I agree that those first 20 minutes within the Wookiee household are 20 of the worst and most ridiculous moments in cinematic history. However, as a Star Wars fan I did find the rest of the film quite entertaining. Just like the Ewok Adventures or some Star Wars fan films, it's an extension of the Star Wars universe that we all know and love. You get to see many characters from the first film in Bea Arthur's cantina which is always cool because as a kid I loved the brief appearances by the hammerhead, devil and walrus looking guys. You get a better understanding for how the Wookiees actually live (no matter how stupid that may be) and you also get even more indications of just how evil the Empire is. Between the ransacking of homes and the constant presence on Wookiee television screens you get the idea that Lucas created the Empire as a mix between the Nazi SS and a George Orwell 1984 type of government. Because the Wookiees don't speak English and there's no translation available this really doesn't come across as a holiday special. The strange interspecies sexual overtones and the ultra evil imperials also don't add to any kind of holiday special feel either. Using the resources they had they could have made a pretty good Star Wars special, but Lucas was apparently too focused on wanting to show Wookiee home life. Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill turn in the best performances they can with the script they are given and Art Carney does a good job even if Bea Arthur and Harvey Korman do feel a bit out of place. I think most people judge this special simply from those tedious first 20 minutes. I watched the whole thing and in the end found that I'd like to watch it again even if I have to fast forward through the long opening scene in Chewbacca's home. Any person who is a fanatic for the original trilogy (the TRUE Star Wars) should find something to enjoy about this show. Granted, I couldn't give it more than 5 stars because there are so many flaws and it's just so goofy most of the time, but in the end I found it far more entertaining than any Star Wars related thing made in the 21st century...
Review of The Star Wars Holiday Special
