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Let's talk about Chewbacca

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Let's take a minute to talk about my favorite subject. Chewbacca.

I know its been asked a million times but what is Chewbacca? I mean we all know he's a wookie. And we all know he was partially inspired by a dog owned by George Lucas. But what is he really?

Bigfoot mania was sweeping the country in the late 70s. I personally think Chewie is part dog, part bear, and part bigfoot.

Admit it, I have completely blown your mind.

But consider this. Chewie is so intellegent that he can actually fly a space ship and repair complex mechanical and electronic equipment. He has tremendous strength and yet at the same time he is constantly subservient to Han Solo. Sorta like he's Han's dog. I mean we know about the life debt, but doesn't that also make Chewie an indentured servant, which is really a polite way of saying he's a slave?

Did you read all of this? Good. Because now you're thinking about Chewbacca.

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Chewbacca was the reason my parents 'previewed' Star Wars before taking me, age 4 and my brother, age 1 to see Star Wars. They thought he was a space werewolf or something and might be too scary :P As far back as I can remember I thought Chewie was ripped off not getting a medal. If you haven't been following the wookiee racism thread, it may be because you mistakenly thought it was a thread about The Empire Strikes Back being the best Star Wars movie

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none said:

You might appreciate this blog post on origins of Chewie.

http://binarybonsai.com/2010/09/18/george-lucas-stole-chewbacca-but-its-okay/

Damn, that really was a great read. That is like the magnum opus of Chewbacca.

But accusing GL of stealing Chewie might be a bit strong. Weren't giant furry man creatures a regular feature in comics and old pulps? I know I've seen a few of them around. Apelike, bigfoot style, bear type creatures, etc.

 

 

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DarthChewie said:

I personally think Chewie is part dog, part bear, and part bigfoot.

Al Gore said:

Half dog, half bear, and half bigfoot. DOGBEARFOOT

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Harrison Ford on the Han/Chewie relationship. (Starting at 1:20)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8qqzFDVCFk&feature=related

 

Peter Mayhew said in an interview he was cautioned against wandering off in costume on the Endor forest location, to avoid being mistaken for bigfoot and getting shot by a hunter!

 

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Where were you in '77?

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I always wish Chewie got to do more, especially in ROTJ. I want to see him kick some but.

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The turning point in the whole battle is when Chewie takes over that scout walker.

Not as emotionally satisfying as seeing him pull troopers' arms out their sockets, and beat them up with it, but still...

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Where were you in '77?

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Ah chewie, what a great iconic character!  Ive always appreciated his loyalty and friendship to han solo and his skills as a pilot, mechanic and warrior.  I would've loved to have seen the notorious wookie temper in the prequals with chewy pulling arms out of sockets, like han describes in ANH.  As hairy as he is, I bet he has an ongoing problem with dingleberries.

"There's no cluster of midiclorians that controls my destiny!" -Han Solo, from a future revision of ANH

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You know what I'd love to see? An album consisting of nothing but Wookiees and Sandpeople singing classic songs to the tunes of the Star Wars themes. "Purple Haze" sung in Shyriiwook and Tusken to the tune of the Emperor's theme? It'd be an instant hit!
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DarthChewie said:

...I mean we all know he's a wookie.

Actually, Chewbacca is a Wookiee.

(-;    <--upside-down winky.

Keep Circulating the Tapes.

END OF LINE

(It hasn’t happened yet)

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Tyrphanax said:

DarthChewie said:

...I mean we all know he's a wookie.

Actually, Chewbacca is a Wookiee.

(-;    <--upside-down winky.

Oh really?

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TV's Frink said:

Tyrphanax said:

DarthChewie said:

...I mean we all know he's a wookie.

Actually, Chewbacca is a Wookiee.

(-;    <--upside-down winky.

Oh really?

Kettle, meet Pot.

Keep Circulating the Tapes.

END OF LINE

(It hasn’t happened yet)

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For me, this is Chewie at his best.  For whatever reason, he seems more serious in this scene, when we first meet him.  Something about the expression, the angle he's sitting at, body language - I'm not sure.  He just seems more real to me.

 

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