Like many people my age (mid 30s), the original Star Wars trilogy is the film franchise that impacted most heavily on my childhood.  In between the cinema visits and TV screenings, I would either be playing with the brilliant toys, or acting out scenes from the movies (and creating new ones) with my mates.  My nostalgia for the films hasn't really faded.  Unlike most fans, I welcomed, and enjoyed the follow up trilogy, despite hating the indisputably awful Jar Jar Binks.  After all, many of the flaws of the prequels also existed in the original films, which tend to be looked back on with rose tinted specs (remember the fucking Ewoks?).

I woke up this morning to the radio announcing the acquisition of Lucas Films by Disney, and excitingly a new trilogy of Star Wars pictures,the first instalment of which to be released in 2015.  Brilliantly, if she will indulge me, my daughter and I can now experience the joy of the expanding Star Wars universe together on the big screen. 

Now, it will not have escaped most people's attention that George Lucas rarely passes up an opportunity to exploit his back catalogue.  However some people may not know that there is an existing trio of rarely seen Star Wars films already out there.  The Star Wars Holiday Special, released broadcast just a year after the first film, is a misjudged television variety oddity.  Chewbacca's wife Malla tediously shuffling around cooking dinner, a camp performance by Jefferson Starship and Boba Fett's first appearance are a few of the delights awaiting those willing to sit through it.  Not exactly pleased with the first follow up to A New Hope, George, who had little involvement with the production, stated that "If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it."  So it will come as no surprise that The Holiday Special has not as of yet surfaced as an official release since its original TV airing.

The two Ewok films, Caravan of Courage and Battle for Endor (both with direct input from Lucas), whilst still largely forgotten, have fared rather better, having a DVD release some eight years ago.  Copies can currently be purchased on eBay/Amazon for £40-60.

Beasts of the Southern Wild is a simple tale of a young girl growing up in an outsider bayou community.  Feral and neglected and even abused by conventional standards, Hushpuppy has developed confidence in spades, and through necessity can more or less look after herself, even if it does mean the occasional meal of catfood mixed with custard.

When not acquiring life's necessities, through fishing, small scale farming and salvaging potentially useful detritus, the populace enjoy a free spirited hedonistic lifestyle, fuelled largely by alcoholism.  Nonetheless, despite a lot of chaos, everyone appears happy, if dysfunctional, with a desperate determination to continue living life on their own terms, whether when under threat from flooding or interference from wider society.  Their passion and stubborn fight for autonomy is inspiring and will certainly please the free spirited among us.

The central theme of the film appears to be that those of us in mainstream society have lost touch with our animal selves.  Something that is undoubtedly true.  To what extent that is entirely bad is open to debate.  The film also raises a lot of questions about self determination of small communities and the issues of responsibility and neglect, and where intervention is acceptable, if ever.

Wink, Hushpuppy's father, clearly loves his child, and his laissez-faire approach to parenting is born out of a desire for her to grow up being able to look after herself, rather than just disinterest.  However, perhaps if he wasn't dying of a (presumably) lifestyle inflicted condition, she wouldn't have to.  Also, just because Hushpuppy is super confident and independent, doesn't mean another child growing up in her situation wouldn't be majorly damaged, or for that matter dead, considering the huge number of daily hazards they would be living amongst.  Maybe that's just survival of the fittest.

It is certainly true that there are plenty of children growing up in regular society who have been let down and hurt, both by their parents and the state.  However I'm not sure if this is really an argument that vindicates Hushpuppy's situation, and I don't think romanticising squalor and neglect as a positive lifestyle choice is particularly useful.  Ultimately we need to create a society where we all look after each other, where lifestyle choices are respected but not allowed to be an excuse for mistreatment, and where all children are loved, cared for, grow up super confident and have genuine opportunities in their life.

All that said, I don't know why I'm being so fucking judgemental, this film bears an uncanny resemblance to my life, had my flat just happened to have been flooded.  Just ask my daughter, who's chewing on a shoe in the corner whilst I type this.


Beasts of the Southern Wild is out in cinemas Friday.

Hot T-Shirts is charmless, unfunny, unsexy, has zero characterisation and a tedious storyline around a wet t-shirt contest.  In fact the only positive things I can recall were a half decent disco soundtrack, the most ridiculous bar brawl I've seen in a while and lots of cheese (not actual cheese).  Yet somehow it's strangely watchable all the same.  Go figure.