Willow (B+ or 3/4 stars)
'Willow' is director Ron Howard's charming 1988 fantasy adventure that was lovingly made, with Industrial Light & Magic's state-of-the-art effects & an intriguing cast. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards - Visual Effects & Sound Effects Editing - 'Willow' was quite the rousing sword-&-sorcery saga for me to enjoy as a kid, and even now - but that could be nostalgia talking. The film transpires in a fantasy world populated by humans, dwarves, faeries & trolls. The main villain is Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh, terrifying to watch as a child) and, she is on edge about a prophecy which states that a female baby with a birthmark will grow up to put an end to the evil queen's reign. To this, Bavmorda orders that all newborn girls must be checked.
When baby Elora Danan slips through the cracks, Bavmorda sends her chief general, Kael (Pat Roach), & her warrior daughter, Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), to nab the child to be used in a ritual to ensure sorceress Bavmorda's continued supremacy. After floating down river, Elora ends up at the dwarf-inhabited village of Nelwyn, where would-be sorcerer Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) & his wife, Kaiya, take her in. Although Willow's kin want to adopt her, a local wizard (Billy Barty), decrees that Elora must be returned to the race of humans. Along with a fellowship, Willow embarks on this quest. The 1st human he encounters is the caged master swordsman, Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), who offers: if the dwarves set him free, he will care for Elora. THAT doesn't work out, and so Willow must travel with Madmartigan & other assorted allies to take Elora to Tir Asleen, where a battle for their world unfolds btwn. the good guys & Bavmorda.
I LOVE fantasy epic adventures; especially the vast output from the 1980s. And eventually, The Lord of the Rings trilogy would go on to be my favorite trilogy of all-time. There's just something about the swords-&-sorcery, the villages, the population, the magic, the mystery, the medieval milieu, the fight btwn. good & evil ... it has always ensnared me. And 'Willow' is a stellar example of this, while also catering to a younger demographic than the usual fans. Directed by Ron Howard & based on a story by Star Wars' George Lucas, it's just a fun & engaging movie for kids interested in magic.
The plot is easy to follow & chock full of light humor, with two "brownies" (played by Kevin Pollak & Rick Overton) providing the kind of slapstick comedy & snappy one-liners that bring smiles to most faces. The cinematography is enjoyably tactile. This fantasy flick has alllll the interesting-looking creatures, villages, gothic castles, & elaborate costumes that are indicative of the genre, as well. And I like the ingenious special effects; particularly on the mini-sized characters. Warwick Davis is wonderful as our titular hero. Val Kilmer makes for a dashing, if enigmatic warrior whose gruff exterior hides a soft interior. His chemistry with Joanne Whalley is a no-brainer, too; as they would soon marry after making this film. And Jean Marsh - who had me terror-struck in 1985's Return to Oz as Princess Mombi - is AS scary as the villainess sorceress, Bavmorda; there's just something about her visage & her line deliveries that shake me to the core.
Now, there are no big surprises in the script; purely a good vs. evil foundation. But there ARE some scary images & sword play that could rattle younger audiences. Adults may find a lot in 'Willow' to be perfunctory and/or rushed; with a pacing that is fairly relentless. Also, the sense of grandeur & world-building is not quite on par with other sword-&-sorcery 'greats', or certainly things like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or even Game of Thrones. But on the whole, 'Willow' is an excellent introductory film to show kids who just might have the same appreciation & love for the 1980s fantasy genre.
When baby Elora Danan slips through the cracks, Bavmorda sends her chief general, Kael (Pat Roach), & her warrior daughter, Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), to nab the child to be used in a ritual to ensure sorceress Bavmorda's continued supremacy. After floating down river, Elora ends up at the dwarf-inhabited village of Nelwyn, where would-be sorcerer Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) & his wife, Kaiya, take her in. Although Willow's kin want to adopt her, a local wizard (Billy Barty), decrees that Elora must be returned to the race of humans. Along with a fellowship, Willow embarks on this quest. The 1st human he encounters is the caged master swordsman, Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), who offers: if the dwarves set him free, he will care for Elora. THAT doesn't work out, and so Willow must travel with Madmartigan & other assorted allies to take Elora to Tir Asleen, where a battle for their world unfolds btwn. the good guys & Bavmorda.
I LOVE fantasy epic adventures; especially the vast output from the 1980s. And eventually, The Lord of the Rings trilogy would go on to be my favorite trilogy of all-time. There's just something about the swords-&-sorcery, the villages, the population, the magic, the mystery, the medieval milieu, the fight btwn. good & evil ... it has always ensnared me. And 'Willow' is a stellar example of this, while also catering to a younger demographic than the usual fans. Directed by Ron Howard & based on a story by Star Wars' George Lucas, it's just a fun & engaging movie for kids interested in magic.
The plot is easy to follow & chock full of light humor, with two "brownies" (played by Kevin Pollak & Rick Overton) providing the kind of slapstick comedy & snappy one-liners that bring smiles to most faces. The cinematography is enjoyably tactile. This fantasy flick has alllll the interesting-looking creatures, villages, gothic castles, & elaborate costumes that are indicative of the genre, as well. And I like the ingenious special effects; particularly on the mini-sized characters. Warwick Davis is wonderful as our titular hero. Val Kilmer makes for a dashing, if enigmatic warrior whose gruff exterior hides a soft interior. His chemistry with Joanne Whalley is a no-brainer, too; as they would soon marry after making this film. And Jean Marsh - who had me terror-struck in 1985's Return to Oz as Princess Mombi - is AS scary as the villainess sorceress, Bavmorda; there's just something about her visage & her line deliveries that shake me to the core.
Now, there are no big surprises in the script; purely a good vs. evil foundation. But there ARE some scary images & sword play that could rattle younger audiences. Adults may find a lot in 'Willow' to be perfunctory and/or rushed; with a pacing that is fairly relentless. Also, the sense of grandeur & world-building is not quite on par with other sword-&-sorcery 'greats', or certainly things like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or even Game of Thrones. But on the whole, 'Willow' is an excellent introductory film to show kids who just might have the same appreciation & love for the 1980s fantasy genre.