Willow
Tags: fantasy, cult, good versus evil, psychedelic, romantic, revenge, sadist

Plot synopsis:
A prophecy states that a female child with a special birthmark will herald the downfall of the evil sorceress Queen Bavmorda. Bavmorda imprisons all pregnant women in her realm to prevent fulfilment of the prophecy. When the prophesied child Elora Danan is born, the mother begs the midwife to hide the infant and smuggle her to safety. The midwife reluctantly accepts and leaves Nockmaar castle unnoticed. The mother is executed, the midwife is hunted down and eventually found. Knowing she cannot escape, she sets the baby on a makeshift raft of grass and sends her down the river hoping for fate to run its course. The midwife is killed by Nockmaar hounds. Bavmorda, furious about the escape, summons her daughter Sorsha and her army's commander, General Kael to find the baby.
The baby drifts downriver to a village of the Nelwyn (Dwarves). She comes into the care of Willow Ufgood, a kind farmer and conjurer who hopes to become a real sorcerer; his wife Kiaya and his children fall in love with the baby immediately, and Willow too soon grows to love her as one of his own. During a town festival, the village is attacked by a Nockmaar hound which is quickly killed by the village warriors. The High Aldwin, the village sorcerer, learns about the baby and selects Willow, due to his devotion to the child, to accompany a party of volunteers returning the baby to the Daikini (Man) people. At a crossroads, they find a human warrior named Madmartigan trapped in a crow's cage. The rest of the party want to give the baby to Madmartigan and go home immediately, but Willow and his friend Meegosh refuse, so the others leave. After spending the night at the crossroads, and meeting an army led by Airk Thaughbaer, an old friend of Madmartigan's, marching against Bavmorda, Willow reluctantly decides to free Madmartigan so that he can take care of the baby for them.
Later on, the baby is stolen by a group of brownies. While chasing them, Willow and Meegosh are trapped, but rescued by Cherlindrea, a Fairy Queen, who identifies the baby as Elora Danan, the future princess of Tir Asleen and Bavmorda's bane, and assigns Willow the task of helping the baby fulfill her destiny. Willow sends Meegosh home, and two of the brownies, Franjean and Rool, are instructed to guide Willow to the sorceress Fin Raziel. The three of them later encounter Madmartigan at a tavern, where he is disguised as a woman to hide from Lug, a cuckolded husband, who then flirts with the disguised Madmartigan. Sorsha arrives and reveals his identity, and in the ensuing brawl started by the furious Lug upon the realisation that Madmartigan is not a woman, Willow, Madmartigan and the brownies escape. Madmartigan guides them to a lake where Raziel lives, but departs again as they cross it.
Raziel has been transformed into a possum by Bavmorda, and Willow and his party return with her to shore. They are captured by Sorsha, who already has Madmartigan in custody, and are taken to a snowbound mountain camp of the Nockmaar army. Willow tries to restore Raziel, but turns her into a rook instead. Madmartigan is dosed with love dust by the brownies and declares his undying love for Sorsha. The prisoners escape and reach a village at the foot of a mountain, where they again encounter Airk and the remains of his army, recently defeated by Bavmorda's forces. Madmartigan proclaims his loyalty to the Nelwyn and promises to protect Willow and Elora.
With Sorsha as their temporary hostage, they escape to the castle of Tir Asleen, but discover that its inhabitants have all been frozen by Bavmorda and the castle is overrun by trolls. The castle is stormed by Kael's army. During Kael's assault on the castle, Sorsha realizes she also loves Madmartigan and decides to join him and Willow in opposing her mother's army. Willow accidentally turns a troll into a massive, fire-breathing, two-headed monster that turns the tide of the battle, and Airk arrives with his army to assist. However, Kael captures Elora and returns to Nockmaar, where he reports Sorsha's betrayal to Bavmorda.
Airk's army, Willow, and the others arrive at Nockmaar to lay siege, but Bavmorda turns the soldiers into pigs. Instructed by Raziel, Willow protects himself with a spell and avoids transformation. He succeeds in turning Raziel into a human again, and she restores the others to their original forms. Willow's group tricks their way into the castle and start a battle. Airk is killed by Kael, who is in turn slain by Madmartigan after a lengthy sword duel. Sorsha leads Willow and Raziel to the ritual chamber where they interrupt Elora's sacrifice. Bavmorda and Raziel have a magical duel, during the course of which Raziel is incapacitated. Willow uses a "disappearing pig trick" he had performed as a conjurer to fool Bavmorda into thinking that Elora was sent out of her reach. Lunging at Willow, Bavmorda accidentally triggers the ritual's final part to send Elora's soul to oblivion, and banishes her own soul instead.
Willow is rewarded with a magic book to aid him in becoming a sorcerer, and Sorsha and Madmartigan remain in Tir Asleen to raise Elora together. Willow returns home to a hero's welcome and is happily reunited with his family.

Review: I have enjoyed it with each viewing, mainly because I just take it for what it is to me  namely, just a fun, escapist fantasy flick that whisks you away to a magical kingdom where all kinds of mystical, cute, clever, and at times even sinister things are happening, all against a backdrop of remarkably beautiful scenery.
I noticed that other reviewers herein went to great efforts to point out glaring similarities between Willow and Star Wars, and these similarities apparently ruined the movie for them (or at least, they just didn't *like* Willow).
It just doesn't matter!..."Anyway, if you haven't seen Willow, then I would recommend you see it at once and enjoy it for what it is: a fun, escapist fantasy movie that (heaven knows, current events and all...) we could all use a little more of in this day and age.
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.
It is these characters that play so well into the average person's conception of fantasy fare that is precisely what makes the film a success - it entertains us because it knows what we like, and what we expect to see, and then delivers it with action and a bombastic musical score.Critics panned it for being unoriginal, but being original wasn't the point of this movie.
But in this original story by Lucas, that vision is captured once again and proffered to the world via the magic of the movies, in `Willow,' directed by Ron Howard.
So Willow sets out upon his journey, and along the way finds an ally-- maybe-- in the person of the self-proclaimed `World's greatest swordsman,' Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), and together (sort of) they embark upon an adventure that will ultimately lead them to a final confrontation with the evil Queen herself.
It's the difference between being a true filmmaker, and just someone to whom an opportunity is handed who simply hasn't the insight or sense of human nature to know what to do with it (Like Adam Shankman with `The Wedding Planner,' Jeff Franklin's `Love Stinks,' Nick Gomez with `Drowning Mona' or Peter Ho-sun Chan's `The Love Letter.'  All movies that suffered greatly because of their director's inability to do what Lucas and Howard do so proficiently and seemingly with facility).
In the title role, Warwick Davis does a good job of bringing Willow to life, as does Val Kilmer in the flashier role of Madmartigan.
Billy Barty is the village's wizard and basically plays the character Gweldor again (from Masters of the Universe) but without the silly make-up and stupid musical key.Val Kilmer is Madmartigan, a human warrior who befriends Willow and helps him on his journey with varying degrees of ulterior motive.The acting is all reasonably good.
Warwick Davis was only 18 when this film was released so his performance is very good considering his age and lack of experience (prior to this he'd played a goblin in Labyrinth and an ewok in Return of the Jedi).
That woman is truly frightening.It's all good fun and the two funniest characters in the movie are Franjean and Rool, two Brownies, who "help" Willow regardless of the latters wishes.
#1) Half of you out there didn't even know the lord of the rings until they made it a movie, a fine job, but it left a very bad taste in my mouth considering Hllywood has run of ideas so now they take fantastic stories from our past and turn them into money.
Willow embarks in his journey with Madmartigan and the Brownies Franjean (Rick Overton) and Rool (Kevin Pollak) but they are chased by Queen Bavmorda's daughter Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) and the evil General Kael (Pat Roach).
The struggle between good and evil begins."Willow" is a magic adventure from the magic 80's, when most of the best recent movies were made.
'Willow',is a good movie that anyone can enjoy.The movie has good music and good action.I have to say the two head monster was the only bad thing about the movie,Lucas could have done better.The actors give a good performance.I would give this movie 8/10.So if you want a movie that gives good action,good music and a story about times long ago,'willow' is the one..
This film has some brilliant special effects which are not computer generated and are done the old fashioned way which probably took along time to do.Val Kilmer(Madmartigan) in this film is very amusing because he does not get many opportunities to play these types of characters.This is my favourite film directed by Ron Howard, I urge you to watch this film and i hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Willow is a great fantasy film, as a child it just captures your imagination and transports you to a different world.
Probably because of that, when I watch it, I feel like I'm 8 again.Little kids love adventure movies and this is, well, this was the best adventure any of us had ever seen aside from Star Wars..
Plot: Willow, a small farmer/apprentice magician, meets Madmartigan, a great swordsman, and together they journey through a war-torn land of magic and monsters, to save a baby princess from death at the hands of an evil queen.This is easily my favorite fantasy film.
The reason why I call it my favorite is because of the simple story that it creates, the movie doesn't try to over explain what's going on like they did in the Lord of the Rings films.
Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, and Billy Barry all give great performances and are never overshadowed unlike in other fantasy films.My only problem with the film is the two comic reliefs played by Kevin Pollak and Rick Overton who get very annoying and are only there for the kids.
And George Lucas and Ron Howard managed to do that excellently in Willow.I'd rather watch Willow yell at Madmartigan and call him stupid than watch Sam and Frodo "Just hold on a little longer, because everything will be happy because of LOVE!"There's betrayal, redemption, action, the scariest dragon I've ever seen in my life, love, purposfully corny poetry and lots of jokes.
George Lucas and Ron Howard collaborate to make 'Willow', a charming little film about an aspiring little magician, Willow (played wonderfully by Warwick Davis) who finds himself responsible for the rescue of a little princess.
A true masterpiece, it does and has everything that a superb fantasy genre film should, Immaculate special effects to create certain fantasy elements,Fight/magic sequences, Romance, Creatures great and small, Contrasting, environments, Zero-to-hero protagonist.
In some ways, it was better than Lord of the Rings.In the movie, Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) is given the job of protecting a baby princess from an evil sorceress.
He is later joined by Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), two Brownies (Kevin Pollack & Rick Overton), and a good sorceress (Patricia Hayes).Willow is a lovable character.
(They said it was modeled after Clint Howard; I just don't see it.) In 1988, with the help of George Lucas, Warwick Davis proved that little people can rock the world (and save it, too.) This classic fantasy is great fun for adventure seekers of all ages..
It's a fantasy without imagination, a romance without heart, a saga without a plot, and a "family movie" filled with relentless and gratuitous violence.George Lucas' biggest mistake in Willow  is that he fails to trust in the power of a simple tale simply told.
But I also just like some of the creatures they have like the annoying disgusting trolls, the nasty rat dogs makes me want to get a giant mouse trap, but my favorite is the two headed fire breathing Hydra the stop motion and pupetering effects on the thing were just excellent, they way it moved and behaved.Music score I think is fantastic by one of my favorite composers James Horner, it has that epic adventurous quality that fits like a glove for the film.But of course I really like the characters.
Though I really like the subordinate villain General Kale whom is really intimidating with that voice and that skull mask that makes him look like Skelator from "He-Man".But of course it's the two main characters that drive the film Willow (Warwick Davis)a down to earth person whom gets the most grief but perfectly capable of doing what's right and my favorite Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) he's just great not just as a man of action but his charisma, brash, and unsmooth nature which give him some of the best lines.
The style of the film was very reminiscent of "Star Wars," both in the action and the introduction of many unusual characters, not to mention frequent circumstantial humor.I think the movie has a very wide appeal and is extremely well made.
Ron Howard and George Lucas deserve all the credit in the world for this truly brilliant fantasy epic, as does Val Kilmers.
And as measly as a movie as this was for it's day on it's own merits, it's dwarfed even further by the immortal "Lord Of The Rings" saga."Willow" is the film the impish Warwick Davis is renown for his participation in most, not counting the never-ending "Leprechaun" schlock movies.This was his first lead role and he brings a likable and earnest charisma to the role instead of just trying to be little and cute like so many child performers and other midget actors.
They didn't need the great Kilmer for this one.Any stock actor with a SAG card or with one year of high school drama class experience could have done as good a job.Jean Marsh does a good job as Queen Bavmorda, but just about any random British actress on the planet could have done the same and gotten the same results.Sadly, this one just stands toe-to-toe with the He-Man "Master Of The Universe" movie from 1987.Even though Ron Howard Opie Cunningham was at the helm for this one, just about any hack with access to a tripod (that tilts low) could have done the same and gotten the same results.The real problem with "Willow" is that it's totally unremarkable.
It was never going to be easy to make a movie out of Lord of the Rings (and attempts had been made before Peter Jackson, and they had inevitably failed), but this film did help the industry move towards that end, and indeed it did succeed twelve years later.Willow is about a Nelwyn (like the Hobbits) who discovers a baby in a nearby river.
Willow (1988) Starring: Warwick Davis, Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Jean Marsh, Billy Barty, Kevin Pollak, Gavin O'Herlihy, Patricia Hayes, Rick Overton, Pat Roach, Tony Cox, Phil Fondacaro, David J.
After Geroge Lucas made it big with Star Wars he went on to produce many other films like Howard The Duck, the Indiana Jones movies, and this one.
Willow one of the classic films of the fantasy genre already done, one of the favorite films of the 80s, the film hits the tone, the picture is excellent, not to mention that the film is a bit like The Lord of the Rings Tolkien in some places such as home to Willow, reminiscent of the county of Hobbits, the cast is great, Val Kilmer, Warwick Davis, Billy Barty, etc., all are well, the battle scenes are very good, the look of Castle are excellent without speaking of the creatures of the movie is very good, the direction of Ron Howard is need and very good, the script is good, Willow is one of the best already fantasy films made, highly recommended, especially for their good characters and their excellent visual.
* out of ****By far one of the worst big-studio fantasy films ever made, Willow tells the gag-inducing story of the titular dwarf (Warwick Davis) who must protect a baby from the evil Queen Bavmorda, who fears the infant child may bring about the end of her reign according to an ancient prophecy.
George Lucas decided that he'd embrace all the clichés of the genre (quest to save evil from taking over the land, sword-swinging hero, sword-clashing battles, ugly monsters, etc.), which wouldn't be a problem if director Ron Howard injected the film with any sense of energy, imagination, or even comic timing.
With Kael and the two-headed Eborsisk, this clearly shows a lack of taste on Lucas' part, who probably didn't take well to Pauline Kael's general dislike for his Star Wars trilogy.Ron Howard's never been much of an action director, so it's no surprise there's no flair or energy to the battle sequences, which are too small in scope and far too tame and bloodless for a sword-and-sorcery adventure.
You know that movie cliché, where two lovers who haven't seen each other in a long time reunite by running toward each other with arms wide open; yep, Willow actually ends the movie on such a cheesy note, an apt finish for a pretty awful movie.Somehow, Willow is still neither George Lucas nor Ron Howard's worst film to date..
The special effects, while of course laughable today, don't even seem to measure up to 1987 standards -- they are more reminiscent of 1960s Japanese monster movies than what was available to George Lucas in the late 1980s.Val Kilmer was one bright spot in the film, with a wonderfully mocking, roguish performance..
You know, it's a good thing "Willow" has those then-revolutionary special effects going for it (they scared the hell out of me when I was little) because otherwise, as pretty as it is to look at, this is possibly the most mediocre fantasy movie ever made.I don't know why I noticed it so badly.
And this is what turns "WILLOW" into just a good Fantasy movie, when it could have been a masterpiece, if it had a real good plot.Anyway it´s a very fun movie to watch.
This movie achieved for fantasy what Indiana Jones did for Action/Adventure and Star Wars did for Sci-Fi.A must see!.
I've seen the film many times and the whole family still love this tale of a little guy in a big world.
It is a simple story plot "a reluctant dwarf helps to protect a special baby from an evil queen" but the movie will take you on an incredible adventure with lots of action and magic.
The story is so much better than the film's description.This a film from my teen years - I loved it back then it was one of my favorites and today I still find it a good motion picture.If you like the movie Willow then you might like the following good classic films: "Legend", "The Dark Crystal", "Labyrinth", "Ladyhawke", "Krull" and "Time Bandits".8.5/10.
It's an old-school adventure with great characters, a good story, good special effects, and just a fun tale in the veins of the Lord of the Rings.Ron Howard's film is about a farmer named Willow who goes on a mission to protect and deliver a special baby in order to save the entire kingdom from the threat of the evil tyrannical queen, Queen Bavmorda.As acting goes, it's something you would expect out of a fantasy flick.
Warwick Davis does a good job in the lead role as the reluctant Willow and Val Kilmer also does better than expected as the lone swordsman named Madmartigan.Overall, this is the perfect story to tell around the campfire or film to watch when you're in the mood for a well-done fantasy flick.
Based on a story by George Lucas, this lively fantasy adventure is certain to appeal to kids and those genre fans looking to be transported to a different time and place.
When you blend them with the acting talent of Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis and the rest, you get amazing results.The other thing that I like about this film is that there's no hidden agenda.
I really like Goerge Lucas!He made great movies-Star Wars,Indiana Jones,and then Willow!In my opinion,Willow is a very good movie for all families who like fantasy movies!It contains everything that an exciting family film should contain:swordplay,strange creatures,love,an evil queen,wizards,an anxious but brave protagonist,an ancient prophecy....I recommend Willow for anyone who likes fantasy movies.And it isn't so scary and violent.In my opinion,children above the age of 8 years can watch it.But of course it is their parent's job to decide that.Enjoy watching!.
Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis have a strange sort of charm that manages to shine through the wooden dialog and dated special effects, and the plot has the optimistic, adventurous core of a classic fairy tale, so it's not like there's a total lack of positives.
All that you require is your intuition."This average fantasy adventure film, written by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard.
Well, first I have to say is that I'm sure a lot of these people knocking Willow for being "Tolkienesque" wouldn't know who and how Tolkien wrote if Lord of the Rings was never made into a film.
Any one who want's a good fantasy film, besides Lord of the Rings should check this out.
I still enjoy it every time I watch it and it's a great movie for kids and adults.
They definitely did great casting for this movie, I mean Val Kilmer did a great job at portraying Madmartigan, and there couldn't have been a better pick than Warwick Davis for the role of Willow.
We've seen what Howard can do with a good script.In the DVD extras, Ron Howard appears to suggest that the film was really George Lucas project, and it shows, as most special effects from Star Wars-Return of the Jedi have been reinserted 5 years later (two-headed monster, scene change style, score, etc.).Kilmer has flashes of brilliance as crazy rebel Madmartigan.