Willow (1988)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
Bob Dolman (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

Adventure doesn't come any bigger than this.

Plot:

A reluctant dwarf must play a critical role in protecting a special baby from an evil queen.

Plot Keywords:

Queen | Baby | Evil Queen | Village | Prophecy

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Madmartigan
Joanne Whalley	...	Sorsha
Warwick Davis	...	Willow Ufgood
Jean Marsh	...	Queen Bavmorda
Patricia Hayes	...	Fin Raziel
Billy Barty	...	High Aldwin
Pat Roach	...	Gen. Kael
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Airk Thaughbaer
David Steinberg	...	Meegosh
Phil Fondacaro	...	Vohnkar
Tony Cox	...	Vohnkar warrior
Robert Gillibrand	...	Vohnkar warrior
Mark Northover	...	Burglekutt
Kevin Pollak	...	Rool
Rick Overton	...	Franjean

Also Known As:

Willow (Spain) [es]
Willow (Portugal) [pt]
Willow - Na Terra da Magia (Brazil) [pt]
Willow - suuri seikkailu (Finland) [fi]
Willow V'Ha-Nessiha (Israel: Hebrew title) [iw]

Runtime:

126 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Ireland:12 | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | South Korea:All | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Norway:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Brocket Hall, Lemsford, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company:

Imagine Films Entertainment

Trivia:

James Horner's sweeping score quotes almost directly from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's famous "Requiem", featured heavily in Amadeus (1984). It features in the opening sequence and also, faintly, during Bavmorda's dark ceremony at the climax of the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Fin Raziel, as a goat, butts a soldier off the bridge, the hands of the goat wrangler can be seen guiding the goat to its target.

Quotes:

Willow: Here are her changing rags and her milk bladder.
Madmartigan: Any milk in there?
Willow: It's for *her*!
Madmartigan: I wouldn't steal from a *baby*! You worry too much, Peck.
Meegosh: It's Willow!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Troldspejlet: (#1.2)" (1989)

A Morphing Delight

I'm typing this being dictated to by my 11 year old son, in whose opinion this is the best movie he has ever seen. He's outgrown the Disney variety and various animations but he's still not ready for hardcore action movies so what is there for him to enjoy - well as a mom, I can tell you, very little. That's where the fantasy movies are so great. They have mystery, action, a little romance but the greatest value comes from the good moral story of good wins over evil, truth over deceit and small truimphs over powerful.

The most amazing fact is that at the time of first seeing this movie, it is 16 years old - Thank you George Lucas, thank you Ron Howard and thank you for a wonderful cast who have brought this eternal story to eternal life and I'm not joking either. I think we are on viewing #25 already and still going strong.

Movies are about people sharing a story but magic certainly helps get the message across...