Nice fantasy adventure, looking pretty dated now, but ably helmed by Ron Howard.
Willow (1988)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 24
Fresh: 11
Rotten:13
Average Rating: 5.5/10
Consensus: Good production value and decent special effects, but the story is too insipid and slowly paced.
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Synopsis: Based on a story by STAR WARS creator George Lucas, WILLOW is director Ron Howard's fantasy world of medieval adventure. WILLOW stars Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, a swashbuckling warrior, and Warwick... Based on a story by STAR WARS creator George Lucas, WILLOW is director Ron Howard's fantasy world of medieval adventure. WILLOW stars Val Kilmer as Madmartigan, a swashbuckling warrior, and Warwick Davis as the title character. In a mythical kingdom, the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) plots to kill all infants so that the newborn princess, Elora, will never take over the throne. But a midwife sets the baby adrift in a river, and she is rescued by Willow, a farmer in Nelwyn, a peaceful village of trolls, fairies, and little folk. Willow and Madmartigan begin a quest to deliver the baby from evil while being chased by Queen Bavmorda's daughter, Sorsha (Joanne Whalley), sent to bring the baby back to Nockmaar. Director Howard benefited from his affiliation with George Lucas on the film--Lucas's company, Industrial Light and Magic, contributed the Oscar-nominated special effects. Lucas, the executive producer of WILLOW, went on to create a series of books based on the world of WILLOW, the SHADOW WAR series. [More]
Starring: Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Billy Barty, Jean Marsh
Starring: Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Billy Barty, Jean Marsh, Joanne Whalley, Patricia Hayes, Pat Roach, Gavan O'Herlihy, Kevin Pollak, Rick Overton
Director: Ron Howard
Director: Ron Howard
Screenwriter: Bob Dolman
Story: George Lucas
Producer: Nigel Wooll
Composer: James Horner
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Reviews for Willow
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.'
A sloppy and intermittently goofy flick, but it still holds enough charm, excitement and good humor to please quest fans.
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