Willow (1988)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
Bob Dolman (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Adventure doesn't come any bigger than this.

Plot:

A reluctant dwarf must play a critical role in protecting a special baby from an evil queen.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Baby | Evil Queen | Village | Prophecy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Madmartigan
Joanne Whalley	...	Sorsha
Warwick Davis	...	Willow Ufgood
Jean Marsh	...	Queen Bavmorda
Patricia Hayes	...	Fin Raziel
Billy Barty	...	High Aldwin
Pat Roach	...	Gen. Kael
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Airk Thaughbaer
David Steinberg	...	Meegosh
Phil Fondacaro	...	Vohnkar
Tony Cox	...	Vohnkar warrior
Robert Gillibrand	...	Vohnkar warrior
Mark Northover	...	Burglekutt
Kevin Pollak	...	Rool
Rick Overton	...	Franjean

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Ireland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

Val Kilmer improvised a lot of dialogue.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Willow gives Elora to Madmartigan, what is heard is, "Goodbye, little one," when originally, he said, "Goodbye, Elora." It was after the scene was shot that the people realized that Willow didn't know Elora's name at this point.

Quotes:

Willow: Meegosh... did we do the right thing?
Meegosh: Absolutely. There's nothing to worry about.
[They hear Elora crying overhead, and look up to see her being carried by a hawk ridden by a brownie]
Franjean: Yaaah, ha-ha! I stole the baby, I stole the baby, ha-ha! Yah!
Willow: That's my baby! Stop, wait, come back!
Franjean: [flying off] Left, you stupid bird, left! Ha-ha!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997)

Well worth a watch if you want some pure, and somewhat silly, entertainment.

For its day, Willow was one of the better fantasy movies. The effects look a little dated now (especially the two-headed beastie) but it has enough humour and action to keep most satisfied. It's no LOTR, but then it was made 14 years ago.

Warwick Davis plays Willow, a Nelwynn, a race of hobbit-sized folk who don't have anything to do with "The Big People" as they call humans. Basically, it's the Shire transplanted into this movie, but without the budget. Billy Barty is the village's wizard and basically plays the character Gweldor again (from Masters of the Universe) but without the silly make-up and stupid musical key.

Val Kilmer is Madmartigan, a human warrior who befriends Willow and helps him on his journey with varying degrees of ulterior motive.

The acting is all reasonably good. Warwick Davis was only 18 when this film was released so his performance is very good considering his age and lack of experience (prior to this he'd played a goblin in Labyrinth and an ewok in Return of the Jedi). It's also interesting to see Pat Roach here. Pat was a former wrestler and has carved out a little niche for himself playing villains and tough guys. Here he plays General Kael, the right-hand henchman of Queen Bavmorda, played with gusto by Jean Marsh. That woman is truly frightening.

It's all good fun and the two funniest characters in the movie are Franjean and Rool, two Brownies, who "help" Willow regardless of the latters wishes. They have the funniest double act and reminded me more than a little of Merry and Pippin in LOTR.

All in all well worth a watch if you want some pure, and somewhat silly, entertainment.