Movies - Thumb Wars

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	Movies - Thumb Wars

Thumb Wars is a short film directed by Steve Oedekerk. Using "Thumbation"--the practice of using dressed up and coifed thumbs as puppets-- Oederkerk created a spoof of the space drama Star Wars with characters such as Loke Groundrunner (parody of Luke Skywalker), Princess Bunhead (parody of Princess Leia), Oobedoob Benubi (parody of Obi-wan Kenobi), Hand Duet (parody of Han Solo), Crunchy (parody of Chewbacca), Beboobeep (parody of R2-D2), Prissypeo (parody of C-3PO), The Puppet (parody of Yoda) and Black Helmet Man (parody of archvillian Darth Vader). Thumb Wars: The Phantom Cuticle debuted on national television May 18, 1999 on UPN. The TV version provided a trimmed down version of the film.

Storyline

The 29-minute film opens with rolling text flying into the distance, as in Star Wars: "It is a time of great unrest in the Universe. Using the nail side of the power of the Thumb, the Evil Thumbpire has taken a stronghold in the Sacul region of the Egroeg sector." (Sacul and Egroeg are backwards references to Star Wars series creator George Lucas.) "The Thumbellion Resistance Fighters have retreated to a hidden base. The Thumbpire is constructing a big dangerous weapon thing with enough fire power to blow stuff up. If the Thumbellion can destroy the big dangerous weapon thing, they will live and the good side of the thumb will reign. If they don't there can be no sequels. No sequels means no merchandising, no fan clubs, no freaky guys at conventions that have way too much free time and no clear desire to date girls. Victory is imperative!"

Opening scenes depict the evil Black Helmet Man capturing Princess Bunhead and killing Thumbellion soldiers. On the surface of the planet below, Loke Groundrunner whines to his aunt and uncle about wanting to be of use to someone. His uncle consoles him. "Well you're plenty useful here Loke. The harvest is soon and you'll be getting help! I bought a couple of droids today from the freaky little hooded creatures (Jawas). The big one is sort of effeminate and annoying, and I think the little one has an amputee inside!" Loke runs off in a huff and meets up with Oobedoob Scooby-Dooby Benubi (aka Oobie). At Oobie's place, they view a hologram of Princess Bunhead. She informs them that Black Helmet Man is building a big weapon thing and that she needs their help. Loke and Oobie look up her holographic dress. Before that, they come back to Lokes house to find that his uncle Soondead and aunt Gonna Biteit have been 'clipped' by Black Helmet Man's troops. Loke determines to go and fight this evil menace.

At the Cantina Loke and Oobie go to next, they meet up with Crunchy and Hand Duet. Referencing various Harrison Ford movie titles, Hand tells us, "A one armed man killed my wife Sabrina
, a Working Girl
. Now I'm a Fugitive
and in Clear and Present Danger
. I should be Presumed Innocent
but they're playing Patriot Games with me. Raiders
, Regarding Henry
, Blade Runner
, Air Force One
..." Hand and Crunchy team up with Loke and Oobie as they head off to stop Black Helmet Man. The final attack is lead by the Thumbellion on a giant thumb-shaped Death Star which can spin planets until its residents get sick. This sets the stage for the final confrontation between Loke Groundrunner and Black Helmet Man.

Quotations

Master Puppet: I am a puppet...from beneath the floor, a man does control me...yes...

Oobie: Touch your tongue to mine.

Oobie: The thumb will be with you...always.

Princess Bunhead: You'll never get away with this Black Helmet Man! You are bad! You are bad and we are good! Your badness will be the end of you, and our goodness will be our triumph! Bad is bad - good is good! Bad-bad-good-bad! Good-good-bad-good, bad! Good.

Loke Groundrunner: Harvest, harvest, harvest! All you care about is the stupid harvest. You don't care about me! I wanna see the universe. You don't know who I am inside! You never have! I'm gonna run away and never come back ever!!

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Thumb Wars ]

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