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Willow (Special Edition)
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Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
Find all by 20th Century Fox
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Theatrical Release: August 29, 2008
Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
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Retail Price: $14.98
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Starring: Billy Barty, Tony Cox, Warwick Davis, Joanna Dickens, Phil Fondacaro
From legendary filmmakers George Lucas and Ron Howard comes one of the most beloved fantasy tales of all time. This groundbreaking film features stunning special effects, dazzling action and a classic battle between good and evil. When young Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) finds an abandoned baby, he is suddenly thrust unto an adventure filled with magic and danger. According to an ancient prophecy, the sacred child is destined to end the reign of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh). Now, the only a single swordsman (Val Kilmer) at his side, Willow must overcome the forces of darkness that threaten to destroy anyone who stands in the Queen's way!
User Submitted Willow (Special Edition) Reviews
August 16, 2008
DVD from amazon
the item I purchased arrived in excellent condition and also in a very timely manner.
July 28, 2008
good movie
I have enjoyed this movie since I was a kid and now my children like it.
June 17, 2008
"I have Cherlindrea's wand, Bavmorda!"
This Lucas-written, Ron Howard-directed "epic fantasy" is one of those commercial flops that actually came to find a sizeable cult-following in the years after its theatrical run--whether via TV-showings, VHS, or now in this bright DVD incarnation.
Yes, the plot is totally derivative: savior-babies in reed baskets; halfling-types who must be brave enough to "carry" a serious burden on their shoulders; Brave but exiled swordfighter; Evil sorceror with equally evil General. Yeah, yeah, we get it. But Willow is not as unoriginal as 99% of the lame movies made these days, and all in all a fun, engaging adventure/fantasy flick with some believable performances that sort of lift it up to genuinely "beloved" status.
For the scope of the thing, it's not too badly plotted. Things happen at a nice click, and happen reasonably. The effects are dated now, but a few were actually groundbreaking at the time (the Raziel "morphing" scene).
In terms of the tale, a mysterious newborn Princess is being hunted by a sorceress queen named Bavmorda, and for good reason. There's been a prophecy that the infant will one day bring about her destruction, and the queen needs to obliterate the kid's soul with a spell. With the help of an ill-fated midwife, however, the babe is floated down a river until it reaches the home of a dwarf-farmer (a "Nelwyn") named Willow.
Reluctantly, Willow takes a shine to the babe and is swept-up in the adventures required to preserve her life from the wicked queen, her henchman, Kael, and her sexy-ginge daughter, Sorsha. Willow is enlisted to carry the baby to the world of the Big People, but gets waylaid by a spectral fairy-lady who apparently can't leave her forest to fight Bavmorda, but gives the midge a powerful wand and tells him to deliver it to a rival sorceress named Raziel, who can use it to oust Queenie and save the baby.
Along the way, of course, Val Kilmer enters the picture as the surly but eventually loyal warrior, and they are accompanied by two annoying "brownies" from Fairyville who are akin to mosquitos, in terms of being welcome additions to the story. Anyhow, they find the good sorceress, only to discover that she has been whupped by Bavmorda and turned into a possum (of all things).
The story then shifts toward Willow's need to get the baby safely to a fabled castle called 'Tir Asleen' and learn a touch magic so he can use the crooked wand to re-morph the good witch. None of this is successful and, several battles, snowboardings, and double-headed dragons later, the baby gets stolen and the goodies ride to save it, right up to the gates of Bavmorda's castle. (Sound familiar?)
Snatching a trick from Circe of Greek myth, Bavmorda puts a spell on the whole army and turns them into pigs--even her own daughter, Sorsha, who got the hots for Val Kilmer and defected to the good camp. Willow escapes pigdom and finally gets the hang of the wand. He painstakingly transforms Raziel back to human form, where she is a bit miffed to discover that she has, in fact, become a wrinkled old baggage. Even so, she's got some mojo and appropriates the stick from Willow, restoring the army. The final battle in the castle is well-filmed, as is the tense showdown between the rickety old witches. A cute little plot twist comes at the end, but nothing super-spectacular.
This is basically a cute Lucasfilm that is marginally less hokey than the Ewoks. That's a good thing. Ron Howard does a good job directing and James Horner does, too, with the grand score. Warwick Davis (later of "Leprechaun 1, 2,3,4,& 5 fame) does a worthy acting job here (especially since he's essentially "carrying" the picture--which was his first and must've been tough). Other performances are standard: Val Kilmer gets the job done but seems bored; Billy Barty is his usual sweet old self. Brit actress Jean Marsh is genuinely scary as Bavmorda--just the right amount of simmering evil without getting too hammy. Patricia Hayes lends great dignity as old-biddy enchantress Raziel. Call me sentimental, but I thought the most moving performance in this film was by one of the other "little" folk--the actress who plays Willow's wife, Kaia.
This sturdy action/fantasy/adventure has got loads of nice but generic Lucas mythical touches, and lots of chummy Ron Howard dependability. A keeper for young and old, if not a classic, by any shake of the stick.
May 22, 2008
Great Features Great Movie
Excellent fantasy adventure with some unexpected heroes. Warrick Davis gives a sincere portrayal of a struggling family man/farmer who still has dreams. This version also has a full length commentary by Warrick Davis and several other bonus features. Great Buy.
May 14, 2008
Great Fantasy Loved It!!!! Vonkar!!!!
Willow has got it all, Action, Fantasy Adventure, a little comedy, a little Suspense, Definitely something to watch on a stay-in night. Never bores me...Such a good story in a short time, wish they would remake with todays cgi and tech....
April 25, 2008
A Treat
This is a great movie with all the elements of fantasy ...and that includes Val Kilmer.
Good for all ages but it is a bit scary sometimes.
April 23, 2008
Willow!
Great movie, I loved it as a child and I still do as an adult.
April 1, 2008
A Lame Formulated Story
A seriously lame, formulated story. The entire tale is based on believing its ridiculous beginning. The scenes seem to be very much copied from many moments of the Lord of the Rings, way before those movies were made. It's a professional Hollywood film; it has good acting and decent character interaction and tension. The special effects are decent for its time. But still, by the standards of 2008 movie making, it's not a very good film.
March 10, 2008
Entertaining fantasy movie for kids/adults.
We purchased this DVD, along with The Princess Bride, for the grandkids. This was a bit more scary for the children, but all in all it was appreciated by everyone. Three generations watched it together. Good flick!
March 3, 2008
A magical fantasy epic!
In a time of swords and sorcery, the powerful and evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda (Jean Marsh) has overtaken the land with her army and a prophecy has stated that a female child would be born to become very sacred and put an end to the reign of the queen. She has almost murdered every pregeant woman in the village except for one which has the very special baby princess which has been taken to a village of little people called Nelwyns. Kind-hearted farmer Willow Urfgood (Warwick Davis) has found the child near a river and raises it but after an unfortune incident in his village, he has to return the child back to her people. A renegade swordswinging rebel named Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) teams up with Willow and a couple of small folk called brownies especially a sorceress named Raziel (Patrica Hayes) to stop Bavmorda's evil once and for all.
An entertaining and mesermzing fantasy comedy adventure from executive producer George Lucas and director Ron Howard is one fantasy cinema's greatest achievements. Co-starring gorgeous Joanne Whalley as Madmartigan's love interest, Phil Fondacaro and Billy Barty, The film is influenced by medieval mythology, J.R.R. Tolkein, and even The Ten Commandments with a majestic music score by James Horner and awesome special effects like that memorable morphing sequence that set the standard for CGI for years to come in this must see fantasy favorite.
This DVD has fantastic picture and sound with good extras like audio commentary, Trailers and Teasers, TV Spots, original 1988 making of Featurette and "Morf to Morphing: The Dawn of the Digital age" featurette.
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