Willow

When Willow was released in 1988, I was in my mid-teens and though I think I did see it not long after that and have watched it once or twice in the years since, it's not a film that had stuck in my memory or affections. However, with an imminent new Disney+ sequel series, I thought I'd give it another shot and was pleasantly surprised to find more to like than I'd recalled.

The story, written by George Lucas, is a pick-'n'-mix of fantasy genre staples. We have evil sorceror Queen Bavmorda, played by Jean Marsh as though she's in panto, who is seeking a new-born child prophesied to become empress Elora Danan and end her evil reign. We see the baby placed in a river and found by the children of farmer and aspiring sorceror Willow (Warwick Davis), who sets out on a quest to return her to her people, encountering on the way swordsman Madmartigan, who is a kind of fantasy Han Solo played by Val Kilmer, sorceress-turned-possum Raziel (Patricia Hayes), Bavmorda's daughter and general (Joanne Whalley), and some irritating if occasionally amusing brownies (Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton).

But while the story elements aren't original, the film is self-aware enough to realise this and have fun with the tropes. It's not as comedic in intent as near-contemporary fantasy classics The Princess Bride (1987) and Labyrinth (1986), but nor does it take itself seriously, and it has heart in bucketloads.

Warwick Davis, who was 17 during filming, is way too young to play a convincing father of two, and it's a slightly puzzling decision to make him one when apparently the role was written with him in mind after George Lucas had been impressed by his performance in The Return of the Jedi. But I guess I can see dramatic reasons for such a choice, and Willow's journey from farmer to a sorceror who has the courage, if not necessarily the skill, to face Bavmorda is compelling. His relationships with mentor Raziel, reluctant hero Madmartigan and baby Elora Danan feel authentic and are the heart of the film.

Madmartigan is a scoundrel and selfish womaniser and, like Joanne Whalley's Sorsha, you'd quite like to kick him in the face in the early parts of the film. But he's played with such charm by Val Kilmer that, also like Sorsha, you can't help falling in love with him. Whalley herself is great as Sorsha, ruthless and strong but still showing us vulnerability and torn loyalties. There are also some memorable minor characters, such as as Willow's friend Meegosh (David Steinberg) and Madmartigan's sort-of-friend Airk (Gavan O'Herlihy).

Some of the special effects have held up reasonably well but others have dated, and by today's standards the production values are a bit shoddy. And while the film has a sense of humour, it's not quite witty enough to carry off its rather clichéd premise.

Despite this, it's a charming, heart-warming adventure that is still worth a watch, particularly if you're planning to follow the Disney+ series that picks up the story a couple of decades later.

I remember seeing this film in theaters back in '88 and long to see it again on the big screen. There is a motherload of crappy fantasy flicks out there and this one is better than most. I was kinda young when I saw it and didn't find it too violent but some parents may think it gruesome at times. I myself feel that gave it an edge. Along with swordplay there are nasty trolls,a 2-headed beast,mean-spirited characters and some intense scenes at the end. Of course there are lots of special effects. This was a technically well made film with awesome cinematography and interesting locations. Every now and again Fox airs the movie but it's 2 1/2 hr running can be really cut. Ya gotta see it!

It's one of those films they starting SUPER GREAT and you saying "Oh my God, what a gem I found"... and as the film continues its getting less better and ends almost bad.

To me, the first 40 minutes are AMAZING, probably equal to "Lord of the Rings" trilogy!!!! Trust me, THAT GOOD! And then... the plot/scenario does a HUGE drop/fall, its getting quite boring and the finale (the last battle) is almost hilarious/joke/comedy!

But... its a remarkable fantasy film, left a mark to the fantasy universe of movies.

All the people who are complaining that it's "too much like Lord of the Rings?" How much fantasy have you read? Have you read viking sagas or Greek myths? How about the bible? There are no new stories, just new ways of telling them. It's called Archetypal Criticism and it's one of the most popular ways of looking at literature. And George Lucas and Ron Howard managed to do that excellently in Willow.

I'd rather watch Willow yell at Madmartigan and call him stupid than watch Sam and Frodo "Just hold on a little longer, because everything will be happy because of LOVE!"

There's betrayal, redemption, action, the scariest dragon I've ever seen in my life, love, purposfully corny poetry and lots of jokes. The characters despair, but fight against it rather than just wandering around listlessly saying "woe is me!" People are allowed to be petty and shallow without being influenced by The Greatest Evil Known To Man (tm). There's no one hanging around with no other purpose than to be encouragement- everyone claims Willow won't succeed but he still fights on, and wins everyone over to his side. In my mind that makes him a lot more admirable than Frodo McAngstypants who only keeps on going because Sam keeps telling him he's fantastic and he thinks he's going to die anyway.

I attended a screen writing class once, and the teacher said that the worst movie ever made was "Willow" ... he also defended "White Chicks" (in the same class) as being some sort of underrated theatrical gem.

What an idiot. Obviously, this man has no soul.

Anyway, it must have been this sort of "I'm too good for that" attitude that killed "Willow" in the theaters. I remember seeing previews for it when I was a kid, and there was nothing more in the world that I had wanted to watch. I was raised on "The Neverending Story," "Legend," "Krull," "The Beastmaster," and "The Dark Crystal." So, sure, I loved fantasy. It was my favorite genre. And even though many will say that "Lord of the Rings" is better, I have to disagree. "The Lord of the Rings" is a good melding of drama, real-life struggle and fantasy, but's it not fun to watch. "Willow," on the other hand, is a blast to watch.

The music from Horner's great ... I can still whistle the adventure theme song, and often do sometimes. Val Kilmer as Madmartigan was a great rogue hero, who had plenty of great lines, laughs. Sorcia was by Joanne Whalley, was hot as hell ... a fiery redhead who just refused to be ordered or commanded. General Kael (who was supposedly based on one of Lucas' critics) is awesome. His look spawned an entire decade of me thinking that people with skull masks were horribly cool. The woman who played Fin Razel (sp?) was great. The Brownies were hysterical. And last but not least, give it up for Billy Barty and Warwick Davis, little people with big roles. I think little people probably thank Mr. Lucas and Ron Howard for making them stars for once, for giving them a showcase piece. Davis really had no better role in his life than this one. And he shined in it.

Well, if that particular teacher is reading this by any chance, I hope you go back and re-watch this as a kid. For me, and obviously many others on this website, the movie was more than a fun, little escape ... it was almost a genre-leading film. If there's one thing that pre-prequel George Lucas was good at, it was at giving the audience a good time ... Indiana Jones, Willow, Star Wars ... the best adventure/fantasy films ever to come out. Each of them with charming heroes, obvious bad guys, magic, swords, and humor.

"Pirates of the Carribbean" resurrected this sort of cinema, I think, and the American public responded to it with verve. I still remember hard-nosed critic Lisa Schwarzbaum giving "Pirates" a D rating in Entertainment Weekly. I bet she about choked on her own vomit when she saw how much fun everyone had with the film.

And "Willow" is the same thing. It's pure magic. Pure escape. Especially good for children, but good for the adults, too. If you can't have fun with this one, than you better go get your laughs from movies like "White Chicks" ... just don't be surprised when the kids come out making jokes about d*cks and p*ssies afterward.