Willow

The 1980s were a fantastic time for movies. There were movies across every genre. From action and adventure, to comedy, horror, and science fiction and fantasy, there was generally a movie for everyone. I was born in the early 80s, so I grew up with movies like Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, Aliens, The Princess Bride, and The Terminator. There was one movie that really stuck with me: Willow.

Willow starts off with the evil queen Bavmorda(Jean Marsh)capturing all the pregnant women in the land in search of a child that, according to a prophecy, would cause her eventual destruction. A nursemaid hides the child and leaves Bavmorda's fortress. Eventually, the evil queen's dogs find her, but not before she sends the child down the river. The child is eventually found by a Nelwyn(little person)named Willow Ufgood(Warwick Davis). Soon, Willow realizes that the child won't be safe in his village, so he takes the child to find someone to care for it. Along the way, Willow runs across a rogue swordsman named Madmartigan(Val Kilmer), and the two try to take the child to safety with the help of some pint-sized beings known as brownies(Kevin Pollak as Rool and Rick Overton as Franjean, respectively). But they are also relentlessly hunted by Bavmorda's daughter, Count Sorsha(Joanne Whalley).

Willow sticks out for me among the other movies I mentioned, mainly because the main hero is actually 3 feet tall, not someone you would expect to save the day, but Warwick Davis really does a fantastic job and when Willow and Madmartigan finally meet up, it gets even better. Those two have a somewhat antagonistic relationship with each other which is rather hilarious, but well done, and neither one are seen as as a sidekick. Madmartigan, as far as I'm concerned is one of Val Kilmer's most memorable roles, along with Tombstone's Doc Holliday. He initially comes across as an arrogant, crass and generally not a nice guy. But when given a sword, he becomes something else entirely: a hero. Along for the ride are Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton as the brownies. Let me tell ya, if it isn't Val Kilmer stealing the scene, it's these two. At about an inch and a half tall, these characters, with French accents, are the comedy relief of the film and boy are they funny. I've always enjoyed Kevin Pollak, and this was a fantastic role for him. When it comes to the villains, though, they aren't nearly as memorable. Bavmorda is played by Jean Marsh who chews the scenery almost to the point of parody. Doesn't mean she isn't fun to watch, but it's really an over-the-top performance. Pat Roach plays General Kale, the queen's trusted right arm and he doesn't really have much to do other than look mean and growl, which he does very well, but the villains don't really have much to offer, except for Joanne Whalley's Count Sorsha.

One of the many things that Willow brought to the table were the visual effects. There were plenty of stop-motion animated creatures like the two-headed dragon. There was a lot of combination of miniatures combined with on-set action. It was almost seamless. But this was 1988, this was the beginning of the use of digital effects. The morphing sequence in the camp in the final act of the film is really what sets this movie apart from the others, it was perfect. Looking at the movie now, some of the visuals really stand out, and not necessarily in a good way, but back in 1988, it was state-of-the-art. Visual effects would take a whole new direction when James Cameron directed The Abyss in 1989, and Terminator 2 in 1991.

The action sequences of the film are fantastic. You had a wild wagon chase in which Madmartigan and Willow battled the queen's soldiers in a wagon. It was intense and very fast paced. The next one would take place in soldier's camp, when Willow and Madmartigan escape with the baby and use a sled to escape. That one was spectacular, and the final battle in Bavmorda's fortress was spectacular, I think the most iconic sequence was the battle in Tir Asleen, with the two-headed dragon. It was not only a fantastic use of miniatures and stop-motion animation, but it also led to Count Sorsha falling in love with Madmartigan. The music by James Horner is varied, in a good way, mind you. During the slower scenes, it's more subtle and calm, but during the battle sequences, it really gets epic.

The direction by Ron Howard is simply amazing. He gives the film a unique feeling and sense of wonder. The characters are, for the most part, memorable and believable. The combination of special effects along with the on-set action sequences make Willow one of the most unique and memorable films of the 80s. It was rumored that Willow was to actually be a trilogy, but it didn't do well enough in theaters to warrant such a treatment, which is a damn shame, it deserves one. There were books written, but I haven't read them and from all accounts aren't all that good either, so I won't bother. But what we have here is a film that stands the test of time and is fun for anyone who wants to have a good time. Fans of Val Kilmer will definitely have a blast. There's a sense of humor that permeates the whole film and it doesn't really get dark until the final act of the film. Overall, this an awesome movie that doesn't outstay it's welcome. If there's one complaint I have about this movie, it's that the villains really aren't as fleshed out as they could be, with the exception of Sorsha. Other than that, this movie is amazing. Sure, the effects may look dated by today's standards, but I think that's part of it's charm. This one gets a 9.5/10.