Aging Willow Still Entertains
- Review By:
- PoseyDozer
- Date:
- January 31, 2009
- Movie:
- Willow
- Director:
- Ron Howard
- Released:
- 1988
- Good Guy:
- Willow Ufgood
- Played By:
- Warwick Davis
- Bad Guy:
- Queen Bavmorda
- Played By:
- Jean Marsh
- MPAA Rating:
- PG
- Family Friendly Ages:
- Everyone
In the sub-genre of action movies fit for family viewing, Willow ranks in the top tier. Warwick Davis shines as the endearing and diminutive "Nelwyn" Willow Ufgood, who must protect infant princess Elora Danan from malevolent Queen Bavmorda, powerfully played by Jean Marsh. Though not a perfect Preposterone movie, Willow includes all of the requisite elements of a kid-pleasing action flick: sword fights, magic, trolls, faeries, and a terrific two-headed monster who can't seem to swallow a soldier in a single gulp. Legs and feet dangle delightfully from its maws as it snacks its way though Queen Bavmorda's troops.
The story begins when Willow's children find Elora, a "Daikini" baby drifting like Moses in the river that runs past their village. After Queen Bavmorda's wild dogs attack the village in search of the baby, Willow reluctantly agrees to take her to the nearest Daikini crossroads and hand her over to one of her own kind. That's where Willow meets ne-er-do-well master swordsman Madmartigan, played by Val Kilmer, and begins a journey in which the little guy takes down a mighty queen with a parlor trick.
The movie is well shot and nicely paced by Ron Howard. On the negative side, however, more discerning adult viewers may find that some of the cast members fall short. Kilmer can't seem to find his character's core; the brownie buddies played by Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton never rise above annoying. The dialog and plot can be trite, and the jokes stale. Haven't we heard "Win this one for me" from the mouths of dying comrades before? Do we really need to see another baby throwing up in someone's face, even if the victim does deserve it? Nevertheless, after 20 years, Willow still delivers a good evening's entertainment. The kids will love it. You may too.
- Comment from:
- footloose
- Date:
- February 3, 2009
val kilmer was on worst beach bodies. fatttyy
- Comment from:
- bangin_hair
- Date:
- October 16, 2009
What is going on out there people?!? This movie should have been left on the cutting room floor. I'd like to have some believability of characters, even in a fantasy flick. One of Kilmer’s worse, and he’s had some real stinkers.
MadMartigan has to be the coolest name ever. Stupid daikinis.