Willow (1988)
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 27
Fresh: 13 | Rotten: 14
Good production value and decent special effects, but the story is too insipid and slowly paced.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 4
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 4
Good production value and decent special effects, but the story is too insipid and slowly paced.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 218,377
My Rating
Movie Info
Though Willow was one of director Ron Howard's few box-office disappointments, it definitely deserves a second look. At once an epic celebration and a gentle spoof of the sword-and-sorcery genre, the film concerns the efforts by little person Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) to protect a sacred infant from the machinations of a wicked queen (Jean Marsh). One source book has assessed the picture as a combination of The Ten Commandments and Snow White. This is true enough, except that neither one of
May 20, 1988 Wide
Nov 27, 2001
MGM Home Entertainment
Cast
-
Val Kilmer
Madmartigan -
Joanne Whalley
Sorsha -
Warwick Davis
Willow Ufgood -
Patricia Hayes
Fin Raziel -
Jean Marsh
Queen Bavmorda -
Billy Barty
High Aldwin -
Pat Roach
Gen. Kael -
Gavan O'Herlihy
Airk Thaughbaer -
David J. Steinberg
Meegosh -
Phil Fondacaro
Vohnkar -
Mark Northover
Burglekutt Prefect -
Kevin Pollak
Rool -
Rick Overton
Franjean -
Maria Holvoe
Cherlindrea -
Tony Cox
Vohnkar Warrior -
Joanna Dickens
Barmaid -
Kate Greenfield
Elora Danan -
Jennifer Guy
Wency -
Sallyanne Law
Mother -
Michael Cotterill
Druid -
Zulema Dene
Ethna -
Dawn Downing
Mims -
Robert Gillibrand
Vohnkar Warrior -
Julie Peters
Kaiya -
Ron Tarr
Llug -
Mark vande Brake
Ranon -
Sadie Corre
Nelwyn Villager
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All Critics (32) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (18) | Rotten (15) | DVD (33)
The big budget can't conceal the fact that this fiction is fallow, more rootbound than spellbound.
Top CriticThough children will mostly be enthralled by the spectacles, even they might notice the weak story protruding through the industrial magic.
At the story level, Willow is turgid and relentlessly predictable.
Ron Howard's faux-Tolkienian epic of burdensome adventuring gets a royal treatment from Fox with an excellent A/V transfer and a solid bundle of extras.
There's a sunny feeling here that's impossible to deny: a warm, inviting tone unseen in more recent fare.
Ron Howard has a painterly eye for a fantasy landscape, but his action sequences are functional, while some clunking comedy sidekicks prophesy the long, dark shadow of Jar Jar Binks.
Nice fantasy adventure, looking pretty dated now, but ably helmed by Ron Howard.
Magic-filled fantasy adventure for tweens and up.
If you like fantasy flicks, director Ron Howard's take on ... George Lucas' story is an action-packed adventure with a nice message about heroes coming in all sizes.
As a movie, it's a hell of a video game
It isn't without significant flaws, but overall an effective and memorable fantasy spectacle.
This is how I always figured the project got started: ILM called Ron, and said 'Ronnnnnnn, we're BORED.'
Audience Reviews for Willow
Well the idea of seeing it as an adult when I really wanted to see as a kid really failed! It was mostly boring at times although the end was the best thing of this movie. The story wasn't that interesting to me sadly. This movie actually was nominated for 2 Oscars even though it didn't won any so give it a shot if you like, maybe your experience will be different.
In the dungeons of the castle of the evil Queen-sorceress Bavmorda, a prisoner gives birth to a child who, according to an 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 reached by the Hounds of the Queen. The river brings the child near a village of nelwyns, and little Willow finds and adopts her. When the Hounds reach the village, Willow begins a difficult journey to bring the baby back to her people and to fulfill the prophecy.
Super Reviewer
-
- Willow Ufgood: Don't call me a peck!
- Madmartigan: Oh, I'm sorry! Peck! Peck! Peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck, peck!
-
- High Aldwin: Go in the direction the bird is flying!
- Burglekutt Prefect: It's going back to the village!
- High Aldwin: Ignore the bird. Follow the river.
-
- Sorsha: You lost your skirt.
- Madmartigan: I've still got what counts.
-
- Willow Ufgood: What are you giving her?
- Madmartigan: Just some blackroot.
- Willow Ufgood: Blackroot! Didn't you ever hear that you never ever give a baby blackroot?
- Madmartigan: Nonsense! I was weaned on blackroot! It's good for her. Puts hair on her chest. Doesn't it Nibs?
- Willow Ufgood: Her name is NOT Nibs! It's Elora Dannen, and she's a princess. And the last thing she's going to want is a hairy chest!
-
- Willow Ufgood: One day I'm gonna...
- Burglekutt Prefect: You're gonna what?
- Willow Ufgood: ...
- Burglekutt Prefect: Bwa-hahahaha!
- Willow Ufgood: Some day, Burglekutt. Some day.
-
- Llug: Wanna breed?
- Madmartigan: Err... tempting but, no!
Discussion Forum
| Topic | Last Post | Replies |
|---|---|---|
| What the hell, critics!? | 44 days ago | 0 |
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The main event in this film was the effects in the form of the cgi, first time used in a movie, looks cheesy now but it was state of the art back then. Tippet creatures are nice too with the old stop motion effects, they do look atad raggy these days and are obvious but it kinda harks back to good old fashioned Ray Harreyhausen fantasies.
Probably the first big film for Val Kilmer this, he is good as the sort of anti hero turned complete hero, some nice dialog and visual gags, abit silly but hey. Also the first big lead role for UK born Star Wars star Warwick Davis who really does create quite a cult memorable character that is very likeable.
Classic fantasy fluff and winner.