A baby girl is found by a river by the children of Willow Ufgood. A Dwarf farmer who aspires to be a great sorcerer. Taking her into his care, it becomes apparent that she is more than she seems when his village is attacked by dog-like creatures that have been tracking her. Willow finds himself setting out on a quest to the first person he can find, but in doing so he finally learns that she is Elora Danan, the baby girl destined to bring about the downfall of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda. Finding himself teaming up with the roguish swordsman Madmartigan, and the brownies Franjean and Rool. They set out to seek out the powerful sorceress Fin Raziel to aid them in protecting Elora while pursued by Bavmorda's daughter Sorsha and the commander of her army, General Kael. Who seeks to bring her to Bavmorda so that she may exile Elora's soul into oblivion.
Having had major box office successes in both the action/adventure and sci-fi field with his Star Wars trilogy and the first two Indiana Jones movies. It was probably inevitable that he would set his sights on delving into the sword and sorcery genre with this fanciful fantasy effort. Casting Warwick Davies in the movie's title role, who was up until then best known for his role as the cute cuddly bear-like Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi. Willow undoubtedly marks his most prominent role on the big screen as the movie's unconventional vertically challenged title hero of the story. And a welcome one at that, for what Willow lacks in the essence of being a more traditional statuesque, swashbuckling action hero he more than makes up with charm, making for an affable likable screen presence. In terms of the traditional action stakes, Val Kilmer, an actor who normally I'm less than enthused with more than well fits the requirements as Madmartigan. A Han Solo prototype who becomes a reluctant protector of both his diminutive new acquaintance and the even more diminutive child under Willows's guardianship.
Willow is a rollicking, old-fashioned adventure which like in the tradition of matinee movies that Lucas aped with his previous box office bonanzas, is not short on some breathtaking action sequences and with no shortage of endearing characters. Yes, its plot is overly simplistic and it relies too heavily on hackneyed tropes associated with its ilk. However, what it does have is an abundance of wit fun, and exuberance thanks largely to Ron Howard who directs proceedings with verve and a degree of panache. Proving his ability to construct some breathtaking action set pieces which include Madmartigan fighting with soldiers on a horse-drawn cart, and battling soldiers, Trolls, and the monstrous two-headed Eborsisk monsters.
True, the romantic subplot involving Kilmer and Whalley Kilmer's Sorsha does feel rather tacked on, and the latter's expedient conversion doesn't quite convince. Although the sexual tension between her and Kilmer is quite palpably felt, probably helped by the fact that they were a genuine married couple when the movie was in production. It does feel as well that screenwriter Bob Dolan has to spoon-feed early on what we can predict is going to eventually happen between the two.
Unfortunately some of the special effects, particularly those of the two-headed Eborsisk monsters which are stop-motion now look shoddy by today's standards. This however doesn't take away from the fun and sense of adventure on display.
With excellent support from the ever-reliable Kevin Pollack, Rick Overton, the glorious Patricia Hayes (anyone not familiar with her should check out the 1971 one-off TV drama; Edna the Inebriate Woman if they ever get the chance), Gavin O' Herlihy, the physically imposing Pat Roach and the late Billy Barty in a relatively brief appearance early in the picture they each help make; Willow a flawed but never the less entertaining fantasy adventure romp for all the family.
Having had major box office successes in both the action/adventure and sci-fi field with his Star Wars trilogy and the first two Indiana Jones movies. It was probably inevitable that he would set his sights on delving into the sword and sorcery genre with this fanciful fantasy effort. Casting Warwick Davies in the movie's title role, who was up until then best known for his role as the cute cuddly bear-like Ewok Wicket in Return of the Jedi. Willow undoubtedly marks his most prominent role on the big screen as the movie's unconventional vertically challenged title hero of the story. And a welcome one at that, for what Willow lacks in the essence of being a more traditional statuesque, swashbuckling action hero he more than makes up with charm, making for an affable likable screen presence. In terms of the traditional action stakes, Val Kilmer, an actor who normally I'm less than enthused with more than well fits the requirements as Madmartigan. A Han Solo prototype who becomes a reluctant protector of both his diminutive new acquaintance and the even more diminutive child under Willows's guardianship.
Willow is a rollicking, old-fashioned adventure which like in the tradition of matinee movies that Lucas aped with his previous box office bonanzas, is not short on some breathtaking action sequences and with no shortage of endearing characters. Yes, its plot is overly simplistic and it relies too heavily on hackneyed tropes associated with its ilk. However, what it does have is an abundance of wit fun, and exuberance thanks largely to Ron Howard who directs proceedings with verve and a degree of panache. Proving his ability to construct some breathtaking action set pieces which include Madmartigan fighting with soldiers on a horse-drawn cart, and battling soldiers, Trolls, and the monstrous two-headed Eborsisk monsters.
True, the romantic subplot involving Kilmer and Whalley Kilmer's Sorsha does feel rather tacked on, and the latter's expedient conversion doesn't quite convince. Although the sexual tension between her and Kilmer is quite palpably felt, probably helped by the fact that they were a genuine married couple when the movie was in production. It does feel as well that screenwriter Bob Dolan has to spoon-feed early on what we can predict is going to eventually happen between the two.
Unfortunately some of the special effects, particularly those of the two-headed Eborsisk monsters which are stop-motion now look shoddy by today's standards. This however doesn't take away from the fun and sense of adventure on display.
With excellent support from the ever-reliable Kevin Pollack, Rick Overton, the glorious Patricia Hayes (anyone not familiar with her should check out the 1971 one-off TV drama; Edna the Inebriate Woman if they ever get the chance), Gavin O' Herlihy, the physically imposing Pat Roach and the late Billy Barty in a relatively brief appearance early in the picture they each help make; Willow a flawed but never the less entertaining fantasy adventure romp for all the family.