Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Console best movie i've ever seen.

Zlatica One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Jade Praerie (jadepraerie) 'Star Wars: Holiday Special' was clearly well ahead of its time. It's true that when I first saw this bizarre "film", I winced and gagged at the cheap sets, flimsy plot, and veiled eroticism. But now, looking back forty years, and having seen 'The Last Jedi'-an horrifically insulting and insipid "film", produced by a supposedly woke woman, and financed by once-family-favorite Disney no less-I can see the SWHS for the artful masterpiece that it truly is: a literal variety offering, which subverted expectations long before we really knew what to expect. Happy Life Day to all.

brian_m_hass In this made-for-TV holiday special, Han Solo is trying to evade Imperial forces to get Chewbacca home to his family in time for Life Day. Most of the main cast members of "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" appear as their "Star Wars" characters in this program. The TV special features musical numbers as well as a few well known comedy stars.People watching this holiday special will have ambivalent feelings. As a holiday special (setting aside the fact that this production has any link to "Star Wars"), it is cute enough to where young children might enjoy it. As a "Star Wars" spin-off, hardcore "Star Wars" fans are certain to be disappointed. On one hand, it features the original main "Star Wars" characters from the time when the actors were in their prime; and for that reason alone, "Star Wars" fans are going to want to see this special out of curiosity (if for no other reason). On the other hand, no "Star Wars" fan would ever take this special seriously and would not consider it to be a part of the "Star Wars" canon. However, it cannot be dismissed entirely; because as surprising as it may sound, it was this holiday special (not "The Empire Strikes Back") which introduced the "Star Wars" character, Boba Fett.Some "Star Wars" fans may wonder, "Why was this holiday special made?" First, it was the 1970's (an era of ugly clothes, bad-looking hair styles, and disco music). This special was just one of the many things from the 1970's which were difficult to understand unless you lived through that time period. Second, only one "Star Wars" film had been released before this special was made; and, the first "Star Wars" film would not be shown on television until four years after this special was broadcast. Third, VCR technology was still too expensive to be common in most homes. The second and third points were the most important in explaining this holiday special; because, people were not able rent or buy copies of the original "Star Wars" film to watch in their own homes. For those reasons, some fans of the first film were probably thrilled to be able to see anything related to "Star Wars" on television in 1978.Is this holiday special as bad as some people say that it is? Once again, "Star Wars" fans will be disappointed with much of it. There isn't a lot of story in this special; and, much of it seems too silly and frivolous to be taken seriously. Many of the special effects scenes were nothing more than clips taken from the first "Star Wars" film. Compared to the original "Star Wars" film, the production quality of this special looks pretty cheesy; and, watching this special will probably cause fans of the first film to cringe. Some of the special's live action sequences bear a resemblance to the live action Saturday morning shows of the 1970's. Much of the special is musical; and, some people simply do not like any kind of musical. Many will not like this special for all of these reasons as well as others. On the other hand, if you do not take it too seriously, you might think that it is cute enough to enjoy during the holidays.The bottom line is this. Many hardcore "Star Wars" fans are not going to like this special at all. On the other hand, it is a gentle holiday special which some families and their children might enjoy. The best advice which can be offered is that if a hardcore "Star Wars" fan is watching this program with small children in the room, the fan should refrain from expressing opinions about the show in order to allow the children to enjoy it. If anyone has kids who like "Star Wars," the kids might enjoy this special as well

Paul Magne Haakonsen I didn't even know that this 1978 "Star Wars" movie - and I use the term movie very casually here - existed, and I just had to sit down and watch it immediately as I stumbled upon it here in 2016.By all that binds the galaxy together, no! No! Why? This totally obliterated so much of the magic that I had growing up with "A New Hope", "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi". This 1978 holiday special really busted up so much Star Wars magic, and it will take some serious effort to restore the balance to the galaxy and overcome the trauma that is "The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)".If you haven't seen this yet, by some weird cosmic luck, as I had, then do yourself and your love for "Star Wars" a huge favor. Don't! Don't watch it. Not if you cherish "Star Wars" and love that universe that George Lucas gave us.The essence of "The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)" is centered on Chewbacca and Han Solo trying to return to Chewbacca's family on Kashyyyk in time to celebrate Life Day.This is essentially different short stories tied together around the story of Chewbacca's family back on Kashyyyk. A family that consists of a wife, a child and an elderly family member that looks like a Wookie version of Dan Aykroyd, oddly enough. And two of the names of these three characters were just equally bad; Itchy and Lumpy.To make matters worse, then they totally and wholeheartedly failed to capture the magic of the "Star Wars" universe, and also failed to portray anything that even did an inch of justice to "Star Wars". I mean, we are presented with a somewhat chubby space trader with an open shirt that leaves nothing to the imagination and some lovely's late-70's spectacles. But it gets better, we also have Bea Arthur, yes the lady from "Golden Girls", as a cantina barkeep performing a song about friends."The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)" uses some stock footage from the "Star Wars: A New Hope" movie, which just makes it uncomfortably weird to witness here in this.But there were some golden moments to it as well. That would, of course, having the original cast from "Star Wars: A New Hope" make short appearances in this abysmal holiday special. I wonder if they had no idea what this was going to be, since they were participating. And it also had the very first introduction of iconic Boba Fett to the "Star Wars" universe in form of a poorly drawn animated short movie. And it was nice also to see that they made use of proper "Star Wars" costumes, wardrobes and props as well for some of the scenes throughout this holiday special.I painfully regret that I took the time to watch "The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)", because it caused so much damage to "Star Wars" and the love I have for that entire universe. And now I will have to rebuild and restore that.The sole reason for why I am rating it two out of ten stars, and not just one star, is because of the original cast making short appearances in it and because this was also the introduction of Boba Fett.Do yourself a favor and stay well clear of this one.

AllNewSux 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...