treated as an adult and adults loved it as it was a flashback to old films of the past.

"Jedi" had cute fluffy ewoks in it. Cute, kid friendly, very marketable ewoks. The story's still okay and the action sequences are also great, it's just that in the last two films the Stormtroopers were good, they won a lot of the smaller skirmishes and were seen as a threat. Then they get killed by primitive teddy bears.

Ewoks alone are good and I love them, but I was a kid when I watched "Jedi" first. In retrospect, the Empire lost their presence as an equal threat.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Why, do people hate Ewoks? I always thought they were one of the best parts of the franchise, alongside the special effects in the prequels.

 

[Zeema]

People hate everything its all a matter of what the Variable is.

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

I don't know why people are so cynical about Ewoks, the Rebellion would have failed without them.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

I like the Ewoks, but then I also don't think the prequel trilogy are entirely awful movies. (I think grammar just died a little)

People hate them because they 'ruin the Empire's credibility.' This same Empire where the ifnantry can't hit a stationary target ten feet away despite having thirty men pouring fire at them. This same Empire that had their ultimate weapon blown up by a literal farm boy who only had experience in the equivalent of a Cessna. This same Empire that was ruled by an insane old man and his right hand robot who had control over a mystical power that didn't actually help him at any point throughout the series. I'm more amazed that the Stormtroopers can get dressed in the morning, let alone go on to battle.

Yeah, the Ewoks totally ruined their credibility.

 

[ShenCS]

Fun fact: loads of Ewoks got killed and the Stormtroopers were shown actually hitting a main character for the first time. RotJ was the first time the Empire showed actual competence apart from the start of the first film. The problem people have with Ewoks is because they're "kiddy" in this very serious story about a farm boy with a magic sword fighting his cyborg dad.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I find them adorable and there were quite a few of them. Still if we all didn't think the Empire sucked before (An entire legion of my best troops awaits them) we all certainly did then.

It really wasn't put into perspective until the other movies came out. Remember THESE are the same guys that killed virtually all the Jedi. And they meet their end by a group of snuggle bears?

 

[Saltyk]

I liked Return of the Jedi minus the Ewoks. I don't know, it's just hard to take them as a credible threat. Maybe if we saw a larger rebel force involved in the fight, you could take it serious. Actually why didn't they have a larger force?

Fun fact: loads of Ewoks got killed and the Stormtroopers were shown actually hitting a main character for the first time. RotJ was the first time the Empire showed actual competence apart from the start of the first film. The problem people have with Ewoks is because they're "kiddy" in this very serious story about a farm boy with a magic sword fighting his cyborg dad.

You don't count them destroying the Rebel base on Hoth as a success? The rebels weren't able to fight them. They had to retreat. The forces they used to engage the Imperial troops were meant to slow them down as best they could. And the only reason they even knew the Empire was on the way was because on of Vader's underlings screwed up (which earned him his physic death choke) and exited Hyperspace too early which allowed the Rebels to detect them. The Rebellion barely survived that and afterward was forced to remain in space.

 

[Sarah Frazier]

It's pretty much been said within the first few posts.

The Empire once used their swarm of cloned troopers, armed with lasers and wearing what may be crude power armor, to take over the galaxy and exterminate or at least contain alien races. Suddenly they're being pulverized by a bunch of short fuzzy things wielding primitive weapons and wearing chicken bones for armor. This happening in and around their biggest and most powerful weapon being rebuilt after the first one was destroyed by a pair of tiny torpedoes.

It's that sudden change from Big Bad Mofo to a bunch of failures in a short span of time that upsets people. Rather than blaming Lucas for allowing a script with so much bias, people go to blame the Ewoks because they got all the lucky breaks.

edit: I can't help but agree that the Empire was shown, by and large, to have pretty useless people all through the ranks. If it wasn't for the way the Republic wrapped itself up in legalities to take action in a timely period, the Empire may not have come to power quite as easily. I still think it's mostly misdirected rage at a lame scripting and a drive to be marketable.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

True Story:

It was originally supposed to be the Wookies that the squad met, not the Ewoks, so the finale of ROTJ would have been an epic battle between hundreds of Wookies and Stormtroopers.
Lucas changed it because Ewoks were more marketable to children, and would sell better as merchandise. He also forfeited his fees in ROTJ and instead took 100% control of the merchandising, it's an incredibly smart business move, but his reliance on merchandise has been to the detriment of his films.

 

[Thaluikhain]

Cause they are dirty hippies?

They live in the forest, and don't have jobs, and then get in the way of the hard working Imperials that are trying to do their jobs and finish their big death star before the Emperor or Vader gets mad.

C'mon, if ewoks were around today, they'd be OWS protestors.

 

[BabySinclair]

True Story:

It was originally supposed to be the Wookies that the squad met, not the Ewoks, so the finale of ROTJ would have been an epic battle between hundreds of Wookies and Stormtroopers.
Lucas changed it because Ewoks were more marketable to children, and would sell better as merchandise. He also forfeited his fees in ROTJ and instead took 100% control of the merchandising, it's an incredibly smart business move, but his reliance on merchandise has been to the detriment of his films.

A bigger thing for the Wookie to Ewok fiasco, Wookie suits are expensive to make compared to Ewok suits. When you're towards the end of filming and need to cut costs, downsize.

But yeah, teddybears with pointy sticks (which let's be honest, is quite literally the most important invention mankind ever made) shouldn't beat armor and blasters.