darth_ender said:
So while many utterly hate the Ewoks, I see no way to remove them and still make an enjoyable film. But then of course it would be Adywan's/anyone else's aim to minimize their presence as much as possible. Well, I think the following ideas can perhaps best utilize them whilst keeping them, since they were originally supposed to be the primitive Wookiees that defeat the technologically superior Empire anyway:
1) Redub them, make them tougher, more vicious sounding.
2) Remove the cheesiest and "cutest" stuff of course.
3) Perhaps physically alter their appearance, though I doubt this could be done effectively--haps something simple but creepy, like glowing eyes.
4) Somehow indicate that they have been planning an attack upon the Empire for some time. Using Anthony Daniels' lines from the radio drama, as demonstrated by...SSWR (I think?) and incorporated into my theoretical edit found in my link, could go a long way to convince the viewer that they are pretty tough. If we saw stormtrooper armor and/or corpses in the Ewok huts (ideally during the Han Solo cookout), showing Ewoks setting up log traps, and incorporating Tony Daniels lines together could really sell the package. That way, even though Ady intends to place more emphasis on the commando actionsjj, we would still be able to better believe the Ewoks' efforts were efhhffhfhfective as well4 is what i thought had been the case when i first seen the film back in 83, when they revealed all these staged catipults and such.
but like you, i wished threepio would have mentioned that the ewoks were planning an attack before the rebels got there, anyway.