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Willow Movie Review

Willow

PG
Adventure doesn't come any bigger than this

Thanks to Koeago
George Lucas originally intended Willow to be the first of three movies. But, after Willow's disappointing performance at the box-office, the idea was scrapped. Instead, Lucas took the ideas he had for the sequels and made them into books.

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Review

In the Castle of the evil Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh), a prisoner gives birth to a child who, according to ancient prophecy will put an end to the reign of the Queen.

A midwife saves the child from the wrath of Bavmorda, but is forced to throw her cradle in a river when she is attacked by the Queen's Hounds. The river brings the child Moses-like to a village populated by the Nelwyn, a race of dwarves, near where Willow (Warwick Davis) is working in the fields. His children find the baby and despite his best efforts his wife and children 'adopt' her.

At the yearly Village Festival, where Willow tries and fails to be apprenticed to the local Wizard, the Hounds attack and are barely driven off. A town meeting is called and it is decided that Willow, accompanied by some warriors for protection, should take the baby back to her own people.

So begins a perilous journey.

At the main crossroads, where Willow hopes to pass the baby on to a human, Willow meets Madmartigan (Kilmer), a great swordsman, who for some reason that he cares not to explain, has been imprisoned in a cage and left to die. Madmartigan convinces Willow to release him and together they journey through a war-torn land, evading the Queen's soldiers, evil wizards and corrupted locals, all intent on stopping the pair of adventurers on their quest.

On the way, they meet Bavmorda's daughter Sorsha (Whalley) who, thanks to some love potion brewed by some Brownies (pixies, not girl-scouts!), becomes the obligatory love interest and Fin Razeal (Hayes) whose magical powers are needed to defeat Bavmorda.

Following battles with the Queen's army, trolls, some kind of two-headed giant snake-thing and the forces of darkness, the showdown occurs in Bavmorda's castle...

Author: Paul ShrimptonUpdate This Review

Verdict

I like this movie for several reasons. Firstly, there are some great performances, not least from Warwick Davis, who easily manages to convince the viewer that he's in the movie for more than his size. He's a good actor and carries off his part with panache.

Kilmer is good as well, by not once taking himself seriously.

The plot is a little predictable, but the ending is fun, and the final success is neatly achieved.

Great acting, good scenery, and a lot of humour run through the whole movie, from start to finish.
No real weaknesses, other than as a movie, you know it's all going to be ok.

Rewind Rating

8/10

The Movie Data

Key Crew

Director: Ron Howard
Writer: George Lucas, Bob Dolman
Producers: Joe Johnston, George Lucas, Nigel Wooll
Locations Manager: Rory Enke, John Bernard, Jilly Gutteridge, Rachel Neale


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Data

Release Date: 20 May 1988
MPAA Rating: PG
Studio: MGM Studios
Production: Imagine Entertainment, Lucasfilm, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Genre: Fantasy


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The Movie Trailer
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1988 MGM Studios
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